PUTNAM COUNTY
In Steven Cooper’s mystery, Desert Remains: A Gus Parker and Alex Mills Novel, someone is filling the desert caves around Phoenix with bodies – a madman who, in a taunting ritual, also leaves behind a record of his crimes etched into the stone.
Cooper will be the presenting author at Georgia Writers Museum (GWM) on Sept. 12, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. program start. GWM recently conducted a brief Q&A interview with Cooper.
GWM: Steven, your books are murder mysteries. What is it about this type of literary intrigue that appeals to you?
Cooper: Regardless of what I write, I love developing my characters the most. In mystery, I also love throwing puzzle pieces at my detectives and seeing if they can solve the crimes committed on the pages of my books.
GWM: What is your favorite murder mystery movie, and why?
Cooper: Two answers. First, a classic: Double Indemnity (1944). This film is a blueprint for great storytelling, particularly in this genre. It’s from a time when a movie had to rely only on great directing, writing, and acting to succeed. There were no shortcuts or special effects; just taut, edgy stories of early noir that still influence writers today.
Secondly, a popular film, Glass Onion (2022), reminds us that mysteries can be taut and edgy, but also wildly creative and fun.
GWM: You are a former broadcaster specializing in crime and investigative journalism. How does that background help with your writing?
Cooper: My career in investigative journalism exposed me, regrettably, to some of the worst things humans do to each other. I met victims, too many victims, but also amazing homicide investigators who taught me the difference between overwrought TV crime dramas and the real techniques of solving crime.
I saw a lot of bloodshed on my job. My writing started as a way for me to process the darker side of humanity.
GWM: What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
Cooper: Selfevaluation. Objectivity is elusive, at best. Like so many other writers, I am my own worst critic and I’m never quite sure if the story is working. I can almost always tell when it’s failing miserably, but I don’t have a reliable critical antenna for all those other pages.
GWM: What advice can you offer to new or “wannabe” authors?
Cooper: Just keep writing. Everyone writes terrible first drafts. Just keep writing.
Tickets to hear Cooper discuss Desert Remains are $45 ($40 each for two or more), or a table for six can be reserved for $200 (a savings of $40). The event will also feature heavy hors d’oeuvres and a full bar. Following his presentation, Cooper will be signing copies of his books.
Visit Georgia Writers Museum (109 S. Jefferson Ave., Eatonton) or visit online at georgiawritersmuseum.org for reservations and to pre-order Cooper’s book.
- Contributed