Steve Martini, author of the upcoming Paul Madriani novel Shadow of Power, granted TKC an interview to discuss his latest work and other thoughts on life as a best selling author. The following is an excerpt fromt that interview. I'd like to thank Steve for taking time out of his busy schedule to converse with us.

TKC) Your new novel SHADOW OF POWER touches on racial and Constitutional themes that raise questions as to the intent and motivations of the men who founded the United States.   What was the inspiration?

SM) The idea for the book came from the knowledge and realization that the code words of slavery (though the word itself is never used explicitly) are still visible in the Constitution though they are “dead letter law” and not enforced.  This is the result of a peculiarity in the way in which the Constitution has been amended since its inception in 1787.   Language which is repealed by later amendment is never removed from the document itself.  It is simply superseded by the later amendment.  So the offending language which permitted and recognized slavery remains in the document.  In conducting research for the book it became apparent that there were compelling reasons why neither northern states nor southern states wanted to address the question of slavery at the nation’s founding.  It was realized by both regions that slavery was the rock upon which the nation would founder if it were debated during the Constitutional Convention.  For that reason code words were used to count slaves as three-fifths of a human being for purposes of Congressional apportionment and a fugitive slave provision was added to return slaves to their owners all without mentioning the word slave or slavery.  The language remains as a historic and perpetual stigma, the reminder that at its moment of birth the country was scarred.  The fact that practical politics determined for the founders that the issue of slavery was off the table, and left for some future generation to resolve, coupled with the fact that all of the deliberations of Constitutional Convention were conducted in secret with no public participation or observation raises interesting questions. How far might the founders have gone to secure their own independence during the earlier revolution?  Having cut a deal in private to allow slavery to continue at the time of the Constitution, what other deals might they have made during the dark days of the revolution itself?  

TKC)  Your main character, attorney Paul Madriani, has evolved over the years.  How would you characterize this growth over the series of books in which he's featured?

SM) He has gotten older, perhaps a little wiser.  His perspective on life has changed a bit with age.  He has begun to realize that life is much more complex and not susceptible to such simple answers as he might have thought in some of the earlier books.

TKC). Has a review or profile of any of your works ever shaped or changed your perspective of that work?

SM) I cannot say that I recall any review or critique that has caused me to alter my characters or the voice I use in telling my stories.  Most authors will tell you that they try as much as possible to ignore critics.  I have had a few negative criticisms of my work which I have generally regarded as the subjective opinion of the writer with the attitude that if they don’t like my work they should write their own.

TKC) You are a seasoned author with a wide range of material in your novels.  Are there any new authors out there that have piqued your interest?

SM) Part of the problem in responding to this question is that I generally do not read fiction, but spend my time reading history and biography.  I find that these fields tend to inform my own writing, giving me a broader depth for character creation, with all of the flaws that we humans carry with us.  I deplore cartoon characters and super heroes.  When I do read fiction it is generally the work of older more established writers such as Michael Crichton and Elmore Leonard.

TKC) Aside from the standard "be persistent and keep writing", what advice would you give an aspiring author trying to get published in the thriller genre?

SM) In my view the key is to develop a good ear for your own writing along with an ability to rewrite and craft your prose.  It is often now so much what you write, but how it is written that will determine whether you will be published.  How a story is told is the critical element.  They are many good stories out there, most have been told, at least the basic themes, in various incarnations countless times.  The difference between those that are published and those that are not will often turn on the manner in which they are told.

Again, thank you to Steve Martini for taking the time to speak with us.