Dragon Soul Press had the chance to interview Robb White, an author in the Apocalypse anthology.
- Introduce yourself.
- I go by a few noms de plume since I began writing: Terry White, Robb White, Robert
White. They all mean me, a retired, Midwest American writer of genre fiction, mainly
crime and horror. I began in 2013 with a collection of stories titled “Out of Breath” and
Other Stories that mixed mainstream fiction with crime or horror; my latest is also a
collection of stories: Fade to Black: Noir Stories of Grifters, Drifters, & Unlovable Losers
to be published at the end of June by another indie press in the U.K.
- I go by a few noms de plume since I began writing: Terry White, Robb White, Robert
- What prompted you to begin writing?
- A love of Raymond Chandler’s hardboiled mysteries. Philip Marlowe, his intrepid private
eye working the mean streets of Los Angeles, enchanted me with his bravado, wit, and
intelligence. I wanted to try one of my own. Close to my retirement, I did, and so Thomas
Haftmann was born. He’s no Marlowe, however. I’ve added a woman detective since:
Jade Hui, based on a trip to China and a smart young woman I met at Peking University
named Annie Cheng. A third is Raimo (“Ray”) Jarvi, who appeared this past year in
Northtown Angelus.
- A love of Raymond Chandler’s hardboiled mysteries. Philip Marlowe, his intrepid private
- Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?
- It will be included in my forthcoming noir collection, although it is much more
mainstream, more of an “apprentice” story than the rest of the collection. It concerns a
young boy traveling around small towns in Appalachia with his drunken, defrocked
father. They have a traveling sideshow of the Seven Deadly Sins which they charge
people to see.
- It will be included in my forthcoming noir collection, although it is much more
- How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.
- I want to publish the next serial-killer novel that will make The Silence of the Lambs look
like a children’s pool party.
- I want to publish the next serial-killer novel that will make The Silence of the Lambs look
- What is your writing process like?
- It’s sometimes so effortless I feel guilty and believe my writing must be garbage; other
times it’s either laborious or impossible. My mind will dig in its heels and no writing gets
done. That’s it.
- It’s sometimes so effortless I feel guilty and believe my writing must be garbage; other
- Where do you draw inspiration?
- The people in my town, a rust-belt city on Lake Erie. The good, the bad, and the stupid. I
draw from memory, of course, people I know or knew. People I grew up with or people I
had a brief encounter with. You never know.
- The people in my town, a rust-belt city on Lake Erie. The good, the bad, and the stupid. I
- Who is your favorite author / what is your favorite book?
- A hard one: If I’m re-reading Thomas Harris, he edges out Martin Cruz Smith. If it’s the
other way, Smith wins by a nose. For the favorite book, I have to jump over both to name
Faulkner’s Absolom, Absalom! And only because it was the last book I had to stay up all
night reading it to the end. (Right behind it is William Styron’s Sophie’s Choice.)
- A hard one: If I’m re-reading Thomas Harris, he edges out Martin Cruz Smith. If it’s the
- What is one goal you have for your writing future?
- None. I just want to have a future. Ever since I retired in 2015, I’ve noticed the Grim
Reaper stalking me.
- None. I just want to have a future. Ever since I retired in 2015, I’ve noticed the Grim
- What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?
- I’m grateful for any reader’s enjoyment. Often I get the comments that deplore my use of
bad characters who make dumb decisions. Can’t help it. That’s me, too.
- I’m grateful for any reader’s enjoyment. Often I get the comments that deplore my use of
- Where can readers learn more about you?