Interview with Lance Schukies, author of My Criminal Career
“If you do read up about fire horses, then you have an exact
description of me,” you wrote. Would you explain this to us?
When I was going through my divorce, my ex was asked what attracted
me to her, and then she was asked what she didn't like about me.
She described the same traits to both answers. I found out later
that the traits she described are a fire horse.
After my divorce, one of her friends gave me a Chinese Astrology
book about the fire horse. In summary it says:
They love action and excitement in their life and will rarely be
quiet. They can be quite blunt and straightforward at times in
their views. They like to have a certain amount of freedom and
independence in their life. They fight and kick against boundaries,
disregarding traditions, valuing blind faith over wisdom and
cunning over intelligence.
Horses are full of energy, albeit a bit too much. Both studious and
athletic, they are strong believers of chasing after dreams. Rather
than wealth and fame, happiness is what motivates them.
Tell us please about your writing debut.
Many times people around me have said that I should write a book
about my life. As a fire horse, my life is always full on. After
retiring from IT work, I started writing. The first book I wrote is
still being edited. The first version got canned by my mother.
I then wrote another book based on friends of mine that are Hells
Angels. The book is based on the events around the time one of my
friends was killed at Sydney airport. I tried to find an agent but
after 150 rejections I self-published it Amazon. To test my
marketing I also published my short stories. They are doing better
than my novel.
How does your IT background help you in your writing?
My experience with lawful inception helps me think of creative ways
to tell other sides when I use the first-person narrative. I use
the spy equipment to see what other people are doing.
The other part is I can explain technology in plain English. I also
make sure that I get technology facts correct.
Please tell us about your book «My Criminal Career».
It's based on the incident when my friend was killed at the Sydney
airport. I use a fictional character Dean who has my skills but is
a drug dealer. It's about how criminal activities can be
profitable, but can very quickly become costly. The old crime
doesn't pay troupe.
Dean is also in my other two books, his ex-girlfriend and friends
are also included in all three books.
What are the most challenging aspects of working on a book based on
real events?
The hard part is not being able to invent plots, and you need to
keep the story believable. I used news stories from the time of the
events and pieced them together in my book. Most of my next book is
not based on real events, only the ending is based on an actual
event, so it's easier to add plots and scenes.
You write short stories as well; why did you choose this format?
I base my short stories on dreams that I have. I like the freedom
of making up worlds that are far from reality. My novels are a
bunch of connected short stories, and each chapter could be a short
story.
I am leaning towards producing more short stories. They are easier
to write and edit.
What authors would you consider to be masters of the short crime
story? Why?
I usually read nonfiction, years ago I was always reading
university courses type books. I also read a lot of true crime. My
favorite true crime is when it is written by a criminal as a
biography. I also like prison noir, especially stories written by
prisoners.
I tend to like a story rather than a writer. I think writers change
over time.
Notable stories from the top of my head are;
The Murders in the Rue Morgue, Edgar Allan Poe.
Candide, Voltaire.
A long read Papillon, Henri Charrière.
What, in your opinion, is the most important for a short story?
Making sure that there is a beginning, middle, and end. Even though
it's a short story, you need to have a complete situation. It needs
to have the reader wanting to know what is going to happen next.
What is your favorite type of characters in crime fiction — a
detective, a criminal, or an ordinary person who happened to be
involved in a crime?
Definitely the criminal, I like a character who 'accidentally'
turns to crime. So yes the 'ordinary' person who gets sucked into
crime, his thoughts, his reactions, his fears.
You would be surprised how many criminals think that they are
normal. That either the police are unfair, or they had to make a
living somehow.
How does information technology affect society?
Good that it gives us access to a lot of information, bad that
there is a lot of wrong information. When I research I look for
fiction and non-fiction books, having access to them electronically
helps.
Then I don't like the idea that the government requires companies
to retain our data. First, it adds costs to the services we use.
Second, that data can be accessed by hackers who can wreak havoc on
our lives.
Then there are governments using the data to put people in prison
without proper investigations. As a writer, we search for some
strange stuff. People have been convicted for their online
searches.
What are the main characteristic of the Australian crime genre?
We have Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG). The OMG has rules and code
of conduct. They are behind most of the criminal activities. I know
from my dealings with them that they have political contacts. It
makes an interested paradigm. Most have wives and families. A lot
of the OMG members have legitimate businesses.
What will be your next book — a novel? A story collection? When can
we expect to see it?
I am working on a novel about how China is getting revenge for the
opium war, how tables have turned. China is leading the race of
supplying illegal drugs to other countries. My fictional character
Dean takes on the Chinese organized crime. Hopefully, it will be
available in October 2018.
After that, I will be doing a 'Convicted Series' of short stories.
I am interviewing prisoners who are convicted of crimes. I will be
writing about murders, drug dealers, and pimps. So far most of the
prisoners want to stay anonymous.
About Lance Schukies:
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