SLY, PROFANE, CHARMING, ALCOHOLIC, sensitive, lonely, handsome, addicted to drugs, ballsy, well read, wry, nasty, self-deprecating, savvy, vicious, darkly humorous, vulnerable, cunning, insecure, emotionally damaged, loves his music, melancholy, short-tempered, bookstore lover.

Jack Taylor or Ken Bruen?

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Do you always tell the truth?

Of course, but bearing in mind Tom Waits dictate

...............Do I tell you the truth or just string you along?

And of course, never allow a little thing like the truth to ruin a good yarn. 

Sean Connery said...........tell them the truth and then it’s their problem.

Now take all the above, add a large dose of incredulity and stir.

I’ve always been a fine ...........stirrer, vital if you intend to write.
 

There is a rumor making the rounds that one of your ribs was surgically removed, and from this rib Jack Taylor was created. What are the similarities between you and Jack?

I’m laughing at the notion, great idea.

Jack is based partly on my brother Noel, who was found dead, a homeless alcoholic, in the Australian outback.

Does alcoholism run in our family?

It gallops.

 I wanted a character who had my fascination with books, who showed the horror of booze and unlike the other stereotype, did not love “His Mammy.”

Jack says “My mother is a walking bitch.”

Jack is the road I might have travelled if I’d another lifetime to squander.

He has alas, my short temper, and love of hurling.
 

You mentioned your fascination with books. What about your passion for music? Jack has a distinct love/need for the haunting, pulsing, rabid music of the soundtrack of his life. Is it your music or his?

I sometimes think that music is a spiritual ID.

Jack’s music runs pretty much parallel to my own.

It’s always:

• Van Morrison,
• Tom Waits,     
• Tom Russell,
• Marc Roberts,
• The Clash,
• The Pogues,
• Gretchen Peters,
• Emmylou Harris,
• Iris DeMent.
    
   

Many of the people in Jack’s life appear to be soulless deviates. It would be too facile to say they are all mentally deranged. Where do they come from?

My friends.

There seems to be a neon sign over my head that proclaims

“Gather here ye rogues, vagabonds, ragamuffins, marginalised, ye fooked, “

This of course in no way includes my writer friends who are

• Sane
• loving
• and dammit
• Successful.
   

One of my best friends said one time, the biggest surprise of her life was she read I had a real education!

And the other who said on hearing I did jail in South America who wasn’t surprised but amazed.

..............They let me out.

I’ll forgive most anything, even awful novels if they have a sense of humour. You’re ahead of the game when you realize, they are not...........no way..........laughing............WITH..............