Don Bruns was a songwriter, musician, and advertising executive long before he got the itch to write crime fiction. But itch he did, and in 2000 he purchased Sue Grafton's critiquing services for his first book manuscript as part of a charity auction during a mystery convention. Her advice? Throw it away and try again. Mostly undaunted, he did just that, and after Grafton read this second effort, she stood up in front of a Bouchercon meeting and made the announcement that someone should publish his book. That piqued the interest of Charles Spicer from St. Martin's Press and in September 2002, Bruns had his first published novel, Jamaica Blue, in stores.
For that novel and the sequels, Bruns relies on his rock music background and takes a look at the seamy side of the music business with his protagonist Mick Sever, a journalist who chronicles the history of rock and roll and uncovers murder. "There's enough crime, corruption, drugs, and slimy people in the music business to keep Mick Sever busy for a long time," Bruns says.
Bruns's latest in his Caribbean mystery series (he also has another series with two 24 year old college grads reminiscent of the Hardy Boys), is Bahama Burnout, released this month. In this outing, Sever is covering a story for Newsweek magazine in Nassau about a famous recording studio rebuilt on the same site where the old studio had burned down. But the new studio seems to be cursed — a mysterious smashed guitar and erased tracks, for starters, and then there's the still-unanswered question of just whose body was discovered in the fiery ruins.
Bruns graciously took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for "In Reference to Murder."
IRTM: Pity poor Don Bruns. He has to travel to all those Caribbean islands to get research for his novels. What an ordeal (especially this time of year). But seriously, do you visit all the various areas where the books are set, or seek out certain places and people for inspiration in getting the flavor of these locales?
DB: The research is intense. I know, I know, you think it's nothing but fun, but after the initial excitement of being on the island, I have to find someone to become my best friend and guide for five days. A bartender, a taxi driver, in the case of Bahama Burnout, a nun. And I have to take copious notes, pictures, figure out all the questions I need to ask and make sure I do everything my protagonist would do. Like visit all the bars, stay out till four in the morning. Still...it's not bad.
IRTM: You've expressed admiration for John D. MacDonald, a fellow Florida writer. Do you find any parallels in your styles or writing philosophy?
DB: I live about five minutes from where MacDonald lived and wrote. I've visited the house and it's on this spit of land called Point Crisp Road on Siesta Key. He was surrounded by water as he looked out of his loft. I am taken with the idea that he popularized the Florida mystery genre, and I play semi-regularly in a liars poker group that he started in the 50s. Other than that, I don't think there's much similarity. We both write about men who are loners, but that may be as close as it gets.
IRTM: In one of your postings on the Little Blog of Murder, you mentioned how much most writers hate the "where do you get your ideas?" question. Yet the idea for this latest book, Bahama Burnout, had an interesting genesis in an otherwise ordinary conversation. Can you tell us just a little bit about that?
DB: I was introduced to a sound engineer from L.A who told me he was intrigued by my books since I wrote about the rock and roll entertainment scene. Then he asked me if I had heard the story about a studio in Teluride back in the 70s. The Eagles, America, Crosby Stills and Nash all recorded there. It seems this very popular recording location mysteriously burned down. When it was rebuilt, all the major acts booked sessions, but the first band found that their tapes were all erased. Then a group came in to find their equipment smashed. So people quit booking the studio and it went out of business. Now I was hooked and asked the guy what had happened. He shrugged his shoulders and said he had no idea. But since I was a writer, I could probably figure out an ending. So, I moved the studio to Nassau in the Bahamas, put Mick Sever on the case, and solved the crime. Fiction writers can do that.
IRTM: You've talked about how we're a nation mired in the cult of celebrity and how celebrities often get away literally with murder, in addition to lesser crimes, yet they seem to get a free pass. How many of the characters in your book are based on real-life individuals and are you concerned about painting anyone you've worked with in a bad light that might entice lawsuits?
DB: Jamiaca Blue was loosely based on a Bob Marley type character. South Beach Shakedown was about a celebrity rock star who was being blackmailed. I borrowed the story of 60's star Jackie Wilson. St. Bart's Breakdown is a close look at a Phil Spector character. So yes, I do use real life celebrities, but more of the 'ripped from the headlines' than making the stories targets for lawsuits.
IRTM: As a former musician myself who hasn't touched a piano in years, I think I'm jealous — it sounds like you still find time to play guitar (and perhaps other instruments?), which makes you a lucky boy. Of course, you've also worked with acts like Ricky Nelson, the Platters, Ray Charles and Eric Carmen, so there's that, too. I've read you decided against having a musician protagonist because a performer solving crimes "was almost comical." How much research therefore did you have to do to feel comfortable writing Mick Sever as a journalist?
DB: Well now, you've done a good job of having a musician as your protagonist so maybe I should have tried it. I didn't have to stretch much to find Sever's voice and profession. He's a guy who does a much better job of writing about the entertainment business than being a performer himself. He got his start writing concert reviews for the Chicago Tribune when he was about 15. Since then he's had columns, books, and two movies made about his work. I was a journalist at one time and just go with that.
IRTM: Mick Sever's been spending a lot of time in Florida and the Caribbean. What's in store for the future for Mick — more sunshine or will we ever see him heading off to other parts of the world?
DB: Right now I'm working on the fourth book of my second series. Mick is off vacationing somewhere, but I'm certain he'll be back. I think he might go to L.A. and find a sleezy paparazzi group that is killing celebrities. Yeah. I like that.
IRTM: It's hard to stand out in this day and age, so finding new ways of marketing is more important than ever. I was interested in your book trailer produced, written, cast and directed by four grad students from the University of Miami which appeared in 20 theaters in the Miami area. Do you find that your background in marketing has helped with your own book PR? And what advice would you give to other authors out there?
DB: Wasn't that good? And those kids were perfect. The book, Stuff To Die For, won two national awards and a starred review in Booklist, so I've got to think the trailer helped. My background in marketing just lets me know that I've got to market. The real work is done by our publicist. She is fabulous and has an unbelievable list of contacts. In December we had a full page interview in Sky Magazine, Delta's in-flight mag, and in February I had a full page story in The Rotarian, Rotary Club's magazine. I think a writer has to explore every single opportunity. The one thing I don't have patience for is all the social pages on the internet. I still don't Twitter.
IRTM: Speaking of marketing,you recently released a CD of original songs called Last Flight Out, and performed two original songs at the 2004 Edgar Awards ceremonies. Have you ever thought about a CD tie-in with one of your books? Any singing at signings?
DB: I sing and entertain at a lot of signings. I love it. Carrying a guitar is pretty easy. You on the other hand would have to carry a piano. And author Claudia Bishop and I did an anthology with Jeff Deaver, Rupert Holmes, John Lescroart, Peter Robinson, Rhys Bowen and a bunch of other talented writers/musicians. We had each of them write a story and song, and then record the song. The CD appears in the back of the book. Poisoned Pen published A Merry Band Of Murderers two years ago.
IRTM: As if you weren't busy enough, you opened up a used book store with some friends. Used book stores are apparently doing very well in this economy, by the way, so good timing on your part. Have you ever had any unsuspecting customers stop by wanting to sell or buy Don Bruns books only to discover he's one of the proprietors?
DB: The book store is in my hometown and most of the people there know who I am.
IRTM: Let's see. A little over seven years ago, you were an unpublished author, and now you have six published books under your belt (with the seventh released this month), and the likes of Sue Grafton, Lee Child, and Stuart Kaminsky blurbing your books, you've been featured in Sky Magazine, you won a 2008 National Indie Excellence Award for best novel in the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category and ForeWord Magazine's Book Of The Year award for Best Mystery, as well as the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion award for Best Novel. But what would you say is the highlight thus far of your writing career?
DB: I think I tell a good story and I think my characters and place are well done. But I don't take myself too seriously. The highlight of my career is when someone Comes up and says "I just read your book and I want to ask you a couple of questions." Seriously. That's the coolest part of the job. Except maybe when Booklist compared my Stuff series to Mark Twain's narrative style in Huck Finn. That was pretty cool too.
Don Bruns is giving away a free signed copy of his book, Bahama Burnout. Go to Don's book tour page, enter your name, e-mail address, and this 4-digit PIN, 9764, for your chance to win. Entries from "In Reference to Murder" will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. The winner (first name only) will be announced on Don's book tour page next week.
