I wanted to write a book that’s page-turning fun. With characters you love and others you’d avoid like the plague. But at the same time, I wanted to engage with the social, political, and economic issues of our lives…. And so, walking around D.C., I created Jen Lu to embody all the above.

Michael Kaufman – 23 December 2022

The Back Flap

Margaret Atwood meets Raymond Chandler meets Greta Thunberg: Jen Lu is back on the case when the death of a lawyer sparks an even more intriguing mystery in Michael Kaufman’s second book in the thrilling series.

It’s March 2034, six months after D.C. police detective Jen Lu and Chandler, her sentient bio-computer and wannabe tough guy implanted in her brain, cracked the mystery of Eden. The climate crisis is hitting harder than ever: a mega-hurricane has devastated the eco-system and waves of refugees pour into Washington, D.C.

Environmental lawyer and media darling Patty Garcia dies in a bizarre accident on a golf course. Of the seven billion people on the planet, only Jen thinks she was murdered. After all, Garcia just won a court case for massive climate change reparations to be paid out by oil, gas, and coal companies. Jen is warned off, but she and Chandler start digging. Signs point to Garcia’s abusive ex, a former oil giant, but soon Jen turns up more suspects who have an even greater motive for committing murder

Soon Jen is in the crosshairs of those who will ensure the truth never comes to light, no matter the cost. She has to move quickly before she becomes next on the killer’s list.

About the book

What is the book about?

Think Margaret Atwood meets Raymond Chandler meets Greta Thunberg. It’s March 2034 in Washington DC. Police detective Jen Lu and Chandler, her sentient bio-computer and wannabe tough guy implanted in her brain, return for the second, stand-alone book of this series. Environmental lawyer and media darling Patty Garcia dies in a bizarre accident on a golf course. Of the eight billion people on the planet, only Jen thinks she was murdered. After all, Garcia just won a court case for massive climate change reparations to be paid out by oil, gas, and coal companies. Jen is warned off, but she and Chandler start digging. Signs point to Garcia’s abusive ex, a former oil giant, but soon Jen turns up other suspects who have an even greater motive for committing murder. Soon Jen herself is in the crosshairs of those who will ensure the truth never comes to light.

When did you start writing the book?

A year-and-a-half ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

Come on! That’s pretty easy math.  But actually, given that all the stages of editing and then production take three-quarters of a year, it took an equal time, nine months.

Where did you get the idea from?

I wanted to write a book that’s page-turning fun. With characters you love and others you’d avoid like the plague. But at the same time, I wanted to engage with the social, political, and economic issues of our lives….  And so, walking around D.C., I created Jen Lu to embody all the above. A strong woman who definitely is not a cardboard, tough-guy/gal cutout. A person grappling with the challenges of work, love, and the existential crises facing humanity. Oh yeah, and who can kick ass when necessary.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Originally there was a major subplot—but it was too disconnected from the story and, sadly, had to go.

What came easily?

This one flowed like honey. Some days I felt like the characters were acting out the story in my head and all I needed to do was type fast enough to catch everything they were saying.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Fictitious. Except for the ones who are aren’t.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I read really broadly. One day it’ll be a 19th century classic, and another it will be a hot new mystery or smart science fiction or contemporary literature.

Do you have a target reader?

I write mysteries to entertain. At the same time I believe that readers (and bookstore managers) tend to be smart people who think about the world. Sure we all have our favorite genres and sub-genres, but discovering that new way of telling a story and looking at the world can be dazzling.  “Stellar” was the way Publishers Weekly put it.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

When I’m into a book, I find it impossible to stop: I’ll start writing in the morning and have to drag myself away late at night. Other days, there are work demands (aside from writing, I work as an advisor to the United Nations, governments, NGOs, and businesses on engaging men to support women’s rights) or I’m busy cooking or, when the weather is great, I’m off on a long bike ride.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

For my literary fiction, I do only a little outlining. For the thriller I’m working on, every single beat is outlined.  The Last Resort fell somewhere in between—and things keep changing and miraculously happening as I write.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I’m a compulsive editor. I constantly go back to what I’ve written. But when it’s all done, I put it aside for a month and return with fresh eyes.  At that point, I usually read it out loud to myself.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Sometimes. But it can totally change the rhythym of the text, so I need to be careful!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to agents?

I have a wonderful agent in New York.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I’ve got the best of both worlds. Crooked Lane Books is my wonderful indie publisher, but they’re distributed by Penguin Random House. My non-fiction and other fiction have been published by various presses.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Crooked Line hired the amazing Melanie Sun to do the cover.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I’m working with Crooked Lane but also with the folks at Books Forward.

Any advice that you would like to give to newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

If you don’t have a publisher and if you can afford to do so, hire (and listen to!) editors—both at the structure/story stage and then at the end to do a copy edit. Good editors are gold.

About You

Where did you grow up?  

Cleveland, Ohio, and Durham, North Carolina

Where do you live now?

Toronto, Canada

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’ve worked in fifty countries to engage men to support women’s rights and positively transform the lives of men. My latest non-fiction book is The Time Has Come: Why Men Must Join the Gender Equality Revolution. My website is www.michaelkaufman.com

What are you working on now?

Four projects at various stages.  I’ve co-authored a real-world YA novel with one (very cool) fantasy element and themes around the environment and young women’s empowerment. My agent doesn’t do YA so I don’t know where to go with it. (Any ideas, anyone?)…. I’m on a final edit of a traditional thriller which my agent loves… This winter I’m returning to work on a big literary novel—my first fiction was a literary novel published by Penguin/Viking…. Plus, of course, I’ll soon begin the next book in the Jen Lu series.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Last Resort from Amazon US or Amazon UK.