Michael Connelly

April 2003

In this interview Michael Connelly, author of LOST LIGHT, discusses his acclaimed Harry Bosch series, how music influences his writing, and his future projects.

Q: Many fans were worried that Harry Bosch wasn’t coming back after he turned in his badge at the end of CITY OF BONES. Are you happy with the new direction taken in LOST LIGHT?

MC: Yes, I am because he feels fresh to me as the writer and I have to think that maybe that will translate to the reading experience as well. This is the ninth time I've written about Harry and so I think it was appropriate that he sort of go off in a new direction.

Q: You've never written about Harry Bosch in the first person before, why not? And why did you decide to do it now?

MC: It was all part of that desire to refresh the series. Also, in this book Harry is more or less operating as a private detective and so I decided to take a swing at the traditional private detective story which is usually in first person.

Q: What is in store for Harry? If there are more books in this series, do you plan to write from his perspective going forward?

MC: I am writing one now that is a Harry Bosch novel in first person but I don't know if that is the way the books will always be for now on. I kind of doubt it but I haven't thought about it long enough to be sure. I think the only thing I know for sure is that I am not finished writing about him so I suppose there will be at least a few more.

Q: Without giving TOO much away, there is a huge surprise at the end of LOST LIGHT relating to Harry’s ex-wife. Have you always had that storyline planned for Harry? Will it be explored more in future books?

MC: I don't plan too far ahead but usually when I am writing a Bosch book I plant seeds for things that I can use in future books if I want to. I think some of the things that happen in LOST LIGHT were things I planted in previous books. There is something that happens way back in ANGELS FLIGHT that allows for something else to happen in LOST LIGHT. I know that sounds cryptic but I don't want to give anything away either.

Q: You’ve also created a special CD this time around called Dark Sacred Night: The Music of Harry Bosch that is only available in certain stores with a purchase of LOST LIGHT. (Editor's note: Visit Michael Connelly.com for more information on this promotion.) You say on the CD that you listen to jazz when you write a Harry Bosch novel. Tell us a bit more about why you decided to do this. Is there one song that you would say is Harry Bosch’s anthem? Do you have a favorite song yourself?

MC: I just find that jazz adds to the creative process of writing. For me, at least. It is not as intrusive as music with lyrics, which I could never listen to when I am writing. But something about jazz and maybe knowing something about the musicians making it helps me with my work. There is one song that is on the CD that is called "Lullaby" that I think is Harry Bosch distilled into music. It is short and it is lonely and uplifting at the same time. Its been mentioned in three of the novels so far, so I think it is important to Harry. In LOST LIGHT he even tries to play it on the saxophone.

Q: What kind of music do you listen to when you are writing your other books? For example, CHASING THE DIME didn't have the same jazzy feel that the Bosch series has, but could certainly have a soundtrack of its own.

MC: Usually when I am not writing about Bosch I don't listen to jazz and I probably don't listen to anything at all. I fear that if I listen to jazz these books might pick up the same sort of tone as a Bosch book and I usually like them to be quite different. While writing one of the non-Bosch books called VOID MOON I listened to the same Lucinda Williams CD over and over because I thought it informed the book and I wanted the same sort of bluesy, tough but forlorn feel to inform the character of Cassie Black.

Q: You recently commented on your website that you "often think about writing about Harry as a younger man." Can we look forward to a story of that nature in the near future?

MC: I'm not sure what the near future means but I think that one day I will write such a story. I am already gathering string on it and someday I think it will be fun and challenging to write about Los Angeles in say 1970 and Harry Bosch as a young man.

Q: People often ask you what books you like to read, but your books also have a very cinematic feel. What are your favorite movies and have you seen anything lately that has inspired you?

MC: I love movies and as probably can be expected most of my favorites are crime related. Among those I love I would have to point out Chinatown, Bullit, The Long Goodbye, The Conversation, The French Connection, Live and Die in L.A. and L.A. Confidential. Recently I also liked Memento quite a bit. It is hard for me to remember all the movies I like.

Q: What's next for Michael Connelly?

MC: To keep my head down and just keep writing. I'm into the next Harry Bosch story and hope to get it done sometime this summer. After that I plan to write something with a whole new character.

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