LB spoke with The Oregonian about Keller…
“Keller flew United to Portland.” This is how we’re introduced to one of author Lawrence Block’s most beloved characters. Keller is headed to Roseburg for an important job, but, once he gets there, his mind wanders. He likes the waitress at the diner near his hotel — “a slender blonde, not Mexican at all” — and thinks about settling down with her. He does that a lot — fantasizes. It helps him keep his mind off what he does for a living. Which is kill people.
Hey Block- you gotta give us faithful, loyal readers some more of Keller. He’s your best character – by far. Just like the politicians, they tell people what they want to hear. Well Larry, as an author, won’t you write novels that the people want to read?
No, Jack. See, I’m not a politician. It’s not my job to write what you want to read. It’s my job to write what I want—and make you want to read it.
That was a nice interview. I am sooo taken with Keller, I’m sure there’s something wrong upstairs. But I continue to re-read my Keller books and hope and hope for another. Liked the info on stamp collecting, although I know more about it from Keller than I really need to know.
There’s no writer around to equal L.B.