Death in the Library: Joe Mogel

Joe Mogel, a born and raised New Englander, inherited his dry sense of humor from his equally dry family. Being home schooled, he had the time and opportunity to develop many hobbies, including painting, martial arts and writing. Going to college for engineering (“I'm not sure what I was thinking at the time. I like seeing the light of day on a regular basis,” he says), he rediscovered his interest in writing. Now, having published ten stories though seven different publishing houses and having had his work included on several websites, Joe is considering turning to writing as a full time career.

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

~When I was a child I imagined that authors were the, often globe trotting, intellectual bad-asses I had seen all my life in BBC murder mysteries. Needless to say, I wanted to be one.

How did you pick the genre/setting/era you (usually) write in?

~I don't have a 'usual' genre/setting/era. I write as my imagination takes me, and it seldom takes me to the exact same place twice.
 
You write mysteries. Does your inspiration begin with the crime, the detective, the setting, or some other place?

~That depends on the story. Sometimes I start with the villain, because who's cooler than the villain? Unless it's the ice cold, man of iron detective. The crime is usually derived from either of those two characters, since all crime comes from a character's mind, I need the character first.

How did you come up with the idea for your story in History and Horror, Oh My?

~I was watching the Claude Rains version of 'The Invisible Man' and thought to myself that a blind person wouldn't be fooled by an invisible fellow. Once I made the blind man a detective, I had my story.

Did you encounter any obstacles in researching the setting?

~Not really, I'm already quite familiar with late Victorian/early Edwardian England and knew what needed to be present to make the piece feel real.
 
Do you have a favorite historical period you enjoy reading or writing about?
 
~With regard to reading, no. With regard to writing, no. I'm quite open to any form of antique awesomeness.

Do you have some special education that helps you write historical fiction, or do you deal with history in your profession? 

~Just a great deal of non-fiction reading. The more you read about history, the easier it becomes to understand what the feel/emotion/culture would be and the easier it becomes to think and write about an era.
 
What are you working on now?

~A novel. Admittedly, it's a modern setting, but the structure and theme are based on ancient Greek tragedies. So it's a bit of a challenge.

Okay, so you're an author. What do you enjoy reading?

~The classics are my favorite. Greek, Roman, Medieval, anything before the turn of the 20th century. They're a mix of Literature, history, anthropology, and art all rolled into one. I learn so much from the classics every time I read them.

Learn more about Joe on his website at: JoeMogelAuthor.yolasite.com . And read "Death in the Library" for yourself in History and Mystery, Oh My! now available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats from online retailers.

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