Burke, the creator of Detective Dave Robicheaux, was asked by the St. Petersburg Times about what he was reading.
In the midst of his answer, he gave this amazing quote on writing:
Being a writer is a God-given talent. It comes from a source outside of oneself, and every artist knows that. Those who deny it, who are grandiose and indicate they acquire ability and think it is something manufactured within themselves, will lose themselves. Faulkner said at his death, “Had I not written the books, another hand would have written them for me.”
Some folks ask me why I wear a small medallion of Saint Joan of Arc around my neck. While she isn’t the patron saint of writers (that goes to Saint Francis de Sales), Burke’s answer above comes about as close as I can get to an answer.
I also love the fact that although he is classified as a mystery writer, he names no mystery writers as his influences during the early part of his career.
I guess my own influences would be John Steinbeck, John Irving, Charles Dickens, Jack Kerouac, Rex Stout and Erle Stanley Gardner.
Two mystery writers out of six. Not too bad.
