Collins, Gorman share tales from the crime fiction world

I had the pleasure last night of moderating a discussion between crime fiction writers Ed Gorman and Max Allan Collins. It was a fundraiser for the Iowa City Public Library, and each generously gave of his time to mingle with a few guests and then engage in a 90-minute conversation that touched on their writing, the publishing industry, favorite books, history and much, much more.

My goal for the evening was for these two long-time friends to forget that we were there and just talk. I got my wish, able to ask only a handful of questions before they took over and steered the conversation in myriad interesting directions. The audience also got into the act, asking questions that poked and prodded, allowing the two writers to elaborate and expand upon their thoughts and ideas.

I knew my job as moderator would be a challenge right from the outset. I had written an introduction that seemed too formal once we started, but I soldiered on. In an indication of the freewheeling tone to follow, I didn’t make it far before an interjection. I started, “When faced with the daunting task of introducing two writers with the vast back catalogs and accomplishments of these two, I started by making lists of everything they have done. I quickly realized that this would leave no time for them to actually have a chance to speak, so I changed course, deciding instead to list what they haven’t done.”

My punchline was to say that neither had written a romance novel. Collins’ wife, writer Barbara, showed why she’s a published novelist and I’m a blogger. Without missing a beat, she followed my “what they haven’t done” with “the dishes.” That elicited a laugh, and we were off.

I recorded the conversation, but it will take me quite a while to transcribe it. I hope to pitch that as an article somewhere, as it certainly included a lot of great information about these two to which I wasn’t privy.

I hope to at least share some tidbits here next week. In the meantime, he is the bulk of the rest of my introduction. If you’re a fan, stay tuned for more. If you’re not, seek out their work. You won’t be disappointed.

Gorman has written mystery and crime fiction, science fiction, horror and suspense, westerns, and historical fiction, while Collins has done most of that in addition to writing for comics and graphic novels, writing, directing and producing films, writing television and film tie-in books and collaborating on novels with his wife, Barbara under the name Barbara Allan.

Each has introduced us to characters that have become friends – or in the case of some of these surly fellows, at least entertaining companions. Names like Jack Dwyer, Robert Payne and Sam McCain from Gorman, and Nate Heller, Quarry and Nolan from Collins.

Each has a hand in keeping the history of mystery and crime fiction alive. Gorman has edited many anthologies, co-founded and edited Mystery Scene magazine and written extensively about under-appreciated giants of the form like Vin Packer, Day Keene and Harry Whittington. Collins clearly has a stake in history as well, doing as much as anyone to educate and entertain people with stories of Eliot Ness, and working with unfinished manuscripts from the late Mickey Spillane to ensure every publishable word from that legend makes its way into the hands of fans.

And there is a point of pride in having these two here tonight, for each can be said to be just up the road, if you consider Interstate 380 and Highway 6 to be just roads. While the Iowa City area, recently designated as a UNESCO City of Literature, is certainly more than a dot on the map when it comes to writing, it’s still nice to have writers like these two cranking out great books from the Heartland to remind our brethren on the coasts that they’re missing out on plenty when they consider this flyover country.