Help me interview a former homicide detective

Bruce Coffin's on the line; what should I ask him?

I’ve been lucky enough to cross paths with Bruce Coffin a handful of times over the years in Maine’s incredibly collegial crime-writer space. We went to lunch recently, where I asked him some questions about the novel I’m revising, and we passed a couple hours talking about law and writing. A few days later, I asked him if he’d ever do an interview for Present Tense, and he said yes, you lucky ducks!!!!

So, now’s your chance to ask him a question yourself. Not only does he have a laudible background in law enforcement, but he’s an excellent crime writer with a faithful fan base. (And, he co-writes a series with another author! I could ask twenty questions about that, alone!)

Here’s his bio from his author website, just to give a sampling of areas people might be interested in delving into:

Bruce Robert Coffin is the award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries, co-author of The Turner and Mosley Files along with bestselling author LynDee Walker, and author of the forthcoming Detective Justice Mysteries. A former detective sergeant with more than twenty-seven years in law enforcement, he supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations for Maine's largest city. Following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Bruce spent four years investigating counter-terrorism cases for the FBI, earning the Director's Award, the highest award a non-agent can receive.

Winner of Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion Awards for Best Procedural, Best Investigator, and the Maine Literary Award for Best Crime Fiction Novel, Bruce was also a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel. His Anthony Award nominated short fiction appears in more than a dozen anthologies, including Best American Mystery Stories 2016.

Bruce is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Short Mystery Fiction Society, and the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. He is a contributor to the Murder Books blog.

Bruce is represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary Services.

He lives and writes in Maine.

If you have a burning question for Bruce, either drop it in the comments or reply to this newsletter.

Interview to publish sometime in July! (Lately my usual slot has been the first Thursday of the month, but my firm is merging with another and we’re moving offices next week, so I’m going to get my post out a bit late this time. Guest piece from Kristin Offlier coming first, and soon enough Bruce will be in your inbox!!)

Caitlin Wahrer is the Edgar-nominated author of The Damage, which was a NYT Editor’s Choice and Elisabeth Egan’s Group Text pick. Caitlin lives in Maine where she practices law, writes books, and enjoys the outdoors with her family.