For Author, Crime Pays

Michael Connelly always knew he wanted to write crime novels.

He majored in both journalism and creative writing at the University of Florida, then worked as a crime reporter at newspapers that included the Los Angeles Times. But when his third novel, “The Concrete Blonde,” was published in 1994, he left The Times to devote all his work time to fiction.

Today, Connelly’s books have won every major mystery prize--including the Edgar, the Anthony, the Macavity, the Nero, the Maltese Falcon (Japan) and the .38 Caliber and Grand Prix (France).

On a publicity tour for his 10th novel, “A Darkness More Than Night” (Little Brown & Co., $25.95), Connelly will appear in Thousand Oaks at Barnes & Noble today and at Mysteries to Die For on Sunday.

Connelly recently discussed his transition to fiction in a phone interview from his home in Santa Monica Canyon, where he lives with his wife and young daughter.

“I found it almost exhilarating to go from nonfiction to fiction because of all the caution and constrictions in writing journalism,” he said. “I would do that by day and come home at night and write my novels for a couple of hours.”

Since he writes crime novels, there is the obvious component of a puzzle to solve in his books--like who did it. But he said that his novels are really more about the characters overcoming obstacles, especially obstacles that come from within. The best-written crime fiction is more character-centric than plot-driven, he said.

“I put a higher price on the characterization or the theme--what do I want to bring out in this character, what is the inner conflict I want to explore and have this person overcome,” he said. He doesn’t outline his books--he just starts writing them and working the plot out as he goes along. He said it often means backing up and fixing things, but it’s the way he has always worked.

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LAPD Det. Harry Bosch is the protagonist in seven of his novels, with Los Angeles as the backdrop. In a departure, his fifth novel, “The Poet,” features Jack McElvoy, a police reporter who investigates someone who kills children--a novel he wrote before he had his own child.

“Now that I am a father, I would not write a book like that again,” Connelly said. “I’m not saying that there is anything wrong about the book--in fact, it’s probably one of my better books. I’m talking about it from the viewpoint of a writer--you have to spend a year with the subject matter. My mind-set is now that I would not spend a year probing or delving into the mind-set of people like that anymore.”

Connelly’s latest venture is “Level 9,” a new-age cop show that first aired on Friday nights in October on the UPN network. He and co-creator Josh Meyer tell stories about cyber crime investigated by federal agents from the Treasury Department, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service.

According to Connelly, the FBI’s method of ranking crime places level nine as the most catastrophic kind of cyber crime. He said episodes usually start with a “what if.” For example, what if someone got into the computer that has the United States marshal’s witness protection identification lists, or what if someone could load a virus onto a plane in mid-flight?

While seven of his 10 novels have been optioned for film, nothing definite has happened with any of them--a typical Hollywood story, he said. Visit his Web site at https://www.michaelconnelly.com to learn more about his work.

HAPPENINGS

* Today: 10:30 a.m. Stories about favorite bears. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., 446-2820.

* Today: 7:30 p.m. Michael Connelly will discuss and sign his new novel, “A Darkness More Than Night.” Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Sunday: 1 p.m. The Writing Community, a writing group for all genres, begins a new session in Simi Valley. First meeting is free. For more information, call Pat Craig at 522-5532.

* Sunday: 1 p.m. Thomas Perry will discuss and sign “Death Benefits.” Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084.

* Sunday: 5 p.m. Michael Connelly will discuss and sign his new novel, “A Darkness More Than Night.” Mysteries to Die For, 374-0084.

* Sunday: 7 p.m. Poetry Night group discussion followed by open mike. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., 497-8159.

* Monday: 10:30 a.m. Story time for toddlers and preschoolers with Miss Mona. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Monday: 1 p.m. James A. Doss signs “Grandmother Spider.” Mysteries to Die For, 374-0084.

* Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. Story time about Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and friends. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Wednesday: 7 p.m. Nevada Barr signs “Blood Lure.” Mysteries to Die For, 374-0084.

* Wednesday: 7 p.m. American Girls Club. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Thursday: 7 p.m. Discussion on “Jitter Joint” by Howard Swindle. Mysteries to Die For, 374-0084.

* Friday: 1 p.m. Creative Gatherings with the core book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. Registration appreciated. Borders, 497-8159.

* Friday: 1 p.m. Imagination: A Creativity Workshop, with the core books “Room to Write” by Bonnie Goldberg and “Drawing on the Artist Within” by Betty Edwards. Borders, 497-8159.

Information about book signings, writers groups and publishing events can be e-mailed to anns40@aol.com or faxed to 647-5649.