Interview with David Liss, Author of The Devil's Company
Dorothy Thompson
June 24, 2009
Thank you for this interview, David. Can you tell us briefly what your latest book, The Devil´s Company, is all about?
David: Like many of my other novels, The Devil´s Company is a historical thriller set in the dangerous world of pre-modern finance. In this case, it´s about the British East India company in the early 1720s. We tend to associate the East India Company with tea, but in the early part of the 18th century, its main import was textiles – until Parliament forced it to give up this trade because it was competing with home grown industries. So, like GM and Chrysler today, the East India Company had to figure out how to change and modernize in order to survive. In this novel my protagonist, Benjamin Weaver, a thief taker (a sort of 18th century private investigator) is blackmailed into going undercover at the East India Company, and what he discovers is a lot of intrigue, foreign spies, government operatives, and a large number of very dangerous and greedy people who are all more complicated than they seem.
Can you tell us who or what was the inspiration behind your book?
David: I love writing about financial history, and I´ve written several books already about corrupt and tumultuous markets. In this case, I wanted to write about an actual company, preferably one at the dawn of the modern company – in other words, the company as we understand it today. Almost as soon as I began my research I knew that the British East India Company was perfect for my story. I love the labyrinthine world of corporate politics, the back-stabbing and double-dealing – and that´s just among the guys who are supposed to be on the same team.
Is this your first published book and if so, can you tell us your experiences in finding a publisher for it?
David: No, this is my sixth book, so things run pretty smoothly. I´ve had the same publisher, Random House, since selling my first novel.
How has Random House been to work with?
David: Like all writers, I get frustrated with my publisher from time to time, but I have to say that Random House has been absolutely great to me throughout my career. They have always supported my work, and they have allowed me to pursue my own interests. I am extremely fortunate to have the support of the house and my fantastic editor, Jennifer Hershey. And as soon as this response is published, they promise to release my cat unharmed.
Do you have an agent?
David: Yes, I am very fortunate to work with Liz Darhansoff at Darhansoff, Verrill, Feldman. I don´t know if I would have a career, or what it would look like, without my agent.
Can you tell us how long it took you to write your book and also how long it took from the time Random House sent the contract and the time it was released?
David: This novel has an unusual publication history. It probably took less time to write than any other book I´ve done, but only because the idea came to me so clearly. I finished it about three years ago, and at that time, my publisher was interested in putting out first the novel on which I was then beginning work: The Whiskey Rebels. The idea was that a book about the Founding Fathers would build my readership more than a book about the East India Company. I don´t know if they were right, but I do know they did a fantastic job marketing The Whiskey Rebels, and there is no doubt that their efforts brought in many new readers. The downside was that I had a novel, which I really enjoyed writing and which many of my readers wanted to see, sitting on the shelf for what felt to me like a long time. I then finished The Whiskey Rebels in early ´08, (and it took longer to write than any other book I´ve done), and it came out last fall. Now, nine months later here comes The Devil´s Company. Now when people tell me how impressed they are that I am publishing another novel so soon, I usually just smile and let them think I am a really hard worker.
Do you have any words of inspiration from other writers who would like to be wearing your shoes?
David: When I was working on my first novel, my motto was: "Some people get published; I might as well be one of them." The only magic that separates the unpublished from the published is producing a good manuscript and having a bit of luck. My other piece of advice is to write a book you would like to read. Don´t try to outsmart the market, but write something an avid reader – like yourself – would enjoy.
I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in July via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?
David: Book marketing has changed a great deal in the last ten years. Many publishers have always been uncertain about the efficacy of the traditional book tour, especially in today´s contracting media market. It is more difficult than ever before for fiction writers to get television and radio time, and most newspapers and magazines are shrinking the space allotted for book coverage. As a result, readers are turning increasingly to the internet for news, reviews and information about books. I think the virtual book tour is a great way to connect directly with the people I hope will enjoy the kind of novel I write.
What´s next for you?
David: I will be publishing my first comic book with Marvel this September: Daring Mystery Comics Annual #1, featuring a super-cool Golden Age character, the Phantom Reporter. I am also hard at work on my next novel, which is set during the Luddite uprising in 1811- 1812.
Thank you for this interview, David. Can you tell us how we can find out more about you and your new book?
David: Sure. Just visit my fascinating and informative web page, www.davidliss.com.
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