Michael Kaufman
/How did you become a writer?
Grade two. I decided to write a book. Called it “Mike’s Dream.” The teacher gave it to the school librarian, who put it onto a shelf among the other books. I was hooked.
Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).
Diverse as all get out. Because I write both fiction and nonfiction, my influences are all over the map. On the fiction side, I’m an eclectic reader. Half are classics — especially from the 19th and first half of the 20th century; the rest is mainly mysteries, plus some sci-fi and contemporary literary fiction. For my nonfiction, my books have focused on the themes of my activist/advising work with the United Nations, governments, and NGOs — that is, engaging men to support women’s rights, end violence against women, support diversity and inclusion, and positively transform the lives of men.
When and where do you write?
I’m a lucky man. I have a cozy office on the third floor of our house with the perfect office chair and two grand monitors. I look west across Toronto and listen for the screech of hawks and the insistent call of blue jays. As for when, it depends on other demands: paid work, shopping and cooking, getting some exercise. But my fav writing days are when I start in the morning and can’t drag myself away from my computer until late at night.
What are you working on now?
My latest is book two of my Jen Lu/Chandler mystery series. “The Last Resort” (coming out in January 2023, but available for a ridiculously low price as an eBook only in December) is set in Washington, D.C., in 2034 and features police detective Jen Lu who has a habit of taking on cases that no one on the planet but her, thinks is actually a case. Sure, the climate crisis is hitting hard along with ever-growing inequality, but this isn’t another bleak dystopia where you want to jump out a window at the end. I set out to write a fun, page-turning book but one that deals with serious political and social issues. About half is narrated by Jen’s “partner” Chandler, the bio-computer implant tucked into her brain. Chandler is a wannabe tough guy, but since he’s not even three years old, he has a hard time pulling it off.
Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?
Nope. However, there are inevitable moments when I can’t figure out a scene. I usually go for a walk and, distracted by trees and squirrels, people and buildings, I start hearing my characters talking to each other and the scene starts fleshing out. It’s quite a miracle.
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Trust editors. The good ones are awfully smart.
What’s your advice to new writers?
All the usual: Read, not only in your genre but as widely as possible. Stoke your curiosity. Be prepared for disappointments: Writing is a craft that requires practice, humility, and patience. Don’t hesitate to weave political and social themes into your writing. And, of course, write, write, write.
Michael Kaufman is the author of the Jen Lu series, set in Washington D.C. in the 2030s. Publishers Weekly called The Last Exit “outstanding.” Michael has worked in fifty countries with the United Nations, governments, companies, and NGOs engaging men to promote women’s rights, end gender-based violence, support diversity and inclusion, and positively transform the lives of men. He holds a PhD in political science. His most recent non-fiction book is The Time Has Come: Why Men Must Join the Gender Equality Revolution. His articles have appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times, and many other papers and journals. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and Durham, North Carolina and now lives in Toronto, Canada.
