What initially sparked your interest in writing a book on the story of Butch Cassidy and the mystery behind his death? I've written other books about outlaws (Billy the Kid, John Wilkes Booth), and my father was the last man wanted in the United States for horse theft. I had this momentum of interest that carried over to Cassidy, who was an interesting and exciting character for an outlaw.
While researching the story of Butch Cassidy, what was one of the most shocking things you learned? Cassidy was a very charming young man, and his outlaw activities were, to a degree, great pranks he played on the railroads and banks, entities which he considered were unfair to landowners and others. Cassidy never killed a man.
What advice would you give to young writers? Don't quit your day job, but follow your dreams and passion.
Where has writing taken you that you did not expect it to? I was unprepared for the awards, the fame, the TV, the movies, etc. I was always fascinated and thrilled that people liked my writing that much. At heart, though, I'm not all that outgoing and was a bit uncomfortable with being on stage. I got used to it after a while, and now I don't do it so much anymore. Mostly, I just like to write and research.
