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It's A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Johnny Gilbert, author of Villains One Case of the Smooth Operator

Author’s Bio: A native of Detroit, Johnny Gilbert graduated from Specs Howard where he studied movie production. His interest in movies was inspired when he saw part 3 of “Nightmare on Elm Street” movie and believed he could write a better script. Shortly after he began to write his first novel, Villains One Case of the Smooth Operator, based on a persistent dream he had about a criminal in Detroit. He is already working on his next novel, which he says will be science fiction. His long-term goal is to have both books made into movies. 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

Johnny Gilbert: My book idea came from my dream to write an episode of the New York Undercover TV series. I started writing some ideas here and there. Then in the series one of the main characters, Eddie was killed off and they put a new crew around Williams, and I realized that my ideas wouldn’t work anymore. Fortunately, I was also into the Alex Cross movies with Morgan Freeman, so I decided to bring this new idea for a book to a Detroit setting. The main character in my book is Detective Avenue, who I made both a nephew of Alex Cross and a cousin of one of the detectives, Williams in New York Undercover (to include my original idea of writing an episode of New York Undercover). It was only after beginning to write my book that I learned that the character Alex Cross was based in Detroit – what a coincidence.    

DL: How do you handle writer’s block?

JG: I listen to lots of 90's Hip Hop, Smooth Jazz, and 80's Pop. When I write I'm trying to link to the next dot, I usually have a story mentally in pieces or dreams, so what's up ahead helps me go for it.  

DL: Describe your writing process?

JG: Like before it's usually in pieces, like building a roller coaster mentally. I write the action in twists and turns, the buildup are the lifts, the climaxes are the drops. I've always been focused on taking the reader on a mental roller coaster ride, which comes from my early writing of horror stories. 

DL: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

JG:  I read some Stephen King, Donald Goines, and Iceberg Slim. To me, they all and a few others tell different fiction stories out there.  

DL: What is the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?

JG: “Write where you have been” -- Stephen King. It helps if you’ve been there to describe a setting to give the reader a feeling of being there in their own mind. 

DL: If you were hosting a dinner party which three authors would be your dream guests and why?

JG: James Patterson - To see how he does it, he's a book dropping factory. Donald Goines - Just to pick his mind for things. The third might be Stephen King or John Carpenter for the things they put in their early work on the screen. 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers?

JG: Keep writing and remember your mind is like a studio with an unlimited budget, so your story can go anywhere you want to take it. 

DL: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

JG: Watching movies, listening to music, playing video games, and dabbling in the stock market. 

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from Villains One Case of the Smooth Operator?

JG: I like to leave that as a surprise, it’s worth seeing what it is about. However, I’ll share the synopsis below: 

The streets of Detroit have become a maze of terror as a serial killer zeroes in on unknowing victims. With time ticking, Detective Avenue is called back on duty to assist four detectives in the hunt for the serial killer, who has been murdering girls and leaving them in public places. With the pressure on after a media outlet alerts the public, Detective Avenue must use his skills before the killer finds his next target.

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

JG: I'm going back into my sci-fi roots. The story is based on the theory that the Earth is flat. A ship’s crew finds the truth in the Antarctic. I know I have not been there, but I have been in Detroit during winter when it's cold as hell outside. Lol. 

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book?

JG:  They can get more information here:

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

JG: Thank you. 






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