Crime writer Zafiro to read tonight at Auntie’s

It's probably a good thing to separate artists from their art. Sometimes it's disappointing to meet someone whose work you admire and to discover that they're nothing like what you expect.

Other times, though, artists are exactly what you hope they will be when you meet them. In my career, I've enjoyed interviews with such celebrities as Bob Newhart, Dick Cavett, Salman Rushdie and even Kurt Vonnegut and was amazed at how humble and gracious they were — even when I asked the stupidest questions.

Thing is, we can't help but want to know more about people whose work we're familiar with. Which is why I'm posting this link to an interview with author Frank Zafiro.

Zafiro is a former Spokane police officer who has written a number of genre novels, mainly detective, mystery or noir. He will be reading from his latest novel (with Lawrence Kelter), "The Last Collar," at 7 tonight at Auntie's Bookstore.

The interview mentioned above is from 2010. Following are a few snippets from it:

"Stephen King has been an inspiration for a long time.  Not just his personal story (and his book, 'On Writing'), but the masterful way that he writes." 

"Dialogue is my strongest suit and I think of ways to work description into those threads, but finding the balance between painting a picture for the reader without losing her in the exposition is always a challenge."

As for advice, Zafiro offered this in a single word: "It comes from Joe Konrath, who told us that there is a word for a writer who never gives up." 

And that word: "Published."