The following is an interview with writer Ben Crane regarding the upcoming release of the crime noir novel, A Man of Lies, through Pegasus Books. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Crane about the creative process of bringing the story and characters to life, his creative influences, what he hopes that readers will take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of A Man of Lies! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the book’s premise, and what inspired you to tell this story?
Ben Crane: Thank you so much! And thank you for taking the time to talk with me about A Man of Lies. The book takes place across four days in Omaha, NE, as Barrett Rye, a mafia enforcer turned conman, tries to execute the elaborate heist that he and his boyfriend, Mickey, have planned. They intended to use the money to leave the mob for good until they got caught stealing from their boss and Mickey was killed. Barrett is now trying to pull the con off on his own, not to get away, but to save his own life.
Barrett is a character who has been with me for years. I’ve always been drawn to stories about people fighting against the pigeonholes that society puts them in and the way perception limits who we can be. Barrett has always been told that he’s nothing but a goon, and it’s made him miserable. I am just eternally fascinated by the struggle to match who we see ourselves as with who the world sees us as.
Beyond that, when I first sat down and started writing this book, I was going through a major transition in my own career and trying to figure out what I really want out of life. A lot of my own anxiety wound up in these pages as I worked through all that. What does it mean to be happy with the person I am, and how do I get to that point? How do we move forward from mistakes and avoid getting trapped in the same ruts all over again?
BD: The novel deftly combines crime noir with the fast-paced thrill of a heist. What can you share with us about your creative process in weaving these narratives together, and what have been some of your creative influences?
BC: I’m glad to hear I managed to pull the combination off! While they’re both “crime” genres, noirs are usually very focused and driven by a single, clear protagonist, but heist stories are more ensemble pieces with sprawling casts. So, while this is definitely Barrett’s story, I also wound up with eight point-of-view characters across the book. And while the action of the book proper covers only a four-day span in Omaha, the narrative reaches all the way back to the 1800s and as far away as Moscow and Seoul.
My first challenge was designing the heist that the book revolves around, and what I wound up with was a bloated, unwieldy mess. So then, I needed to cut and cut and cut until I was left with only exactly what and who I needed to drive the story. Once I had that, I then needed to figure out how to present it in a way that wouldn’t overwhelm the reader with the number of different characters and plotlines.
I have to acknowledge an infinite debt to early Guy Ritchie movies, Snatch especially, and the great heist and conspiracy thrillers of the ’60s and ’70s. I learned so much about how to plan and deliver a complex plot from studying those. I also owe a great deal to Dennis Lehane, who was my introduction to literary crime, and Elmore Leonard, whose philosophy on crafting prose has been my touchstone.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Barrett’s story may connect with and impact readers?
BC: Barrett’s struggle—and to a certain extent the struggle of all the characters in this book—is the struggle to be seen and recognized for who he is. Each of these people is broken, in their own way, by the disconnect between who the world says they can be, and who they want themselves to be. That pain is something all of us go through.
I also wanted to bring a bit of queerness to the macho (often toxicly so) world of noir. I’ll consider it a success if I can get one reader who would usually stay away from a gay romance to fall in love with two very sweet and vulnerable men.
BD: What makes Pegasus Books the perfect home for A Man of Lies?
BC: The best thing about being with an indie publisher is knowing they’re publishing your book because they really love it, not because it checks some box in their release schedule that marketing said they need to fill.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Pegasus. I know I can pick up any of their books and it’ll really challenge me and make me think. So, I was beyond thrilled when I heard they were interested in A Man of Lies. From my very first conversation with the team over there, it was just so clear that they got the book and what I was trying to do. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to bring Barrett’s story to the world.
BD: Do you foresee expanding the novel into subsequent books or even into other entertainment mediums, if given the opportunity?
BC: Without giving too much away (This is a noir, after all, so I can’t guarantee that everyone—or anyone—makes it out the other side of the book alive.), I will say that I love every character in this book and would be absolutely thrilled to get to spend more time with any of them, should the fates align.
As far as other media, my background is actually in film. I spent a decade working in film and TV development—leaving that was the aforementioned major career shift—before moving to publishing. In my time there, I saw so many books where it was clear the author was just chasing a TV deal. If it happens for A Man of Lies, I’ll be thrilled, but all my energy and focus has been on making sure this book is the best book that it can be.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
BC: Yes! For a taste of something completely different, my partner and I just published an all-ages sci-fi graphic novel called Cosmic Cadets: Contact! It’s a big Star Trek-inspired adventure story about empathy and fear that I am incredibly proud of, and the sequel to that is being drawn right now.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about A Man of Lies and your other work?
BC: The best way is to sign up for my newsletter at bencranewrites.com. I’m also on Twitter (@benacrane) if you want to hear my thoughts on board games or follow my adventures in sourdough loaves that fail to rise.
