Why do you write the genre that you write?
I write what I would call historical noir. My short stories are contemporary, but I set in my novels in the near or distant past. There is a mystery because I feel that mystery engages readers, makes them an active participant since they are trying to sort out the clues and catch the culprit with my protagonist. I go historical because history interests me and I’m often shocked by how little people know the subject. As for noir, my writing might not be as overtly pessimistic as other writers, but I do venture into some dark territories. I gravitate towards complexity, the gray as opposed to black and white. I find that the menace that creeps up on you is far more sinister and memorable.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Nuts and dark chocolate chips is how I wind down after a writing session. When I’ve finished a novel, sent that email that throws the manuscript over the digital transom, I’ll have an Old Fashioned cocktail.

Who is an author you admire?
There are many authors I’ve come to admire as writers and as individuals. I appreciate writers who take chances and go outside their comfort zones. I mentioned Edwin Hill and James W. Ziskin in a recent post I did on Criminal Minds. Edwin’s The Secrets We Share juggles timelines and POV. Jim’s Bombay Monsoon transports readers to a different time and place: the India of 1975. The political crisis he describes should prove disquieting and relevant to readers.

What is next for you?
I’m working through revisions of the first of two novels I’ve written that are set in 1930s Shanghai. Historical figures populate the story and I hope to introduce readers to a forgotten slice of history. I’d describe the first novel as Downtown Abbey meets Narcos.

Where can we find you?
Web: gabrielvaljan.com
Twitter: @GValjan
IG: @gabrielvaljan

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate or vanilla
Chocolate

Cake or ice cream
You’re kidding, right? I scream for ice cream.

Fruits or vegetables
Vegetables. I love them roasted.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast

Dining in or dining out
Dining in.

City life or country living
City

Beach or mountain
Mountain

Summer or winter
Winter. You can always get warm, but not easy to cool off.

Short story or full-length novel
Novel. Honestly, I like both, but for different reasons.

Extrovert or introvert
Hello? Textbook introvert.

Early bird or night owl
Early to squawk.

And even more fun . . .

What is your favorite movie?
Toss-up, between My Man Godfrey and Some Like It Hot.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
1. DVD box set of Billy Wilder’s noirs and comedies.
2. Laptop with infinite battery life.
3. A boat with Munchkin in it.

My bio:
Gabriel Valjan is the author of the Roma Series, The Company Files, and the Shane Cleary Mysteries. He has been nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Silver Falchion Awards, and received the 2021 Macavity Award for Best Short Story. Gabriel is a member of ITW, MWA, and Sisters in Crime. He lives in Boston. Munchkin is his feline overlord.

Liar’s Dice is out March 14, 2022 from Level Best Books.