I was impressed by the quiet intensity with which Castle spoke. "That's – wow, it sounds like the sort of love most people only dream about."
"It was for me – it was something I always wanted but wasn't sure I would ever have. I'm very lucky," Castle acknowledged.
"Speaking of dreams, did you ever envision this life for yourself? Millions of books sold around the world, fame, fortune, solving crime with the police, a beautiful wife and kids?"
"I did. I'm not going to lie and say that I never dreamed of this, because I totally did. Growing up, I read books about solving crime, catching the bad guy, falling in love and lust with a stunning, strong, sassy woman, settling down after a misspent youth and having a family with her. I pictured myself on the pages of those books. It's ironic that I sort of wrote my way into becoming that guy I used to read about. But it certainly wasn't planned on my part; a lot of it was the hands of fate – somehow I was at the right place at the right time. As I said, I'm a lucky guy."
"Sounds like a charmed life – so now that you've achieved all this success both personally and professionally, what more is there to shoot for? Is there anything missing that you can still look forward to? What keeps you going?" I wanted to know.
Castle paused, and his response, when it came, was thoughtful. "There's always something more to yearn for, that's both the beauty and the tedium of life. Of course I want to see my children grow up. I want to be there for them for as long as I can. I want to keep giving back to my friends, my city, the people who have always supported me. I want to write more books – I'm nowhere close to running out of ideas.
And I've got it pretty good, but the picture is never perfect – not for anyone. Good friends die, loved ones get sick, and people you trust stab you in the back. And sometimes it's the simple things. For example, I've been in Europe on this tour for several weeks now, and my kids have been able to join me here in London, which has been awesome. But we're all really missing the special someone we had to leave back in New York."
It was obvious to whom he was referring. "Inspector Beckett. So even after over a decade and three children together, you're clearly still in love, still missing each other when you're apart. Is it safe to say that this is it for you?" I enquired.
"Well, I certainly hope so, because at my age, it's either this or ending up the sad, creepy old uncle with the old candy and magic tricks in his pockets, the one that everyone avoids at family gatherings. No, seriously, there are no guarantees in life, but we've got a great thing going, and we both know it. We've become such a part of each other - our lives are so intertwined at this point that it feels as though we've known each other forever. And it's been that way pretty much from the start, even before we became a couple. So we're obviously in this for the long haul."
"Your wife said the very same thing when I spoke to her – she spoke so fondly about your relationship. And she gave you a lot of the credit for keeping things sane at home, especially with the demands of her job. Would you say that being a writer helps you with that?"
Castle chuckled. "She gives me too much credit, because trust me, there've been many times that she's come home to a complete madhouse. But yes, one of the blessings of a writing career is being able to work at home. But it's a two-edged sword, because with young children, it can be hard to get any work done. They have their own demands, which have to come first. And although we have help, you still want to parent your own kids, not pay someone else to do it. Now that my kids are a little older, I write as much as I can at night and while they're at school – because it can be hard to find time during the rest of the day."
"What triggers the creative process for you?" I wanted to know where Castle finds his far-fetched theories.
"Little things. It's always little things. It's the small magical moments that work their way into your memory and won't let go. The way a woman bites her lip, the way she looks over her shoulder, the way she pushes her hair behind her ear, the way she holds herself when she walks. Or it could be the way a random guy in the street shuffles around, the way a new waitress greets you at a restaurant, the way someone looks you straight in the eye even though they're telling you an obvious lie. And then suddenly you have this intricate idea building itself in your head, about a spy and the disguises he adopts in his mission to free the world from the latest terrorist menace." The animation with which Castle addressed this question reminded me of a kid in the proverbial candy-store.
"And then I suppose it's a race to get it all down."
"Yes, at that point it's almost like an impulse. And at times like that, having a writer at home is a challenge for everyone else. Writing is inherently a solitary task, so I can't share it with the rest of the family while it's actually happening, except when I stop for a break. That means there are times when I'm 'home but not home', especially when I have a deadline looming or I'm trying to map out a complex story – and that kind of 'absent presence' can be very hard on everyone."
(I was surprised and intrigued to hear extrovert Castle describe the lone nature of writing.) "You can't be that hard to live with though - you seem like such an easygoing kind of guy. In fact, I was going to mention that you really don't conform to any of the usual writer-stereotypes –"
"Oh, you mean the tortured, lonely soul, with no social skills – or personal hygiene skills – whatsoever, trapped in the world he's created in his head, estranged from the real world; frustrated with foul, crass humanity; living alone and dying alone?"
"Exactly," I confirmed, laughing at his description.
"There's some truth to that stereotype – writing is solitary work, and so as a writer you do sort of get used to your own company. I am a pretty upbeat kind of guy, but there is a side to me that's very private, and I think many writers have that; the part of them that's just very – internal – and sort of removed from the world round them. It comes with the territory, I think.
But I also love human interaction. I love people – I'm fascinated by their foibles, their imperfections, their insecurities, even their more sinister impulses. My mother is extremely outgoing, and she loves to entertain – I guess that's natural for an actress – so I must have inherited that from her. I really enjoy people – talking with them, listening to them, trying to figure them out, and in common with most other writers, I think, just observing them."
"So that human contact keeps you from going too far down the rabbit-hole?"
"Yes – as I mentioned earlier, becoming a parent early in life was great for me, because when there's a baby crying and needing your attention, it doesn't matter whether you're writing an intense scene and you're 'in the zone' or not.
Also, I can't get so caught up in my writing that I forget to actually go out and live. Writing can be fun, but there's so much more fun to be had out in the real world. And I think that going out and living a full life just makes you a better writer. The more you engage with the world, the more you learn – you soak up all these ideas and experiences, and it all spills out onto the page where it can reach someone else."
"Your eldest daughter, Alexis (now 32), must have adapted to life with a writer pretty early, since it was just the two of you for so long."
"Yes, she did," Castle confirmed. "She's always been very smart and aware of her environment. She understood from an early age that when 'Dad was writing' I was doing my job. Sometimes she would get frustrated by it, but mostly she would be patient, because she knew that when I took a break, she would have my full attention. And she loved having a writer at home – I always involved her in the process, and we both enjoyed that. She would read my work and offer really insightful advice. She was usually the first person to read my drafts – and sometimes, she still is."
"She's accomplished a great deal at a young age – bringing awareness to youth issues, speaking out for those who can't speak for themselves..."
"Yes, I always knew she would grow up to be an amazing woman, and it's just been a privilege to watch that unfold."
"She got married earlier this year (to environmental scientist Carlos Suarez). What was that like for you?"
"Emotional. Very emotional. There are no words to describe it."
"Not even for a bestselling writer?" I teased.
"No. I've been at a loss for words very few times in my life, and that was one of them. But it was a very happy day." He really was lost for words at this point, clearly a rarity for Castle. I was curious as to how he'd been able to establish such a close bond with his daughter.
"You obviously share a unique bond. You were a single father raised by a single mother. Without a father figure in your life, how challenging was it to raise a child, and a daughter at that? You didn't exactly have a playbook to draw from. How did your experience of growing up fatherless affect your own fathering skills?"
"Just to clarify, although Alexis' mother didn't live with us after we split up, she's always been a part of Alexis' life. And I don't care how many 'playbooks' you have – raising a child is always a challenge, but I really lucked out with Alexis. She was – and is – such a great kid, and we could always talk about anything, or at least most things, without fear of judgment. That's what's most important, I think; that closeness and communication."
"What's parenting like now, with such a huge age difference between Alexis and her younger siblings?"
"It's just as much fun now as it was then. They're just great kids too, and we're all extremely close. It's more exhausting now that I'm older, and the other day I overheard one of my daughter's friends ask her why her granddad was always showing up at school – go ahead, say ouch, I know you want to (I did) – but still it's a lot of fun."
"I can imagine that. Inspector Beckett did say you like to play."
"I do – yes, I might be 'Grandpa Dad', but I do like to play, sometimes even more than the children themselves. But I'll let you in on a little secret – so does Beckett. Oh, she's amazing at her job, intense, professional, thorough, the best investigator I've ever had the privilege of observing (and I've seen quite a few); but when she's with her family and close friends, she's absolutely the life and soul of the party."
"You two obviously share a great love story. Is that what you've tried to depict in the Nikki Heat novels? Are the novels in some way a tribute to your wife, an account of your life together? We know that many of the books are dedicated to her."
"I get that question a lot, as you can imagine, and with good reason. So much of what I've accomplished since I met Kate is a tribute to her. She inspired me to create Nikki Heat, and she's inspired me in a million ways since then. So in that sense, the Heat novels are a tribute to her. But Nikki and Rook aren't Kate and I. Their story is theirs, and ours is ours."
"Natalie Rhodes has played Nikki Heat in three hit films now, with a fourth currently in production. How do you feel about the Nikki Heat films? It can be quite weird for writers, can't it, seeing your work adapted for the big screen?"
Castle smiled. "You have to understand, Nikki is very close to my heart, so yes, I was a little anxious about the films. You always wonder if the screenwriter will be able to distil the most important elements from the story, or if the cast will do justice to your characters. But Natalie brings Nikki to life beautifully. She really understands her from the inside out. And of course, she brings the heat to Nikki Heat. So I'm happy, and looking forward to the next one."
"What do you say to those critics who want to see a 'fresh face' for Nikki; who feel that, at 44, Natalie Rhodes is now too old to play the role?" I enquired.
"I say that they should kick themselves for not realizing, this far into the 21st century, that women can be dynamic, kickass and sexy at any age. I should know; I live with a woman who's even more beautiful, inside and out, now than she was when I first met her 16 years ago – and that's saying something."
I was curious about how Castle responds to the fact that his books are more accessible than acclaimed. "Your books have always had great commercial success, great popularity. Critical acclaim from the literary establishment has been harder to come by. How has that affected you?"
"For me, commercial success and popularity is awesome. I write primarily to entertain, and as long as my readers enjoy my books and keep coming back for more, I'm happy. I accepted a long time ago that I'm never going to win a Pulitzer or be lauded in the New York Review of Books, and I have no problem with that."
"One final question – what advice would you give to the aspiring writers who might read this interview?"
"When it comes to writing, as with most things in life, I truly believe that there is no formula. It really is different for every writer. You figure out what works for you, and you do it. And the more you do it, the better you get.
But I'll just talk about a few of the things that have helped me. This is such a cliché, but write, write, write. Writers only discover their own style by writing. Writers only get better by writing. If you're afraid to write because you don't think you'll be good enough, then you'll never find out if you could be any good.
Write what you know, and write what you don't know. Use your knowledge, but use your imagination too – the best writers use both well. And write to please yourself first – if you can find some pleasure in what you write, it's more likely to appeal to your readers. Don't play to the gallery – the best writing is found by the reader; it doesn't hunt down the reader with a rifle.
It's also important to read – and read widely. That one's pretty obvious - I've never known a good writer who didn't love to read. Have fun – be intrigued by your story, your characters. When it stops being fun, when you wake up every morning and you just feel indifferent about your work, then it's probably time to take a step back and reassess."
I just had to ask about a feeling that's familiar to every writer. "And how do you deal with self-doubt? You know, that moment when you look at what you've just spent a bunch of sleepless nights writing, and you're fairly convinced it's complete and utter tripe?"
"You rewrite – until you have something that you're sort of happy with. But it's never going to be 'perfect', and that's okay. Perfect is boring. And then you have to do the most terrifying thing – share it. If you have someone in your life whose opinion you trust and respect, like I do with Kate and my kids, start with them. And take their criticism in good faith – you need constructive criticism. It's nice to be told how great and fabulous you are, how you're the next PD James, and how James Patterson isn't worthy to tie your shoelaces, but it won't help you improve.
Then you find a way to get your work out there. Because it's not as much fun when you're writing but no one's reading. For a writer, the ultimate insult is not being told that your writing sucks; it's being told that it's not even worth reading. I could write a book about trying to get published – and I won't, because that would be one boring book – but the biggest thing is that you have to get used to rejection. I mean that sincerely, because almost all writers will experience that sting when they're trying to get something published. And for a writer, rejection can be a great thing – it keeps you honest, keeps you striving.
Have fun with it; don't take it too seriously. Take it all in your stride – the failures and the successes. As a young writer, my mother always liked to read me my worst reviews, and I understand why. Writing can be quite the power trip – you sell some books, get a couple of people writing you to say how much they loved it, and then it's amazingly easy to start walking around thinking you're God's gift to the world. Not only does that make you an insufferable ass; it affects the quality of your writing. You start to lose the hunger, the sense of wonder that brings out the best in a writer. It makes you jaded, cynical, lazy, or pretentious, or some awful combo of those things. Trust me, I've been there."
"Great practical advice," I acknowledged. "Thank you so much for your time."
"My pleasure."
So there you have it – writer, family man, keen observer of human nature. Richard Castle is both whimsical and worldly-wise in his view of the world, and the contrast is charming. One interesting thing about this interview is that I didn't notice until much later that Castle may have played me – the proud father completely ignored my question about his own father's absence from his childhood. An intentional sidestep? Or just a harmless omission? I don't know. I do know, though, that Castle is an intriguing man – just as intriguing in his own way as the characters he creates in his books. Which reminds me – 'Desperate Heat' is out everywhere now, and it's a cracking read – perfect for the summer.
A/N: So there's Part 2... I think Christina might have a little bit of a crush on Castle. I would really love to know what you think about the interview in general. I'm thinking of doing a 'reunion' chapter for this one as well, like I did for 'The Real Deal'; so please watch this space. And there'll be more interviews to come... the next ones will be in a different format and set at a different point in time, and we'll get to see a very different (and less zen, LOL) side of Castle and Beckett, so I hope you'll join me for that. Thanks again for all your kind reviews and support – I appreciate it so much.
