Jim Griffin became enamored of the Texas Rangers from watching the TV series, Tales of the Texas Rangers, as a youngster. He grew to be an avid student and collector of Rangers' artifacts, memorabilia and other items. While Jim's books are fiction, he strives to keep them as accurate as possible within the realm of fiction. A graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, Jim now lives in Keene, New Hampshire when he isn't traveling around the west. A devoted and enthusiastic horseman, Jim bought his first horse when he was a junior in college. He has owned several American Paint horses. He is a member of the Connecticut Horse Council Volunteer Horse Patrol, an organization which assists the state park Rangers with patrolling parks and forests.
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on? Many out West, Particularly to Texas
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? No
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
A little of both
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Start Sooner
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? Murder Above the Clouds
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? I’ve never been married, so I have to rely on my female friends for hints about that.
How many hours a day do you write? 4-6
How do you select the names of your characters? Some are made up, others are friends or relatives who want to be a character in a book.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? Yes. Ignore the bad, share the good.
How long on average does it take you to write a book? A month.
Tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know? I’m not really a people person, but I put up a good front.
Could you tell us a bit about BLOOD TIES and why it is a must-read? BLOOD TIES is the story of a Texas Ranger estranged from his family. He’s forced to return home for his sister’s wedding, and things get complicated when his father’s bank is robbed.
Million dollar question, are you working on another book? Yes, I’ve just completed my latest Texas Ranger Jim Blawcyzk, novel, TEXAS JEOPARDY. This one’s not a traditional Western, however, It’s set in 2017, with the sixth generation Jim Blawcyzk trying to solve a series of killings. At the same time, someone is out to kill him. There’s plenty of mystery, action, and my own unique brand of humor.
