From Legal Career To Crime Fiction Mastermind
PHOTO: Jeffrey Jay Levin: Award-winning author and master storyteller of gripping crime fiction and Cold War-era espionage. Photo by Elaine Belvin
Award-winning author Jeffrey Jay Levin shares insights into his writing process, the creative challenges behind his thrillers, and how he balances historical accuracy with imaginative storytelling to craft captivating narratives.
Jeffrey Jay Levin is a name synonymous with compelling storytelling and intricate narratives that captivate the imagination. An accomplished commercial real estate attorney turned crime fiction author, Jeffrey brings his meticulous, detail-oriented mindset to every page he writes. With a remarkable ability to blend taut suspense, historical resonance, and multidimensional characters, he has firmly established himself as a master of his craft. His latest work, Deep Cover: The Unknowing Agent, is a gripping exploration of Cold War-era espionage, complete with all the secrets, conspiracies, and human complexities that make spy thrillers so enduringly absorbing.
From the thrilling precision of his Watching series—featuring Volume 1: The Garden Museum Heist and Volume 2: Portrait of an Innocent Girl—to the thought-provoking themes in Deep Cover, Jeffrey’s works challenge readers to ponder not only the plots at hand but also the broader forces shaping the world around us. His novels are a celebration of intrigue, where no detail is insignificant and no twist predictable. Beyond his writing, Jeffrey’s fascinating life, with interests as varied as classic car restoration and family moments with his grandchildren, imbues his stories with a richness that reflects the complexity of the man behind the pen.
In this interview, Jeffrey Jay Levin shares his insights into his creative process, his inspirations, and the rigorous research that underpins his intricately plotted narratives. He offers readers a unique glimpse into the art of weaving historical truth with imaginative fiction and the joy of connecting with a community of readers and writers. Prepare to be inspired by the mind of an author who continues to push boundaries in the world of crime fiction.
What inspired you to write Deep Cover: The Unknowing Agent, and how did you research the espionage elements? My first novel, Volume 1 of the Watching series, had been accepted by my publisher and I was looking for a new, unrelated project. That led me to review some screenplays which I had previously written. When I came upon Deep Cover it once again resonated with me. The question of differences between political ideologies, and how those ideologies were implemented, had always fascinated me. I felt the time was ripe to expand and explore that theme. As for researching the espionage elements, I drew from history and years of reading.
Your stories often involve complex plots and unexpected twists—how do you approach plotting and character development? My writing is really plot driven. I’ve always been drawn to complex, multi-layered, stories. If I can figure out what happened in a story too much before the ending, I few it as a failure. I want my readers to go on the journey with my characters and be as surprised by what happens as they are. My approach to plotting is very much in-the-moment. Since plot comes first, my characters have to be able to carry that plot out in a believable fashion. So, my approach is to create characters that will work for the story. I also don’t want perfect characters. There have to be some flaws in order to make them authentic. I don’t know any perfect people (please don’t tell my family).
Watching: Volume 1, The Garden Museum Heist features a unique take on time travel. What challenges did you face when writing about time manipulation? The biggest challenge was to take a time tested trope and actually make it unique. I thought about the various types of time travel I’d seen or read: someone goes through a portal; someone touches a magic book; someone drinks a potion. In all of those scenarios the character was actually physically transported, so that became my first point of difference. The biggest challenge was to then create a way to make it happen, at least in a semi-believable way. My solution was a genetic reason with an external trigger. The pseudo-science employed is based on scientific fact, which, hopefully, lent some credence to it. Because the method of time travel was non-corporeal and non-interactive, I didn’t have any of the typical time travel paradox dilemmas.
How do you balance historical accuracy with creative storytelling in your novels? I find that, in order to make the story and creative aspect work, history has to be carefully woven into the story’s fabric. Once a reader realizes that aspects of the story are true (or mostly true) they become more willing to suspend their disbelief of the non-historical aspects.
Have your characters ever surprised you by taking the story in a direction you didn’t anticipate? All the time! I’ll have a course of action planned and, as I write, the characters decide to do something different, which usually turns out to be better! For me, that’s the most fun part of writing.
What do you enjoy most about engaging with your readers and online community? It’s always fun to hear that people are reading your work. It’s even more fun when they enjoy it! I have found the great majority of people to be friendly and encouraging.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are looking to write thrillers with intricate plots and deep character development? There’s no one right way to it. The only way to find what works for you is to do it. As I said earlier, I know people who spend years outlining every aspect of their story, or using spreadsheets to keep track of plot points and dates. And it works for them. For me, it seems too much like work. I started writing because it was fun and I want it to remain so.
