Tim Reuben is the author of the new novel Tequila. He is also a trial lawyer, and he's based in Los Angeles.
Q: What inspired you to write Tequila, and how did you create your cast of characters?
A: My 40 years practicing law as a trial lawyer exposed me to countless scenarios and a huge variety of every type of person. I always wanted to write fiction, but after law school was simply too busy developing my legal career and being a parent of four children—coaching soccer, baseball, and basketball, etc. So for years, I only had time to write legal articles.
Finally, with kids grown, I had time and a rich experience from which to create characters and a complex plot.
Q: How did you research the book, and did you learn anything that especially surprised you?
A: For years I was interested in spirits and wine, and visited vineyards and distilleries. I even collected scotch whisky. And I always loved travel and went frequently to various islands in the Caribbean and also to Mexico for vacations, falling in love with that country, the food, the people, and of course, the tequila.
But Mexico has sadly been plagued by violence from organized crime, and this weighed on me, but also inspired me to write about it.
Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: I thought I knew how Tequila would end, but as it turned out, I changed my mind several times and the end is not at all what I originally planned. But I am very happy with my final decision on how to end Tequila. I would not want to answer further, because I don’t want to give the ending away.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: First, I hope people just enjoy reading the book. I wanted to write something that was interesting and fast and fun and made you want to read more. I do make a few observations about people and society, and I also try to suggest some moral guidelines through the story.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am writing the prequel to Tequila and have rough plans for the sequel, which I am very excited about. Both are Brian Youngman novels, and I call the three books The Spirits Series.
The working title for the prequel is Vodka and Gin, and for the sequel, Whisky. Most of the characters who survive the first two books will be reappearing in the sequel.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I think Tequila would be ideal for a mini-series. Maybe that will happen.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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