On June 24th, I [Jack] had an [electronic] interview with Raymond Benson; I'm still wondering why he actually did it...
Jack Curry: As a writer, I just have to ask this first question: where do you find inspiration for your books?
Raymond Benson: From a number of sources... my head, the internet, the news, everyday events, whatever... this is the question all writers hate.
JC: [I feel your pain] Ian Fleming always saw Bond as the person he always wanted to be. Would you ever compare any aspect of Bond with yourself?
RB: No. He has a very high tolerance to pain. I don't.
JC: The Union is the first steady organization in your books, just as there was SMERSH and SPECTRE with Fleming. Are there going to be any other steady organizations in your books, or have you not decided?
RB: Undecided.
JC: I just got finished reading 'Zero Minus Ten' (which, as a first book [as well as a normal Bond book] is a great book!), and I happened to stumble across the disclaimer on one of the first pages. Did you put it there just for legal reasons, or just to tell the reader that this is a Bond book, and the event should (and can not) not be attempted?
RB: The disclaimer refers to the real bank where a chase takes place. The bank asked me to put in the disclaimer.
JC: Just out of curiosity, have you seen the Bond lithographs made by Jeff Marshall?
RB: Not sure. I've seen some lithographs. Not sure who did them.
JC: How many more Bond books are you going to do?
RB: As many as they'll let me! Right now, there will be 3 more.
JC: If one of your books were ever made into a movie, which one would you want it to be?
RB: All of them would be nice, but I particularly like "High Time to Kill".
JC: I'm sure this is every Bond fan's dying question: what is your next book going to be called, and will the Union be destroyed (you don't have to answer the second part of the question if you don't want to)?
RB: It will most likely be called "Never Dream of Dying"... and I can't reveal what happens to the Union, silly!
JC: Last question: do you like my website?
RB: Very nice.
JC: Cool. Well, thanks a lot for taking some time out of your day to let me pick your brains!
RB: They're a little mushy today, sorry.
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