Michael McGarrity is an award-winning author who has published 15 novels over the duration of an illustrious career. He wrote about law enforcement, the judicial system and psychotherapy before penning his first novel, “Tularosa”.
With the publication of “Tularosa,” McGarrity turned to writing full-time, and many of his novels have been national bestsellers. He has been recognized with several awards for this work, including the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in Literature, the Frank Waters Exemplary Literary Achievement Award and the Santa Fe Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, Literature.
McGarrity, who currently lives in Santa Fe, has also had a local impact. He has been instrumental in establishing scholarships for New Mexico students, including the Hillerman-McGarrity Creative Writing Scholarship at UNM, the Richard Bradford Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship at Santa Fe Community College and the N. Scott Momaday Creative Writing Scholarship at the Institute of American Indian Arts.
The Daily Lobo sat down with McGarrity to talk about his craft, student writers and the importance of literature.
DL: What made you decide to become a writer? Was it something you were always interested in?
MM: As an avid lifelong reader, I was curious about how writers, particularly novelists, crafted their stories. It intrigued me enough to take a stab at it to see what I could do. I found the process intensely challenging and engaging. Thus, my interest grew into a compulsion to write that has yet to subside. Didn’t know I had it in me, but my sweetie says she knew.
DL: Of the many different career paths you have occupied, which one most contributed to the content and impetus of your writing?
MM: Probably the most encompassing skill set that has served me well as a writer is my training and experience as a psychiatric social worker. Add to that working almost primarily within the criminal justice system, and you’ve got a great recipe for endless storylines and character development.
DL: If you had to give three pieces of advice to an aspiring novelist at UNM, what would they be?
MM: Never stop writing, have patience and constantly hone your skills. I was 40 when I had the idea that I’d like to write, and 55 when my debut novel, “Tularosa,” was published.
DL: As a writer, do you believe in character over plot or plot over character? Should a character be a product of their environment or the other way around?
MM: I would think plot and character deserve equal treatment. To be believable, all characters should be products of their environments. After all, that’s the way it is in real life.
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DL: If your writing has one lasting effect on the mind of its reader, what do you hope that is?
MM: When they’ve read the denouement and closed the book, I hope they think, “That was a damn fine story.”
DL: Many students shy away from being a novelist because of the stigma of the "starving writer" and fearing they could not adequately support themselves with such a career choice. What words of encouragement would you offer someone in that position?
MM: First, writers don’t have to just write; they can work at other jobs and write. Nor do they have to teach writing. That’s a profession I’d shy away from. I basically believe writers have very little of value to say without some important life experience to draw upon. Usually that means gainful employment.
DL: If you had to pick a favorite protagonist or antagonist from one of your novels, which one would it be and why?
MM: Since my first 12 crime novels feature Kevin Kerney as the protagonist, he gets the nod. I learned a lot about him while writing those books, and the prequel trilogy about his family history. Interestingly, women readers love him, and male readers want him as a friend. That’s a great combination.
Best antagonist? Probably Enrique Deleon in “Tularosa.” Sophisticated, charming, evil and hard for me to dislike. I brought him back in my third novel, “Serpent Gate.”
DL: What do you think about the often-quoted "Kill your darlings" (which refers to killing beloved characters for the sake of honest storytelling)? Have you ever had to make any hard sacrifices in your own writing. If so, how did you justify it?
MM: I don’t kill my characters. Instead I kill flowery phrases, bad dialogue, soapboxing to make a point and clunky narrative that fails to propel the story. Some of my “prettiest” and “artful” writing has gone straight down the tubes — I do so like to rewrite.
DL: Consider this. It is the near future and there is a bill under consideration that would ban all books ( a la “Fahrenheit 451”). You are called to testify on the importance of written word and why this bill can't be allowed to pass. What is your argument?
MM: Writers are the faithful witnesses of society. Without them, truth is trampled, reality is distorted, the human experience is diminished and the individual is devalued. In particular, the novelist can shape new truths and new realities in a dimension that has no equal because it requires the reader to be an active partner in the journey.
Matthew Reisen is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @MReisen88.
