Welcome to our chat withJohn McNellis, the talented author behind his latest novel Scout'sHonor.

Known for his ability tospin engaging tales with unforgettable characters. 

Norm: What inspired youto write Scout’s Honor and delve into the themes ofcrime, punishment, and redemption?

John: Thank you, Norm.Some years ago, I was too sick to do anything but lie in bed.

To distract myself, Ibegan to fantasize, to daydream, and I began wondering what wouldhappen to a highly principled teenager—a fine young man—ifeverything suddenly went wrong in his life, if he lost his family, ifhe ended up homeless.

Was morality only for thewell-fed, an unaffordable luxury for the downtrodden?

What would the youth do torecover his place in the world? How far would he go to succeed? If heturned to crime, would he regret it and how would it affect his life?Would the flickering light of his morality be doused altogether ormight he overcome his criminal past?

Norm: The novelexplores themes of morality, guilt, and trust. How do these themesmanifest throughout Eddie's journey, and what message do you hopereaders take away from them?

John: A reluctant Eddie isseduced into crime by his vulgarly charming, utterly immoral boyhoodfriend, the swaggering Roy.

In the beginning, Eddie’sguilt manifests itself in his certainty he will be caught, tried andimprisoned (if not worse) for his crimes, but perhaps like so many ofus, he gradually manages to rationalize away his early crimes.

When he commits hisgreater crime years later, this time without the salve of need, histormenting guilt turns him into a virtual hermit. 

I’m guessing readerswill draw their own messages from the novel. One might be as simpleas life can offer a second chance. 

While palpable evidence for it maybe scant, I would like to believe in a moral universe, that good isrewarded, bad punished, the scales balanced at day’s end. I hope myreaders see this belief in my admittedly flawed characters’struggles in their lives. And perhaps take some comfort from it. 

 Norm: The novelexplores the concept of identity and reinvention. What inspired youto explore these themes, and how do they relate to Eddie's journey?

Norm,that day abed I figured out the beginning and end of Eddie’s epictale, but years went by before I filled in everything between page 1and “The End.”

To keep his from being a very short story indeedJohn laughs), Eddie had to escape, change his identity andentirely reinvent himself. Rather than thematic, identity andreinvention are to Eddie’s long journey what wheels are to a car. 

Norm: Scout’sHonor captivates readers with its flawed characters. Can youdiscuss the process of developing these characters and balancingtheir complexities within the narrative?

John: I think every one ofus is flawed. We all have our better days and best moments, but wesometimes fail ourselves, fail to live up to our own moral standards.That’s the heart of the movie Crash.  

I believe itwon the best picture academy award because it portrayed realcharacters, true to life: the cop played by Matt Dillon is despicableone day, a hero the next. 

This may sound odd, but Ithink it would be harder—for me at least—to create believablecharacters that were not flawed. Even if I could, flawless characterswould be boring, best left to fairy tales and “Lives of theSaints.”

As to my characters, I tryto set the table and then let them develop themselves, letting theirambitions and desires surge against their moral bulwarks. 

Norm: Eddie's journeytakes him through Mexico and Vietnam before settling in New YorkCity. How did you research and portray these settings, and whatsignificance do they hold in the narrative?

John: I’ve traveledextensively through Mexico, but (John laughs) I’ll admit I’venever been in a Mexican prison. That required a fair bit of research;one long piece in the Los Angeles Times was particularlyhelpful for the prison scenes. 

As to Vietnam, I read extensivelyabout that sad war and interviewed several Marines who’d had thecombat experience I sought to portray. I know Manhattan well enoughthat it required very little in the way of research. 

These locations and theirunique temptations and challenges provide the testing grounds forEddie’s character, for better and worse. 

Norm: Eddie'stransformation into Richard Austen is a pivotal moment in the novel.Can you discuss the process of developing Eddie's character arc andthe challenges he faces during this transformation?

John: I put Eddie into animpossible situation—literally, running for his life—and let himwork his way out. Rather than developing his character, I would liketo think his transformation occurred organically in response toexternal events and his own moral compass.

Norm: Roy Cross plays asignificant role in Eddie's life. What inspired the creation of hischaracter, and how does he contribute to the novel's themes?

John: Without Lex Luthor,Superman remains Clark Kent; without Roy, Eddie lives an uneventfullife in San Diego. I cobbled Roy together—Frankenstein fashion—fromacquaintances in my life who were too handsome, too athletic, toopopular and charming for their own good.

With no need to strive, theyall too often fell from grace, indulging themselves in one high afteranother. 

Norm: The suspensefulnarrative keeps readers engaged until the final page. How did youapproach crafting the plot twists and keeping the momentum of thestory?

John: By listening to theadvice of my editors and personal readers. As the novel went throughits numerous drafts, they would unfailingly point out where the dramasagged, where it might be amped up, where a twist might be useful,where too much might have been revealed too early. 

Norm: What is next forJohn McNellis?

John: I’m working on anovel in which a man rediscovers his humanity through graduallycoming to know his wildly unruly dog, learning about himself as heseeks to train her. 

Norm: Where can ourreaders find out more about you and Scouts Honor?

John:They can Google me,or more specifically, look me up at MY WEBSITE

My twonovels—Scout’s Honor, O’Brien’s Law (which you so kindlyreviewed)—are described in detail there, as in my non-fiction realestate primer, Making it in Real Estate.

If they wish to knowmore about my real estate career, they could checkout McNellis Partners

Finally, please ask yourreaders to write me at john@johnmcnellis.com if they dohappen to read Scout’s. I would love to hear what they think.Thank you, Norm. 

Follow Here To Read Norm's Review of Scout's Honor