TWISTED HERO COMPLEX AT CENTRE OF THRILLER
MacQueen leans on his background in this riveting, revenge-laden mystery
North Vancouver resident Ken MacQueen has a long history with journalism.
He was the West Coast bureau chief for Maclean's, and previously reported for the Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, Southam News and The Canadian Press. His work took him around the world and included nine Olympic Games.
Now he's out of the reporting racket and into fiction, but his past is not far from the page as his thriller's protagonist is both a reporter and a former Olympic-bound rower.
Set in nearby Washington state, Hero Haters sees small-town newspaper man Jake Ockham, who vets heroes for a prestigious award, embroiled in a riveting, revenge-laden and deadly mystery.
Postmedia caught up with MacQueen and asked him a few questions.
Q This isn't really a question, but a journalist as a hero, now that is a novel concept right now. Thanks for that. Feel free to comment.
A This whole “fake news” thing gets up my nose. It's a cheap, easy, sleazy escape for anyone confronted with inconvenient facts. Sad to say, certain media organizations and social media sites have taken to stirring the pot with fact-free reports, having realized that conflict, division and rage draw traffic and audiences. All a real reporter can do is dig deep, recheck, and verify — and realize the bearer of bad news is rarely rewarded no matter how accurate the story. So, yeah, my guy Jake Ockham cares about truth and accuracy, as did any number of hard-nosed journalists I worked with, including those at The Vancouver Sun. That shouldn't be regarded as heroic, it's just doing the damn job.
Q How much of Jake is Ken?
A Jake is tall, brave, handsome, and athletic. I'm none of those things. It's called fiction for a reason, though I have to admit I kinda think like him. Maybe I'm creating a better version of me, or at least someone I can relate to? I mean, the guy lived in my head for months.
Q Why put Jake at the small local Gray's Harbor Independent newspaper instead of one of the big outlets?
A My first summer job, at $86 a week, was as a reporter-photographer at the weekly Milverton Sun (“It Shines for All.”) The paper was so small, I got up at 5 a.m. on Wednesdays to roll, wrap and deliver it to the post office. You are never closer to your readers, or more accountable, than at a small newspaper. I wanted Jake to be an organic part of his community and to realize, for better or worse, he can't escape the public eye.
Q You write at one point: “Years of interviewing proved people are most comfortable talking about themselves.” So, I'm wondering if you kind of interviewed your own characters as you went along?
A Wow, never thought of it that way. Now that you mention it, it's apt. Interviewing is a process of discovery, and Jake came clearer to me with each predicament I threw him into. My book editor fiddled with one of Jake's comments. I immediately fired back, “no way Jake would say that.” That's when I realized he's really living in my head.
Q Billy Gohl — while working as a union official — allegedly murdered hundreds of sailors who were passing through Aberdeen, Wash. Was Billy a reason to set your story in this part of Washington or just a good value-added part that appeared once you started your research?
A I wanted a gritty American port city for a sense of danger and romance. I've often visited Washington, but I knew little about Aberdeen. I soon realized Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic spent their formative years there, and frankly, came by their grunge reputation honestly. As I dug into Aberdeen's history, up popped Billy Gohl, who may be the worst serial killer I've never heard of. During a spectacular trial in 1910 there were allegations he robbed and killed as many as 200 itinerant sailors and port workers. Notably, he was only convicted of one murder, but so many bodies bobbed in the Pacific in that era that Aberdeen was called home of the “floater fleet.” His spirit — and his ghost if you believe such nonsense — lives on in Aberdeen at Billy's Bar & Grill. For $15 you can buy a “Port of Missing Men” T-shirt, adorned by his visage and a decorative bullet hole. Though Hero Haters is a contemporary thriller, I just had to work Billy into the plot. Artfully, I hope.
Q Let's talk about Jake's nemesis TV reporter Trent Barnes. Is this based on someone you know?
A No, thank heavens. Barnes works for a fictional Wolf News, which I swear holds no resemblance to any real-life network that might spring to mind.
Q You crack wise a bit about the TV reporter gig in general. Why do most print reporters do that?
A Time was, I worked in the parliamentary bureau of The Canadian Press. Our stories arrived at most every newspaper, and broadcast outlet in the country. Television reporters, I found, were especially adept at what we called “rip and read.” They'd stand there with their perfect hair and teeth, reciting a hardwon CP story without credit, like they'd dug it up themselves. Not that I'm bitter.
Q You use the term “inwards: involuntary cowards” for the people who watch snuff videos on the dark web. I'm not on the dark web, but is that a real thing or have you coined a fabulous new term?
A Why, thank you. As far as I know, “inwards” is an invention of my twisted imagination.
Q How was the experience overall?
A As COVID projects go, it's incredibly liberating to set the mind free to wander at will. Making stuff up is great fun. Let's be clear, I'm speaking as an author, here, not a reporter.