A May 2005 interview with Stephen Kogon, author of the Max Mooth Cybersleuth books.

The idea came out of a brainstorming session, in which I listed as many story ideas that I could think of. Once I had a nice list, I then determined which ones excited me enough to write actual stories. Max Mooth was one that did. I felt that a quirky computer detective who had a wisecracking 8-year-old sidekick would be a lot of fun to write, and it was.

What kind of research did you do for the book?

I used the Internet to research San Francisco, which was where the story takes place. By doing that, I was able to incorporate actual places, like Cafe Claude and Wheeler Hall at Berkeley University, and the Presidio. I also did plenty of research about computer viruses and system malfunctions. I once had an actual problem with my computer and when I called a tech to help, the answer he gave me was so long and complicated, it made me laugh. After that, I consulted occasionally with other techs to get more long, complicated solutions that would be useful to the story.

Do you have any advice for young writers?

I mentor a lot of young writers and I tell them to just have fun with it. Let their imaginations run wild on the page. For the ones that I determine have a real love and passion for it, I then tell them two more things. Write as often as possible and then create an atmosphere to receive honest feedback. To improve as a writer, it really helps when others feel comfortable to tell you what they think, in a constructive way, or ask questions when they're confused by something. If feedback-givers are more concerned with sparing your feelings then 1) you won't learn anything, and 2) eventually someone will critique your work and it might sting even more because you had a false impression of the quality of what you were writing. I also think if you love writing enough, then constructive feedback won't turn you away. Other advice would be to either read your work out loud or, even better, have others read it out loud. By doing this, you'll be able to hear if what's read out loud sounds the same as it does in your head. This especially helps with dialogue.

What was your favorite book as a child?

The Great Brain series by John Fitzgerald.

What author has had the greatest influence on you?

John Fitzgerald, C.S Lewis, Charles M. Schultz and screenwriter John Hughes. Although, I have to say, I always had more fun using my own imagination than reading others.

How do you think computers & the Internet have changed a person's life?

The Internet has changed the way people communicate, via e-mail, and the way we can learn, by researching just about anything with the click of a mouse. In essence, it's made the world a smaller place. We can communicate easily with a complete stranger in a foreign country, as well as read their daily newspapers. And computers have made our lives easier. From a writer's standpoint, using a word processor as opposed to a typewriter, allows us to fix mistakes easily, do instantaneous spell checks, and use paper via print outs only when we want to. On a downside, if the majority of our communication is via e-mail, it makes things impersonal. Sometimes it's a good thing to hear someone else's voice, or see them in person. Also, it gives people, kids especially, another reason not to go outside and run around a little and get some good exercise.

What are some of your interests outside of writing?

I love sports, playing and watching them, movies and music.

What's the worst computer breakdown/meltdown you've ever had?

I've been relatively fortunate in this area. I recently had a system crash, but was able to retrieve everything. The most annoying one was when my laptop screen shorted out, right after the warranty expired:)

What are your plans for the next Max Mooth book?

Now that Max has a girlfriend, I want to include her in more of the sleuthing adventures. I also plan on adding a little mystery twist that will involve Max's sidekick, Mr. Z.