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Author James Swain Rob Holden: James Swain, welcome to Readersroom.com. It is a pleasure to have you with us here today! James Swain: Thanks for having me! Rob Holden: I would like to start this off by asking you about your latest novel -- Mr. Lucky. Can you tell our readers a bit about it? James Swain: Mr. Lucky is the 5th book in my Tony Valentine series, and is a bit of a departure. The inspiration came from the horrific MGM Hotel fire in Las Vegas in 1980. As legend has it, a guest at the hotel escaped the fire, walked across the street in his underwear, and entered a casino. He then proceeded to beat the casino silly. I always thought this would be a great beginning for a book, and played with it for many years. About three years ago, I told my editor at Ballantine Book about the idea, and she said that I had to make this a Tony Valentine novel. Rob Holden: The novel itself takes a number of twists and turns that quite frankly I, as a reader, never saw coming. Can you give us a little insight into where these came from? James Swain: Well, I've always followed Ernest Hemingway's advice, which is that if you outline your novels, you'll know exactly where they're going, and so will your readers. This book is really not about casinos (although casino scams play a big role in the book. It's about how the idea of luck transforms someone into a celebrity, and how the rest of the world starts to treat that person differently. I also try to weave in a number of themes -- including how greed can turn ordinary, law-abiding people into criminals. So, I guess this is where many of these twists come from. Rob Holden: James, you mentioned that this is your fifth Tony Valentine novel, and so I would like to talk about Tony for a bit. He is not your typical lead character in a series! Could you tell our readers a bit about him?

James Swain: I like to think of Tony Valentine as an organic creation. When I wrote my first book in the series, Grift Sense, Tony was a minor character. My wife read the manuscript and told me that he should be the book's protagonist. She also said that I could write a number of books with him. My wife doesn't gamble or like casinos, but was willing to look at this world through Tony's eyes (she said he was a wonderful filter). The funny thing is, I honestly don't remember creating him, or his son Gerry, or his neighbor Mabel, who are the series three main characters. But, I took my wife's advice, and built the books around Tony. I'm surprised when I do signings at the number of people who approach me, and assume that I'm this guy (he's 63, doesn't drink or gamble, and has a pretty black and white view of crime). I'm not this person at all, and probably wouldn't get along with Valentine if he was real. I think this is probably the best lesson I've learned from writing this series -- that the best creations are ones which your readers point out to you.

Rob Holden: Now your previous novel -- Loaded Dice, just out in paperback -- is also a Tony Valentine book. Can you tell our readers a bit about it?

James Swain: Loaded Dice takes place in Las Vegas, and is built around a true fact -- that a number of the 9/11 hijackers were in Las Vegas, and were supposedly funded by some Arab card counters. A few weeks after the novel was published, the FBI admitted as much, and released photographs and documents they'd found of several men associated with the hijackers who were scouting Las Vegas as a possible target. The book also examines what people will do when faced with horrible situations like a terrorist attack. I was very pleased that a number of reviewers (including the Washington Post) applauded the idea of including this in the context of a commercial novel.

Rob Holden: Loaded Dice was written not long after the 9/11 tragedy. As a writer, did you find it difficult to take such a tragic real event and incorporate it into a novel?

James Swain: It was extremely difficult. Back when I was in college, I worked at Windows on the World (the restaurant atop one of the towers). Watching the towers come down was one of the most painful experiences of my life, which is perhaps why I chose to incorporate it into a novel.

Rob Holden: James, we have had a few questions from our readers since we announced this chat. Would you answer a few of them for us now?

James Swain: Of course.

Rob Holden: Bill L. Maryland: Mr. Swain, on your website you state that Mr. Lucky is based on true events. I am wondering if the story in your first book -- Grift Sense -- is also based on true events and, if so, what they were?

James Swain: Grift Sense was based upon two true events. The first was an incident which took place in Las Vegas in the mid 1980s, when a male player "read" a female blackjack dealer every time she looked at her hole card, and beat her out of a great deal of money. Both the player and the dealer were arrested, even though the dealer had no idea what was going on. The second story was of a gang of slot cheaters which tried to close a small casino down by stealing an enormous jackpot. The mechanics of that theft are the book's finale.

Rob Holden: Charles, Allentown PA: Mr. Swain: I saw you speak about a year ago, and I was amazed at the segment of your talk dealing with cheating at Texas Hold 'em. Do you believe that cheating is still prevalent in the gambling world?

James Swain: Unfortunately, there is probably more cheating now than ever before. This has to do with a number of factors. First, there are more people playing (75 million people play cards for money a week in this country) and, most people who play are clueless as to all the ways they can be swindled. This is also true in the casino industry.

Rob Holden: Nancy, Colorado: I have read all your novels (Mr. Lucky is the BEST so far) and I was wondering -- IS there any way to "beat the house"?

James Swain: Nancy, I wish there was! Actually, you can beat the house two ways. First, become a card-counter at blackjack, and gain a slight edge (approximately 1 1/2 percent) over the house. The problem with this is that if the casino catches you, you'll be barred for life, and probably not be allowed in other casinos as well. The other way to beat the house is at sports betting. Learn as much as you can about your home team, or a particular conference, or game, and you'll be able to bet intelligently enough to get a slight edge over the Las Vegas bookmakers. However, please be aware that there are no guarantees with either of these strategies -- you're simply getting an edge. This doesn't guarantee a win!

Rob Holden: Tom, Long Island: Mr. Swain, as an unpublished novelist and also a professional gambler I am wondering if you can give me any advice as to how to incorporate the second career into the first?

James Swain: Gambling is very hard to write about in fiction. A number of really terrific writers have written gambling books, and they were only moderately successful. I purposely made the protagonist in my novels a non-gambler, which seems to help with many of my readers. This isn't to say that you can't take your gambling knowledge, and turn it into a terrific book or series of books. But you will have to come up with a hook in which to do it.

Rob Holden: And our last reader question: Jane, St. Louis: Mr. Swain, the relationship you draw between Tony Valentine and his son is very real and believable. I am wondering if you have any son's of your own, or if you base this relationship on the one you had with your own dad?

James Swain: I don't have any children, and actually have a wonderful relationship with my father. Tony's relation with Gerry sprung out of a suggestion my editor on Grift Sense made. She suggested that I make Gerry, Tony's son, a small-time scammer. That way, he and his father would always be butting heads, and Tony would have to occasionally rescue his son when he got in trouble. I suppose this is another organic creation.

Rob Holden: Thanks for answering those. James, in a phone conversation you and I had last week, you mentioned that there might be some news about the Tony Valentine series and other media forms. Is there anything on that you can share with our readers?

James Swain: As we are writing this, a movie/TV deal is being hammered out, which I hope will come to fruition. I've had a number of offers over the past four years, and would like to see Tony on television. I think he would be a good balance all the nonsense that the networks are showing about gambling.

Rob Holden: We will be looking for it! I know you have been touring quite extensively for Mr. Lucky. Is there someplace readers can find out where you will be, and when?

James Swain: I will be appearing at Harborfields High School on Long Island, April 28th at 7:30 (my old alma mater) and at Book Revue in Huntington, Long Island on April 30th at 8:00.

Rob Holden: And a complete list of your appearances -- and other news - can be found at your website. Can you give us the address please?

James Swain: The website is www.jimswain.com,.

Rob Holden: Before we wrap this up, I would like to that Gilly Hailparn at Ballantine for all her help in making this chat happen. So -- writing wise -- what is next for Jim Swain?

James Swain: My publisher and I are talking about something different next year -- two back-to-back Tony Valentine novels, to be released within a few months of each other. The books will be tied, and will deal with poker.

Rob Holden: Finally James, is there anything you would like to say to your fans who might read this chat at ReadersRoom.com?

James Swain: During this tour, I've met a lot of fans, who have been incredibly enthusiastic about what I'm doing. I'd like to thank these people. Writing is an isolated occupation, and knowing that people enjoy your work is a terrific reward.

Rob Holden: James Swain, thank you for joining us here today, and best of luck with Mr. Lucky, and all your future projects!

James Swain: Thank you. It's been a pleasure.




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