Roger Stelljes is a lawyer, lifelong Minnesotan, the author Deadly Stillwater whom Vince Flynn “a powerful new thriller voice.” Today Stelljes is answering the 6 questions we always ask, and tonight at 6:30 you can hear him read from his new novel at the Champlin Library, 12154 Ensign Ave N Champlin, MN.

If you can make that, he’ll also be reading at 7:30 December 15th at Once Upon a Crime Bookstore, 604 W. 26th St., Minneapolis, MN. There’s a whole slew of upcoming events listed on Roger’s website.

What book(s) are you currently reading?
With my writing, law practice, and family, it is hard to find time to read a book these days although I sneak a one in every now and then. I recently finished Vince Flynn’s Pursuit of Honor. Vince is an influence and inspiration for me and was very kind to give me a nice plug for my new book Deadly Stillwater. I always try to find time for John Sandford, as well as William Kent Krueger and Brian Freeman as I’ve gotten to know them.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Who?
Yes. Darby Shaw from The Pelican Brief. Beauty and brains is a tough combination to beat, plus I was in law school at the time I read the book. Julia Roberts was perfectly cast as Darby in the movie.

If your favorite author came to Minnesota, who would it be and what bar would you take him/her to?
Frankly my favorite authors are Minnesotans. That having been said, my favorite non-Minnesota writer is David Simon. David was the creator of the HBO series The Wire, which is simply the best television I’ve ever seen. Amazing writing, characters and stories. A big influence on me. I’d take David to the Dubliner or Sweeney’s in St. Paul, old law school watering holes that look a lot like Kavanaugh’s in The Wire.

What was your first favorite book?
Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators – The Secret of Shark Reef. I read the book in sixth grade and I was hooked on the series. I think I’ve read them all. It was those books that got me on reading at a young age, particularly mysteries. If I hadn’t picked those books up as a kid, who knows, I might have never started writing.

Let’s say Fahrenheit 451 comes to life, which book would you become in order to save it from annihilation?
A Tale of Two Cities. I read the book in tenth grade and enjoyed it immensely. It would be imperative to save the work of Charles Dickens.

What is one book you haven’t read but want to read before you die?
I’m not sure there is a particular book that I have to read. Rather, there are authors I’ve never had the chance to read that I would like to, particularly non-fiction. I’d like to have some time to read a David McCullough book, such John Adams or 1776. I enjoyed the John Adams mini-series on HBO, so I would like to read the book.