Glendall C. Jackson III
Glendall C. Jackson III is an award-winning writer who has
long specialized in deeply-reported non-fiction. Naked Came the Detective, a
mystery that explores the hidden world of high-end sex work, is his first
novel. He has previously published two non-fiction books, one of which was a
national best seller, under a different name. Naked Came the Detective has
earned many laudatory reviews and won a first-place prize in the Paris Book
Festival.
IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.
Glendall C. Jackson: In many murder mysteries, the call girl
gets killed. This novella turns that tired trope on its head. A skilled and
versatile sex worker learns that one of her clients, a prominent businessman,
was brutally murdered just hours after their last date. With her unique access
to the upper echelon of Washington D.C. society, she embarks on an
investigation that leads to a shocking discovery. The book is intended to
provide a vivid portrait of high-end sex work.
IAN: Is Naked Came the
Detective published in print, e-book or both?
Both.
IAN: Where can we go to buy Naked Came the
Detective?
Glendall C. Jackson: Amazon.com. Barnes & Noble.
IAN:
What inspired you to write Naked Came the Detective?
Glendall C. Jackson: There is a lot of misinformation about sex work in the media
and I thought using a literary format might get closer to the truth than a
typical nonfiction account. I recalled that a U.S. government analyst had once
written a detective novel set in North Korea because he wanted to portray the
reality of that country without worrying about the typical negative judgements
required in government intelligence reports. I decided the same concept could
be applied to a novel about sex work. Many people do not realize that high-end
sex workers learn a lot about their client’s lives and secrets. That gave me the idea that a sex worker
could investigate a murder using her client list.
IAN:
Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?
Glendall C. Jackson: I just winged it. I had the general
idea that each chapter should focus on a client or friend of the main
character, with the names (as these were pseudonyms) in alphabetical order. So,
I knew from the beginning there couldn’t be more than 26 chapters. I wrote the
first draft very quickly, in about three weeks. Then I spent three months
fixing and adjusting the plot and adding in descriptions and literary touches.
IAN:
How did you come up with the title?
Glendall C. Jackson: My working title at first was simply
Sex Worker Detective. Then I remembered there was a famous literary hoax in the
1960s called Naked Came the Stranger. A group of newspaper reporters joined to
write a bad erotic novel and it became a best seller. It seemed natural to call
my book Naked Came the Detective.
IAN:
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Glendall C. Jackson: The mystery is all made up. But I
worked hard to get the depiction of high-end sex work accurate. I interviewed
several sex workers. In particular, a retired sex worker provided a great deal
of insight into her experiences and clients and even provided some helpful
documentation. Some of the scenes in the book come directly from stories told
to me by sex workers. I also had various drafts reviewed by sex workers,
including a prominent writer on sex work, to ensure accuracy.
IAN:
Do you see writing as a career?
Glendall C. Jackson: I have been a writer for many years,
but it’s been strictly non-fiction. I decided to write this book under a
pseudonym so it did not get confused with my non-fiction writing.
IAN:
Who designed the cover?
Glendall C. Jackson: I did. I have some experience in
graphic design and photography.
IAN:
What was the hardest part of writing Naked Came the
Detective?
Glendall C. Jackson: The hardest part was coming up with an interesting and
compelling plot. As a nonfiction writer, I am used to writing about things that
have already happened and finding out why. Now I had to invent a storyline — a
part of my brain I had not used much before. I didn’t really know where the story was going until I started
writing it and adding in the puzzle pieces.
IAN:
Did you learn anything from writing Naked Came the
Detective and
what was it?
Glendall C. Jackson: I learned that I enjoyed writing
fiction. I have been thrilled by the very positive response and perhaps I will
continue on this path.
IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is
it a sequel or a stand-alone?
Glendall C. Jackson: Undecided. This book was intended as a
stand-alone but some reviewers have urged that the main character should return
in a sequel.
