Glendall C. Jackson III - The IAN Interview

 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.