Uncover the Hidden Secrets Behind Paul Vidich’s Compelling Storytelling—Write Now or Miss Out!
Ever wonder what it’s like to weave thrilling tales of espionage while juggling the complex moral shadows of national security? Paul Vidich, Soho’s own literary spy maestro, invites us into that very labyrinth with his latest novel, THE POET’S GAME. Settled in Manhattan since the gritty days of 1978, Vidich trades the rag shops of yore for the art of crafting suspense that digs deep into love, betrayal, and conscience—all wrapped expertly in a genre he adores. What’s truly fascinating is his ritual: the same Mont Blanc pen and Moleskin notebooks demand your attention, forcing distractions out of the view and hypnotizing you into his imaginative panorama. If you’ve ever thought about how a writer’s environment and tools influence a story’s heartbeat, this interview is a gem you won’t want to miss. Ready to peek behind the curtain of a literary spy’s mind? LEARN MORE
Today’s Write Now interview features Paul Vidich, author of THE POET’S GAME.
Who are you?
Paul Vidich, based in Soho, Manhattan, where I moved in 1978 when the neighborhood was rag shops, manufacturers, and a few art galleries. I am a novelist.
What do you write?
I write literary spy novels. I have found that the guardrails of genre allow me to explore fundamental human conditions of love, betrayal, conscience, and revenge all within the entertaining bookends of a thrilling story. I am a big fan of Graham Greene, John Le Carre, and Eric Ambler, and in a way, I try to write the novels that I like to read. My seven novels, including the just published, The Poet’s Game, explore the challenges of a protagonist confronted with complex national security work that may be morally uncomfortable.
I was drawn to storytelling from an early age by my mother, who wrote plays, and encouraged me to do the same. I didn’t know what to do with her encouragement until I’d left college and saw writing as a way to escape from the mind-numbing dullness of a job that I took to pay my Manhattan rent. Short stories came first, then unpublished novels, but it was only when I was financially able to quit my corporate job that I found the time needed to bring a novel to a successful conclusion.
Where do you write?
I write the first draft of each novel on the dining table in our loft with the same Mont Blanc pen on Moleskin lined 5×8 ¼ inch notebooks. I am very particular about my pen and the notebooks. I have written all of my novels with the same pen and the same type of ruled notebook. I don’t think about the logistics of putting words on paper, so I get right to engaging my imagination in the work. The view from our large windows disappears and I see only the panorama of events unfolding in my imagination.
When do you write?
I write every morning starting around 7:30 A.M. I help my wife settle into preparation for the college English class…
