Michael Connelly, Author of "The Scarecrow" (INTERVIEW)

Michael Connelly started off his successful writing career writing for newspapers where he specialized in crime. After winning the Pulitzer Prize for a magazine story, Michael became a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

From there, Michael Connelly's career seemed to skyrocket, and soon he became a regular New York Times best-selling author. His current book, "The Scarecrow," is another fast-paced thriller, and should be flying off shelves this summer.

10 Questions With Michael Connelly

1. How did you get involved in writing and what motivates you to continue?

I guess I got involved through reading. At age twelve the reading bug bit me and about seven years later it changed into something else when I decided that I would like to try to write the kind of stories I liked to read.

What motivates me to write is both the challenge and opportunity. The challenge is to get better at it, and the opportunity is to write about a given place and time and to try to document it and describe how one character makes sense of it.

2. How significant are the topics of cool hunting and trend spotting in the world of writing?

I think no matter what your profession, it’s good if you can ride out there on the front of the wave. In writing, you can anticipate the future and write about it, or you can write very contemporary stories that inform and caution the reader: This is where we are and this is where we are going. It gives you the opportunity to ask the reader the question, "Is this where we want to go?"

3. How do you define a trend?

For me it’s simply something that starts popping up again and again, first seen as coincidence and then understood as being the new paradigm.

4. How do you define cool?

Something is cool if it feels unique, whether it really is or not. Something that is fresh and non-static is cool.

5. Do you need a culture of innovation to create something that is cool?

You need innovation but not necessarily a culture of innovation. I think a lot of things that are branded as cool come out of a culture that is anti-innovation and as such are revolutionary.

6. What is the best way to create an infectious idea, product or service?

To keep your head down and to create for yourself. You have to believe that if you find or create the thing that pleases you, then it will have a place in the crowd.

7. What is the key to innovation?

Dissatisfaction and ego. Being bored with the status quo and thinking enough of yourself to believe you could change things and make them better.

8. Professionally, what do you want to be doing or studying in 10 years?

I want to still be writing but telling stories that are more relevant and reflective of the time. I want to be studying the accomplishments of my grown daughter.

9. What are your most important hobbies?

Golf because it is so hard to do well that you must clear your mind of all things not golf. When you do that, new things slip back in. It can be a very creative time for me.

10. How do you reset yourself to become creative?

Often I play music before I begin to write. Something about it inspires me.