A Renaissance Man: Sitting Down With Soren Paul Petrek
We are excited to share an interview with author Soren Paul Petrek, a man with a personal history just as interesting as his thrilling historical fiction. Currently based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Soren has history in the U.S., England, and France. Notably, he is also a practicing criminal trial attorney, admitted to the Minnesota bar in 1991.
One of Soren’s novels, Cold Lonely Courage won Fade In Magazine’s 2009 Award for Fiction. He is also the author of three more books in the Madeleine Toche Series, The Trophy Wife, Tim, and a book of poetry called A Search for Solid Ground. Esquire Publishing is the English language publisher of all of Soren’s titles, with the Danish and Italian editions published by Forlaget Mellemgaard and NUA Edizioni.
1. Does being an attorney help you be a better writer, or is it the other way around?
I have been a trial attorney for thirty years spending the majority of my time in court. Both oral and written persuasion and argument skills are developed over many years. The interaction with thousands of clients from diverse ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds provides a base of experience that other litigation attorneys may not experience. The majority of my novels do not have a legal element, except for The Trophy Wife: A Jilted Wife’s Revenge. I drew on decades of experience as a family law attorney while exploring those characters, plot, dialogue, and scenes throughout the book.
2. Are all of your characters your babies, or can you cruelly choose a favorite character?
My favorite characters shift with each novel, but my protagonist Madeleine Toche was first and I understand her struggles, motivations, and personality. Other more subordinate characters may be highlighted and may be more interesting to write from time to time, but overall, the focus is on my heroine. I feel her emotions.
3. What do you miss most about places you have lived in the past in England and France?
I attended school in the British and French school systems. I try to return to Provence in Southern France and have friends there. I lived, studied, and worked in London and feel a sense of belonging when I return. The ground under my feet feels right and that I instinctively know where I fit into the culture, places and among the people in England. Regarding physical locations, downtown London, and the markets of Aix en Provence are my favorite places.
4. What does your writing process look like?
I do extensive research, and the story develops from what I learn and the characters as they develop. Sometimes, I write a page or two at a time or several. I try to get the images and idea on paper and then refine, add, or change both as I go forward and during many revisions.
5. And as a follow-up to the question above, how do you find and manage your time to do it all?
My time is managed by my work calendar and litigation has periods of intensity and then more routine preparation work. There’s no time or focus available for me to write when I am in a felony jury trial. I’m immersed in the fight.
6. Has anything in your work as a criminal trial attorney appeared in your work, or is that confidential to you alone?
As I have written about family law and divorce work, having represented at least one thousand divorce clients, I have seen and heard everything. I know how family litigants think and how many are only interested in beating or punishing the ‘other-side.’ The person they swore to love forever until death parted them. We live in a throw-away society. Spouses and marriages are part of that.
7. What’s next for your writing? Any projects you can reveal?
I am writing the prequel to the Madeleine Toche Series, Under No Man’s Land. Many of the characters in Cold Lonely Courage fought in WWI as young men. I am writing their story.
8. Which of your characters could you envision on the big screen, and who would play them?
The New York Journal of Books and the St. Paul Pioneer Press critics both thought Madeleine Toche was perfect for the big screen. I believe women have been grossly underrepresented in action-adventure historical fiction and that the stories of the heroines of WWII would make excellent stories. A young French actress would be best suited to play Madeleine.
9. And finally, a fun one: what is a uniquely Minnesota food or drink that you wish more people knew about?
Shore lunch is a time-tested tradition families and groups eat while fishing all day in a northern Minnesota lake. Walleye caught minutes ago, filleted, and dipped in beer and cracker crumbs fried over an open fire in a black iron skillet, until they’re crisp and golden. Then served with baked beans, cooked in the can, bacon and potatoes fried in bacon grease complete the meal. Nothing tastes quite like it, especially sitting on a rock, balancing a plate with sand between one’s toes.
We want to thank Soren, for both this great interview and for making us extremely hungry for a shore lunch! We can’t wait to see the next addition to the Madeleine Toche Series, and perhaps soon, Madeleine on the big screen.