Peter Kageyama
Author Interview - Peter Kageyama
Author of Midnight Climax
Kats Takemoto, the nisei private detective from Hunters Point, returns to investigate the murder of a young Chinese girl, killed in a covert CIA brothel in the heart of San Francisco. Her family, members of a Tong, a powerful Chinatown gang, demand vengeance that threatens to start an all-out war in Chinatown unless Kats can discover the truth behind the slaying. Along the way he will discover a personal connection to the suspected killer, a fellow veteran who was tortured and experimented on, turning him into a lethal weapon and a ticking bomb. Kats and his friends race to find this soldier before the government and the rival Tong gangs spiral into more bloodshed.
Author Interview - Peter Kageyama
Author I draw inspiration from:
Stephen King but not for the usual reasons. Of course he is a brilliant storyteller, but it was his book, On Writing, that inspired me and opened the door to the possibility of being an author.
Author Interview - Peter Kageyama | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
On the couch, early in the morning before my wife gets up. I walk the dog and then sit down with my coffee and Dobby (our dog - yes I am a Harry Potter fan) curls up next to me while I read.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
When I was in high school, back in the early 80's, I read Eric Lustbader's The Ninja. Story was about a mixed race chacter named Nicholas Linnear. I have re-read that story several times since then and I still find Nicholas a fascninating character. He is a crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures as well as a highly trained martial artist. He'd be an interesting one to chat with as we waited for the Thyssenkrupp service guys to fix the elevator.
Author Interview - Peter Kageyama | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I had written four non-fiction books about cities and urban issues but did not really think of myself as an author/writer. It was when the first draft of Hunters Point, my first novel, was done that I had a very different sense of myself. I felt like an author and realized I wanted to continue down this path.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Hardbacks are reserved for special books, the kind of book you want to display on a shelf so you have to choosy. Paperbacks are hard to store but much like hardbacks, they are reminders, like souvenirs of the journey that we went on together. Ebooks are great for convenience and portability. Also for research purposes, the ability to export your notes and highlights is invaluable. Audio is great for walking, driving and working out. Having all these options allows me to consume multiple books at the same time, which is a good thing!
The last book I read:
Just finished The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss. A short, side vignette from the author's main series, The Kingkiller Chronicles. A lovely window into a side character that deepens the overall story but also teases me in a bad way. As a fan, part of me is actually miffed because we have waited over 12 years for the third book in the trilogy. As an author, I sympathize with his desire to get it right and to truly sweat the details.
Author Interview - Peter Kageyama | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I write exclusively on the computer but I have a moleskine notebook that lives in my backack and travels everywhere with me. Recently I started using Freeform on my Mac to visualize my stories. It creates story boards and has helped me frame my work.
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
Being a writer of fiction is my second career. I am still known as an author and urbanist around the country. I'm 'the city love guy' which is very cool.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
I came of age in the 80's so that music and even the fashion resonate with me. I wore a lot of makeup back then and had really long hair. It was a good look.
Place I’d most like to travel:
Vienna is high on my list. City of Mozart, Beethoven and Freud, it was a crossroads to European and Asian thought and culture. And coffee!
Favorite artist:
My favorite band is U2 but my favorite artist would be David Bowie. He transcends music making him an artist in multiple forms.
Find more from the author:
https://peterkageyama.com
https://www.facebook.com/pkageyama
https://www.instagram.com/pkageyama/
https://stpetersburgpress.com
Author Bio:
Peter Kageyama is an urbanist and bestselling author of four nonfiction books on cities and placemaking. His first book, For the Love of Cities, was recognized as a Top 10 Book in Urban Planning and Development. He speaks all over the world about better placemaking that emphasizes small, inexpensive, and fun approaches to city building. He was a Senior Advisor to the Alliance for Innovation, a national network of city leaders, and is a special advisor to America in Bloom. In 2023, St. Petersburg Press published his first novel, Hunters Point. The work of historic fiction draws upon the wartime experiences of his father and his Japanese family. The sequel will be released in early 2024.
In his spare time Peter is an avid board gamer, comic book geek and classic rock nerd. He lives in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, award winning architect Lisa Wannemacher and their dog Dobby.
