“I, somewhat, was inspired by Highsmith, when I wrote my own novel The Harvest, and saw Chris Turner as a Ripleyesque character. I guess other authors have done this, but I am indebted to her. From what I have heard, she was an impossible character in her own right—hard drinking, impossibly forthright in her prejudices, but also quite open about her lesbianism at a time when that just did not happen. It is interesting to me that her work lives way after she is gone, and even though there is gossip about Patricia Highsmith, people who know nothing about her read her books. I don't think you can say that about many authors who've been dead for some while now. ”
posted Wednesday, January 16 2008