Fame & Fortune: Joe "J.A." Konrath

Joe Konrath, 35, lives in Schaumburg, Ill., with his wife and three children. After graduating from Columbia College in 1992, he worked as a waiter and bartender until signing a three-book, six-figure publishing deal with Hyperion. The first novel, "Whiskey Sour," was published in 2004. For anyone who thinks of that as an overnight success, Konrath is quick to point out that it was actually the 10th novel he had written. Still, the influx of money was nice, and he admits the contract changed his life.

His suspense novels feature Chicago homicide detective lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels. The books are named after cocktails. The first in the series, "Whiskey Sour," had Jack on the trail of a gruesome serial killer calling himself the Gingerbread Man. Konrath's latest Jack Daniels novel, "Bloody Mary," has Jack chasing a serial killer who is scattering body parts around the city, along with items of Jack's.

What is different about Konrath's novels is the wild, laugh-out-loud sense of humor that he deftly mixes with suspense. Publishers Weekly says, "Readers with a taste for the twisted should enjoy themselves."

Bestselling author Ridley Pearson gave his first book high praise: "A dash of sardonic wit, two jiggers of the colorful Jack Daniels (the novel's main character), and the icy, sharpened prose of J.A. Konrath all combine to make 'Whiskey Sour' a literary cocktail that'll knock you off your chair."

In the year since "Whiskey Sour" burst onto the publishing scene, Konrath has become well known among writers, mystery conventioneers and readers as a tireless promoter and witty speaker. Just before Konrath headed out to Colorado for his first publisher-sponsored book tour, he took time to talk to us about the publishing business, money and the importance of marketing and creating a brand.

Bankrate: You were a waiter before your writing career took off. Where were you working?

J.A. Konrath: I waited at various places. I used to work at Shaw's Crab House in Schaumburg. I was at Macaroni Grill for a while.

Bankrate: Those are pretty decent restaurants. What was your income like for that?

J.A. Konrath: My wife is also a waiter and a bartender. One of us would always be home with the kids, the other one would be working a shift, so we would be able to cover all the shifts over the week. We were doing fine. I make more money writing.

Bankrate: How did the money change your life?

J.A. Konrath: Well, the book deal changed my life. I was able to buy a new car. I was able to pay off credit cards. I definitely have less debt than I did prior to getting the book deal. But I don't have a freezer full of Beluga caviar and I don't wake up in the morning deciding which Rolex to wear that day.

Bankrate: And the Jack Daniels Corp. hasn't sent you a case or a year's supply?

J.A. Konrath: (Laughs). Not yet, but I'm still hoping. I get plenty of fans who give me Jack Daniels and they also buy me whiskey sours.

Bankrate: Your liver is thankful.

J.A. Konrath: I should have named the book Lobster Thermidor.

Bankrate: You started out with a six-figure, three-book advance deal. It's up to you to tell me how much that is, but, how is that distributed?

J.A. Konrath: Let's say that each book would not be six figures on its own. I'm comfortable enough saying that. I got a portion of it, about 15 percent of it, on signing. Then it was broken up. I would get a portion of it when I turned in an outline, then a portion of it when the manuscript was accepted. Acceptance is a very big clause in the contracts. I can turn in an outline in March and I may not get paid until May because my editor has to look it over, suggest some changes, I have to make those changes, and then of course it all goes through my agent, who makes 15 percent.