Originally published in Modern Times Magazine in June 2013. James Sallis is an author, poet and writing instructor living in Phoenix. He is also a musician in the Arizona band Three-Legged Dog. Amongst other works, he has written the Lew Griffin detective series, The Killer is Dying , and Drive , the book that inspired Nicolas Winding-Refn’s film of the same name starring Ryan Gosling. Sallis currently teaches writing courses at Phoenix College. Modern Times Magazine: As a professional writer, what does your daily schedule look like? I am guessing it is not the same as someone with a nine-to-five job. James Sallis: No, no it’s not. That’s actually the best thing about it. I only had to put on clothes because I was coming to meet you. It varies a lot. I do most of my most creative stuff in the morning. I get up and I answer emails, so a lot of business happens then. And then I work. But, as a book progresses, I tend to work more and more. As I’m getting m...