No need to come to attention

James O. Born

Senior Man on Deck.

This is a phrase that police agencies adopted from the military and one that I’ve heard my entire career. It is simply a show of respect for a leader, either male or female, not officially sanctioned as a supervisor. At the DEA it was the agent who not only had a number of years under his or her belt but who had attained a certain measure of respect based on their work ethic, accomplishments and, most importantly, an ability to help younger agents on their way up.

It seems like that should be the job of a supervisor or someone of higher rank but that role has a certain formality and expectation that isn’t helpful in every situation. Everyone, cop or civilian, needs someone they can ask unofficially what to do after they screw up. The senior person on deck is never voted on, never shoved in front of a boss as an example of leadership. They just are there. They emerge. It’s a personality trait which they probably have no control over. In fact, if someone tries too hard to be a leader they probably aren’t the natural leader a group needs to excel.

In writing, especially writing in a particular genre, the natural instinct is to look to the bestsellers as the leaders but that’s not always the case. Many authors get bogged down in the business they have created and don’t have the time to really be out there to mentor, advise, support and be available for the generation behind them. This is not a criticism, it is a fact which cannot be avoided.

I’ve written before about the generosity of crime writers. How they will do everything from spread the word about your book to back you up in a fight if needed (especially if they’re from North Carolina). I’ve been fortunate to meet popular authors who have helped me in a big way and encouraged me more than I can ever repay. But one crime author has become the senior man on deck to many of us just starting out. Not only in his generosity but in a simple willingness to attend events and be available.

I consider Lee Child one of crime fiction’s senior authors on deck. I have to avoid snapping to attention when he walks in a room yet he puts everyone at ease. He has a common sense approach to publishing and writing which he doesn’t hold secret. He reads other people’s works, edits new writer’s anthologies and provides comments on writing that you just have to steal because they express what so many of us feel so well.




He'll even take a phot with Jason Starr. Now that takes class.


This past weekend at Sleuthfest he gave a lunch-time talk that recounted the history of human origin, the beginning of arts, the reason for fiction and how to be a concise storyteller all in about twenty minutes. I don’t mean to be mushy but the guy inspires people. He inspires me.

There are others who are (SAD) Senior Authors on Deck. Tess Gerritsen and Michael Connelly spring to mind immediately. All three of these bestsellers attend events, mix with everyone and generally support those following in their footsteps. I just thought I’d focus a little this morning since Lee’s talk was still on my mind.

We all have our own idea of the senior person in the room.

Now’s your chance. Who do you think has filled that position for you as a writer? Or you in any profession under the sun. There should always be someone around to look to for an example. Let’s hear who that is.