Ask the Author: Michael Finkel
Answered Questions (77)
Michael Finkel
Thank you for your readership! I was attracted to the incredible feat of endurance that Chris pulled off. I was attracted to Chris' quiet intelligence. I was even attracted to his prickly, unfriendly personality. And I wanted to write a book that asked this question: what can we do with a person who is unable to live in modern society?
Michael Finkel
Hi Miki: Thanks for your readership. It's crazy but there are virtually no pictures of the art thief's mother or girlfriend found online. Both women were very careful about guarding their privacy, and the era in which the action takes place -- the late 90s to the early 2000s -- was a time when it was significantly easier to avoid making much of a digital footprint. During my research, I did manage to obtain a significant amount of home video clips that show Breitwieser, as well as Anne-Catherine Kleinklas (his girlfriend) and Mireille Stengel (his mother).
Michael Finkel
I did read "The Plot," but I appreciate the recommendation.
Michael Finkel
Thanks Shruti! I will indeed watch "Shyam Singh Roy"; thank you for the suggestion, and that you more for your readership.
Michael Finkel
I am honored by your readership! Thank you. I do plan to write another book, but I am a rather inefficient writer, alas, so it'll be a while.
Michael Finkel
Thanks for reading the book, Dana. Yes, you have pointed out a rather confusing line. Chris, though he grew up in Maine, was working in Mass. installing car and home alarms (after finishing a computer tech school there), and so that is where he began his quest from.
Michael Finkel
Thank you for your kind words, and for your readership. I wish you all the best for 2021. -- Mike Finkel
Michael Finkel
Thank you so much for the kind comment. The story of Christopher Knight clearly captured your heart, as it did mine. I'm appreciative of your readership.
Michael Finkel
I'm grateful for your readership and kind words!
Michael Finkel
Yes, I adore both places. As I have relatively young kids, the school year determines where we spend most of the time (this year, in France) and the school vacations determine when we can move to the other.
Michael Finkel
I really admire the poem, thank you for sending! The line about the "frozen heart" is lovely, and I smiled at the MASH reference, as I am a big fan of that show, but only watched it in reruns, in the time before the internet. I wish you the best of luck and skill on your creative pursuits. -- Mike Finkel
Michael Finkel
Thank you for the very kind words, Keri. Mr. Knight and I are no longer in touch. I would welcome a letter from him any time, but I will not disturb him any more. I will also be forever grateful to Chris for sharing his story with me, and for tolerating all of my visits and my questions.
Michael Finkel
Thank you so much, Jenny, for the kind words! I really adore your state, and wish I could spend more time there.
Michael Finkel
Thanks for your question and my apologies for the delay in responding. It's was Knight's intelligence, and emotional vulnerability, and seemingly complete honesty that captured me. And of course his unique story. There was that moment when I mentioned, in a letter to him, the pleasing synchronicity of the Summer solstice and the super moon, and Knight informed me that he'd been trying in jail to speak with someone about that very same, somewhat obscure topic, that made me feel we had a certain connection. That truly sparked my concern for him. Of course, with a person so unusual as Knight, forming a true bond is nearly impossible, and I'm sure I made several mistakes along the way, but I tried to always do what felt natural.
Michael Finkel
That is very kind of you to send me such an inspiring message. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed reading about Mr. Knight. And I hope you do read more books, or at least not wait 8 years for another! Indeed -- you are not the only solitude-seeker out there. Not at all.
Michael Finkel
I moved to Montana in 1992 because I love to ski. I stayed because I love Montana.
Michael Finkel
Hi Terri. I've never been able to easily answer the question about favorite or impactful books. While I have always loved to read, since I was very young, the first time I read "The Catcher in the Rye," J.D. Salinger's magnum opus, I was completely smitten � something about the voice of Holden Caulfield, the smoothness of the prose, the feeling that the author was speaking directly to me, the fact that I was so young (maybe 17 years old) just left a deep impression on me. I've since read hundreds of books that have utterly gripped me, and many dozens (like "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy) that I've read in a single, entranced sitting, but like a first true love, the immensity of the emotions stirred by "Catcher" have never been surmounted.
In terms of writing or research, I have no set routine � or, rather, my routine is to not have routine. My work hours really depend on what stage of a project I'm in (researching, writing, editing, head-pounding-on-keyboard-in-frustration � those are pretty much the classic four stages of non-fiction writing). When I'm actually in full-on writing mode, I prefer to write all night, but that's just me. I'm a natural night-owl. Everyone I believe needs to find what works for them.
In terms of writing or research, I have no set routine � or, rather, my routine is to not have routine. My work hours really depend on what stage of a project I'm in (researching, writing, editing, head-pounding-on-keyboard-in-frustration � those are pretty much the classic four stages of non-fiction writing). When I'm actually in full-on writing mode, I prefer to write all night, but that's just me. I'm a natural night-owl. Everyone I believe needs to find what works for them.
Michael Finkel
u what to writer? hmm. okay. what the heck you can give it a try maybe your style will upend the profession.
Michael Finkel
I'm very sorry but no qqqqqqqq.
Michael Finkel
Chris Knight knew how to hunt -- before he went to the woods, he often hunted with his father and brothers.
But it's very inefficient, energy-wise, to hunt in Maine, especially in winter.
Knight often compared himself with animals, and he noted that animals will almost alway use the most energy-efficient ways of gathering food. For example, in my home in Montana, my garbage cans are sometimes raided by bears. Why didn't those bears go and gather berries instead? Because it used a lot less energy and effort to eat the leftovers in my garbage.
Same with Chris. Breaking into cabins was so much easier, so much more energy efficient than trying to hunt. If he'd only hunted and fished for food, he almost certainly would've starved to death long ago.
Even with stealing, he barely survived some winters. In a funny way, Knight's decision to steal, one can argue, is the more "natural" way to go -- the way most animals would have chosen, if they had the type of hands that allowed them to pick locks.
But it's very inefficient, energy-wise, to hunt in Maine, especially in winter.
Knight often compared himself with animals, and he noted that animals will almost alway use the most energy-efficient ways of gathering food. For example, in my home in Montana, my garbage cans are sometimes raided by bears. Why didn't those bears go and gather berries instead? Because it used a lot less energy and effort to eat the leftovers in my garbage.
Same with Chris. Breaking into cabins was so much easier, so much more energy efficient than trying to hunt. If he'd only hunted and fished for food, he almost certainly would've starved to death long ago.
Even with stealing, he barely survived some winters. In a funny way, Knight's decision to steal, one can argue, is the more "natural" way to go -- the way most animals would have chosen, if they had the type of hands that allowed them to pick locks.
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