As you created the character of Bob Lee... â€� Stephen Hunter Q&A

David Tindell asked Stephen Hunter:

As you created the character of Bob Lee Swagger, how much in-depth work did you put into him before writing the first book? Such as, creating a character bio, finding imagery that fit the picture of him you had in your head, interviewing and/or reading about similar people, or did you let the character create itself as the story progressed?

Stephen Hunter He started out as Hathcock, but never came alive, so I had to loosen up and see where HE wanted to go. Four drafts and five years later, it was finished. And when I was done with that book, I wanted to know more, so I wrote some other Bob books. Then I wanted to know about his father, and the only way to learn was to write the Earl books. Now I'm thinking about a Charles Swagger book, Charles being the Darth Vader of the Swaggers, Bob's grandfather, Earl's father. I've also plotted an origins book, tracing the Swaggers back to Revolutionary War Times, but the war in the south, dark and bloody, where WE were the Viet Cong and won by outbleeding an industrial nation. Nobody wanted to buy it, alas, and I realize now it will probably never get written, but I do have a very good explanation of the Swagger family gene for the firearm dating from that period, which I would like to get into print somehow, believing that you guys would find it interesting. One problem: I hate the shoes of the revolutionary period, all those buckled heels over silk hose. No thank you. As a Bass Weejun kind of guy, I would put my characters in boots or moccasins, thank you very much.

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