Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Yurie Kiri is a shy, secretive person who used to live on a boat, sailing between various ports in the Pacific Ocean. Yurie lived on the boat until some crazy mega-yacht got loose and went on a full throttle rampage through the marina squashing everything it could hit. Alas, sailing was one of Yurie’s passions, now writing and photography are the main passions in Yurie Kiri’s life along with cats of course like the enhanced, intelligent cats featured in New York Stories…
Yurie Kiri speaks Japanese, English, French and has studied Chinese, Arabic and Spanish as well as a smattering of other languages such as Korean and Russian along with binary and hexadecimal machine language because if you really want to get to know someone you need to speak their language no matter if they’re machine or human. Yurie lived and worked in Asia for decades before coming back to America where Yurie went on an extensive backroad journey all across the US and Canada from the rough Mexican border towns to the town of Yellowknife in Canada’s NWT where you need to cross a frozen lake to get into town in the winter. Yurie also sailed (single-handed) from Mexico to the Canadian border, retracing a well-traveled road journey by sea in a small, live aboard sail boat. Yurie has been traveling and gathering story ideas from Asia for the Game Series which covers Japan and other Asian countries and North America for the Murder and Mystery Series which covers the American Southwest.
I have written about 14 or 15 or so depending upon how they’re edited. I have about 6 books in the “Moonlight” series with 3 published on Amazon (and 1 on Apple) the others in review. I’m working with some ARC readers for the next release – “Moonlight Rip Tide.” I also have 7 books in the “Games” series with 2 published on Amazon (and 1 on Apple) the others in review. And then there’s New York Stories also published on Amazon along with a couple of boxed sets in both Games and Moonlight so I now have 9 titles on Amazon, 2 on Apple plus one on Audible.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Latest book – released Feb/March 2023 – New York Stories.
I get a lot my inspirations from current events, news stories and what people are talking about, bits of overheard conversations. The themes in New York Stories: crime, the police, the homeless, global warming, the decline of democracy, war and global politics, China, massive multiplayer online RPGs, online banking and insurance companies… are all in the news and are constantly being talked about. Actually, I got the idea to use life insurance to collect on debts from a Japanese news story on how some Yakuza guys loaned money to people who listed the gangs as beneficiaries on their life insurance. If the borrowers got behind on their payments, the Yakuza arranged for a surprise “vacation trip” to let people get away from their troubles… a free trip to paradise… however, accidents always occurred and the gang got paid back for their investments… like Bob in the story.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Real people and real places have always been my inspiration. Most of my books have a “Note to readers” introduction where I explain how I got the story idea – sometimes from overheard conversations at bars and restaurants. Actually, I was once accosted by people in a bar who thought I was eavesdropping on them and taking notes, which I was… “Sorry, just work stuff,” I said, waving my notes and smiling. Then they left me alone.. ha, ha. However, some of Moonlight Beach also came from interview meetings which I set up with some venture capital people under the guise of writing a non-fiction business book. I met those very interesting people who then formed some of the minor but important characters in “Beach” and “Rip Tide.” I never finished the business book or a travel book (like Paul Theroux one of my favorite authors) I also started, finding fiction writing so much more enjoyable.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
All the classic authors that I read in college including George Eliot and Jane Austen plus modern guys like Dan Silva for his spy novels, Mick Herron, Ian Fleming, Jack Kerouac, John le Carre, Carlos Castaneda… and JRR Tolkien of course.
What are you working on now?
Moonlight Rip Tide – book description…
Want to go for a ride in a classic car? Park by the ocean? Sounds nice huh?
Mona found the man and his car, a beautiful, old Ferrari, very attractive. Sure, she’d go for a ride with him to look at the ocean, the party was boring anyway. Maybe by the time they got back things would liven up a bit…
She felt the bag tighten around her neck, cutting off her air supply. This cannot be happening. She gasped and struggled, but it was no use. He was as strong as he was classically handsome, a real Hollywood leading man type. Everything went dark as she lost consciousness, her last thought was about the mistake she’d made threatening to tell Danny’s wife…
Susan felt that someone was stalking her. She’d gotten several strange calls attempting to make appointments for private exercise and aerobics lessons. Dicky and the cops had wrecked her apartment and she needed to work to get a new place but she was afraid to take on an unknown client. What should she do?
“Get in the car or your pregnant friend is dead!” he said hoarsely. Susan must save Anne, but how?
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Fussy librarian, Written word media – Bargain Booksy
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Aim higher, do better…
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Run!
What are you reading now?
Science: “This is your Mind on Plants” by Michael Pollan, who I love and have read his other books. Travel: “On the Plain of Snakes” by Paul Theroux, who I also love and have read his other books. Fiction: the “Slough House” series by Mick Herron who I don’t particularly like because of how he kills off good characters but I love his dialogue. I’ve killed off a few characters in my books too but I can always bring them back as ghosts or spirit guides however Mick didn’t give himself those options. I do like the Apple TV version of his books and the cast they picked…
What’s next for you as a writer?
Releasing a couple new books each year.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Lord of the Rings, all of the books…
Author Websites and Profiles
Yurie Kiri Website
Yurie Kiri Amazon Profile
Yurie Kiri’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account