Jon Fasman — novelist, Second Pass contributor and good friend — recently sat down to tea with James Ellroy for The Economist. They discussed Blood’s a Rover, Ellroy’s latest, and other subjects.

Starting at the two-minute mark, Jon draws forth a very candid response about the book’s dedication. The rest is filled with Ellroy’s confidence (“this is a book that has it all”), and his thoughts about combining real and invented history (and whether he cares about acknowledging which is which), how much he outlines and how much he improvises, and “vicariously dig(ging) . . . voodoo alcohol.” Enjoy: