Thank you so much for sharing your book with me and agreeing to do a Q&A for my readers.
Give us a quick summary of The Woodsman!
Thank you so much for having me! The Woodsman focuses on a man named Jackson Clay. Haunted by tragedy in his past, he’s now something of a recluse, living alone in the Virginia woods. That past, though, has been driving him to do one thing: saving those who are missing and the authorities can’t find. When a girl, Sara Beth Parker, disappears in the middle of the night, we meet Detective Angela Cole, this tough and independent but very empathetic investigator. But as the case goes cold, Cole becomes desperate. And when a colleague tells her about Jackson, she reluctantly gives him the task of bringing Sara Beth home. But as Jackson digs, he untangles a web of secret and lies, that not only further put Sara Beth in danger, but now himself as well.
This book focuses on the lost and finding those that others have given up hope on. Why was that an important topic for you to write about?
That’s a great question. I’m not sure that finding those that are lost is any more important to me than anyone else. I think it’s a theme that most everyone can identify with – the pain of losing someone – and it’s something I think most people find themselves emotionally invested in, especially when it’s something like children or teenagers. Really, I just had what I felt was a tense and interesting story and a desire to share it.
Your novel features a variety of exciting characters, including the reclusive main character, the determined and exciting Detective Cole, and an intriguing man named Bear. How do you develop your characters? Are they based on people you know in real life?
Well, depending on who you ask, some say Bear is based on myself, but that may just be that we’re a couple of chubby, bearded guys! I think Jackson and Bear and the relationship the two of them form is my take on Robert Crais’ classic duo, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Crais is a huge inspiration of mine. I think there are a lot of similarities there, but differences, too. As for Cole, I really wanted to create a strong female character that was not colored in by the usual tropes. I didn’t want her to fall hopelessly in love or put her in a story where it was her proving she belongs amongst her peers. She’s tough but that toughness comes from a place of compassion. She’s really almost a co-protagonist opposite Jackson Clay.
Did you have any major hurdles in getting this novel out into the world?
Oh, man, where to begin? My journey with this book started with trying to get it traditionally published. Over 100 queries later, that didn’t happen. So, I chose to go it alone and self-publish, which naturally brought its own challenges. From starting a business to funding it, to contracting out the right services to help me, I’ve had to do it all to bring this book out into the world. It’s really been an adventure.
How long did it take you to finish your novel, from first draft to publication?
So, I began writing this novel on March 4, 2019. It’s become something of an anniversary for me, personally. By that August, I had a first draft, and by the following spring I had a polished manuscript. The next 15 months or so, were spent trying to get it published and obviously the pandemic complicated all of that. So, the answer is over two years in all, but only about half that time was spent really writing and revising the book.
According to your website, you’ve had a myriad of jobs from bakery owner to freelance writer. How did you find your calling as an author?
I’ve always been drawn to writing. In grade school, I wrote this tacky short story where I met J.K. Rowling – nevermind her current drama – and we went out to lunch via a limo and she shared with me how she wrote the Harry Potter stories. My mother actually sent it to her office and I got an autographed photo back. I thought that was just the coolest thing for the longest time! So, yes, I’ve always loved writing. I was Editor-in-Chief on my high school newspaper, I wrote in college, and most of what I have done professionally has been writing-based. All I really did is take that energy and focus it into a novel.
Your novel was published independently. Can you share with us why you chose this route and what about it has worked well for you?
Well, the simple truth is the publishing world said, “thanks, but no, thanks.” Like I mentioned earlier, I queried over 100 agents, and only a couple asked for me to submit more material. I took that to mean, for whatever reason, the traditional publishing world just wasn’t interested in my book. Nevertheless, I still wanted to get it out there, so I published it, as you said, independently. But I’m not knocking self-publishing in anyway. In fact, diving into the world of independent authors has been probably the most rewarding experience of my professional life. There are so many fantastic writers out there that don’t have an agent or big publisher behind them.
You’ve previously worked as a freelance writer for websites and other outlets. How did the skills you develop as a freelancer help you in your work as an independently published novelist?
That’s a fantastic question. I’d have to say it probably helped me in the sense that I already understood what it meant to work by myself and largely for myself. Some people need a regimented work atmosphere with bosses and co-workers where each person does something. With the writing work I did, you sort of had to be your own everything. You had to write the story, find the artwork, proofread, design and post everything yourself. So much of that translates into being an independent author. You’re not just your own boss – which a lot of people think is great – you’re also your own marketing department, corporate office, etcetera, etcetera. There’s no one to go to when there’s a problem. You have to troubleshoot the situation yourself.
What is your writing kryptonite?
Hm, that’s a tough one. Probably the pace at which I write. I’ve found that, when actually composing my stories, I have little more than 500 to 1,000 words in me per day. If I do any more than that, the quality of my writing starts to suffer. There are some writers out there – really, really, great writers – that can go on binges and knock out 2- or even 3,000 words in a sitting. That’s just not me. That, and I couldn’t outline a story to save my life. I’m a classic pantser through and through!
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who are working on their first book?
So, when I began toying with the idea of writing a book, I did a lot of research, trying to decide is this something I can really do or am I crazy. In all of that, I came across a great essay written by Stephen Hunter (people might best know him as the author of Point of Impact, which became the film ‘Shooter’ starring Mark Wahlberg). In his essay, he talks about how one day soon he’ll start to write his next book and that same day a hundred other would-be writers will start books that they’ll never finish. The thesis of his essay was essentially that the cold, hard truth is you may not have what it takes to be a professional novelist, but you will never know unless you sit down and write and finish your book. That message has stuck with me through this entire journey. I can’t sit here today and say that I’ve necessarily succeeded, but I’ve written a book where others haven’t. And all I can attribute that to really is perseverance. So, if you’re looking for advice: sit down! Write! And keep writing!
The Woodsman is available now. What are you working on next?
The sequel to The Woodsman, entitled Country Roads, is in the works! Look for it on virtual bookshelves sometime next summer!
Ten-year-old Harold Hufferbluss has extraordinarily vivid dreams. Some good, some not so good, and some freaky bad, but all in full color and jukebox loud. And these particular weird dreams have attracted the attention of something not quite human: Slender Sam. Ol’ Sam is watching Harold, intrigued by the boy who can dream just a little bit better than everybody else. A boy with a special knack for dreaming that others can only...dream of.