Please introduce yourself and your book(s)!
My name is David William Pearce; I live in Kenmore, Washington, a burb of Seattle and I’m the author of Where Fools Dare to Tread, A Monk Buttman Mystery, published by Black Rose Writing, and is the first book in the series. The second, A Twinkle in the Eyes of God, will be released in early 2020.
What is/are the story(ies) behind your book(s)?
The Monk stories came from another book I started, but haven’t finished. It was one of those stuck moments where nothing was coming to me, and I remembered a minor character who wanted to write pulp fiction that featured a hard-boiled private dick with the silly name of Monk Buttman. So, I wondered what that would be like as a serious story and I was off and running.
What inspires/inspired your creativity?
I get most of my ideas from what I see and read. People do an amazing array of things, good and bad. I also like to explore big themes, like religion, politics, and love in stories about regular people. My stories are a combining of ideas and themes without being overly didactic or preachy.
How do you deal with creative block?
I deal with creative block by writing down what I think the characters would do in everyday situations like going to the doctor, the store; having to explain something to a friend; a day on the job. I also have a blog, https://davidwilliampearcewriter.com that I use to write about anything that comes to mind.
What are the biggest mistakes you can make in a book?
To me, the biggest mistake is to write to the market. Write what you want, then find the market, because the market is always changing and can be fickle. The other thing is know where your story starts and ends. There’s nothing more frustrating than writing thousands of words that don’t go anywhere.
Do you have tips on choosing titles and covers?
I go with titles that cleverly, I hope, give any potential reader an idea of what the story is about in a way that makes them then check it out further. It’s the same with the cover. I tend to prefer simplicity, but that’s just me.
How do bad reviews and negative feedback affect you and how do you deal with them?
Not everyone is going to get or like what you do, that’s just the way it is. I don’t mind negative feedback if it’s explained and I can see what it is they don’t like. That doesn’t mean I’ll make any changes, but… Otherwise, it’s not their thing and that’s part of being creative: you won’t please everyone.
How has your creation process improved over time?
I’m much more organized and because of that, much more productive. One of the things that writing everyday, or almost everyday is it’s easier to get going and to get into a rhythm and you’re less intimidated by the idea that something must get done today.
What were the best, worst and most surprising things you encountered during the entire process of completing your book(s)?
The best thing is having a finished book; nothing beats that. It shows you can do this and it’s the biggest mountain to climb. I don’t know if it’s the worst, but editing, like weeding, is essential, but not terribly exciting, and can sometimes seem like it takes forever. The surprising is all the stuff you have to do as an author that has nothing to do with actually writing, but you have to do to get the book out and people both aware and interested.
Do you tend towards personal satisfaction or aim to serve your readers? Do you balance the two and how?
I write for myself first and then I have people read it to gauge their interest. If they like it, then I’ll pursue getting it published. If not, it goes in my personal pile and I leave it at that.
What role do emotions play in creativity?
For me, I want to be emotionally invested in my characters, because they drive the stories. And I use emotion to evoke the nature of the characters and why they do what they do. The more invested you are in the characters and story, the more you’ll stick to it and finish.
Do you have any creativity tricks?
I like to have the characters play off one another through dialog. I’m often surprised where that takes me and the story.
What are your plans for future books?
I already have a number of books in the series finished and hope that they will see the light of day and I’m working on the contours of the next book. For now I plan on having 6 books in the series, but who knows.
Tell us some quirky facts about yourself
I started seriously writing after having open-heart surgery. I was bored and had always wanted to write. So I challenged myself to do something other than sit on the couch and watch TV. I’m glad I did.
Links
https://monkbuttman.com/
https://www.blackrosewriting.com/mysterysuspense/wherefoolsdaretotread