GERI: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

D. H. BROWN: Probably when I first got my butt whipped for tell a tall tale. I had an over-active imagination as a kid. Got a lot of whoppings... didn't stop me though and I've been a confirmed member of the Liars Club Of Writers ever since.

GERI: What type of books do you enjoy writing?

D. H. BROWN: Seems like fiction in the Mystery/Action/Thriller genre with a military flair, although I've been told that my books don't really fit any set genre. One female reader told me HONOR DUE was really Romance. That was a surprise. Early on most of my writing was in communications. Even took a stab at screen plays.

GERI: Did a special person in your life inspire you to become a writer?

D. H. BROWN: Not a writer, per se, however my 5th grade English teacher told me that I was never going to pass her English class so I'd better learn to read real well as I was going to need it. Believe it or not her name was Mrs. Reading, pronounced 'Redding' which I still can't make sense of. Oops... I think I just blew right through some rule with that last sentence.

GERI:
Have you written any books based on a true life story?

D. H. BROWN: I'd have to say that HONOR DUE comes the closest. A lot of it is autobiographical with pieces from the lives of War brothers from my past and present.

GERI: Who is your favorite Author?

D. H. BROWN: Ahhhh come on... do I really have to answer that, Geri? Yikes... there are so many... I can't ever throw a book away; that's why there's over 800 on my shelves. Only one? Okay... Mmmmm... Modern author, I'd have to say that right at the top of the list would be James Lee Burke. He's a master of description. Can I have a couple more? Robert B. Parker. He can cram a whole story in 50,000 words and make you think you've read a book. And... Lee Child. Something about his writing draws the reader into Jack Reacher's life. If I can ever do half as well, I'll think of myself as a successful writer. Of course there are many others.

GERI: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or are they from the imagination?

D. H. BROWN: As I said before, a little of both. I spend a huge chunk of my writing time working with my characters. Each has his or her own file and everything that character is, says and does goes into it. Since most people I know think I'm already crazy, I'll tell you a little secret. I talk to them. Have whole conversations with them until I can hear their voice. Shhhh... don't tell anybody.

GERI: How many books have you written?

D. H. BROWN: HONOR DUE is my first mainline work of fiction. I wrote Common Sense back in the '80s for the Seattle Community Action Network (CAN) and delivered the seminars of the same name. Mostly I wrote for nonprofit communications, even movies. In '86 I produced the independent children's film "Lessie's Rainbow" that was filmed in Sequim. Two other books which I didn't put my real name on and now am very pleased with myself for being such a far-seeing fella.

GERI: Where can your books be purchased?

D. H. BROWN: HONOR DUE is available to retail outlets through Ingram Book Company and Baker & Taylor and most other online distributors worldwide.

GERI: Describe how you felt the first time you were published.

D. H. BROWN: I think that every author has that one time thrill. All of the hard work has finally placed a published copy of your words in your hands. For me, it's each and every time a reader says they really enjoyed the work. That's the real pay day.

GERI: Do you have any current work in progress for a new release?

D. H. BROWN: HONOR DEFENDED, Book II of the Citizen Warrior Series is due out in September 2008, if I meet the deadline. Book III, HONOR REDEEMED, is slated for 2009. There are a couple other projects bouncing around in the woods of my mind I've started making notes on. Both of those are stand alones.

GERI: What are some links to your websites where visitors can be invited to read a BIO on you as author, and your writing?

D. H. BROWN: Just Google D. H. BROWN: and HONOR DUE. My wife tells me there's a fair number of hits available. My website is www.dhbrownbooks.com or www.myspace.com/dhbrownbooks. I post things to my blog occasionally at MySpace.

GERI: Do you have goals set for the future in your journey of writing?

D. H. BROWN: I want to continue with the Major's Citizen Warrior Series and see where that takes me, and him. I like the character and his friends. The other two projects I have in mind are also coming to the front burners. I may soon take a break from the Major and his adventures to get into at least one of them.

GERI: At this point and time in your life, are you exactly where you wanted to be in your writing endeavors?

D. H. BROWN: Farther than I ever thought I'd be. So I find myself content where I find myself right now.

GERI: In your opinion, what are some factors that can help authors reach their dream of accomplishment?

D. H. BROWN: Stick-to-it-ness. You have to first decide that writing is what you want to do. Where you wake up out of a sound sleep with a scene blazing in your mind, and get up to write it instead of turning over and going back to sleep.

GERI: As an author, have you ever experienced writer's block?

D. H. BROWN: Oh my yes. Staring at a blank screen for hours, twiddling with words that make absolutely no sense. With HONOR DUE I never had that problem and was essentially finished with it in 3 months. It took another 2 years, and multiple bypass surgery, to polish and for me to get up the nerve to actually seek a publisher. The next book HONOR DEFENDED is now in that process, minus the surgery.

GERI: In your opinion, what advice can you give to authors to prevent writer's block?

D. H. BROWN: My cure is to take the pressure off. I just shut down when the words won't flow and get a good book and read. Sometimes it's because I can't hear a character's voice. Then I know I have to spend some quality time with them. There's that whole talking to myself thing again.

GERI: As a child, did you have any favorite books that you enjoyed reading?

D. H. BROWN: Sci-Fi and Raymond Chandler's Marlowe books. Mike Hammer and the Travis McGee series. Lots of Heinlein and Asimov.

GERI: As a child, did you enjoy reading a lot?

D. H. BROWN: Every chance I got and just about everything I could lay my hands and eyes on.

GERI: If you had the opportunity for one day to live the life of a famous author, who would it be?

D. H. BROWN: I can't think of a one. I've already lived more that any one man could ever expect. My life has been so varied already. From being the son of missionary parents with a lot of world travel to my Vietnam experiences. I've been a sort of jack of all trades in everything from a day laborer hauling railroad ties off ship at Steward, Alaska to the Director of Security for Loomis when anti-hijacking measures went into effect back in '73. Also drove Armored Car, joined the Anchorage Police force and worked undercover for drugs and vice. The list goes on, Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Book Reviewer; Webmaster and Web Designer. Many of the authors I've known over the years have told me to write what I know. So I have. Writing is also what keeps me sane. At least my definition of sane, and that's the only one that counts.

GERI: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction after publishing a book. Some feel a sense of achievement, can you relate to such feelings?

D. H. BROWN: Of course. For me it's a sense of a job well done.

GERI: How do you balance your current occupation with your goals for writing?

D. H. BROWN: Occupation? Being a disabled Vet with Agent Orange related Diabetes and chronic PTSD, and having had open heart surgery as well, there's little else I can do. If that wasn't a factor... I'd probably be looking over the next hill, like I've done most of my life, to see what else there was to do that I haven't done already. Writing books came late in life, suggested by my therapist and Psyche Meds doctor who thought I should write about what I know. So here we are. Writing is therapy and a way for me to get out the internal thoughts. The world behind my eyes has always been larger than the physical one I live in.

GERI: How did you feel at your first book-signing, or the first time you signed one of your published books?

D. H. BROWN: Never had one and doubt I ever shall. Me and crowds don't mix well.

GERI: If you won the lottery tomorrow, would that change your plans in your writing career? If so, how?

D. H. BROWN: It'd really screw up my disability. Other than that, I doubt I'd change a thing. And of course, one has to play the lottery to win. I've never been a gambler.

GERI: As writers, we begin with a manuscript that becomes published, then we learn the meaning of promotions. In your opinion, what was the most difficult task?

D. H. BROWN: Promotion, by far.

GERI: Some writer's need to listen to soft music to help them write those chapters for a new release, some prefer looking at the ocean, or flowers. Do you have any particular scenery, or object that you wish to focus on when writing?

D. H. BROWN: Nope, just a computer screen. I like to play old classic country music in the background sometimes. Having a news channel running doesn't bother me. Maybe it's part of my desire to avoid crowds but living in the deep rainforest is a pleasure all of it's own. I always thought the West End of Washington's Olympic Peninsula would lend itself to some sort of mystery or thriller. I hope HONOR DUE and the future books in the series encompass that. Writing comes more easily when the distractions of modern life are few.

GERI: If you had books published in one Genre such as horror, and became daring to write a novel for a different genre, what would it be?

D. H. BROWN: Never Horror. Dang it! I just said never. Hope I don't have to pay that one back. One reviewer said HONOR DUE it was hard to label with a genre. It was the best of most of them. I'm just a story teller. I want the reader to feel like they're sitting across the table, having a cup of their favorite brew and listening to the Major tell his story.

GERI: Thanks for taking the time to visit with us.

D. H. BROWN: My pleasure, Geri. I appreciate all you do for independant authors and their books.

Geri Ahearn Interview 3/29/08 authorgeriahearnsinterviews.blogspot.com