Author Interview: Don Brown

Plug time. What book or project is coming out or has come out that you’d like to tell us about?

Hostage is book two of Zondervan’s Navy Justice Series. It officially hits the stands November 1, although I’m starting my “book tour” in North Carolina and Virginia on Saturday, October 29, 2005 at the Book & Cup, a Christian bookstore in my hometown of Plymouth, N.C.

How long had you been writing seriously before you got “the call” that you were going to be published?

It’s getting a little fuzzy on the timeline, but I started working on my first novel in January of 2000. I officially got word in January of 2003 that I was being offered a contract.

Tell us how you heard and what went through your head.

When word finally came, there was a combined sensation of shock, relief, ecstasy, gratitude, and numbness, all rolled into one. I’d been communicating with the publisher, and they had expressed an interest in the project already. So in one sense, I wasn’t all that surprised. But yet I really was. The feeling was surreal. Yes, that’s the best way to describe it. Surreal.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

Not really self-doubts. But I just want to get better as a novelist.


What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

I’ll echo two points given by my friend Davis Bunn. One, if you’re going to be a writer you must write every day. Two, you must read the works of others. Don’t just say, “I don’t have time to read.” A good writer must be a good reader.

Finally, I think the best advice is the advice I’ve given in other interviews, because this helped me so. If you’re serious about writing for publication, find a good writer’s conference. Learn all you can, soak it up, and apply it. That helped me so much in leading to my first contract. I highly recommend the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference at the Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, N.C, run each spring by Yvonne Lehman.

I’ve been there five times, and will probably go back again. If you’re out west, there’s a similar conference run in the fall at Glorietta, New Mexico. Plus there are dozens of other good ones as well to choose from. Just pick and go.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever heard?

Once, long before I became a novelist, someone told me that “the secret to writing is re-writing.” That’s a very well-intentioned maxim and I think there’s some truth to that. Don’t get me wrong. Occasionally, rewriting is necessary.

But more often than not, so many aspiring novelists keep re-writing and re-writing to the point that they never let go of their work. Understand that there is a huge difference between revising, editing and re-writing.

A story is like a canary. Eventually you must let it go. But often, re-writing becomes an impediment to that very thing. Too much re-writing can sometimes kill the original storyline.

There are four elements to a novel: (1) Character development; (2) Dialogue; (3) Structure and (4) Story. Make no mistake that the most important of these is story. Don’t let excessive re-writing get in the way of your instincts.


What’s something you wish you’d known earlier on that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

For me, the publishing business remains, in the words of Churchill describing the Soviet Union, somewhat of a “mystery wrapped up in an enigma.” Understanding how book distribution works, from the warehouse to the bookstore is something that I wish I’d known more about and something that I’m still learning about.

For example, when Treason was released, we ran some radio spots in various military markets around the country. People rushed into the stores to buy books, but the books were either sold out or not enough had arrived. We’d notified some of the chains in advance, but there was like a big disconnect in some cases. Some of the store managers were saying “oh yeah, you did tell us about this p.r. campaign.” But by then, they’d lost out on a golden opportunity.

So to answer the question, getting a better feel for who’s who in the various bookstores around the company is something I’d like to get better at.


Do you have a scripture or quote that has been speaking to you lately?

Yes. John 15:13. “Greater love hath no man than he who would lay down his life for a friend. Recently I’ve had some close friends who have shown me that kind of love.”

Is there a particularly difficult set back that you’ve gone through in your writing career you are willing to share?

I’ve been very fortunate and blessed that my writing career, which really started with my first stab at a novel in 2000, has taken off pretty quickly. That was nothing I did. God gets the credit for that. But yes, there have been setbacks. My very first novel, Destiny, which I think is my best storyline, has been passed over by several publishers who like it, but who feel that its genre – historical fiction – is not the most marketable genre right now. We’re hoping that this will change very soon, but after all that work, that’s been a setback.

What are a few of your favorite books? (Not written by you.)

Safely Home by Randy Alcorn; The Corps Series by W.E.B. Griffin; Demon Chaser by Gina Holmes.

If your authorial self was a character from The Wizard of Oz, which one would you be and why?

Now, that’s funny. I’ve already quoted the Wizard in an email I sent you [inside joke] and now he’s in your questions. Tough and interesting question. I guess, though, I’d be the scarecrow. Why? Well because I like his compassionate heart, and I desire to be more compassionate.

What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

My novel Destiny, a World War II historical romance is the one I’m most proud. Why? Because I love the story line – a love letter is found on the body of a dead Nazi officer by the American who kills him, who then seeks to find the dead officer’s wife and return the letter – and because it’s my “first baby,” so to speak.

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?

The only real pet peeve I have is that I’m not quite to a million books sold yet. Hah. No not really. I love writing with a passion.

Can you give us a view into a typical day of your writing life?

I like to try and get in at least an hour a day or more, if possible. Recently, I’ve been writing at Panera Bread in the evenings, where they let me hang out after the 9:00 P.M. close time, and which has free wireless.

If you could choose to have one strength of another writer, what would it be and from whom?

I’d like to have Nick Spark’s ability to make women cry.

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?

Here’s a cliché-like answer, but nevertheless the truth: I’d love to be able to live off the writing, to have a secluded place down in Hilton Head where I could go and write without interruption.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

Absolutely not. Next question. Okay that’s too abrupt. Sorry. No I don’t want to quit. I love it too much.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?

My favorite part is when ideas just come out of nowhere and I’m wondering, “wow, where did that come from?” That’s an exhilarating sensation. I also really enjoy speaking to book clubs. My least favorite part is not having enough time to write because of such a busy schedule.

Parting words?

Write for the joy of writing. Write for your children and grandchildren, remembering that your writings will be your legacy for generations to come for your descendants who never knew you. Above all, write for the Glory of God.