Looking Back While Focusing on What's Ahead (And not crashing in the process)

It's Really Been Two Decades?

It's been a long trip, this writing thing. What started out as a whim turned into twelve novels and a few more in progress. I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about myself and how I came to write mystery novels. Ever since I was young, mysteries have always captivated me. Growing up with a father who served as an NYPD officer, I was immersed in a world of intrigue and complex human stories from an early age. His experiences sparked my fascination with unraveling puzzles and understanding the depths of human nature.

I experimented with writing in various genres, but I found that mystery resonated with me the most. There's something uniquely thrilling about posing "what if" questions and exploring where they lead. For example, in my book "Soft Case," I pondered: What would happen if someone like Bill Gates ran for office? How would those around him react to potential secrets being unearthed? These kinds of questions drive my storytelling and keep the narratives fresh and engaging.

There Have Been Some Bumps in the Road

One of the challenges I've faced in my writing journey is perfectionism. I always strive to get the story just right, which means I often revisit and edit my older books. I've come to realize that while nothing can be perfect, each revision brings me closer to the story I want to tell.

I also struggled with some odd coincidences between my writing and real life that caused me to step back, leaving a gap of eight years between Death Knell and The Down Side. Writing The Down Side took a lot out of me because I used skills that had lain dormant for a long time. Since 2015, I've been in stride, writing nine books and publishing five in that span.

I've oscillated between traditional and self publishing. Three of my books were published by traditional small presses and, for the most part, the experience was good. But I lacked control over the marketing and found that, unless you get lucky and go with a major publisher, a press can't make magic happen. Publishing on my own enables my yearly edits to the novels and refreshes of covers from time to time. Soft Case has had six different covers, for instance, as I update them for the times.

Why The John Keegan Series? 

What sets my mystery series apart is the infusion of humor. My main character, John Keegan, possesses an entertaining yet skewed view of the world. I think it's important to find levity in the seriousness of life and Keegan does that while he's immersed in his latest puzzle, annoyed and discontented with the world around him. While he's not a reflection of me, he embodies traits that some might expect from someone with my background—though he's a bit more edgy and angry. Over time, we've started to meld, and the John Keegan you'll meet in "The Lies That Bind Us" is more like me than the one in "Soft Case."

Keegan is tragically inept when it comes to technology and some consider me a guru. Well, the Keegan in me has come out several times. Let's just say there are roughly two books that never made it to publication because yours truly didn't back up properly. One probably stunk anyway. The other I'll always consider the gem that got away. Kind of how Keegan views Claudia Schiffer, a false hope he clings to for nostalgia's sake. Just less creepy.

I pour my life experiences into my writing, of course, edited and adjusted to protect the innocent. My aim is to highlight that life is imperfect and that we all do the best we can. Through the process of investigation, my stories delve into the deepest parts of humanity.

I Certainly Didn't Do This All Alone

I've been inspired by authors like Nelson DeMille, James Patterson, Harlan Coben, and Michael Connelly—writers who masterfully weave suspense and complex characters into their narratives. Their works have influenced my style and continue to motivate me to craft better stories.

I've also gotten a spark from my test readers who have been with me from the beginning. Sometimes, when I am down on myself, hearing from them after reading a chapter perks me up and reminds me that I am my own worst critic. I would probably give my books three stars if Amazon let me review them :)

But what truly fuels my passion is you—the reader. There's no greater joy than knowing someone has been entertained by my work. Your support and feedback make all the hard work worthwhile and are what get me out of bed in the morning, eager to write the next chapter.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope my stories bring you as much enjoyment as they've brought me in writing them.

Warm regards,

John

P.S. I'd love to hear what got you interested in mystery novels. Leave a comment and share your story!

Check out the John Keegan Books here:https://amzn.to/3YBEWTF


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