Faydra Deon: It’s 3p EST by my clock, so let’s get started.15:00

Faydra Deon: Today’s chat is with David Berger, who is the author of the book, Task Force: Gaea.15:00

Faydra Deon: Here’s a summary…15:01

Faydra Deon: During the age of Olympos, when a vengeful goddess shatters the Sacred Scales, both immortals and humans alike suffer. Apollo, the god of truth, goes from a glorious existence as The Shining One to a victim of Zeus’ wrath, and his journey makes him question his godhood, his role in the cosmos, and his views on humanity. Prophecy and the Fates direct his course, and he must make difficult, yet vital, choices. Millennia pass, and Dan, Aleta, Brandon, and Sarah—four reluctant modern-day heroes gifted by ancient civilizations born of the gods—bound by prophecy, have to choose whether or not to save their world when it could mean they never existed. They must master their new powers while battling against incomprehensible forces from the Underworld and repairing the Sacred Scales, destroyed long ago. With the equilibrium between Order and Chaos unhinged, and the Olympian gods struggling to exist, these four must ally themselves with the United Nations to protect an endangered world, becoming the only group who can fight against metaphysical threats to the Earth, forging Task Force: Gaea. Can mortals succeed where gods cannot go?15:01

Faydra Deon: Welcome, David! Thanks for being here today to talk about your book. Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself, please.15:02

David Berger: Sure! Thank you, Faydra, for having me today. I’m currently a high school English teacher from Land O’ Lakes, FL (not far from Tampa), and I’ve been writing for almost 30 years, mostly short fiction and poetry. But, my first fantasy novel, Task Force: Gaea, was published in February of this year.15:04

Faydra Deon: Both my parents retired from teaching high school. How long have you taught high school?15:06

Faydra Deon: Welcome, SirReadsAlot!15:07

David Berger: Well, this is my 20th year of teaching with 95% of it at the high school level.15:07

Faydra Deon: Wow. 20 years. I taught for two years on the middle school level before I joined the Army. I loved, loved, loved teaching. What else have you teached besides English?15:08

David Berger: Well, in that 20 year period, I’ve taught reading classes, and when I was a 5th grade teacher, I did teach some American History. My preference is for high school, though.15:09

David Berger: I teach AP English Literature and IB English now, both 12th grade classes and college level work.15:10

Faydra Deon: Right. I took AP/IB English when I was in high school. It was hard, but I enjoyed it.15:11

Faydra Deon: How did publishing Task Force: Gaea change things for you, or did it change anything for you?15:11

Faydra Deon: SirReadsALot, please feel free to jump in with questions or comments anytime.15:12

David Berger: Well, publishing the novel did a few things: (1) it made me realize how hard it is to prepare a novel for publishing (2) it also put my work in the hands of others, so now people would be free to critique me, and (3) it pushed me to continue writing.15:13

Faydra Deon: Tell us a little about your writing process, if you don’t mind. What was your process from word-one to getting your book live in front of the readers? How long did it take you to bring TFG to fruition?15:15

David Berger: 27 years. I started the novel as a short story in high school, a class assignment, and it was more Star Trek-meets-Greek myth. “The Olympus Corps.” was an outer space adventure with a small group of heroes who encountered the gods and creatures on various planets. Over the years, though, I tweaked and edited the story to be where it is now. Overall, I think I spent 12 years actively writing; the rest of the time, I was trying to work on my career.15:17

SirReadsALot joined the chat15:17

David Berger: Hello, SirReadsALot, please feel free to jump in!15:18

SirReadsALot: Do you have any plans to continue the outer space aspect that it started as?15:19

Faydra Deon: That is so cool!15:19

David Berger: Thanks. It took me a little while to find my writing voice, I think. When real life gets in the way, it’s hard to focus on the creative stuff.15:20

Faydra Deon: I’ll give you a moment to answer SirReadsALot’s question before I ask my next one.15:21

Joey Pinkney joined the chat15:22

David Berger: SirReadsALot, you know, I’ve given some thought to that. When I had written that first story, the Star Trek ideas were more dominant than most other sci-fi ideas. After the trilogy I’m planning, I might shift gears a bit and refocus the characters to something outer space oriented. That’s the first time someone has asked me that!15:22

David Berger: Hello Joey! Jump right in.15:22

Faydra Deon: Welcome, Joey Pinkney! Please feel free to jump in at any point.15:22

David Berger: I think the trick would be finding a way to get the team into outer space without it being too silly or overdone.15:23

Joey Pinkney: Hello, everyone. Thank you for having me.15:23

Joey Pinkney: Hey, David, it’s good to see your book getting the spotlight over here.15:24

Faydra Deon: That’s true, David. I think people are ready for an outer space concept, though. What do you think?15:24

David Berger: Thanks, Joey. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about it and get to answer questions.15:24

Faydra Deon: So, David, what if I said that TFG is chick lit. What would be your thoughts on that?15:25

David Berger: Faydra, since I write using Greek mythology as my focus, there are certainly ways to do it and keep the mythological content. I’ll just have to see where the last book inthe trilogy takes me to see what path would be best.15:25

SirReadsALot: I would imagine making outer space seem realistic without being campy would be a challenge15:26

David Berger: Chick lit, eh? Awesome. I’m curious as to why you would classify it as that, but I’m open for it to reach whatever audience it can.15:26

Faydra Deon: Ah! That’s interesting. You talk about “where the last book” takes you. I like that idea that it’s not predestined.15:26

Joey Pinkney: Did you already talk about the book’s cover. If not, I’d like to know who made the cover and why did you decide to go with a, for lack of a better term, cartoon-like book cover as opposed to one with real people?15:26

David Berger: My writing moves me forward; it’s not the other way around.15:26

Faydra Deon: Hey, okkatie. Welcome! Jump in at any time with questions or comments!15:27

David Berger: SirReadsALot, therein lies the challenge, I suppose. But, I’m up for the challenge!15:27

Faydra Deon: I think you can pull the space thing off, David, if the first book is any indication of your true writing genius, and it is genius, by the by.15:27

Faydra Deon: I say it’s chick lit, because you start the book out with themes of women empowerment, and I really like that.15:28

David Berger: Joey, about ten years ago, I asked Michael Hamlett, an artist I found on an artists website, to do some sketches for me as inspiration (and they worked wonders). When I was ready to publish, I wanted things to come full circle so I asked if he wanted to do the cover. His style had changed, but I love the outcome. Having real people on the cover also means more money to find models, etc. I really wanted to pay an homage to the original artist, too.15:29

okkatie joined the chat15:29

David Berger: Faydra, female empowerment is important to me. I’ve always been a bit of a feminist, and I’ve been a fan of comics and Wonder Woman since I was about ten. Empowering others is important to me (part of why I’m a teacher).15:29

Joey Pinkney: That’s very interesting from an economical standpoint as well as a lifecycle standpoint for this book.15:30

David Berger: Hello, okkatie! Jump right in.15:30

David Berger: Plus, Joey, I think I could see this story as an animated movie, so the more comic-like art appeals to that demographic, too.15:30

Joey Pinkney: I meant economic.15:30

Joey Pinkney: That makes a lot of sense.15:31

Faydra Deon: That makes so much sense; the being a teacher aspect. Education does empower.15:31

Joey Pinkney: Where did the word Gaea come from?15:32

David Berger: Well, Gaea is the Greek mother Earth. I wanted to use gods in Greek myth who were less out there in the mainstream. The idea that Gaea is the mother of all goes back to the female empowerment a little.15:33

Faydra Deon: Yes, David! I could definitely see this as an animated movie. Do you have thoughts about turning TFG into an audiobook?15:33

David Berger: Actually, yes, I do, Faydra. I’d have to find the right person to do it, especially since I use Greek names and places, so the person would have to know how to pronounce things well. I thought about it doing it myself, but that would take a while to do, and I want to focus on the second book. By the way, thanks for the “genius” comment. I’m curious as to what makes you say that.15:35

SirReadsALot: You talk about teaching so much….how has teaching influenced your writing?15:36

Faydra Deon: I like the ebb and flow of Apollo from god to human to god to human. His interactions with humankind are realistic and endearing. I wanted to ask why you chose Apollo, of all the gods, to be the one to commit a crime that required him to pay penance?15:37

David Berger: I do think my teaching has helped me pay more attention to the little things in my writing, and since I am teaching English, it forces me to be much more scrupulous or at least more aware of what I need to do to catch people’s interest.15:38

SirReadsALot: With the success of authors like Rick Riordan, did you feel intimidated at all putting out a story with Greek Myth aspects?15:38

Faydra Deon: These are excellent questions, SirReadsALot. I appreciate your input. You, too, Joey! You guys are making my job easier. 15:40

David Berger: I’ve been fascinated with Apollo since I started reading mythology largely because of him being the god of truth and reason, but also the god of light, music, and healing. Although he isn’t always the nicest god in the myths, his characteristics strike me as the most potential for a peaceful, zen-like god (if a Greek god can be Zen).15:40

David Berger: SirReadsALot, of course I feel intimidated. Haha. Riordan has written some amazing stories using Greek myth, but I think my focus is more about changing the mythology a little here and there so as to create a more modern take on the stories. The penance of Apollo that Faydra mentioned, for example, never happened in Greek myth, so readers will have to accept a different take on him, one perhaps they wouldn’t have considered.15:42

David Berger: And, Riordan can use Egyptian and Roman myths all he wants. I’m sticking to Greek.15:42

Joey Pinkney: In writing this book over 27 years and going through the editing process, what characters did you have to leave out of this book that stuck in your mind?15:43

Faydra Deon: That’s another thing I found to be “genius” about the book; putting Apollo in situations as a mortal that he couldn’t do anything about. Whereas if he had his godly powers he could have fixed this or that with a snap. Allowing him to feel pain, hunger, grief and still have knowledge of who he was when he was a God was brilliant.15:43

SirReadsALot: With all the talk about ancient Greek Myth, does any (or your own) contemporary religion play any part in your writing?15:44

Faydra Deon: David, is your seat getting hot yet. Haha.15:45

SirReadsALot: Faydra, I like that too…..Apollo without his ability to use Godly powers….takes the Deus Ex Machina out of the equation.15:45

David Berger: There were seven original characters, Joey, that I had planned on using, and each one had a different cultural background, too. I think the idea of equality among people, including sexuality and culture, was a major focus for me then. As far as names? It’s been a while since I’ve looked at the original manuscript, but there were two more women and one more man.15:45

Faydra Deon: Exactly! David talks about the “deus ex machina” in TFG.15:46

Faydra Deon: Your book cover speaks volumes to “equality among people” as does the content of the book.15:46

Faydra Deon: What was your favorite part to write of the novel, David?15:47

David Berger: SirReadsALot, religion of my own doesn’t play a part in my writing, and I don’t really focus on other faiths in the novel. It’s not that people couldn’t be Muslim, Jewish, Christian, etc., but the first story had little to do with worldly religions and more to do with the effect of the Greek pantheon on the world as a whole. Religion could play a larger role in the sequel or the third work, though; anything’s possible.15:47

David Berger: My favorite part to write… hmm. I enjoyed writing Apollo’s “hero’s journey” quite a bit, since I hadn’t seen that in other novels before, but I also loved the modern storyline of the four mortals, too. For different reasons, I have “favorite” parts. 15:49

SirReadsALot: How do you balance writing, teaching, friends, family, etc.?15:50

Faydra Deon: David, I did see a spiritual melodic line throughout the story.15:50

Faydra Deon: Yes, good question, SirReadsALot. How do you balance it all, David?15:51

Faydra Deon: Also, who was your biggest supporter in your authoring endeavors?15:51

David Berger: It’s easy to balance family (they all live in NY – haha). But, I make time for each component as best as I can. Teaching has its own schedule, one I have to follow no matter what. Plus, I focus on my students most of the time even when I am not in the classroom. Teaching’s my passion. But, I write or try to write a few hours a night. At least one hour. Friends I see on weekends.15:52

David Berger: There’s always a give-and-take. Sometimes, one aspect just gets more attention out of necessity.15:53

David Berger: I don’t think I have one supporter more than any other. My family, my partner, and my friends have all had a huge part in supporting me.15:54

Faydra Deon: Did you find many “nay sayers” in your midst when you let it be known that you were going to write a full-length novel, or was it something you kept to yourself until it was done?15:56

David Berger: No nay-sayers before or during. More support than anything. Most people didn’t really know what to say except, “Oh, how exciting!” I’d mentioned my novel to my students for a long time, so I’ve always had it out there. It wasn’t until I published the novel that my colleagues really knew anything.15:58

Joey Pinkney: What have you learned from this book that will make the sequel a better book?15:59

Faydra Deon: Ah, got it! Students can be really supportive. My 8th graders thought I could do anything. Haha.15:59

David Berger: I had a poster of the cover in my classroom before the book was published. They were very excited about it.16:00

Faydra Deon: Now that’s some smart marketing there. Haha.16:00

David Berger: Joey, I’ve learned a bit about plotting a story. Some people found it harder to read because of the Greek myth references, some of which were a little obscure. I think I expected people to have more knowledge of Greek myth than they did.16:02

David Berger: The sequel will have references that are explained a little differently.16:02

Faydra Deon: I actually had to start the book a couple of times, because it does require you to put on your thinking cap and recall what you’ve learned about Greek mythology.16:03

David Berger: I also know that characters very well now, so the sequel will explore them much more.16:03

Faydra Deon: Once I did that, I was able to really get into the story and keep going. I do like how you explain certain words, just in case the reader isn’t familiar with them, but I also like how you don’t explain certain things to encourage people to do a bit of recall/research/relearni​ng.16:04

David Berger: Faydra, the sequel will be more developed so what you experienced doesn’t happen.16:04

Faydra Deon: I don’t think my having to restart was your fault.16:05

Faydra Deon: I’ve gotten so accustomed to reading what I call “snack” fiction that I wasn’t prepared for a meaty meal. I was glad of the challenge, actually.16:05

David Berger: Haha, thanks.16:05

David Berger: The sequel will take place not long after the first one ends, and it will be darker.16:06

Faydra Deon: It was the fact that I had to use my recall that really engrossed me in the book. I like remembering and learning. A quick read has it’s place, but I have several more synapses thanks to you, good sir. Haha.16:06

Faydra Deon: So before we close this out, what’s your advice to others wanting to become published authors?16:07

David Berger: Write what you love, and don’t let anyone discourage you. Your passion should be contagious.16:08

David Berger: Everything else follows.16:09

Faydra Deon: Sweet! I think that’s excellent advice.16:09

Faydra Deon: Share some links with us. Where can we find you on and off the web, if you don’t mind us knowing?16:10

David Berger: Well, you can find me on Facebook (facebook.com/david.berg​er), the novel has a FB page, too (facebook.com/taskforceg​aea), I have a blog about the novel and writing (taskforce-gaea.com). Plus, I am on Goodreads, Shelfari, Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.16:11

David Berger: (I was out of the country for a few weeks, so the blog will be updated shortly).16:11

Faydra Deon: And you’re also on the Index! http://indaindex.com/david-berger/16:11

David Berger: Yes! Of course!16:12

Faydra Deon: OK, we’ll give you a pass, since you were out of the country, but don’t make us wait too long! Haha.16:12

Faydra Deon: Well, in closing…16:12

Faydra Deon: I want to thank David Berger for being with us today, and I want to thank SirReadsALot and Joey Pinkney for jumping in with great questions. It was also really good to see okkatie looking in on the chat.16:13

David Berger: Thank you for the opportunity, Faydra! And thank you, Joey and SirReadsALot for the questions.16:13

Faydra Deon: Everyone have a great rest of the weekend, and we’ll be doing this all again in about 30 days with a different author and different book, AND I hope David will come back and do this again when the sequel is available to Task Force: Gaea: Finding Balance!16:14

David Berger: I’d love to. Thank you!16:14

Faydra Deon: Great, David! It’s a date. Now go do some writing! Haha.16:14

IAI Admin: Today, we’re discussing Monica Mathis-Stowe’s book, “Where Did We Go Wrong?”. I’ll start with a summary.

IAI Admin: Where Did We Go Wrong? is about three friend-girls with totally different personalities, who love each other even when they don’t necessarily like each other. There is the disgustingly, self-centered Gabby. Monica wrote her so well that I despised Gabby throughout the book. There is the momma’s girl, Joy, who is way more likeable than Gabby, for sure, but Joy has her own silliness as well as her good qualities that seem to outweight her biggest challenge. Then there’s Maxine, who is a peacekeeper and pushover, but Maxine has a great heart despite her circumstances.

IAI Admin: I have to admit that the book was a page-turner, even though I’m not really into all the drama that these women brought to the proverbial table. The entire time I was reading the book, I was thinking, “THIS is why I don’t have many female friends.” Yes, I know that’s awful, but it’s true. Monica made the characters so real that you can’t help but get emotionally involved in their ups and downs.

IAI Admin: I would say many of us know at least one woman who is like at least one of the women in Where Did We Go Wrong?. I know I do.

IAI Admin: One of the things I liked about Monica’s writing was that the sex scenes were very tastefully done. I’m so not into overly-explicit sex scenes where they’re really just porn on paper. There was none of that in Where Did We Go Wrong?, but there were some steamy passages that made it clear that these women had healthy sexual appetites and partners who obliged them.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: Thanks, Faydra for summarizing Where Did We Go Wrong and introducing the characters.

IAI Admin: First, tell us about Monica Mathis-Stowe.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and currently live in Maryland with my husband and son. When I’m not writing, I work full-time as an investigator.

IAI Admin: Oo! Investigating what? Can you tell us, or will you have to incapacitate us if you do.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: Don’t ask, can’t tell. Everything I do is classified, but so interesting.

IAI Admin: Haha. I knew it. OK, so tell us about what motivated you to write Where Did We Go Wrong?.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: My relationship with my girlfriends inspired me to write this novel. I have a great relationship with them and I wanted to show the positive side of true friendship and not the backstabbing reality tv trash. Could you relate to Gabby, Joy and Maxine’s close bond?

IAI Admin: I have to admit that I couldn’t be friends with someone like Gabby, even though I know women like Gabby. Her self-centeredness would have turned me off back in college. Maxine, on the other hand, I could see us being life-long friends.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: What about Joy?

IAI Admin: Oh, Joy! The thing between her and her boyfriend would have driven me up the wall, but I could definitely see myself as friends with Joy. Joy was in a difficult position. She wasn’t trying to cause problems between her and her guy. She was just trying not to cause problems between her and her mother. Joy valued her mother’s opinion and approval, even though her mom drove her up the wall sometimes. I think that’s true with many mothers and daughters. You don’t want to ruin one life-long bond for another potentially life-long bond. That made a lot of sense to me.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: The characters are in their 20s so in my mind, young ladies that age, make a lot of decisions based on other people’s perceptions and that’s what I wanted to show the reader. Women in their 40s would not make the same bad choices.

IAI Admin: Hm. I think women like Gabby will always do what they do. It’s the fact that other people, like Joy and Maxine, overlook their faults to see their better sides that empowers their self-centered behavior.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: You’re right. Gabby will probably never change, it’s her nature to be a user. Who was your fave character?

IAI Admin: I actually didn’t have a favorite character among the named and expounded-upon characters. My favorite character was the character of the novel, in and of itself.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: Wow, thanks!

IAI Admin: The life of the book stands on its own, but it can’t be whole without every person you brought to life. It’s the community of the book that I loved and enjoyed, even if the drama made me roll my eyes to the ceiling. Even THAT is something that helped me enjoy the book. You totally brought the community to reality. It was definitely a reality show in written form, and you pulled it off from page one to page done. If I hadn’t been rolling my eyes to the ceiling because of what was going on in the book, then I would be saying right now that you failed to bring the community to life for me.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: I think it’s an age think. Readers in their 20s relate, whereas older more established readers hate the characters choices without realizing we all make bad choices in our lives and go down the wrong path at one time or another.

IAI Admin: Did I overlook the mention of that in the book, that these women were in their twenties? I agree that we don’t make the best choices in our twenties, but I didn’t get that these were women in their twenties.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: Yes, they were in their mid to late 20s. How old did they seem to you?

IAI Admin: These chicks seemed like they were in their late 30s, seriously. I think I got that from the professions of their male counterparts. When you talked about Maxine’s husband’s position with his job and the fact that he’d battered Maxine before, I got the impression they were much older. The idea that Maxine was a teacher before she and her spouse got married and had children, and he wanted her to be a housewife, made me believe she was at least 35.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: I can see that, but they were around 27-29.

IAI Admin: I definitely got the impression that Gabby had been playing her games for 35 or more years. Thanks for letting me know that. It does explain some of their behavior.

IAI Admin: Who was your favorite character in the book?

Monica Mathis-Stowe: I love Joy & Allen’s love affair; Maxine’s attentiveness to her family and Gabby’s go get what I want attitude, but not the way she went about it.

IAI Admin: The wedding scene was hilarious. I loved it because it’s the way I wish some wedding scenes would actually unfold. Haha.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: LOL! I couldn’t stop laughing when I wrote it.

IAI Admin: The fact that Joy went ahead and did it her way, despite her mother’s misgivings, had me shaking my head. It’s also another reason I thought she was older than you’re telling me she was.

IAI Admin: So what’s next for Monica Mathis-Stowe?

Monica Mathis-Stowe: I’m editing Where Did We Go Wrong Again? and should release it before the end of the Summer.

IAI Admin: That’s good news. And I have to let everyone know that I gave Where Did We Go Wrong? a 4-star review. It would have been 5 stars, but there were a few editing oversights that caused me not to give it a perfect rating.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: And that’s why I’m working with a new editor. A good editor is hard to find. Thanks for the 4-star review!

IAI Admin: For me, when it comes to independent authors, including my own writing, editing is important. Poor editing can make a great story bad to read. That wasn’t the case with Where Did We Go Wrong?, though. It’s just that as indie authors I believe we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard than traditional authors. We are the editing, proofreading and marketing departments all rolled into one, so we have to be extra vigilant to make sure we release the most flawless products we can.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: I agree, but as an author, it’s hard for me to wear so many hats. Indie Authors need help with editing because as authors, we don’t always see the mistakes because we know what it’s supposed to be.

IAI Admin: Having said all that, it has to be said that there are no perfect people, so there are going to be errors. I’ve edited my own writing four and five times and still found a typo here and there on the sixth edit.

IAI Admin: I’ll then hand it off to another writer I trust, and he’ll still find minor mistakes I’ve overlooked.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: I had Where Did We Go Wrong? edited six times and still had a few mistakes. Next time, I’ll aim for 10 to get it perfect.

IAI Admin: The editing for Where Did We Go Wrong? was really good. The few hiccups I came across weren’t so intrusive that I couldn’t keep going with the flow of the story.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: And that’s what I wanted, to keep readers entertained and reading.

IAI Admin: I liked that you said you can’t do it all by yourself. I agree. Neither can I. What other advice do you have for other writers?

Monica Mathis-Stowe: Other than finding several good editors and test readers, find your unique style of writing and stick with it. Also, grow a thick skin because reviewers can be brutal so be prepared.

IAI Admin: Those are good points.

IAI Admin: Overall, Where Did We Go Wrong? is a good, solid work of urban fiction. I think I could have gotten through it in a couple of days if I hadn’t had other things going on. I really wanted to get to the next page to see what was coming up.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: Thank you!

IAI Admin: Ms. Monica Mathis-Stowe, I want to thank you so much for chatting with us today, and I’m waiting for Where Did I Go Wrong Again? to drop. I’ll be buying it to see who got shot.

Monica Mathis-Stowe: LOL! Thank you for selecting Where Did We Go Wrong? as the book of the month. I enjoyed the discussion today.

IAI Admin: Keep up the excellent work, and thank you also for being a member of the Independent Author Index. Enjoy the rest of your day!

Monica Mathis-Stowe: You, too! Good-bye!

IAI Admin: I finished “Murder in Ocean Hall” about four days ago, and I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads. The editor in me kept spotting typos, but they were so insignificant that they didn’t at all take away from the story. So, Joe, tell us what the inspiration was for “Murder in Ocean Hall.”

Joe Flood: I always wanted to write a book. I had been working as a contractor at NOAA. So I decided that I’d write a murder mystery about ocean exploration, something I worked on at NOAA. It was write what you know. My boss actually worked on Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian so I had a lot of insider info on that experience as well. And I thought I could write about the DC neighborhoods that I was familiar with.

IAI Admin: Right. Being familiar with DC myself, you did a good job with that aspect of the book. How long did it take you to write “Murder in Ocean Hall?”

Joe Flood: It took me around 4 months to write the book. I worked on it daily, every morning.

IAI Admin: Four months? Wow. You did an amazing job in four months, Joe. So why pick a black man for the main character?

Joe Flood: That’s a good question. I did that because I wanted someone who really knew the history of the city.

IAI Admin: Ah! I remember you making a reference to when DC was considered “Chocolate City.” I guess a white person wouldn’t be able to relate to DC from that perspective had they not been born and raised in there.

Joe Flood: I’ve been here for more than 15 years and am fascinated by the politics of the city.

IAI Admin: The politics. You made it really clear that Marion Barry is not your most favorite person or politician. Haha. When you talked about the summer jobs program, I was so there with you on that.

Joe Flood: Yes, Marion Barry is not my favorite person. I did some contract work for the DC government so I know a little bit about the summer jobs program. A whole book or many books could be written about Barry.

IAI Admin: Why’d you give Marion Barry a voice in “Murder in Ocean Hall?”

Joe Flood: How could I write a book about DC without Barry in it?

IAI Admin: Right, but you gave him a voice, not just a presence. I thought that was unique.

Joe Flood: He’s so symbolic of the city’s past. I tried to be sympathetic to him, even though I don’t like him.

IAI Admin: THAT’s what I found most unique. You didn’t make him sound like a criminal or marginalize his “importance” to his constituency. Kudos for that.

Joe Flood: Barry is easy to look at like a stereotype, but there’s a reason he’s so beloved. He cares and is a great politician.

IAI Admin: Back to the main character, Detective Thomas. How’d you choose his hobbies? I liked that they weren’t conventional and stereotypical.

Joe Flood: I thought it would be different if he were a bit of an introvert. I read somewhere that detectives are thoughtful people and good listeners. I think they’d have to be.

IAI Admin: Talk a bit about Michiko. Was there any forethought in putting Detective Thomas in an interracial relationship, or did that just happen as you wrote?

Joe Flood: Michiko – I have a friend who’s half Japanese and half Scottish. I thought that was really interesting, and she seemed to be the type of person Thomas would be drawn to, post-divorce.

IAI Admin: Yes, they both wanted an uncomplicated relationship, so they did fit together very well.

Joe Flood: Michiko and Thomas are both introverts and a little damaged. Michiko has a lot of my opinions about not needing lots of stuff, and I wish I just read and didn’t watch TV like she does.

IAI Admin: What was your favorite part of the book to write?

Joe Flood: Hmm, I liked writing about Thomas and Michiko, actually.

IAI Admin: Why did you think it was important to make Michiko less one-dimensional in the story? You fleshed her out for us, so she wasn’t just an aside in the story.

Joe Flood: I thought she was interesting in her own right, and she was a good reflection of Thomas and what he now wanted out of life. I also liked writing about his house on T Street. I lived right around the corner from there in the late 90s.

IAI Admin: Ah, I noticed you spent a good deal of time painting the picture of T Street for us. Talk a little bit about Detective Thomas’ ex-wife and son. I appreciate that you made the detective be a very active part of his son’s life.

Joe Flood: I wanted him to have a life that was complicated yet ordinary, if that makes sense. Lots of people are divorced and have these kinds of half-in relationships with ex-wives and kids, and Thomas is not the type to walk away from his son.

IAI Admin: We’ve got Joey Pinkney on the live chat. Hey, Joey! Thanks for joining us.

Joey Pinkney: Hello, Faydra and Joe. Glad to be here.

IAI Admin: OK, Joe, so What was your least favorite part of the book to write?

Joe Flood: The middle part. That’s the part where you start to get bogged down. I was concerned it might be slow.

IAI Admin: I thought it kept pace throughout, so you did a good job of getting through the middle.

Joey Pinkney: Mr. Flood, I have a question that I ask many of the authors that come through my author interview series. What is your writing process?

Joe Flood: Hi Joey. I brainstorm, then write out a 3-4 page outline listing what happens in all the chapters, then I will write for 3-4 hours in a stretch.

Joey Pinkney: So, the outline method works pretty well for you. How do you handle the natural changes that will pop up when creativity strikes?

Joe Flood: The outline is a guide. I did change things along the way, like adding in more about Michiko and Thomas’s relationship with his family. I like to write in coffee shops.

IAI Admin: Oh, goodness. I can’t write in coffee shops. The noise all around me would distract me. What is it about coffee shops that you like?

Joey Pinkney: I know an author who writes in coffee shops. She says she gets the best plot twists and book ideas from overhearing various conversations from people who come and go.

Joe Flood: Exactly! You have to find one you like. There’s a Caribou near me that’s filled with people working on laptops. Going there, I feel I have to be busy.

IAI Admin: Haha. Everyone else working makes you feel like you’re a slug if you’re just sitting there actually drinking coffee, huh?

Joe Flood: Exactly! You feel guilty unless you’re working – like a study hall.

IAI Admin: Ah, that’s a good strategy. Older students are working, so you’re more likely to want to work, too. Good idea. Have you thought about a series of books centered around Detective Thomas?

Joe Flood: I’ve thought about that. I have an idea for another book, about a murder in the DC art world.

IAI Admin: So do you think your themes will always include the museums and art galleries around the DC area?

Joe Flood: That’s a good question. I tend to write about what I know.

IAI Admin: That’s the best way to go unless you have a ga-zillion hours to do extensive research.

Joe Flood: Exactly!

IAI Admin: Talk a little bit about your other book, “Don’t Mess Up My Block.”

Joe Flood: “Don’t Mess Up My Block” is a satire of self help books like “Who Moved My Cheese?.” It follows the adventures of a self-made man who gives out bad advice to people and companies.

IAI Admin: I’m going to be reading that one very soon. I really enjoyed “Murder in Ocean Hall,” I must say. It was a steady read, and I found myself really wanting to go from chapter-to-chapt er. Do you have any parting words for aspiring authors?

Joe Flood: My advice is to just keep at it, if you enjoy it. It has to be fun if you’re going to devote that much time to it. Thanks again for the chat!

IAI Admin: That’s good advice. Mr. Joe Flood, author of “Murder in Ocean Hall” and “Don’t Mess Up My Block,” I want to thank you for taking time out today to be here for the first IAI Virtual eBookclub meeting. It’s been a total pleasure. I’m looking forward to more good reads from you, sir!