I'm pleased to interview
novelist John L. Davis IV, author of the "American Revenant Series," and
his latest suspense thriller, "Average Joe."
Linda: John, in our previous correspondence when you did an
interview with me regarding my late husband, Don Pendleton's, The Executioner: Mack Bolan Series, you had indicated that a Mack Bolan novel, "Tuscany
Terror," written by Stephen Mertz, not only had introduced you to Don's
Executioner Series, but to reading and collecting paperback books at a very
young age.
At that time, while doing a
lot of reading, were you beginning to have an interest in writing novels? Do
you recall the first story you ever wrote? And what inspired the story?
John: Linda, thank you for interviewing me. I started writing
stories of my own about two years after reading "Tuscany Terror." My shelves were filling with books pretty
quickly, and I was reading a little bit of everything, discovering new authors at
a wild pace. It was wonderful.
My first few attempts at
writing my own stories were all action-adventure oriented. The only one I ever
completed was for a school project, and it was my take on the Johnstone
post-apocalyptic survivor kind of story. I got some funny looks for that one
when it was read in front of class.
The first short story I’d
ever written entirely for myself was a dark, twisted little piece about a guy
who is “murdered” by his friend when the man intentionally gives him a deadly
disease. It was a weird piece, and I still have it, tucked away somewhere in a
box. I think only three people besides myself have ever read it, and I intend
to keep it that way. I can’t really say what inspired it. On a side note, I can
say with surety that I’ve never thrown away anything I’ve ever written. I have
it all. Reams of paper with tons of poems, half-written novels, and
start-and-stop short stories.
Linda: Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way? Who is your
favorite author or authors?
John: This is a list that could go on for ages, if I let it. I’ll
do my best to keep it lean, I promise. Don Pendleton’s “Executioner” series,
and William W. Johnstone’s “Ashes” series were formative to my love of reading,
and storytelling. I loved the rapid pace and larger-than-life heroes. I’ve
always wanted to tell those kinds of stories, the ones that leave you a little
breathless and maybe a bit shell shocked, even as you’re reaching for the next
one on the shelf.
The other two most
influential authors, for me, are Dean Koontz and Stephen King. The depths of
the characters and worlds they create took me even further in my literary
adventure, and gave me new goals to shoot for. I’ve read and re-read nearly
everything they’ve written, numerous times.
Linda: As a novelist, as well as newspaper journalist, tell us a
little about what led to your newspaper work. You've also done screenwriting
and film work?
John: Writing for a newspaper is something I’d never even
considered until about a year and a half ago. I was looking for work, my wife
sent me a Facebook post from a newspaper looking for a new writer and I
answered. To be entirely honest, I never expected them to give me even a first
glance, let alone a second.
I don’t consider myself a
journalist. I’m a storyteller, first and always. I enjoy telling stories about
local people and events.
Screenwriting was another
one of those things that I kind of fell into. I had considered it, simply
because I love movies, but never seriously. I’d met an actor/filmmaker via
social media and he read one of my short stories, loved it and asked if I could
turn it into a script for a short film. I learned the art of screenwriting on
the fly, so-to-speak.
That film, titled “Digger”
has a few touches to be completed, and he’s hoping to release it next year.
Since then, I’ve written several short screenplays, filmed one here with a
local director (a sci-fi action short called “Friend”), and have others waiting
to be filmed. (I hope.)
Linda: As most writers, I've read a number of books on creative
writing and techniques of novel writing. What books on writing have you found
to be of value early on in your career, and why?
John: I’ve read several over the years, such as James A. Michener’s
"Writer’s Handbook," "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy"
by Orson Scott Card, just to name a couple, but the one that has done the most
for me is Stephen King’s book "On Writing." King has a way of
stripping away the mystery and pretense of the writing process from his point
of view. It’s the one book I go to the most when I’m struggling with a plotline
or character. I find it motivates me like no other book dedicated to the craft
of writing has.
Linda: Of the elements that go into a novel such as
characterizations, dialogue, action scenes, plotting, sex scenes, and setting,
among other things, which do you find easiest for you personally in your art of
writing? In other words, what do you consider your strength to be?
John: I’ve never written a sex scene. Some may find that funny, but
it’s true. So far, none of my stories have called for it. Action scenes and
emotionally powerful moments are two places where I feel I excel. I feel my own
blood racing when I’m crafting an action scene, be it a fight or a chase, I
lose myself to the moment. The same for the more emotional scenes. I caught
myself sniffing back tears more than once when writing my newest novel.
Linda: Now that you have moved from zombies and post-apocalyptic
fiction to an adventure thriller genre, with your new novel, "Average
Joe," what inspired the new book, and will there will be more with your
character, Joe Pruitt?
John: I love the big, over-the-top action heroes, whether it’s Mack
Bolan, Ben Rains, Frank Castle or Jack Reacher. Those archetypal characters are
always fun, but they’re out there all over the place. I wanted to see that kind
of story, but from the point of view of someone who wasn’t hard-core and highly
trained. How would he handle the physical act of killing a man in defense of self
or someone else. How does someone like that process these moments of
helplessness and violence. That was the genesis of the story, itself, but the
plot comes from a combination of news stories about human trafficking and my
own fears as a father.
Would I be able to do the
right thing, would I freeze in fear, or jump on the back of a moving vehicle to
prevent the kidnapping of a kid I don’t know? Would someone do that if they saw
my daughter being kidnapped?
A big part of what we do as
writers is the “what if” game. What if I saw this happening? What if I couldn’t
call for help? Then we place our characters in the situations and let them
develop their own “what if” reactions.
As for more Joe Pruitt, I
have ideas. Always with the ideas. He may turn up again. A little less naive, a
little more ready for the unknown, but still just an Average Joe.
Linda: What is your favorite quote?
John: “In the real world, as in dreams, nothing is quite what it
seems.” The Book of Counted Sorrows,
Dean Koontz. "Aut inveniam viam aut faciam" - I shall
either find a way or make one. Attributed to Hannibal
when he was told that it was impossible to cross the Alps
on elephants.
Linda: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
John: Always write. Even on the days you don’t want to. Dream, and
dream big, but don’t quit your day job, because “It” isn’t going to happen
overnight. Don’t let your mom (dad, best friend, spouse) read your book until
after your editor has.
Linda: Tell us anything about you as a writer that you think might be
interesting or unusual.
John: I’m never going to settle into one genre. I dislike the idea of being
confined to one certain shelf in the bookstore. If I have another
post-apocalyptic story to tell, I’ll tell it. I’ve got an unfinished science-fiction
novel or two just waiting for the impetus to drive them forward. I’ve got notes
on a few ghost stories, and several more suspense thrillers. My writing tastes
are just as eclectic as my reading tastes. One day it’s Koontz, the next,
Asimov. From men’s adventure to classic fantasy. Every story is a journey, and
I hope to take as many rides into the unknown as possible before my final word
is written.
Linda: Thank you for such an
interesting interview, John. Good luck
with your books and your film projects.
~Linda
