Today's Mystery Author Guest: Doug Danielson

As promised yesterday, fellow mystery author Doug Danielson is visiting my blog today. To read his bio and see his photo, please page down to yesterday's post. The cover art above is from his latest release, Sea-duction, the second in his Jake Mortensen mystery series.

In the book, Jake Mortensen's best friend is threatened by a mysterious assassin—someone who may have served with him during the Vietnam War—and now he’s scared and can’t remember who might want him dead. Next, Jake’s boss wants him to look into the disappearance of a friend’s beautiful daughter. She has been missing for over a month and may be mixed up with dangerous blackmailers posing as an entertainment group called the Hedonist Society.

To make matters worse, Jake is on the outs with his exotic Chinese-American girlfriend. Her paranoia is destroying their relationship. And at the ocean, the waves are enormous—monster surf—with an undercurrent that can kill you, if you let it. It’s almost too much for a young man to endure, and there isn’t enough Pepto-Bismol in all of San Diego to calm Jake’s queasy stomach.

Sounds like Jake's sailing into dangerous waters to me! Below are Doug's answers to my interview questions. Please leave a comment, and if you have a question of your own for Doug, ask it!

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

I guess I’ve been writing all my life in one form or another—journaling, keeping a ship’s log of my travels. I was in a hurricane in 1997, bringing a boat down the outside of the Baja Peninsula; had to put the vessel on the beach in Turtle Bay to save it. Kitty James, then editor of Santana Magazine, asked me to write the story, I did, she liked it, decided to publish it, and my nautical free-lancing and writing career was launched.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

I interview them. Sure I have a “cheat sheet” to refer back to for a complete description of who they are, history, likes and dislikes—but interviewing them puts me in a different frame of mind. I learn what they are thinking NOW, Here is an EXAMPLE.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”? 

I’m an outliner. I have to know where the main plot and sub plots are going—the story arc, how it all fits together, Of course the characters take on a life of their own as I’m writing. When that happens, I go back and modify the outline to be true to the story—but my original story plan stays the same. 

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

Both! I don’t think it is possible to tell a good story without a good plot supported by interesting characters to flesh out tension, reveal human motivation, character flaws/strengths and fears.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Finding time to write. My life is so interesting. At 73, I want to continue to take it all in; not just be a voyeur. (It is the best materiel I can use as a resource for my writing—all the unique people and places and situations.) 

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

Every day is devoted to some form of reading or writing. Being on the water as a yacht delivery captain, I get a lot of time to think and jot down notes to myself. The laptop doesn’t always work and I’m isolated from the Internet at times; but that is good. Sometimes the best ideas come on the late watch, with only the light of the stars and noises from the sea for inspiration.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

If you really want it—keep after it. Continually try to improve your craft. For me it was writing short stories or feature articles, and getting comments back from good editors. The turn-around time was much quicker than writing a novel, and I was able to cover a lot of ground quickly. I still like to write the short stuff; it keeps my writing tight. 

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

I was a “greaser” in high school. Worked at an auto parts store and raced a ’40 Buick coupe in I-Stock on Sundays. Air-brushed hot rods on t-shirts to make extra money at the car shows and feed my racing habit.

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I'm trying to finish two more manuscripts in the Jake Mortensen series and some more non-fiction projects/articles about boating in Mexico and Latin America. 

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

Sure. Thanks for this opportunity to visit your blog, Beth. You may not know it, but you are a great inspiration to writers like me. Thank you for the way you encourage other writers and give them the tools to become better. I encourage your blog readers to please check out my blog and website.


Thanks, Doug! Now, who has a comment or question for Doug Danielson?And please make a note of Doug's blog location. We'll turn the tables and he'll interview me there tomorrow!

Tomorrow's Guest: Doug Danielson

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author and friend Doug Danielson will be a guest on my blog. I've know Doug for awhile on-line, but we had the opportunity to cement our friendship when I stayed with him and his wife Karen while conducting workshops at the Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference in February.

Doug Danielson has been writing articles for West Coast boating magazines since 1997. His mystery and horror short stories have appeared in anthologies in the United States and Britain. He is presently busy writing a nautical mystery/adventure series about Jake Mortensen, a young San Diego yacht captain who can't seem to stay away from trouble and beautiful women. His first in the series, Shore Loser, was published by Oak Tree Press in February 2012. The second in the series, Sea-duction, was published by Oak Tree Press in February 2013.

Eight years ago, Doug started the Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference, held every February in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He and his wife Karen split their time between Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Ventura, California.

In his guest post tomorrow, Doug answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by the answers. Then, please make a comment or ask a question of your own in the comments.

Having Fun at the Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference

I recently spent six days in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to speak at the Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference, which took place Friday, February 21st, to Sunday, Frebruary 24th, at the local library, Biblioteca Los Mangos (see two photos below). Thriller author David Lyons was the keynote speaker, and presenters other than myself included author James Callan, editor Terra Mar, publisher Billie Johnson, mystery author Jinx Schwartz, and literary agent Suzie Townsend.

My husband and I arrived Thursday, and after lunch and a chance to unpack and unwind, we were whisked away by our hosts, conference organizer Douglas Danielson and his wife Karen to the Sea Monkey Bar for a beachfront gathering of the conference committee and speakers. The bar is next to the town's new artistically designed pier that looks beautiful lit up at night.

On Friday, after helping Karen with food preparation for the conference's Friday evening reception, I headed over to the library for a relaxing and inspirational visit with my muse, a workshop led by Terra Mar. Then I sat in on a fun "guess the author" session led by Ginger Tindall and Gina Lopez, the leaders of the local "Sweaty Ladies Literary Club." After a conference welcome by Douglas and a Keynote Speech on "Writing and the Writer's Life" by David Lyons, it was time to break and eat all that wonderful food prepared by Karen (a petite powerhouse, as shown with me in the photo below).

On Saturday, I went to work. I presented two workshops on "Unleashing Your Inner Schmoozer" and "Series Writing for the Organizationally Challenged" twice each to the two different conference tracks of about 25-30 people each. During my break in the middle of the day, I listened to James Callan's talk on "Character Development."

That night, some of the speakers and conference committee members got together again for dinner at a restaurant alongside the Cuale River, a lovely setting and yummy food.

Sunday morning at the conference, fellow mystery author Jinx Schwartz and I presented a panel on "Internet Marketing for Dummies" that was followed by a sharing of personal stories by attendees about overcoming obstacles for success. Then it was time for the Book Fair and a dancing show put on by a local children's troupe. In the fourth photo, I'm sitting next to my husband, who took all of these wonderful pictures.

After that excellently organized conference, on Monday we got to be tourists and spent the day along Puerto Vallarta's Malecon (boardwalk), taking photos of the excellent statues there, relaxing over a seafood lunch and touring the old town.

On our last day, we went with our hosts to a marina at the north end of the bay, where Douglas had to survey a damaged sailboat and check out another one that he and two crew mates are currently moving for the owners, sailing it from Puerto Vallarta to San Diego. It was a gorgeous sunny day and I enjoyed my last fresh seafood meal there, shrimp ceviche. What a great trip!

The Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference

Brrrr! Lately in Breckenridge, the outside thermometer has dipped below zero. Add a blustery wind, and the wind chill is freeze-your-nose-off cold. So I'm staying inside and dreaming of my upcoming trip to sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to speak at the Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference. And I'm staying on for a few days after the conference to hit the beach.

 The Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference will take place from Friday, February 21st to Sunday, Frebruary 24th at the local library, Biblioteca Los Mangos (see photo below). Thriller author David Lyons is the keynote speaker, and presenters other than myself include author James Callan, editor Tierra Mar, publisher Billie Johnson, true crime author Corey Mitchell, true crime author Suzy Spencer, mystery author Jinx Schwartz, and literary agent Suzie Townsend.

If you register for the conference by the end of January, it only costs $125 to attend! What a bargain for a weekend of writing seminars! And, you can charge as a business expense a trip to the sand and sun and a lovely tourist mecca chock full of tasty restaurants, art galleries, night clubs, outdoor activities--everything and anything you could look for in a winter vacation! I hope to see some of my blog readers at this conference. If you plan to come, please let me know in a comment here.