Could You Tell Us About Yourself ? 

I’m a total science and book geek. I love getting into scientific details and doing research. I’m plot driven, even though I know that the plot is only a mechanism to tell the readers a story about the characters. I enjoy creating relatable, but slightly flawed, protagonists who the readers will like.

What made you write your book (s) ? 

My writing career started with a resolution to stop watching television and do something more useful with my time. A friend, who is a police officer, supplied the plot inspiration for my first book “Where Evil Hides”.

What is the first book you remember reading ? 

“Something of Value” by Robert Ruark

What’s your favourite book ? 

“The Hunt for Red October”

Who is your favourite author and why?  

I love reading Tony Hillerman’s stories because he does a wonderful job of weaving Navajo culture into his mysteries.

How many hours a day do you write? 

It varies. 2-8 

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer? 

Coffee

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? 

Writing the middle of a book. The beginning and end are easy, but filling in the meat is time consuming and tougher.

If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose and why ? 

“William Kent Krueger is a delightful and funny person. I’d love to spend a day with him.

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?  

Quiet and no drama. It takes “emotional energy” to write and personal or family conflict saps that energy.

What’s your favourite writing snack or drink? 

Cheetos and Diet Coke

How do you celebrate when you finish your book?  

I don’t celebrate. Mostly, I feel a bit lost because I’ve spent so many focused hours writing that I suddenly don’t know what to do next. I feel like my friends (the characters) have left.

Do you listen to music while you write your book (s) ? 

I used to listen to Billy Joel while writing the Pine County books. Now, I’ll sometimes play an up-tempo mix associated with the book I’m writing. I play a lot of country music when I’m writing the Fletcher mysteries involving horses.

Where do you get your idea (s) for your book (s) ? 

I get some stories from the news. Readers suggest a lot of plots and locations.

What is / was your writing process like? 

I have a mental collection of ideas that bounce around. At some point, they congeal into a rough outline and plot. That’s usually enough to get the characters speaking to me. I get a cup of coffee, sit in my recliner, set up the laptop, and drift into the store. I mean mentally put myself into the setting.

Do you try more to be original or rather give readers what they want? 

I’m original. I understand who my readers are, and I don’t really cater to them, but understand they expect a certain type of plot, without explicit sex scenes, and without a lot of gore.

How did you publish your (first) book ? 

It took years of rejection letters before I found a publisher willing to guide me through the publishing process. He liked my story, so he helped by working with me through editing and rewriting until he felt the book was ready for print. It was painful to admit that my book (my baby) needed heavy editing (plastic surgery). But it did!

What kind of research do you do and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? 

I do some research on the settings, sometimes by visiting them, other times by looking at Google Earth and websites. I have to understand the mystery, the cause of the victim’s death, the science behind the forensics, and the investigative process. I spend about an hour of research for every two hours of writing.

How do you develop your plot and characters?  

I have a vision of the plot, a mental outline, before I write the first paragraphs, usually based on ideas bouncing around in my mind. Then, I write the ending. As I write the center (meat) of the book, I rely on the character’s backstories to guide me through their dialogue. That dialogue often leads me to unexpected, and better, places than I’d intended.

What’s your favourite and least favourite part of publishing your book (s) ? 

My favorite part is touching the first paper copy of the book. Until that point, it seems unreal. My least favorite part are the endless rewrites required to get the details, vocabulary, punctuation, spellings, and plot flow all correct. The rewriting process is what makes the books good, so it has to be done. It’s just not the fun part.

What part of the book was the most fun to write? 

The ending. When I’m writing the ending, I know where the book is going, there’s usually action, and I can’t make the words come off my fingers fast enough. Dennis Lehane told me writing an ending is like trying to control a freight train going downhill on greased tracks.

How did you come up with the title for your book (s) ? 

The titles are difficult. Sometimes they become obvious as I’m writing. Other times I brainstorm with a few close friends. Other times, the publisher suggests a title.

Would you and your main character get along? 

I hope my main characters would be friends. They’re the kind of people I like to know. 

If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them? 

“You’re incredible.”

Which of the characters in your book (s) do you relate to the most and why?  

I like to relate to the problem-solving part of all my characters. Doug and Jill Fletcher, CJ Jensen, Pam Ryan, Floyd Swenson, Peter Rogers. They’re all smarter, wittier, and better looking than me.

What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft? 

All of the books undergo an evolution. The first book was rough. I mean really rough. My dialogue has become more natural and I enjoy making the characters witty and fun people.

How would you describe your book’s ideal reader? 

The reality is that my readers are mostly female, mostly over 50, and mostly well read. They enjoy twisting plots with a few clues salted in along the way. They enjoy witty banter between the characters. They don’t want explicit violence or sex scenes.

What did you edit out of your book (s) ? 

I dial back the violence. Because I write murder mysteries, there’s a dead body. I don’t include the actual violent murder in most of the books. I prefer discussing the victim’s death after the fact.

What was your hardest scene to write? 

I had a cop telling an old bachelor that his neighbor/girlfriend died. I had tears in my eyes as I wrote.

How long did it take for you to write a book ?  

It used to take me 12-18 months. I’m more organized and focused now, so I write 4-5 books a year.

What do you hope your readers take away from your book (s) ? 

I hope they find my characters likeable and relatable. I hope the plots are engaging and realistic. I hope they want to read more of my stories.

What was the hardest part of writing your book (s) ? 

Proofreading is terrible. I know what I meant to say when I wrote the draft and I have a hard time seeing typos and other errors after I’ve re-read the draft a dozen times.

Did you get some negative feedback on your book ? and if so how do you deal with that ? 

I occasionally get some negative feedback. Everyone has an opinion and their own taste. I can’t react or change to meet one critic. I had a reader tell me my books had too much sex (there is romance that ends when the bedroom door closes). A week later a reader told me I needed to continue the romantic scenes beyond the closing door.

How did you feel when you first published your book?

EXCITED!! It took years to write, rewrite, and get published. It was indescribably exciting to actually see my name in print and touch the cover of that first book.

Where can people who are interested in your book, buy your book ?  

All my books are available on Amazon. They’re in print and in all e-book formats.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about? 

I’m committed to releasing four books next year. There will be two Fletcher mysteries, a Pine County mystery, and a Whistling Pines mystery. I’m also ghostwriting a mystery for a deceased author to complete a series.

After writing your book (s) what is your advice to people who want to become writers? 

Write an outline to capture and organize your thoughts. Set aside writing time every day.

What are common traps for aspiring writers and have you faced any of them ? 

Rewriting from the beginning every time they sit down. I was taught by experienced writers to forge ahead. I sometimes read back a few paragraphs to start my momentum, but NEVER got back to the beginning until you’ve written the ending. With the ending in hand, you’ll look at the beginning differently, and may want to do a major rewrite. You lose all momentum by backing up to the beginning every time you sit down.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? 

I love reviews. They remind me of the reason I write: to connect with readers.

Is it something more you want to tell us which I forgot to ask about? 

There are six phases to writing a book. Phase one is developing a plot outline and creating a backstory for your main characters. Phase two is drafting the original. Phase three is rewriting and polishing. Phase four is finding a publisher. Phase five is working with an (objective) editor assigned by the publisher who may only make corrections, or may rip your manuscript apart and work with you to rebuild it. Phase 6, the most overlooked and often hated part, is promotion. Every publishing contract has a stipulation that the writer put significant effort into promoting their book. If you don’t promote your book (do book signings, blog, connect on social media, and do readings at libraries) your book will sell a few copies to friends, relatives, and colleagues. One best-selling author told me he spends an hour promoting his books for every hour he spends writing.

Dean Hovey Media Links

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