Author D. H. Brown (Dave) is a man of many coats. During his life he´s traveled to more than 40 countries, he taught Sunday school at age 8 and was ordained by the age of 12 and for a while he was an associate pastor with the largest Assembly of God church in Missouri.
Dave´s literary experience ranges from nonprofit communications to movies. In 1986 he produced an independent children´s film titled, Lessie´s Rainbow. During the late 80´s and early 90´s Dave wrote Common Sense and conducted seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN). He was a co-founder of ´The Lodge of the Wolf´ and is life member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) as well as the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Dave has held many positions throughout his life including serving as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Vietnam, a Police Officer, Dog Sledder, Hunting Guide, Movie Producer, and Writer to just name a few. During his time in Vietnam he earned the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross Medal w/ Palm.
Dave is Also a fellow member of the Pacific Northwest Writer´s Association (PNWA).
C. L. Vaughn: Dave, welcome to Author-2-Author. First let me say thank you for your service in the military.
From the sounds of your bio you´ve lived a very interesting life. I have to ask, how did you go from an assistant pastor to Dog Sledding?
D. H. Brown: Thank you. It was an honor to serve.
Ha! It was actually the other way around. After wife #1 split I went to Missouri from Alaska and into general contracting. Did a job for a church member and ended up some months later with the nursing home ministry. I´d been away from the church for several years and after a couple more years left again. You might say I´ve always had a love hate relationship with religion.
C. L. Vaughn: I can imagine that your experiences in Vietnam as well as your time helping other vets have added a great deal to the main character of your book, Honor Due. But what triggered the concept behind your book´s plot?
D. H Brown: No specific inspiration really. It all started to meld about 3 years ago when with some encouragement from my doctor and therapist; I started writing down the bones of a couple long-held story lines. Much is autobiographical in nature and reflecting many people who have made an impression on me. HONOR DUE is essentially based on my war years as a logistics and weapons specialist. I got to see a fair bit of Vietnam. Some I wish I hadn´t. I draw from my varied life. I was the son of missionary parents who traveled a lot. I've been a jack of all trades, including everything from to a police officer to web designer. Many authors I've known have told me to write what I know. Writing keeps me sane, by my own definition. I hope the future books in 'The Citizen Warrior' series will encompass that. Also the local area which I fell in love with 26 years ago. I always thought the West End of Washington´s Olympic Peninsula would lend itself to some sort of mystery or thriller.
C. L. Vaughn: During my research for this interview I noted that you´ve started your own publishing house, Big River Press. Has this helped with presenting your book to book stores? Who actually does the printing of your book? Also, are you planning on expanding the publishing house to include other authors?
D. H. Brown: Short answers. Nope. Don´t know. Nope. Being a disabled Vet with Agent Orange related Diabetes and chronic PTSD, and having had open heart surgery as well as over a hundred rejections from agents and publishers alike; I went with a small press who was willing to take 'The Citizen Warrior' series on without all the preconditions that big publishing houses require. One editor at a major house told me HONOR DUE was unpublishable because it didn't float his boat and he didn´t think I knew the subject matter. End of story. I'm too old to sit around and wait for some slicked-up know-nothing New York editor to tell me I don't know what I'm writing about. Been there, done that. I've lived what I write about, and know people who still live what I write. There's all sorts of fiction being published and from the feedback I'm getting, there're readers out there that want a dose of reality mixed into their fiction.
C. L. Vaughn: When you first started to work on your story did you know right away that it had to take place in the Pacific Northwest, or did you debate on other locations?
D. H. Brown: I just write about what I know. The rainforest has been a part of my life for over 26 years. It´s really a fascinating place to live. HONOR DUE and the whole Citizen Warrior Series has spun out of that living. There´s another book knocking around the back of my mental woods set in rural back woods Missouri I keep making notes on.
C. L. Vaughn: From start to finish how long did it take you to write Honor Due?
D. H. Brown: After working out what I really wanted to write, HONOR DUE was essentially finished in 3 months. It took another 2 years to polish and for me to get up the nerve to actually seek a publisher. The next book HONOR DEFENDED is now in that process.
C. L. Vaughn: I saw in your bio that you produced an independent children´s film titled Lessie´s Rainbow in 1986, mind sharing with our readers what that film was about?
D. H. Brown: A basic plot of a man returning from the Civil War meets up with old Indian friend finds family of a mother with 2 children whose husband didn´t come back. Love follows, bad guys go to jail, gold is found and all live happily ever after.
C. L. Vaughn: On your website, www.dhbrownbooks.com, you provide links for you book in both soft cover and hard cover, but you also have a link for your book in eBook form. Out of the three formats which has sold better for you?
D. H. Brown: Trade paperback.
C. L. Vaughn: What´s next for your main character? Is there a fourth book idea in the works?
D. H. Brown: HONOR REDEEMED is about the sex slave trade and is almost finished. Book 4 and 5 are still in the outline stage. There are 2 more books set in the Northwest that are taking shape and at least one is trying to come out sideways on me before then.
C. L. Vaughn: And last but not least, I´d like to ask you what your goals are as a writer? What do you hope to convey to your readers?
D. H. Brown: Just to write good tales that readers enjoy. I hope that the reader takes away a sense of the honor that Veterans have earned and that goes with them throughout their lives. And the values that men of war hold dear. It's been said that only the Warrior truly knows the reason wars should not be fought. I think the converse is also true. They also recognize there are some things that cannot be tolerated.
C. L. Vaughn: Thank you Dave for taking the time to be a part of Author-2-Author, and for reading the first issue of my Owen Ruger adventure series, I hope you enjoy it. Any last thoughts you´d like to share with our readers?
D. H. Brown: You are more than welcome Chris. Check out my website at www.dhbrownbooks.com or www.myspace.com/dhbrownbooks. I post things to my blog occasionally at MySpace. There's a guest book and contact form on the website. I love to hear from readers. I answer as many inquiries as I can. HONOR DUE is available to retail outlets through Ingram Book Company and Baker & Taylor and outlets worldwide online including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Books-A-Million.com, Powell's or most other online distributors. My wife says to just Google D. H. Brown and HONOR DUE. She's proud of that as she is my one and most persistent publicist.
Dave´s literary experience ranges from nonprofit communications to movies. In 1986 he produced an independent children´s film titled, Lessie´s Rainbow. During the late 80´s and early 90´s Dave wrote Common Sense and conducted seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN). He was a co-founder of ´The Lodge of the Wolf´ and is life member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) as well as the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Dave has held many positions throughout his life including serving as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Vietnam, a Police Officer, Dog Sledder, Hunting Guide, Movie Producer, and Writer to just name a few. During his time in Vietnam he earned the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross Medal w/ Palm.
Dave is Also a fellow member of the Pacific Northwest Writer´s Association (PNWA).
C. L. Vaughn: Dave, welcome to Author-2-Author. First let me say thank you for your service in the military.
From the sounds of your bio you´ve lived a very interesting life. I have to ask, how did you go from an assistant pastor to Dog Sledding?
D. H. Brown: Thank you. It was an honor to serve.
Ha! It was actually the other way around. After wife #1 split I went to Missouri from Alaska and into general contracting. Did a job for a church member and ended up some months later with the nursing home ministry. I´d been away from the church for several years and after a couple more years left again. You might say I´ve always had a love hate relationship with religion.
C. L. Vaughn: I can imagine that your experiences in Vietnam as well as your time helping other vets have added a great deal to the main character of your book, Honor Due. But what triggered the concept behind your book´s plot?
D. H Brown: No specific inspiration really. It all started to meld about 3 years ago when with some encouragement from my doctor and therapist; I started writing down the bones of a couple long-held story lines. Much is autobiographical in nature and reflecting many people who have made an impression on me. HONOR DUE is essentially based on my war years as a logistics and weapons specialist. I got to see a fair bit of Vietnam. Some I wish I hadn´t. I draw from my varied life. I was the son of missionary parents who traveled a lot. I've been a jack of all trades, including everything from to a police officer to web designer. Many authors I've known have told me to write what I know. Writing keeps me sane, by my own definition. I hope the future books in 'The Citizen Warrior' series will encompass that. Also the local area which I fell in love with 26 years ago. I always thought the West End of Washington´s Olympic Peninsula would lend itself to some sort of mystery or thriller.
C. L. Vaughn: During my research for this interview I noted that you´ve started your own publishing house, Big River Press. Has this helped with presenting your book to book stores? Who actually does the printing of your book? Also, are you planning on expanding the publishing house to include other authors?
D. H. Brown: Short answers. Nope. Don´t know. Nope. Being a disabled Vet with Agent Orange related Diabetes and chronic PTSD, and having had open heart surgery as well as over a hundred rejections from agents and publishers alike; I went with a small press who was willing to take 'The Citizen Warrior' series on without all the preconditions that big publishing houses require. One editor at a major house told me HONOR DUE was unpublishable because it didn't float his boat and he didn´t think I knew the subject matter. End of story. I'm too old to sit around and wait for some slicked-up know-nothing New York editor to tell me I don't know what I'm writing about. Been there, done that. I've lived what I write about, and know people who still live what I write. There's all sorts of fiction being published and from the feedback I'm getting, there're readers out there that want a dose of reality mixed into their fiction.
C. L. Vaughn: When you first started to work on your story did you know right away that it had to take place in the Pacific Northwest, or did you debate on other locations?
D. H. Brown: I just write about what I know. The rainforest has been a part of my life for over 26 years. It´s really a fascinating place to live. HONOR DUE and the whole Citizen Warrior Series has spun out of that living. There´s another book knocking around the back of my mental woods set in rural back woods Missouri I keep making notes on.
C. L. Vaughn: From start to finish how long did it take you to write Honor Due?
D. H. Brown: After working out what I really wanted to write, HONOR DUE was essentially finished in 3 months. It took another 2 years to polish and for me to get up the nerve to actually seek a publisher. The next book HONOR DEFENDED is now in that process.
C. L. Vaughn: I saw in your bio that you produced an independent children´s film titled Lessie´s Rainbow in 1986, mind sharing with our readers what that film was about?
D. H. Brown: A basic plot of a man returning from the Civil War meets up with old Indian friend finds family of a mother with 2 children whose husband didn´t come back. Love follows, bad guys go to jail, gold is found and all live happily ever after.
C. L. Vaughn: On your website, www.dhbrownbooks.com, you provide links for you book in both soft cover and hard cover, but you also have a link for your book in eBook form. Out of the three formats which has sold better for you?
D. H. Brown: Trade paperback.
C. L. Vaughn: What´s next for your main character? Is there a fourth book idea in the works?
D. H. Brown: HONOR REDEEMED is about the sex slave trade and is almost finished. Book 4 and 5 are still in the outline stage. There are 2 more books set in the Northwest that are taking shape and at least one is trying to come out sideways on me before then.
C. L. Vaughn: And last but not least, I´d like to ask you what your goals are as a writer? What do you hope to convey to your readers?
D. H. Brown: Just to write good tales that readers enjoy. I hope that the reader takes away a sense of the honor that Veterans have earned and that goes with them throughout their lives. And the values that men of war hold dear. It's been said that only the Warrior truly knows the reason wars should not be fought. I think the converse is also true. They also recognize there are some things that cannot be tolerated.
C. L. Vaughn: Thank you Dave for taking the time to be a part of Author-2-Author, and for reading the first issue of my Owen Ruger adventure series, I hope you enjoy it. Any last thoughts you´d like to share with our readers?
D. H. Brown: You are more than welcome Chris. Check out my website at www.dhbrownbooks.com or www.myspace.com/dhbrownbooks. I post things to my blog occasionally at MySpace. There's a guest book and contact form on the website. I love to hear from readers. I answer as many inquiries as I can. HONOR DUE is available to retail outlets through Ingram Book Company and Baker & Taylor and outlets worldwide online including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Books-A-Million.com, Powell's or most other online distributors. My wife says to just Google D. H. Brown and HONOR DUE. She's proud of that as she is my one and most persistent publicist.
