About Kurt B. Dowdle:
Kurt B. Dowdle grew up about a mile from the house where the crimes, upon which the novel Ax & Spade is based, took place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1880. He attended Princeton University and graduated with a degree in English before going on to teach in a number of schools. He also has significant experience in software analysis, design and project management. Kurt currently lives in upstate New York with his family. Ax & Spade is his first novel.
What inspires you to write?
Writing is something I do because there’s not always someone to talk to. If someone were always available to talk to, perhaps I wouldn’t write as much as I do. I also write in order to better understand things that are important to me or about which I’m curious. I am invariably and inexorably drawn into the lives of the characters. I get attached to them. I want to know how their stories turn out, same as everyone else I know.
Tell us about your writing process.
The story forms in my mind as I go along. I don’t write an outline, because to this point I’ve never been able to see the whole story in advance. I begin with an event that pops into my head and elaborate from there. I am typically able to see the final scene, though, so it always feels as if I’ll get there. But I never seem to know the exact route until I follow it to the end.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I eavesdrop on their conversations.
What advice would you give other writers?
Keep going.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I decided to self-publish, because in addition to wanting people to be able to read my book, I was very interested in learning the entire process of self-publishing. In addition to writing and teaching literature, I have extensive experience in software design, analysis and project management. I love to try to understand, work through and improve complex processes. As such, self-publishing seemed a very worthwhile challenge.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think those of us who love to read will always be able to find great books, though I don’t know what form they’ll be in, nor can I predict the future of book publishing.
What genres do you write?: Historical Mystery/Thriller, Memoir
What formats are your books in?: eBook
Website(s)
Link To Kurt B. Dowdle Page On Amazon
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