Ten questions with D.M. Rowell
D. M. Rowell, an award-winning and nominated producer/writer on several documentaries, drew on her experiences working in Silicon Valley and as a descendent from a long line of Kiowa Storytellers to craft her fantastic debut novel. We are so excited to have her join us on Vicarious Thrills!
1. Please tell us about your debut novel.
Never Name the Dead is the first in the Mud Sawpole Mystery series. It features Mae, a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur summoned back to the former Kiowa, Comanche, Apache Reservation of her childhood by her Kiowa grandfather. Once in Oklahoma she’s known as Mud, a childhood nickname that stuck. Mud is thrown into an unexpected spiritual quest as she faces childhood foes, judgmental tribe members and a charging buffalo all while caught up in a whirlwind of deceit, theft and murder—And that’s only day one of her four-day quest!
It takes a blend of Silicon Valley ingenuity and Native American spirituality to solve a murder—before time runs out.
2. I’ve read that only 4% of the people who start a novel, finish writing it. Why do you think you beat the odds?
I’m old. LOL! It was now or never.
I always wanted to write murder mysteries, but didn’t believe I could. My wife, knowing this, encouraged me to just do it. Following her sage advice, I enrolled in UCSDX Creative Writing program. I dove in with their Novel I course covering the beginning of a novel and was extremely lucky to have Carolyn Wheat as my teacher. After starting my novel in her first class, I followed Carolyn through Novel II and III. At the end of her three courses, I had the first draft of Never Name the Dead completed. That was the most incredible feeling, I actually wrote a novel!
3. Was your debut novel the first book you wrote? (Any prior efforts hiding on your hard drive?)
Yes, Never Name the Dead is the first book I’ve written.
While writing the book took about a year, the story was decades in the making. Scenes from Never Name the Dead had been living with me for years. I bring a lot of my father’s Kiowa culture and history into each novel. So, I wanted to balance that with aspects of my mom’s side of the family. That’s where my protagonist’s names come from. I use my mom’s name, Mae and my grandmother’s childhood nickname Mud for my main character, (they both are incredibly strong women!). One of the first scenes I envisioned was my protagonist’s Kiowa Naming Ceremony and the circumstances that led her to being known as Mud to family, friends and the community at large. You’ll have to read Never Name the Dead to learn Mae’s Kiowa Name and the story behind being called “Mud”.
4. What helped you become a better writer? Any books or resources you found helpful?
UCSD Extension Creative Writing Program is what finally got me to put my story into words. I cannot thank Carolyn Wheat and the other talented staff at UCSDX program enough for all their guidance. Every class and staff member helped improve the clarity and depth of my writing!
There are two books that helped me understand how to be a better writer. After reading them cover to cover, I return to specific sections as needed. I never fail to learn something new every time I read these two books.
How to Write Killer Fiction by Carolyn Wheat
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
5. What was your process like getting an agent?
Initially, I developed a list of the top ten agents I wanted to work with. I targeted agents of the authors I read regularly. If the author spoke highly of her agent in the book’s acknowledgements’, the name went on my list. After developing my to-query-agent list, I worked on the query letter.
Following advice from several UCSDX teachers, I kept my query letter short and to the point. While the bulk of the letter with my story’s elevator pitch was the same for each of the agents I queried, I personalized the first two lines specific to the agent. It took several rewrites to get my query letter down to a quick one pager; I kept reminding myself to entice not tell all.
6. How did you celebrate when you learned your book would be published?
I had chocolate! Dark chocolate.
7. What was the most exciting moment involving the publication of your debut novel? (The moment you first saw the cover? The call when you learned when it was being published? When you cashed your advance check?)
As an author, I received several of my books in advance of the release date. When I pulled the actual book from its package, I felt overwhelmed at that moment. I was holding a book I wrote! Incredible.
8. What’s your best advice for someone who wants to be published?
Believe in yourself and have fun while writing. You should be the first to enjoy your story. It is never too late to achieve your dreams! Start writing today.
9. What are you currently reading? Or, what's one of the best novels you've read lately?
I have two books I’m into at the moment. I am a long-time Lucas Davenport fan. I recently finished Righteous Prey by John Sandford and in the midst of a riveting novel by Louise Erdrich, The Night Watchman.
10. What are you working on now? Any projects coming out soon?
I’m working on final edits for the second book in the Mud Sawpole series, Silent are the Dead. The story picks up minutes after Never Name the Dead ends. Mud is immediately thrown into another murder mystery lasting through the night and morning of the second day in her four-day quest.
I’ve started the third book that follows Mud’s third day of her unplanned quest. This time she is in Silicon Valley trying to save her business and find a way to bring her two world together— All while solving another mystery!