Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I never studied much. School wasn’t a big interest for me. In retrospect, I wish I had. But, what I did was read. Didn’t have much of a childhood, so I read to escape. Four to five books a week—from middle school into adulthood. You name it—I read it.
Changing schools over twenty times from kindergarten to twelfth grade gave me insight into people and circumstances—and the value of standing your ground. I loved science fiction, but when the genre morphed to dragons and zombies, I dropped out.
Being raised in rural America bent me toward adventure novels and westerns, and I’ve been writing since I was young. Reading an adventure novel and wanting to get on to the next one gave me the style in my writing of picking a week or so in the protagonist’s life and riding hell-bent from problem to solution. My heroes are prone to suddenness of action and intent.
Writing can exorcise your demons, give you the pleasure of a story well told, and drive you to distraction. But it is always a ride worth taking.
I have published eight novels, two novellas, over a dozen short stories and have been a feature writer for Saddlebag Dispatches. Ideas come from a diverse past of serving as a combat search and rescue helicopter crewman in Vietnam and a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician. I’ve worked as a professional photographer, computer repair tech and was part-owner of a commercial greenhouse operation and flower shop. I’m enjoying semi-retirement and finally have that job that wakes you up every day with a smile.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novella is The Last Warrant.
I’ve read many accounts and articles about Joplin, Missouri and Indian Territory during and after the Civil War. The more famous shoot-em-up towns like Abilene, Dodge City and Tombstone don’t hold a candle to it. Many of my stories take place in the area from Joplin, south to the Arkansas hills.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think every writer does. I’m a burst writer and pantster. I’ll go several days writing nothing and then burn up the keyboard. And outline a novel? Can’t do it to save my life. I write by the seat of my pants and go where the characters take me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to name them all. Of course, Louis L’amour and James Woodruff Smith. Dusty Richards gave me lots of advice. A good man. Walk With Peril by D.V.S Jackson and Down To A Sunless Sea by David Graham. Those are a few I can think of on short notice and could change tomorrow. I like the old stuff in reference books. H.G.Wells history, Sketches of Rural Affairs by Mrs. Charles Tomlinson circa 1858. Plus there are numerous journals written by mountain men and tradesmen from the 1820’s and on. If you read a modern history book, I don’t think the reader gets any idea how things really were.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novella that adapts and extends my short story Holy Sabbath Morning, Ride For The Brand—another novella, and a sequel to my novel Hallowed Ground. Spirit Trail II will be next and then possibly a sequel to my contemporary western, Limestone County.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promotion comes in many flavors, none of which are sure fire. Facebook of course, but I’m never sure how much that helps. Any other social media venues I can get on, plus a few paid spots on a western website www.ropeandwire.com I try to point everything back toward my website www.darrelsparkman.com so readers can get an idea of the different genres I write and then on to Amazon.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sure. Start young, get serious with it—but learn a trade and don’t quit your day job. Writing is a calling but rarely pays the bills at first, or ever. Gotta feed yourself and family. And read, read, read in your chosen genre.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Dusty Richards: Write the damned story—worry about all the other stuff later. He was talking to a Basic Writing 101 class at the Ozarks Creative Writer’s conference. The audience was worried about editing, re-writing, agents, publishers… everything you can think of but the main task. Write the story. It doesn’t have to be good, just get it done. Then fix it. Send it off. Repeat. The more you write the better you get. It takes practice.
What are you reading now?
Mostly short stories and novellas from frontier, western and near-future genres right now, plus How To Market A Book Someone Besides Your Mother Will Read by Tierney James. Good stuff.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Write some books. Sell some books. Repeat. Try to keep up with work and family. That pretty much fills my days.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Reminds me of the Facebook meme I saw where the guys were stranded on a desert island. The comment was, “It’s a good thing the cartoonist can’t spell.” It was covered with dessert.
Favorite books? Anything from the Bible to any of the books listed in my favorites. Plus a how-to book on producing water from thin air. That would be good.
Author Websites and Profiles
Darrel Sparkman Website
Darrel Sparkman Amazon Profile
Darrel Sparkman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile