Interview With Author David Kitzmiller
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hailing from the heartland of Indiana, David Kitzmiller has been tangling with words since the age of twelve—when most kids were just trying to survive gym class. A veteran wordsmith with the scars to prove it, David writes like a man who’s wrestled with life and occasionally lost but always came back swinging.
Formally soaked in rum and baptized by heartbreak, his work is an unfiltered mix of raw emotion, jagged humor, and the lingering scent of regret. Whether he’s exploring the teeth-grinding ache of depression, the self-inflicted wounds of love, or the beautiful disaster of lust, David doesn’t pull punches. He writes because he has to—because some things were too ugly to ignore and too true to forget.
David has stomped across the globe, absorbing stories, chasing chaos, and forever falling back in love with Mexico. He dreams of adding more stamps to his passport and more stories to chase down, alleys, across borders, and through late-night diner booths.
When he’s not fighting with the voices in his head, David is surviving life with his family, four suspicious cats, and four loyal dogs who understand him better than most humans ever have.
And for the record, he firmly believes that pizza toppings go on top of the cheese. Unless it’s a deep dish. He’s broken, not lawless.
Currently have 5 published books.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Poems from the Toaster, Volume II. It’s a collection of free verse poems written over several years, drawn from the chaos, heartbreak, and raw moments that have marked my journey. It’s not just a book—it’s a reflection of everything I’ve felt, from the quiet despair to the chaotic rage. It’s inspired by the tragic beauty of life itself, the moments that break you and the ones that, oddly enough, keep you going. There’s humor, pain, and the kind of honesty that most people aren’t brave enough to show the world. Life isn’t perfect, but the poems in this book capture all the beautiful mess of it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Absolutely. I write almost everything—poems, chapters, raw emotional rants—directly on my cell phone. No fancy writing desk, no vintage typewriter, just my thumbs and a cracked screen. It’s always within reach, whether I’m stuck in traffic, waiting for coffee, or avoiding small talk at a party. Inspiration doesn’t care about convenience, so I’ve learned to capture it wherever and whenever it strikes.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Honestly? None directly. I tend to avoid reading other writers while I’m creating, not out of ego, but out of preservation. I don’t want their rhythm, structure, or voice bleeding into mine. I write raw, and I write real—and I want every word to be unapologetically mine. That said, I respect the hell out of people who write without a filter, who dare to say the uncomfortable things. So maybe I’m influenced more by life’s messes, scars, and long silences than by any bestselling name on a cover.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m deep into Songs from the Toaster—a raw, personal journey through the soundtrack of my life. It’s part memoir, part mixtape, and completely soaked in nostalgia, heartbreak, rebellion, and unexpected joy. I’m tracing the songs that stuck with me, the ones still lingering on my playlists, and digging into how they got there—what they meant at the time, and why they still hit. It’s less about the music itself and more about the moments it scored. Some chapters hurt to write. Others feel like old friends I didn’t know I missed. It’s loud, honest, and very me.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, if I had the secret formula for book promotion, I’d probably be sipping virgin margaritas on a beach somewhere and writing full-time without checking my bank balance. The truth is, I haven’t cracked the code. For me, the most effective method has been good old-fashioned word of mouth. When someone actually reads one of my books, they usually get hooked—and then they talk about it. Loudly. Passionately. Sometimes awkwardly in public. That kind of organic buzz has done more for me than any paid ad ever has.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As that one shoe company wisely says—Just do it. Seriously. Stop second-guessing yourself. Put the fear aside and take the damn leap. You don’t need a fancy degree or a six-figure advance to call yourself a writer. You just need the guts to put your words down and let them live outside your head. Even if you never sell a single copy, you’ll have done something most people never do: you finished something honest, something real. And that matters.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Mother knows best.” Simple, right? But damn if it doesn’t hit harder the older I get. I didn’t always listen—and I definitely paid for it. But looking back, there was wisdom in her warnings, even when wrapped in sarcasm or shouted from across the house. Now, her voice echoes in the back of my mind every time life starts to tilt sideways. It’s not just advice—it’s a compass, even if it’s sometimes broken and slightly judgy.
What are you reading now?
Mostly my own words—again and again and again. I’m knee-deep in rewrites and edits for my current project, so my current reading list is made up of rough drafts, second guesses, and the occasional line I don’t totally hate. It’s less of a book and more of a war with my past self, but hey, progress is progress.
What’s next for you as a writer?
After Songs from the Toaster drops, I’ve got two more books lined up to finally bring the Dealing with the Toaster series full circle. It’s been a hell of a ride so far—equal parts therapy session, confessional, and emotional car crash. These final chapters will dig even deeper into the raw stuff: more heartbreak, more healing, and maybe a few more laughs (because what’s pain without a punchline?). If all goes to plan—and I don’t hurl my phone into a lake—I’ll be buried in words for the next year or so. But hey, this is how I stay sane.
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?
Well, first off, I’d want something to keep me from just screaming into the void — so a solid survival guide is a must. I’m talking about the classics, like SAS Survival Handbook by John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman — because if a guy trained by the SAS says it’ll get you out alive, I’m listening. Then there’s Bushcraft 101 by Dave Canterbury, because knowing how to turn sticks and leaves into something useful sounds way better than just hugging a tree.
I’d also pack Survive! by Les Stroud — the Survivorman guy — because his tales of actually being stuck in the wild make me feel slightly less alone in my potential meltdown. And finally, The Ultimate Survival Manual — because 333 skills means if I mess up one or two, I’ve still got plenty of chances to not die.
So yeah, those four would be my desert island survival squad — plus maybe a copy of Poems from the Toaster for when I need a break from avoiding death and want to reflect on life’s absurdities.
Author Websites and Profiles
David Kitzmiller Amazon Profile
David Kitzmiller’s Social Media Links
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