Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
You can say I’m an “accidental writer.” When I found a book by Viki King called How to Write a Movie in 21 Days: The Inner Movie Method, it changed my life. Much of what I learned about fiction writing I learned from that book. It taught me how to imagine my characters as full human beings and draw plots from how they would act and interact.
I am a songwriter with two previous CDs with my old band Lucky Dogg and I include songs in my current books as well. I have four titles: my first book was a well-received learning program, That’s Smart! How to Improve Learning Habits; I have released two editions and a third is in the works.
Aside from That’s Smart, I wrote two novels: Black on Black, an urban crime thriller set on the streets of the South Side of Chicago; and this year’s How to Commit Suicide, a novel about two people who discover the need to reinvent their lives by “killing off” the hopeless, negative people they used to be. In between, I wrote The 9/11 Project, a musical about the experiences of soldiers and veterans of the War on Terror set against the history of the decade after 9/11, which I’ve since re-written as a stage play suitable for smaller local and college theaters (you can find it at https://lnqr.pub/911project).
Right now, I am working on my second musical, about four friends who are constantly fighting and find out in the end they are stronger together that I hope to release before too long.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is How to Commit Suicide, and it’s inspired by a series of dreams in which three friends I lost to suicide came to me, separately, asked I tell their story. My goal with the book is to pass on the idea that if your life starts to seem hopeless, the best answer is always to reinvent your life—metaphorically “kill off” the negative you so the new, positive you can shine.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I really don’t know many other writers, so I can’t say how unusual I am! But when I write I like to keep an endless supply of water and apple juice handy.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy. I also love stories like The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun; these stories really affect me!
What are you working on now?
A musical about four friends who are constantly fighting and find in the end that they are stronger together.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My partner Tony and I are still learning that—we hope for good things from Awesomegang.com!—and learning to be very careful because of the many scam marketers out there waiting to prey on indie authors!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write with a purpose.
Write because you have to.
Write with substance.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Make sure that you love it, then they will love it!”
What are you reading now?
Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica And The Plot To Break America by Christopher Wylie. A frightening expose by a former employee of Cambridge Analytica on the terrifying ways the new social media has been and still is being used against us.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Like I answered before, I’m finishing up a musical musical about four friends who are constantly fighting and find out in the end that they are stronger together. After that, I’m planning a memoir about my mother and her fascinating life in Hammond.
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?
I would say: A Thomas Merton compilation, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, a biography of Abraham Lincoln, and The Life of Chopin by Franz Liszt.
Author Websites and Profiles
Dennis Smith Website
Dennis Smith Amazon Profile
Dennis Smith’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account