Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written one novel that was published by Prospective Press last week. I write, create and produce children’s television for Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, NBC, Amazon, BBC, Netflix and Apple. The PBS series, Molly of Denali, for which I was Story Editor received a Peabody award. I’ve also been a film executive for Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment as well as several major Hollywood studios. I began my career in entertainment as an actor in Chicago where Iappeared at Steppenwolf and the Goodman Theatre. I was a member of the Second City National Touring Company and the Fine Line comedy duo, which appeared at the Comedy Store, The Improv and The Motown Revue with Smokey Robinson, an NBC series for which I was also a writer. I lives in Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica mountains outside of L.A. with my wife and two cats.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
LADIES OF THE CANYON, a psychological thriller, was inspired by the classic Bette Davis film, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? and the novel, DAY OF THE LOCUST with a little bit of SUNSET BLVD. thrown in. I’ve always been fascinated by the dark side of Hollywood and felt the themes it inspired were still relevant today, given how people are still obsessed with fame and its trappings.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only that I have to maneuver around my two cats for my fingers to reach my keyboard.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the writing of Ian McEwan, especially his early work, George Saunders and Joyce Carol Oates.
What are you working on now?
A novel set in the funky subculture of antiques and collecting, yard sales and flea markets. There’s an interesting world in that milieu that no one has mined yet.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads is the best. I’m new to the world of publishing, given that LADIES OF THE CANYON is my first novel so I’m not too familiar with other resources.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Persistence. It took almost a year to write my novel, another few months to rewrite it, months to find a literary agent and then almost a year to find a publisher. I never gave up and am still working on promoting it by going online and finding websites that will review it or interview me. You can’t rely on publishers to hawk your book as they have so much on their plates.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writing is rewriting.
What are you reading now?
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. It’s funny, sad, occasionally disturbing and totally unique. I love novels with flawed characters.
What’s next for you as a writer?
See, “What are you working on now?” above.
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?
The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe, the film reviews of Pauline Kael and We Need to Talk About Kevin.
Author Websites and Profiles
Douglas Wood Website
Douglas Wood Amazon Profile
Douglas Wood’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile