Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing consistently since I was eleven. I wrote short stories through high-school until I discovered screenplays. After writing a few screenplays in college I moved to LA and only wrote more than twenty screenplays over 15 years.
Then I started a car review show called “Everyday Driver” and moved out of LA. My writing time became scarce and I shifted to novels. It took a long time to finish my first novel but I enjoyed it more than anything I’ve written.
I consider myself a writer and story-teller first, but it’s been funny to interact with people that know me as a podcast and TV host and are surprised to hear I write.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest work is “Paper Father”, a story I first began as a screenplay before my son was born. Thinking about impending fatherhood inspired the first bits of the idea and the more I thought about the story, the more I realized it needed to be longer than a feature film and the main character’s writings to his son would be best served in a novel.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t write everyday. At least, I type everyday. I spend a lot of time thinking about the characters and throwing them against situations or each other in my mind. I’ve always discovered new things and better directions for a story as I do this. I take regular notes on my phone or computer – whatever is closest when a new twist comes out of this thinking. Eventually I sit down and take these seemingly fragment milestones and character moments and write. At that point it typically goes quickly.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Steven King’s “Gunslinger” series.
Blake Crouch’s “Dark Matter”
Paula Hawkins’ “Girl on the Train”
Garth Stein’s “The Art of Racing in the Rain”
What are you working on now?
A completely different novel than “Paper Father”. This one is a full Sci-Fi with creatures and space ships and war. I’m excited to be doing something completely different and working on an idea I had about halfway through writing “Paper Father”.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
2 things:
1 – People are selfish. They aren’t thinking about you nearly as much as you think they are, so don’t make decisions based on what others might think.
2 – If you want to take a risk that might be looked down on, but doesn’t hurt anyone else… do it, and ask for forgiveness and not permission.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Figuring out the best ways to promote “Paper Father” as I work on my next novel.
Author Websites and Profiles
Todd Deeken Website
Todd Deeken Amazon Profile
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