Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Trevor Douglas and after a long career as an IT consultant, I began writing in 2013 and published my first novel, The Catalin Code, in 2014. Since then, I’ve written a further three novels in the mystery/thriller genre and I’m currently writing my third Bridgette Cash Novel in the ‘Cold’ series, entitled Cold Hard Cash.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Cold Trail, the second book in the ‘Cold’ series. I’ve had the idea for this book since 2010, but have only now had time to write it. The story was largely inspired by a desire to write a novel where my main character, Bridgette Cash, is pitted not only against a group of criminals as she investigates a possible murder, but also a huge, once in a lifetime snowstorm. I liked the challenge of pitting my main character against multiple challenges – mental, emotional and physical to test her to her limits.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really other than I’m a big fan of Dragon Dictate and do most of my first drafts via voice, rather than a traditional keyboard.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
While I’m a big fan of Lee Child, John Grisham, and Patricia Cornwell, I am most indebted to Nelson De Mille, particularly his book ‘Spencerville’. For almost twenty years, I’d dreamed of writing the next big spy thriller (think Robert Ludlum and Frederick Forsythe), but every spy novel idea I had was terrible. After reading Spencerville, which only had 3 main characters and was set in a small town, I decided to move away from ‘spy’ style novels to more a straight crime fiction genre. I came up with four reasonably solid ideas for books and then decided to start writing my first novel in 2013. I credit Nelson De Mille for inspiring me to move in a new creative direction that got my writing career going.
What are you working on now?
I’m writing Cold Hard Cash, the third book in the ‘Cold’ series.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still trying to figure that one out. I hear Bookbub is all the rage right now, but things change pretty quickly in the eBook publishing space. I link in with a few Indie communities and listen to a lot of podcasts. I think any advice I give now will likely be out of date in six months.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes – 3 key points:
1. If you’re going to go Indie, write in series from the ‘get go’ and start a mailing list the day you decide this is what you want to do.
2. Be patient. You will get better with each book you write and it’s like most things in life – you need to do this for a while before you get good at it.
3. While a good story is paramount, you also need characters that are believable, that develop over time. Having a character arc (particularly for your protagonist) is vital.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stephen King’s advice is hard to beat – ‘Read a lot and write a lot’. When you start writing, don’t stop reading. You never read the same way again after you start writing, and you learn a lot from the best authors by continuing to read their books after you have started writing your own stories.
What are you reading now?
Night School by Lee Child.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing Cold Hard Cash later in the year, but more than anything, 2018 is a year of marketing for me to get my name known a little wider in the reader communities.
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?
1. Pillars of the Earth (my favorite book)
2. Any book on how to survive on a desert island (for practical reasons)
3. Game of Thrones – the complete series (I haven’t had time to read them yet, and I guess I’d have a lot of spare time on an island)
Author Websites and Profiles
Trevor Douglas Website
Trevor Douglas Amazon Profile
Trevor Douglas’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile