Brandt Dodson Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

Most people define who they are by what they do. I’m no different.  

I’m a Podiatrist in my day job. That means I’m a “foot doctor”.  But my sub-specialty involves treating wounds that are difficult to heal – whether they are from diabetes, arterial disease (PAD), or infection. But I also have an interest in reconstructive surgery with a special interest in the surgical treatment of some peripheral neuropathies.

Personally, I’m a Christian, serving as an elder in my church (Southern Baptist) and leading a weekly Bible study. I’m also a father to two grown sons, and a husband for 32 years. But I’m also a writer with a special interest in crime fiction. I can think of no other genre that provides the contrast needed for great drama, or to illustrate, in an entertaining way, the line between good and evil.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A. I think the initial impetus hit me in first grade. I had a creative streak, but outlet. I remember sitting in art class when the teacher took my painting from me and held it up for all to see. She asked the other children if the painting was any good. The room filled with a unified “no,” and she put the painting back on my desk before walking away without saying a word. To this day (and mind you this was in the fall of 1965) I can remember tossing my brush onto the desk and saying to myself, “Well, that’s that.” Fortunately, I became a reader early in life and read voraciously. That lead to a desire to write and in fifth grade I had exactly the opposite reaction from a teacher who praised a short story I had written. I can’t remember much of the plot now, but it centered on a group of teens playing handball in New York City. The ball contained a bomb and they knew if they quit playing it would explode, leveling the city. I don’t remember how I got them out of their jam, but I do remember the teacher liking it and praising it for its originality. I’m not sure how original the idea was (Speed, the movie starring Keanu Reeves, had essentially the same premise) but I do remember thinking, “This is something I can do.” The thought was reinforced over the years by several high school teachers and college professors.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break? 

A. I had just opened my solo practice and was shocked – shocked, mind you – when patients didn’t drive past all the other doctors in town to clear a path to my door. Fortunately, the local mall was less than a mile away. One afternoon, with fewer than five patients scheduled for the day, I drove to the mall and visited my local B. Dalton. I saw a paperback copy of Dean Koontz’ The Bad Place in the dump bin at the front of the store and immediately took it to the register. I read the book in one sitting and was thoroughly impressed by Dean’s ability to get inside the head of Thomas, a Down’s syndrome character who is central to the story. Consequently, I began writing – and getting rejected. I would stop for a while, but would pick it up again, while trying to improve my craft. I read every one of the Writer’s Digest How To books and read the work of other writers. I didn’t submit much. I knew I didn’t have the skill, but I knew I could do it if I worked on the natural talent God had given me. Finally, after eleven years, I submitted a nonfiction piece to The Christian Standard, a small magazine with a large circulation. I paused at the mail box (no email submissions in those days) and told God, “If you want me to write, let the right editor find this. If not, I’m through.” I knew I would have to wait six months, according to their submission guidelines (yes, by then I had learned to follow those) so I settled in for a long wait. I received a letter from them in six days offering to buy the article.

Soon after, I wrote a nonfiction book that I thought was the deepest thing I had ever written. I submitted it through an internet submission service that is geared toward CBA publishers. I’ve since learned that manuscripts are virtually never pulled off the service by publishers. Mine was. So I sent it to them at their request and received a rejection in less than a week. This solidified my desire to write fiction, so I sat down to do it.

I’ve never revealed this before, but I wrote Original Sin, my first novel, in seven days, long hand, and it sold shortly after, leading to a three book contract. Most people probably don’t want to hear this either, but I have received a total of seven rejections in my writing career. In the early years I knew I didn’t have what it takes, so I focused on improving my craft before I would resubmit. I think that’s important. That’s not to say I don’t believe in persistence. I do. But it is foolhardy to continually submit work that is not ready. This is especially true when the author is not ready, as I certainly wasn’t. 

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release The Sons of Jude?

A: It’s the first in a series featuring the 28th district of the Chicago Police department. The Sons of Jude is about standing firm in a fallen world; about staying true.  One reviewer in the UK came closer than anyone else to finding the theme of the book when he said it’s about “the place of Christian principles in a corrupt and corrupting environment, as well as the endurance of human values in corrosive situations.”

Being a cop is a hard job. Being a Christian cop is even more challenging. In this novel, the enemy isn’t the bad guys, per se; it’s the bad guys who parade as good guys. It’s the story of those who stand up to them, regardless of the cost, simply because it’s the right thing to do.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for The Sons of Jude?

A: I’m a big fan of old crime dramas. I grew up watching The Untouchables starring Robert Stack, and later had the opportunity to be on the set for the shoot-out scene that occurs at Chicago’s Union Station during the filming of Brian DePalma’s version of The Untouchables in the fall of 1986. I even had a chance to meet Kevin Costner although, at the time, I had no idea who he was.

If you’ve seen the movie, you may recall Sean Connery’s character carrying a St. Jude medal. He explains that St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes and of policemen. I remembered the line and began to research St. Jude. Not only did I discover he’s the patron saint of lost causes, but I also learned he’s the patron saint of the Chicago Police department. Having come from a long line of police officers, I can tell you they fight an uphill battle knowing that a win today doesn’t necessarily change the landscape for tomorrow. I thought the concept would make an excellent idea for a series, one where I could create a fictional Chicago Police district (they are not referred to as precincts in Chicago) which would give me the freshness of bringing in new characters from time to time while keeping the older ones as well. The great protagonist of the series isn’t a person, but a place – the 28th district. It’s referred to by the characters in the series as The Castle because of the blue knights that inhabit it.

The idea isn’t new, of course. The late, great, Ed McBain did the same thing with his 87th precinct novels.  

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A:  I hope my readers enjoy the book and look for the next in the series. The first chapter of Chicago Knights is included at the end of The Sons of Jude. I want them to be entertained. But I also want them to see that in a world which is becoming increasingly relativistic, there remains a place for morals, values and integrity. This is especially true of Christians who are called to be salt and light.

Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?

A: The last. It keeps with the theme of the story and sets the tone for Chicago Knights.

Q: What inspires you to write? 

A:  It comes from an inner drive, a desire to communicate; to express a point of view; to create a world that has order. I think that’s the reason all of us write. I know there is a strong push today to create fiction that is “realistic”, and to that end, we all work hard on our research, making our story worlds as accurate as possible. That’s an admirable goal. But my view of art – and this is my view, certainly nothing carved in stone – is that art should be a sketch of life. It shouldn’t force us to dwell in the depravity of our world unless it is to uplift us in the end. For example, I can know a character was raped without having to see it.

Art should take us to a higher level. It should elevate our sight, our view. Sometimes, that means showing us the dark side of life. My fiction does that. But as much as I strive to create a realistic world, populated with real characters, my goal is to always uplift the reader. Show them a better view of the world while revealing the truth. Someone once said, “Fiction is the lie that reveals the truth”. I wish I had said it.

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession? 

A: I came into this business later in life so I had plenty of time to develop a realistic world view. I’ve always seen this as a business that unites art and commerce. No surprises there. If anything surprised me, it was the level of marketing required. I fear that we’ve all taken the position that enough marketing can sell a bad book. In fact, that often seems to be the case. But I’m not sure all the marketing in the world can sell a bad writer. Sooner or later, the bad writer will sink.

I still believe that cream rises to the top, even though it might require marketing to initiate the process. After all, if word of mouth doesn’t ignite, then the marketing failed. Isn’t that the goal of marketing?

I’ve noticed that the writers who are unusually successful, whose careers took off in the early days, are not only smooth writers, but are also great storytellers. I’ve read a lot of fiction and I’ve got to say that’s a rare combination. Most of us can do one or the other, but few can do both. Those who can seem to have a faster career trajectory.

Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?

A:  Read. It’s impossible to avoid the clichés – in terms of character, plot or story – if you don’t read what’s out there. Read widely. Even if your chosen genre is mystery you should read romance, science fiction, horror, etc. All of the genres are stories at their core and all of them contain techniques that can be used in other formats. The genres were defined by publishers and their marketing departments to better aid readers in finding books on the shelves of their local bookstores.  A novel is a novel, regardless of the format it takes.

Also, read deeply. Again, if you’ve chosen mystery as your genre, then read Agatha Christie by all means. But you should also read Robert Crais or Robert B. Parker. All of these authors write mystery fiction, but they are very, very different.

And then the second thing is to write. It won’t get done if you don’t put your backside in the chair and make it happen. Someone once said that a goal is a dream with a deadline. No deadline, no goal. You’ll only have a dream.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now? 

A.  I’ve completed a Colton Parker story for inclusion in the annual anthology from the Indianapolis chapter of Sisters in Crime. I’m also working on Chicago Knights, the second in the Sons of Jude series, as well as a general market novel. I stay busy.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do? 

A.  I’m active in my church, serving as an elder and Bible study leader. I still practice medicine, teach resident surgeons, and lecture to physician, hospital and lay groups. I travel. I read and review for the New York Journal of Books. I enjoy tactical handgun shooting, a holdover from my FBI days, and I hit the gym 2 or 3 times a week. My wife and I have also discovered the joys of traveling.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet? 

I’m all over the place. The best spot would be my website at: www.brandtdodson.com. I’ve started a blog and write about high profile crimes while giving my opinions and soliciting others. I enjoy good discussion. I’m also on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.

I always make it a policy to respond to those who contact me. If you take the time to write, you deserve a reply.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us? 

My previous works are available on all ebook formats through Greenbrier Press, a fantastic group of people.

And as always, if you’re reading this and you want to write, work to improve your craft and put in the time. And never give up. Never.