Author Interview with John DeBoer
Q:
What genre do you write in?
A:
The Thriller genre is what I most like to read, so that’s what I
like to write.
Q:
Do you have any writing rituals?
A:
Not really. I don’t write every day, and when I do, there’s no
set time allotted for it. I workshop my novels online, so I tend to
write one chapter at a time. When I get in the writing mood, I
usually keep at it at one sitting (I actually write – in longhand)
until I’ve got a first draft ready to be amended and edited. It
usually takes at least two more drafts before I put it into the
computer. Then I edit again, submit it to the workshopping site, and
do a final edit before posting it.
Q:
What is your biggest accomplishment in life?
A:
That’s an easy one – getting my wife to marry me!
Q:
If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self?
A:
Well, that would depend on the age of that younger self, because my
advice would differ at various stations along life’s passage. But
in general, I’d reassure him that, despite bumps in the road, life
only gets better if you let it. And I’d also warn him that getting
older isn’t for wimps, so be prepared for that!
Q:
Do you have any work in progress right now? If so, can you tell us
about it?
A:
My current WIP is tentatively titled, “When the Reaper Comes.” It
concerns the ISIS threat within the U.S. I started writing this a
little over a year ago and found that real events were overtaking the
fictional ones I had in the novel. I’m about ¾ of the way through
it, and I feel under the gun, so to speak, to get it finished and
published before it looks like I’m a copycat!
Q:
Do you have any favorite authors?
A:
There’s quite a list of authors I like to read, but the top three
would be Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, and Lee Child.
Fun Questions:
Q:
Do you have any pet peeves?
A:
My wife would probably disagree, but I think I’m a pretty tolerant
guy for an A-type personality. And I’ve mellowed over the years.
But one thing that continues to bug me are those folks who think
other members of the public should be subjected to their taste in
music, either from a car stereo or from a boom box at the beach. Oh,
and those people who don’t pick up their dog’s business –
especially from my front yard! – when they take the dog for a walk.
And those ladies in front of me at the supermarket checkout line who
wait for the last item to be rung up before deciding they should look
in their handbag for – the checkbook! And when . . . uh-oh, you got
me going. I better stop here.
Q:
What is your favorite food?
A:
Anything Italian, except when it involves calamari or scungilli.
Q:
Tea or coffee?
A:
Definitely coffee. The only tea I drink is the iced variety in the
summer.
Q:
You are stranded somewhere very cold, but you can bring only three
things with you. What would they be?
A:
Not enough info! Is there snow? Trees? Animals? Potable water?
Well, you did say it was cold, and I’ll assume I’m already
dressed in warm clothing. So here are my three things: A filled-up
portable generator, the largest watermelon I can find, and – a
satellite phone so I can be rescued before my fuel and watermelon run
out!
Thank you very much Mr. DeBoer for letting me interview.
After graduating from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, John L. DeBoer, M.D., F.A.C.S. completed surgical training in the U.S. Army and then spent three years in the Medical Corps as a general surgeon. Thirty years of private practice later, he retired to begin a new career as a writer. A member of International Thriller Writers, Dr. DeBoer is the author of seven novels. For the last twenty-eight years, he has called North Carolina home.
Thanks for the interview, Autumn. It was fun!
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