D.L. TIMMERMAN

I penned the tale of children, swamp beasts, and evil corporations threatening to build luxury hotels at the age of five, and it’s been downhill since. Oh sure. I have written short stories like “Nebula” that go on to win awards. Or “Christmas Day” that won an Author Fest. Or “HeadSpace” that won a 24 Hour Film Fest. And a dozen others I can’t remember at the moment.

For me, writing is a journey, and I am just along for the ride. I have more than a hundred articles, reviews, devotionals, short stories, and poems published in over a dozen publications. I wrote for OC Register as a Teen Movie Critic. I spent another year doing freelance writing for Renown Magazine and CM Central. I spent three years of my life at Infuze Magazine as an entertainment journalist. I have written crazy comic strips like “Insanity 101.” Radio scripts that have made their way to broadcast. I wrote and directed my own silent film noir. I’ve done work on a TV set, and I have even written a graphic novel script…or two or three. Oh, and I co-founded a little Twitter group called #WriteFightGifClub.

My business work includes business plans, working on international marketing teams, writing marketing plans, overseeing marketing teams, writing training manuals, public relations, sales, management, and creating marketing materials such as billboards, bi-folders, brochures, and pretty much anything else you can think of. I am presently earning an MBA with an emphasis in advanced accounting on my way to getting a CPA.

Writing novels is where my real passion is. Entertaining people with stories that make you think, that engage both your brain and your heart, that always leave you wanting more. If I make you cry, or cringe, or leap for joy, then I’ve done my job. The readers. Like you. That’s who I work for. And I love it.

Additional hobbies include martial arts, traveling, and enjoying life to its fullest. Outside of my social media platform for writing, I am a very private person.

You recent published Creed. Could you tell us about it?

Well, I essentially took all the pain and anguish I went through at the time, mixed in elements of Jason Borne and X-Men, and wrote a sci-fi thriller. It’s the story of a man who wakes up one day to discover he’s not human. He’s framed for the kidnapping of his daughter, dodges a host of assassins, trades blows with terrorists, and gets caught up in a government conspiracy threatening to unleash Armageddon upon America.

Tell us about your protagonist, was there a real-life inspiration?

Yes. I had just done through a terrible divorce. My ex had cheated on me, left me stripped of most of my possessions, and took my child in a real life parental kidnapping. A few years had passed, and I was still looking for my daughter. I used this grief as a motivator to pour into David Mathis. He struggles with this fine line between a person and a monster. His passionate pursuit of his daughter spurs him along this explosive rollercoaster as he comes to gripes with what he really is, and whether or not that equals humanity

How about your villain, was there an inspiration there?

I had a lot of fun with the villain. I didn’t use any real life inspiration, but I did take inspiration from the comics. He’s kind of a mixture of the Joker and Lex Luther. While he is an incredible tactician, he’s been driven mad by jealousy and rage.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

The transition. I wrote this book back in 2011. Up to that point, I had only done scripts for graphic novels, movies, television, and a comic strip. Sure, I had some journalism experience under my belt, and I wrote some short stories and poetry. But nothing prepared me for novel writing. The process proved grueling, but totally worth it.

Did you learn anything from writing this book?

Comparing my present manuscript to the one I wrote in 2011, I can instantly spot the massive amount of growth my writing has undergone. Everything from the mechanics, grammar, and punctuation, to developing a voice, fleshing out characters, and setting a proper tone with great pacing. My first manuscript proved I could start what I finish, and bring an idea to life on the page

Is there a message in your novel you hope readers will grasp?

I am one of those writers who would rather provoke thought than influence it. I never write with an agenda in mind, nor do I pre-plan for any themes. Instead, I uncover things as I unearth the plot and flesh out the characters. One of the themes of this book is humanity, and how restraining emotions, holding in bitterness and regret and rage, can ultimately drive us insane. It’s better to face our fears and our failures, than it is to run from them. What the reader decides to do with that message is entirely up to them

I understand you have many projects you are working on currently. Could you tell us about them?

I’d love to! The first is a steampunk Sherlock Holmes with elements of the Godfather thrown in. It’s a world scarred by magic, with a very unique magic system I will hopefully be able to unveil really soon. My other projects include a children’s book, an urban fantasy romantic comedy novella, and I will be writing the next chapter in the Creed trilogy. Next year, I plan on working on a Cyberpunk novel while also bringing to life some superhero and supernatural stories.

RAPID FIRE

WHAT ARE COMMON TRAPS FOR ASPIRING WRITERS?

First off, if you write, you’re a writer. You’re not aspiring to anything. Now, you can be an aspiring novelist. But if you write, you’re a writer. Period. Now, for aspiring novelists, start treating it as a business. It’s fine if you want to write as a hobby, but if you want this to be a career, then you need to go about it professionally. That means setting deadlines, building a platform, learning the craft, and treating others with respect. Rejection is natural. It happens. But you need to be able to rebound, to get back up, and to get better at everything you do. Writing is a lifelong journey. There is always more to learn. So stay humble, receive correction, and make connections with other writers.

DO YOU THINK SOMEONE COULD BE A WRITER IF THEY DON'T FEEL EMOTIONS STRONGLY?

A college class once asked a visiting Orson Wells for any advice he’d give to aspiring writers. He said, “Go out and live life.” The ability to pass along experiences in a way that builds a bridge between the novel and the reader is the key to a successful story. If you are able to create those connections, creating empathy for your characters with readers, than you will be successful. All stories are basically made of three elements: Characters/Setting/Plot. Nine times out of ten, characters will always be number one. Do you have to feel emotion strongly? No. Do you want to create a strong emotional reaction in the reader? Most definitely.

WHAT OTHER AUTHORS ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH, AND HOW DO THEY HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER WRITER?

Too many to list. Some are professionals who took time out of their busy schedule to share with me life lessons and writing secrets. Others are acquaintances who have inspired and encouraged me. I have friends from all levels of writers: the most seasoned and professional, to those who are still dreaming. I have really enjoyed starting the Write Fight Gif Club on Twitter. It’s a great group of writers who support, challenge, and lift each other up. Special writer friend shout outs to KA Dowling, SK Murphy, Brian Palmer, Ned the Zombie, Jeremy Paul April Woodard, and Jessica Mondy for helping me found this writing group. In addition:
1. Robin Parish-gave me my first start as a real freelancer. I had written for the Orange County Register, but writing for CM Central, and then Infuze Magazine, was the highlight of my freelance life.
2. Brice Scivally-who taught me about script writing, and gave me a passion for film
3. Michael Wright-golden globe winning director of photography, and a professor of mine who encouraged me to chase my dreams
4. Robert Liparulo-bestselling author who has given me more advice than I deserve.
5. Ben Wolf-I love this guy. His enthusiasm and professionalism…I am so glad to have met him at a writer’s conference many moons ago.

WHAT WAS AN EARLY EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU LEARNED THAT LANGUAGE HAD POWER?

Death of Superman series in the nineties caused my eyes to tear up. Seeing a bloodied Superman dying in the arms of Ms. Lane after sacrificing himself to save humanity hit me in the feels. Also…Mordin in Mass Effect 3. I won’t give any spoilers.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE UNDER-APPRECIATED NOVEL?

Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan. It was hands down one of my favorite reads of 2017, and yet not many people I have spoken to have even heard of this gem

HOW DO YOU BALANCE MAKING DEMANDS ON THE READER WITH TAKING CARE OF THE READER?

A story is a contract between the reader and the writer. It is built on a series of promises that must all be answered in inevitable, unexpected, and satisfying ways. In doing so, you build trust with the reader. Once you have established that trust, the reader will follow you anywhere you want to go. And at the end of the day, I work for the reader. So I best take good care of that trust they place in me.

WHAT DOES LITERARY SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

Making a reader cry, laugh, scream, and shout angrily into the wind. If I am provoking thought and creating emotion in readers, than I will be successful. It wouldn’t hurt being published by TOR, hitting the New York Times List, and having my own shelf at Barnes N Noble. But that’s all secondary.

What sort of research do you do and how much do you spend doing it before you begin a book?

I do a ton of pre-research, and then research throughout the writing process as I find need. Even as I read a book, play a game, watch a movie, I am still doing research. I do enough research to write a brief outline of major story beats. As long as I have a clear vision of the ending, I start writing. I also discovery write my characters, so additional things come up that need researching. Yes, there was a six-year gap in writing between Creed: For God & Country and A Grim Awakening, but that didn’t have to do with research. I had some personal matters to attend to, and left the fiction writing world for a while. In all, maybe three months of solid research before I outlined this manuscript. Then I began to write.

What one thing would you give up to be a better writer?

I gave up gaming. I mean, I play the very occasional game, but only briefly. In order to make writing work, as a real professional, it requires sacrifice. I have to work a day job, so I have very little time for games. I also don’t watch too much TV. And I do most of my book reading via Audible. Time is our greatest asset, and must be used wisely.

What is your favorite childhood book?

I have a few. Wrinkle in Time, Bridge to Terabithia, Chronicles of Narnia, and the Hobbit for sure. Then Harry Potter hit as I went to college.

What is the most difficult part of the writing process?

Getting my butt into the chair. Everything after that is pretty easy. Yes, there are times the words are bled onto the page. But the biggest difficulty is just getting that butt into the chair and writing.

Is there anything else you'd like the readers/authors to know?

A lot more! But I think I’ll save that for my AuthorTube series. So embark on a journey with me as I march to the gates on publishing and burn them to the ground. Or, maybe, just write a cool book or something.

RECENT BOOKS

Check out Timmerman's recent novel

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY: A CREED NOVEL

What if one day you discovered you were not human? David Mathis, emotionally wounded by divorce and unemployment, is burnt out and ready to pull the trigger when he is faced with the hard-hitting truth. He is Creed 0324, one of the many genetically engineered humans created by the U.S. government

Check it out!