Our Author Q&A today comes from the brilliantly talented Bobby Nash. We first met through Instagram and World Indie Warriors. We will be discussing In The Wind – A Tom Myers Mystery, which is the first book in the Sheriff Tom Myers series.
Bobby Nash is not a man of action, a detective, or a hero, but he loves writing about characters who embody all those traits and more.
Bobby is an award-winning author of novels, comic books, short stories, screenplays, and more. He is a member of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers and International Thriller Writers. On occasion, he acts, appearing in movies and TV shows, usually standing behind or beside your favorite actor, but sometimes they even let him speak. From time to time, he puts pen to paper and doodles, usually on envelopes.
For more information on Bobby Nash and his work, please visit him at www.bobbynash.com, www.ben-books.com, and across social media.
Getting to Know You
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Indie author wasn’t really a plan. My plan was to become a published author. I never really thought about words like indie, traditional, or the like when I started. In all honesty, I don’t give them a lot of thought today. I’m proud of my indie roots, but I’m also proud of the traditional publishing projects I’ve worked on as well. Each have their positives and minuses, but the biggest plus I’ve found with working indie is having more freedom, more control over the work, and in most cases a quicker turnaround to get the stories in the hands of readers. I love that.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
I don’t understand the question. Ha! Ha! There’s an old saying I heard a few times over the years. A writer is either writing or thinking about writing and this is absolutely the case for me. That said, I do enjoy movies, reading, TV, going to the park, grabbing a bite with friends, that sort of thing. My life is actually fairly dull, I think. I get to live more exciting lives vicariously through my characters.
During the pandemic, my dad and I got into the habit of taking the occasional road trip. No particular destination. We just hit the road for a few hours and enjoyed the sun and the ride. I find that enjoyable. Of course, the crime fiction writer in me is always taking photos of locations we pass, thinking how I could hide a body there. In stories only, of course.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
On a personal level, there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes from finishing a story. Even better is the feeling I get when I hold the printed book in my hand for the first time. That feeling keeps me going.
In terms of putting the work out there, I can’t tell you how much it means when someone tells me they read my work. Bonus, if they liked it. When I write, I’m alone in a small office so sometimes it’s easy to forget that there are people, sometimes complete strangers, reading what I wrote. Getting feedback, good and bad, knowing that I wrote something that moved a person to reach out to me is wonderful. The audience is definitely why I do this.
The Writing Process
What is your writing process?
Process might be stretching it a bit. I work through ideas in my head, but everything starts with the characters. I spend time getting to know them until they feel like real people to me. Then, I drop the character into the plot and see where they take me. I have plot points I want to hit, but I leave it up to the characters to help me get there.
I write full time so my day is broken up into work times, usually in 2 or 3 blocks, depending on deadlines and open projects. In addition to writing, I handle social media, promotion, setting up cons, appearances, interviews, etc. There’s a lot of admin work that happens each day in addition to the writing. To get it all done, I can’t wait for motivation to strike. I treat it like a job and schedule my day. Luckily, it’s a job I love.
How do you get inspired to write?
Deadlines and sheer terror are excellent motivators. Ha! Ha!
I love creating stories and building characters. Telling their stories definitely inspires me to keep telling their stories. I want to do right by these characters. They inspire me to keep creating.
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
First and foremost, have fun with it. Second, decide what success looks like for you. Not everyone wants to write for a living. Some do, but others are happy to write as a hobby. Both paths are valid. Decide what you want to accomplish with your writing and set attainable goals to help you get there. Don’t forget to celebrate those goals when you reach them.
Reading
What are your five favorite books, and why?
Note: This list will change every time I’m asked.
- The Snowbound Six by Richard Martin Sterns was the first novel I ever read. I was hooked.
- Sable by Mike Grell is an amazing read that I like to revisit. It adapts Grell’s Jon Sable: Freelance comic book and fleshes the world out in ways I hadn’t expected.
- The Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly is a favorite book and TV series. Great crime thrillers. I never miss a new release. All of them are fantastic.
- Vegas Heist by Van Allen Plexico was amazing. I knew Van as a writer of science fiction and pulp. His first attempt at a crime thriller blew me away.
- Airframe by Michael Chrichton was an eye-opener. On the surface, it seems like it would be a boring story about investigating a plane crash, but I was riveted.
How do you discover the books you read?
There are authors and series I follow and pick up whenever a new book is released. Sometimes, I see a cover or read some back cover copy I like and that compels me to try the book. Meeting authors at conventions or on podcasts, interviews, and the like can also work to pique my interest in a book.
What books are on your reading list this year?
That is a mighty long list. Here’s a few…
- The Green Hornet: How Sweet The Sting by Jim Beard
- Raptor by John Hartness
- Desert Star by Michael Connelly
- Reckless: Follow Me Down by Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips
- There will be more.
In The Wind – A Tom Myers Mystery
A MISSING FEDERAL WITNESS ON THE RUN
A safehouse ablaze.
A missing witness.
4 dead federal agents.
2 wounded and clinging to life.
Another day at the office for Tom Myers.When a secret joint FBI/US Marshal safehouse in Sommersville, Georgia is attacked, federal witness Bates Hewell flees custody in the confusion and heads for the hills. The authorities descend on the county in search of their prize witness, convinced that he is hiding out in the wilds of Sommersville. Can local sheriff, Tom Myers find him and bring him in before a band of hired killers do?
Tom Myers’ story began in EVIL WAYS and continued in DEADLY GAMES! but the Sommersville sheriff’s adventures are far from over. Sheriff Tom Myers returns in IN THE WIND, the first in a new series of mystery thrillers from award-winning author Bobby Nash and BEN Books.
In The Wind – A Tom Myers Mystery – Bobby Nash
What inspired you to write In The Wind – A Tom Myers Mystery?
When I wrote my first published novel, EVIL WAYS, the character of Sheriff Tom Myers was a secondary character, at best. I liked the character, but never expected to write him or the fictional town of Sommersville I created for the novel. When I started work on the DEADLY GAMES! novel, I needed a small, out of the way town for part of the story to take place. Instead of creating a new one, I reused Sommersville, but decided that none of the characters from Evil Ways would appear.
I was well into the novel when this little voice would whisper in the back of my mind, “isn’t this the point where you should call the cops?” This happened several times and eventually Sheriff Myers and his deputies joined the story. It made sense. Once I was finished, I said goodbye to them again.
Over the years since, the character kept reminding me that he and his deputies were still around and ready for action. When the plot for In The Wind came to me, I realized that it was a perfect story for Tom Myers. Now, I’m working on the third book in the series and have loosely plotted through book 5 so far. The lesson here is ALWAYS trust your characters.
Is there going to be a follow up to In The Wind – A Tom Myers Mystery?
Absolutely. Book 2 is already out, titled Such A Night – A Tom Myers Mystery. I am currently writing Standing on the Shadows – A Tom Myers Mystery (book 3) and have plotted book 4 (title still to be determined) and book 5 (Controlled Burn). Looks like the sheriff and his deputies are here to stay. As I mentioned before, ALWAYS trust your characters.
Thanks again, Jodie. Much appreciated.
Bobby