Interview/Dallas Franklin of SWOL/Walker Joe

Welcome to the Sell Writing Online Author Interviews.

You'll discover revealing interviews by authors who are living their dream. They share valuable insights and information to help all writers discover how to succeed.

Below you will find the list of questions asked of Walker Jackson.

1. Writers are encouraged to write daily and find their voice. Do you feel you have more than one voice in your writing?

WJ: My voice changes with every character I create: at least that's what I try to accomplish. My first agent, a published writer, said after reading "Private Dick Hackney McTrite" that he was taken by it. And added that my style is natural. I think he meant to be complementary. I hope he was right. The refinement of a writer's work comes with experience. Yes, write everyday. I did in the beginning, but now I spend much time trying to change the Walker Who stigma to Walker Jackson. Will I? Only the Shadow knows, but I will flaunt the name as long as the breaths continue. And I have a young love one who will continue when my name is called up yonder.

2. When did your passion for writing begin?

WJ:I've backpacked to the Wimbledon tournament four times consecutively starting in 1989. Thinking it was a unique experience, I wrote 50,000 words about this great Grand Slam Tennis Tournament. Zap! I was captivated. Why unique? Because I was fifty-nine when I went the first time. Sleeping in a queue on a sidewalk to get Centre Court Tickets is for the young. Hmmm! You definitely have to be hardy to do the party. Then I spent five years learning the craft and penning two long novels: That NEAPOLITAN FURLOUGH and ROSE, MA PETITE. The last mentioned is, in my pinion, my magnum Opus. The first mentioned is a slice of my life enhanced with considerable fiction to make it more palatable. And the names have been changed to protect the sinners. Now, provoked by editors and agents who beat it into the ground that clichés are frowned upon, I decided to write a novel and use every cliché in the book and a few contrived ones. That exasperation inspired my first published book, "Private Dick Hackney McTrite. " Thanks a million.

3. What inspired you to keep writing while collecting rejection letters or struggling with writers block?

WJ:I'd written three novels before I realized that my writings had commercial value. I was happier then. I didn't need to wear rose-colored glasses. Then, I entered the publishing rat race. As the rejections piled up, I continued dauntlessly writing, knowing that I was keeping my mind sharp. That's important at my age. A healthy mind and body is worth more than your name in lights. So now, I have ten written, and my work-in-progress, CONRON, though completed in my mind, is getting the attention it deserves. I will continue writing until this journey ends. Sorry I rambled. I could have answered your question simply, to keep my mind sharp and personal satisfaction.

How do you come up with ideas for your writings and why do you feel you choose some over others?

WJ:Picking the story may be easier for me because I've lived seventy years. Mark Twain, one of my favorite characters, said, "Experience is an author's most valuable asset; experience is the thing that puts the muscle and the breath and the warm blood into the book he writes." In 1952, I was serving Uncle Sam and stationed in England. I was on orders to return to the States when I contacted Hepatitis. That sent me to the hospital where I spent nearly three months in bed. Bored, I started writing a novel. The theme of that novel became "THAT NEAPOLITAN FURLOUGH" forty-three years later. But now I'd lived the ending. Then, the idea of bringing the heroine's grandmother from that story to New Orleans, I embarked upon "ROSE, MA PETITE." with no consideration for writing anything else. Writing it took considerable research which surprisingly, I enjoyed. I've mention why I wrote "Private Dick Hackney McTrite." I didn't mention that I enjoyed the write so much that I started the first series of six. The story lines are sequels that overlap. What I'm driving at here is that each of my books sets the compass point for my next novel. I'm thinking about what I'll write after CONRON is finished. The decision is between a second sequel to ROSE, MA PETITE and a McTrite mystery. Recently, I found an agent who loved "ROSE, MA PETITE." If she can sell it, I'll probably write the second sequel to ROSE. I want to write three or four more mysteries in the second McTrite Series, which started with my first horror mystery "BLOOD TRUST." I advanced the story line ten years so I could age Sarah and Hackney's adapted son and daughter. They are going to win Wimbledon: singles and doubles as a team. God, let me live long enough to do it.

5. Are you a daily disciplined writer? Do you find it difficult to stick to your schedule? Do you have certain tricks you use so that you don't stray from your writing?

WJ:I no longer discipline myself to write, and I've never adhered to a schedule. The marketing experience has finally jaded my soul. I'm back to writing for a healthy mind and for personal satisfaction. If the world should discover Walker Who, I have ten written, which places me ten years ahead of the publishing cycle. About tricking myself, I had a dog once that did tricks. Do I need to? I think my love for the craft is proven in the body of work I've produced over the last ten years. Now, that I've managed to peeve you, let me say that three glasses of a sweet red wine and candle light will make me do anything: even write.

6. How much time do you devote to marketing your book/s and what kind of marketing do you recommend?

WJ:Lately, I spend about four hours a day on the NET trying to sell my books. That effort will now be slowed while I finish CONRON. I've developed a homepage where I showcase all my books (chapters, excerpts, and synopses): much more is posted there to entertain you. My next move is to figure out what Hollywood star might best fit my McTrite character and get the book to him. Since all my mysteries have multiple story lines, there are about twenty-five one-hour TV shows embedded within the seven. And Rose, Ma petite will make a great movie. So I'll be looking for a femme star to send that manuscript to.

7. How do you prepare for a writing idea for fiction? Do you outline the characters, setting, plot, etc. before you begin to write?

WJ:I don't create a outline. I start out with a general overall idea for a plot. Like in "Private Dick Hackney McTrite" the idea that kicked it off was to have the wife of a mob boss looking for a PI to get infidelity evidence to support her divorce case. No other PI in New Orleans will touch it. Finally, she telephones Hackney. He's down on his luck, desperate, and he reluctantly takes her assignment after she offers him the Washington Mint. As the story is written, it creates the needs of the words that follow. So, in my case the continuing story line feeds off of what's been written. When I retire after a long writing day, my brain continues the story line 'til sleep overwhelms the spirit. I write that imagination the next day after reading what was writ yesterday.

8. How many rewrites do you usually write before submitting to a publisher?

WJ:The completed manuscript is read three times on-line. When the narrative is indelible, I go through my abridged listing of verbs and adjectives looking for stronger verbs and more precise and colorful adjectives to replace existing ones. Then I do a search and replace to correct words like peek/peak. Then I print it out and read it again. And still I don't catch every little nit: neither do the big publishing houses I hasten to add.

9. Have you had any bad experiences in working with a publisher/agent or failed publication/payment of writings done? If so, how did you handle it?

WJ: I've experienced none of the above just rejection. Going to writers' forums on the NET help me dodge the scammers out there.

10. Who are your favorite authors, and why do they inspire you?

WJ: I have never been a reader, so I really don't have a favorite. I like Jack London. His writing is so vivid that your senses become immediately incorporated into the narrative. And yet his story lines aren't my glass of wine. I think Somerset Maugham is one of the most eloquent writers that lived. He admits he has no story to tell but his characters and his description of them captivate you. And the places he visits. I've read Mark Twain. I think his folk novels like "Huck" are classics, but his travelogues tire. I've read Stephen King. His wealth inspired me to write, "BLOOD TRUST." He's a mixed bag: writes some good stuff. When you've got 500,000 fans you don't have to be good. He's a magnificent reader. Well, I could go on, but I'm not really qualified to judge a writer's talents: only what appeals to me. My comparison base is too small. Fortunately, I enjoy reading my own work. Thank you Dallas for this opportunity to air my writing experiences and my thoughts about writing and the markets. My passion: I want to be read.