DAB: Was there a point in your life that prompted
your desire to write or have you always wanted to be an author?
DS: I always loved
to write, but writing was never the macho thing to do. My father was a
state prison guard, so I grew up with tough love.
DAB: Where do you come up with ideas for your
novels?
DS: Some of my
ideas are from life experiences. Others I come up with while I'm spacing
off.
DAB: What was the catalyst for this novel’s
premise?
DS: I got the idea
one day at work. Code Black is
about a paramedic who makes a mistake and kills a patient. This is one of
your biggest fears as a healthcare worker. The old saying goes,
"You're not a real paramedic until you've killed somebody."
There is some truth to this, but then I thought about the
consequences. Chances are you lose your license, lose your job, and maybe
go jail. My main character has a lot to lose, so losing everything
isn't an option for him.
DAB: Do you have a character(s) in your novel with
whom you closely identify?
DS: Most of my
characters are a part of me. I try to throw myself into a hypothetical
situation and then figure out how I would get out of it. There are
some challenges though. Writing from a woman's point of view is a
challenge. Any man that says he knows how a woman thinks is probably
wrong.
DAB: Were there any characters you found difficult
to write?
DS: I'm working on
a project right now that is challenging. My main character is a
homosexual fireman who deals with work-place discrimination, which eventually
leads to a lawsuit. Putting myself in his shoes is a real challenge.
DAB: Do you ever have difficulty writing from the
point-of-view of a member of the opposite sex?
DS: Yes, it
reminds me of the movie As Good as it Gets. Jack Nicholson is a
romance writer and one of his fans asks him, "How is it that you get
inside a woman's mind so well?" He replies, "I think of a man,
then take away reason and accountability." I'm not sure if this
is true, but it's damn funny.
DAB: Who is your favorite character in your novel,
and why?
DS: I'm a big fan
of Bruce Thomas, the sly detective that is investigating my main
character. He's like a modern day
Sherlock with an alcohol problem.
DAB: How long did it take for you to craft this
novel?
DS: It took me
three months from start to finish, not including editing.
DAB: Tell us about the moment you received your
first real fan correspondence.
DS: Wait...I have
fans? It was after my first book signing here in Kansas City. A fan said, "I just
couldn't put it down!" I asked why.
DAB: Tell us about a typical day in your writing
world.
DS: My
three-year-old son always comes first, so most of my writing happens after my
wife and son are in bed. My creative hours are between nine pm and two
am. When I'm really deep into the story I walk around like a zombie,
writing in my head.
DAB: Do you write full-time or part-time? If
full-time, tell us about the journey to full-time. If part-time, share
with us about your “day” job.
DS: I write
part-time. If I'm working at the fire station, I wait until my crew is in
bed and stay up late writing. That is, if I'm not called out to run any
medical calls.
DAB: What kind of research practices do you utilize
for writing?
DS: There is a ton
of information on the web. It's right there at your fingertips. I also
read a lot. That's the best research money can buy, and it only
costs a few bucks in late fees from your local library.
DAB: How long did your novel take to put to bed?
DS: Five months if
you include editing.
DAB: Have you ever experienced writer's block?
DS: Not yet.
I've got about five more novels in my arsenal.
DAB: When I write, I have particular composers and
music that gets me in the mood for certain scenes and characters. Have
you ever written to music?
DS: I haven't.
I'm easily distracted, and writing in complete silence is better for me.
DAB: There's the eternal debate whether to outline
or not. What is your preference?
DS: My first novel
was sitting on my mental bookshelf for about three years. I'd sit down
and write and then get lost. I stumbled upon Randy Ingermanson's Snow Flake Method of Writing. It helps you organize your characters and
plot. It includes outlining, which I highly recommend. Organize your outline by chapters. I
always change the outline half-way through, but it gets me started.
DAB: Do you belong to a critique group? If
so, tell us a bit about it.
DS: No critique
group here. I'm a busy person.
DAB: How do you handle negative feedback about your
novel(s)?
DS: I suck it up
and learn. You can't please everyone, but your fans are your best
teachers. Your writing should always get
better. Even though it got good reviews,
I read my first novel and cringe. My mistakes jump out of the page and
hit me in the chin.
DAB: Of all your novels, which one is your
favorite, and why?
DS: So far Code
Black is my favorite. Stovepipe
was somewhat predictable, which was a lesson for me. I had four possible
endings and I chose the most unpredictable for Code Black. Readers like to
be shocked. They may hate you in the end, but at least they shed a few
tears first.
DAB: Usually authors are also avid readers - what
are you currently reading?
DS: I'm currently
reading the Jack Reacher series.
DAB: What are some things you’ve done to get the
word out about your novel(s)?
DS: Contact
bloggers, Facebook, Twitter, and press releases.
DAB: Do you have any writing pointers for the
authors in our audience?
DS: I've heard
authors say that you should try to write a thousand words every day. I'm
a big advocate for quality over quantity.
Writing should come from deep within. Don't force it.
DAB: Care to tell us what is next on your writing
horizon?
DS: My fans are
dying for a sequel to Stovepipe.
I'm getting ready to start the outlining process for that.
DAB: Now’s your chance – give us the final plug for
your novel.
DS: If you're
interested in a dark suspense that dives into the life of a paramedic who
commits murder, then read Code Black.
Thanks for stopping by, Daniel. Check out this recently released novel at Amazon.
Daniel Sink was raised in Ottawa, KS,
which is a small city of about 12,000 people. He never considered himself
a good student, and his grades reflected that. He would often get bored
in class and write action-adventure stories. Daniel loved to write, but
was anxious to leave his small town, so at seventeen years old he joined the
Navy. Daniel served as an Intelligence Specialist on board the USS John F
Kennedy. Two years in, his father had a disabling stroke and Daniel was
discharged so he could take care of him. Eventually, Daniel went to
paramedic school and then attended the fire academy in Kansas City. He currently works full time in Kansas City, KS.
Working 24 hour shifts as a firefighter gave Daniel the
chance to return to his writing. He just finished his second novel, Code
Black, which will be released Memorial Day 2014.
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