Inside The Indie Author: A Conversation with David Hirschman
- Diana Kathryn
- Aug 13
- 6 min read
Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not?
No, I have not considered that. My writing is integrated in some ways with my environmental business, so the name recognition is helpful.
What is your “go-to” method for working through or around writer’s block?
My friend and excellent writing coach, Virginia Hampton, once told me that a productive writing routine was to do it for 25 minutes a day. Just 25 minutes! I can do that just about every day, even if I start out feeling blocked. The trick is that once I put in my 25 minutes, I generally get on a roll, and it turns into an hour or more. And, it doesn’t always have to be the actual writing—just some activity in service of the task, such as outlining, research (which I enjoy), communications, etc. The 25-minute approach as a daily routine also works for me, since I am a part-time writer and full-time business owner.
From your perspective, what are the most important elements of good writing?
Connecting with readers on a personal level through stories and the experiences of the characters. I write a lot of non-fiction as well as fiction, and always try to incorporate storytelling in the non-fiction pieces.
What comes first – the location, the plot, or the characters – and why?
Well, I suppose that depends on the author’s preferences. Since I write on environmental themes, the locations are always critical, and I even consider landscapes to be characters unto themselves. Given that, compelling locations without compelling characters and plot won’t go very far.
What are your least favorite and most favorite things about publishing a book?
The most favorite is easy—the actual writing, and also massaging the characters and plot as the story develops. I also enjoy in-person author events where I can interact with people. The least favorite is going public in a wider sense, as it triggers a lot of vulnerability, and I am not a big social media person.
What is a significant way your book changed from the first to the final draft?
More emphasis on the characters and their trajectories through the story. At first, I put a lot of emphasis on turning science-y themes into a mystery context, which involved transforming ecological facts into hypothetical crimes and clues. However, it seemed that the characters took a back seat, so I re-oriented to more character-driven plots. My spouse compelled me to include love interests, which I avoided in my first drafts.
What was the inspiration for your most recent book?
I read a lot of non-fiction, especially history and environmental topics. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, so sometimes I just run into a theme that is just begging to be turned into a mystery. An example from my book is Nixon’s midnight veto of the Clean Water Act in 1972.
What is a “darling” you’ve killed in a book that you’d like to resurrect in a future book?
I had way too much information about native plants and pollinators. Maybe I could bring that back from the point-of-view of an insect?
Where are your most productive writing spaces, and what elements are important about that space to keep you focused on writing?
I work at home, and move around to different spaces for changes of scenery. Generally, the important thing is to be alone and not a lot of noise.
If you were to give one of your side characters a novella of their own, who would it be, and why do you think they need their own story?
I actually did that exact thing in the book I am currently working on. I elevated a minor character from book 1 to a protagonist, and it was kind of accidental. After trying to outline the story with my original protagonist, I realized it just wasn’t working, so switched to the supporting character’s POV. It turned out to be a blast, not only to get inside her head but also to see protagonist #1 through her eyes.
What risks have you taken with your writing that made the book better?
I struggled with creating diverse characters. The mystery genre has some diversity, but not a lot. If the writer doesn’t somehow identify the character’s race, gender, physical limitations, etc., then the reader will make their own assumptions. On the other hand, these character traits can’t be shoved down the reader’s throat, so they have to be presented naturally in character descriptions and interactions with the other characters. I had a lot of mis-steps, but it was something I committed to.
What’s the best monetary investment you’ve ever made with regard to your writing practice?
Through a bit if serendipity, I ran into an old friend who had started a writing coach business. The book would have been so much less without her support and guidance, and she advised me on things I had very little awareness of about fiction.
When you first began writing, what was a common procrastination trap you encountered, and how did you overcome it?
I think I am still at the beginning phases of writing, and my biggest procrastination trap is marketing. I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t really do it on my own, so enlisted some help from people who have been there and knew the territory. But, I am still struggling through it, so thanks, Diana, for offering your wonderful platforms.
What is your writing software of choice, and what is its best feature?
I just use MS Word. It integrates with all the others things I have to do for my business.
Do characters’ names come immediately to you? Do you add them in a final draft? Where do you find names, and how do you make a final decision about the names you’ll use?
That is a funny question for me, since the names in my book are very intentional for their environmental references. It was just a fun thing I played with and then interpreted for the reader. However, I am not sticking with that in my current writing. I generally just pick short names at first, but have changed the names as the character develops. Sometimes I research lists of popular names from certain eras and cultures.
Tell us the title of one of your favorite novels, and why this book is a favorite.
Engine Summer by John Crowley. I devoured the Crowley books when I was in college. I loved the intricate creation of the post-apocalyptic world, the characters, and the infusion of magic.
Think of the title of a hugely popular novel. What is one major thing you would change about the book?
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. There’s so much that happens, and the remembrances of childhood in South Carolina are particularly compelling. The attraction between Tom and NY psychiatrist Susan is palpable, but I’d maybe have them not consummate it. The attraction itself could lead Tom to his conclusions at the end.
What are you reading right now?
Just last night, I finished The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson. Really interesting history of the events at Fort Sumter as the dawn of the Civil War. Many of the misunderstandings and cultural myths are relevant to today’s world.
If you could take on the identity of a character in one of your favorite books for twenty-four hours and retain the memory of that experience, which character would you choose? Tell us the title, author, character name, and why you would want to be that character.
Wizard of Oz book series by L. Frank Baum. When my kids were young, this was our favorite read-aloud book series—14 books in all. In the books, Dorothy is always getting into one type of pickle or another where the consequences could be quite dire. She manages to work through them through collaboration (e.g., with Ozma of Oz), cleverness, and most of all, an optimistic attitude. These are things I’d like to remember when things get rough and rocky with my own pickles.
If you could save five books from being destroyed in the apocalypse, what books would you choose, and why?
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson – an essential understanding of American history not represented in most accounts.
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – defined a genre and parable of our relationship with technology.
The I Ching – might come in handy in the post-apocalyptic world.
The Kama Sutra – also would help those post-apocalyptic folks re-populate the planet.
Night by Elie Wiesel – the horror of mankind and its resilience.
Tell us a little something about your current WIP. When do you expect it to be released?
I’m working on a sequel to my first book, The Tenacious Bloom. There are two more environmental detective cases for Aliyah, the first involving toxic algae and the other trying to solve a historic murder in an Alaskan copper mine. I hope this book will be out within the year.
What are the titles and genres of each book you’ve written?
The Tenacious Bloom, Environmental Mystery
How can readers find you? Website, social media, amazon author page… share all the links!
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