THE DEAD GUY by Doug Hewitt Hits Right Spot with Mystery Fans

Doug Hewitt was born and raised near Detroit, Michigan and now lives in North Carolina. Along the way, he did a four-year stint in the Marine Corps and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He has been writing short stories for over 20 years and has been getting them published for most of that time, with over 80 stories in print. His stories have appeared in anthologies such as The Dead Inn and 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories. He has appeared in the premier issue of Apex Digest and has seen his chapbook, Slipstream, published by Scrybe Press.

He turned his attention to longer works and had his first novel Spear published in 2002. The Midwest Book Review calls Spear "a thrilling and deftly crafted novel." After being remarried in 2004, he and his wife, Robin, founded HewittsBooks.com. In addition to authoring a non-fiction parenting book, The Practical Guide To Weekend Parenting, Doug and Robin teamed up to write The Joyous Gift of Grandparenting.

Doug returned to his original passion, writing fiction, and wrote The Dead Guy, which St. Martins author Lynn Chandler-Willis calls a "high-octane, pedal-to-the-metal ride through the criminal underbelly of the automotive world."

We interviewed Doug to find out more about his publishing journey and his new book, The Dead Guy.

Thank you for this interview, Doug. Can you tell us briefly what your latest book, The Dead Guy, is all about?

The Dead Guy is a mystery novel about Jack Thigpen. Jack works in Detroit, nicknamed The Motor City, the perfect place for a fraud investigator who specializes in car insurance scams. He is on a case he believes is a typical, low-level crime, but it quickly turns into a situation with ominous international consequences. Ironically, as he is targeted for death because of his investigation, Jack is diagnosed with a fatal disease that is untreatable, a disease that will end his life within months. And instead of killing Jack, the hit man shoots Jack's best friend. Struggling to come to terms with his impending death, Jack vows to track down his friend's killer.

Jack plunges into the world of corrupt car dealerships, chop shops, and fraudulent auto repair shops. He is soon swept into the darkness of Detroit's criminal underbelly to uncover the truth about power struggles within organized crime rings. Death is staring him in the face, but Jack doesn't back down. He pushes ahead, plowing through perilous roadblocks planted by his enemies, propelling himself toward the finish line and a teeth-gritting, heart-pounding conclusion.

Can you tell us what (or who) was the inspiration behind the writing of your book?

I´ve always been fascinated with trying to write about people struggling to find the meaning of life. The Dead Guy was a perfect vehicle for this. Add some high tension and a murder mystery, and you´ve got a great novel!

Is this your first published book and if so, can you tell us your experiences in finding a publisher for it?

I had a suspense thriller published in 2002. Spear was my first published novel, and now, 7 years later, I´ve seen my second. I hope it doesn´t take that long for my third! But for any author, finding a publisher is difficult. And the thing is, you´ve got to make sure you find a good publisher. I know people who have been strung along for years and years by a publisher, then the publisher goes out of business.

How has Aberdeen Bay been to work with?

I´ve loved working with Aberdeen Bay on seeing The Dead Guy get into print. They´ve kept to their commitments, given me helpful suggestions on revisions, and have supported my promotional efforts. And because of an empty slot in their publishing schedule, I was able to see The Dead Guy published within a month after I finished the final revision.

Do you have an agent?

No, but I´m looking! Seriously, I´ve had a few agents over the years, and they just couldn´t sell The Dead Guy. The problem was, The Dead Guy was a great novel but didn´t fit into the Big Publishers´ imprint storylines. It was too different. That´s why I finally went with a smaller publisher. Aberdeen Bay wasn´t bothered by a new, fresh approach to a mystery novel.

Can you tell us how long it took you to write your book and also how long it took from the time Aberdeen Bay sent the contract and the time it was released?

It took me 9 months to write. After Aberdeen Bay sent the contract, to publication, I think it was about 3 weeks. They had an open slot and needed it filled. And The Dead Guy fit the bill. It really made my head spin! And Aberdeen Bay has already approached me about a sequel. I told them to let me catch my breath first.

Do you have any words of inspiration from other writers who would like to be wearing your shoes?

Be persistent. Actually, many people consider persistence to be my greatest strength. But I had to write 5 novels before I sold my first one. Just never give up and remember that life is a process, not a destination. If you are truly a writer, then you will keep writing. And one day you will sell. I also encourage authors to learn how to write short stories. There are lots of venues to submit them to and writing short stories help to hone writing skills.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in February via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

It´s really simple. I figure I can reach more people online that going around to brick-and-mortar bookstores. Plus, it saves on gas! It´s been fun, and because I enjoy writing, I can write on blogs and tour online and enjoy what I´m doing! Although I enjoy book signing events at bookstores, the potential for increasing visibility online is much greater.

What´s next for you?

I would love to start working on the sequel to The Dead Guy. Yes, I know the main character has a terminal illness, and it might seem impractical to be planning to write another book about a guy who might not have much longer to live. But, I´ve already worked out a way to make it work. That´s what I love about writing. It´s creating situations that seem impossible to escape from, then coming up with escapes appear not just possible, but thoroughly logical outcomes.

Thank you for this interview, Doug. Can you tell us how we can find out more about you and your new book?

Sure. I´m blogging frequently these days at http://twohewitts.blogspot.com.

My main website is www.HewittsBooks.com.

If you go to www.HewittsBooks.com, you can download a free chapter of The Dead Guy. I also have links to a hilarious You Tube video trailer for The Dead Guy there. Or, just search You Tube for the DHewitt29 channel.