Not many Rotary Clubs have the privilege of a visit from a nationally-known, best-selling author, who happens to live in a very nearby community.
D.D. Black, who lives in Hansville, entertained Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians at their Wednesday, April 9 meeting with stories about his works, including the ten-book Thomas Austin Mysteries. The first book in that series, The Bones at Point No Point, a serial-killer novel, rose to number one on Amazon in both mystery and crime fiction categories. His books "took off" in 2013, after he became a full-time Kitsap resident in 2010.
Black's presentation touched on the five most-asked questions he gets. First off, why his books are set in Kitsap and the area? "Because it saves a lot of research time." Why are his books so dark? "They offer a way to explore all parts of humanity." Are his characters based on real people. "No, but the locations are true to life." How much research goes into his books? "Usually a lot on the strange topics, for example 'what is the most painful way to die, and how to make a homemade silencer.'" As an aside, he said he is researching is there a way a body can float from Silverdale, through Rich passage, up to Kingston, only to be hit by a Kingston-Edmonds ferry. The final question was about his writing process. He decided to "got for it" as an author in his mid-thirties, after working as a chef, and a journalism instructor. He gets up mornings at 2 or 3, and in total silence, writes until 6 or 6:30a, when he has breakfast with his son. He starts his books with detailed outlines first, i.e. "where it's going." He writes a 20-30 page outline for each chapter. He gets the most grief from readers about the topics of firearms and horses.
Although most readers enjoy his work digitally, hard copies are available locally at Saltwater Books in Kingston, and the Hansgrill in Hansville.