Ask the Author: David Putnam
Answered Questions (57)
David Putnam
Thanks again for the note/question. I have a new series out, the first one is The Blind Devotion of Imogene, its about a 75yr old woman who gets out on parole and how she has to adjust to a new life. Only this like keeps trying to pull back to prison. The second book, Imogene's Grand Fiasco comes out this June (2025).
Also, in July (2025) I have a great standalone historical/crime novel coming out called, The Obsessions of Harvey Usher.
d.
Also, in July (2025) I have a great standalone historical/crime novel coming out called, The Obsessions of Harvey Usher.
d.
David Putnam
Thank you for the note.
The entire Bruno Johnson series has been optioned for the movies. However, that doesn't mean its going to be made into a movie(s). The numbers of optioned work that make it to fruition is very low, like three percent. Odds in Vegas are better.
I have two other series started now, the Imogene Taylor series and if you like Bruno Johnson check out the Dave Beckett series. Also, In July there is a great standalone coming out called The Obsessions of Harvey Usher.
The questions, keep 'em coming.
The entire Bruno Johnson series has been optioned for the movies. However, that doesn't mean its going to be made into a movie(s). The numbers of optioned work that make it to fruition is very low, like three percent. Odds in Vegas are better.
I have two other series started now, the Imogene Taylor series and if you like Bruno Johnson check out the Dave Beckett series. Also, In July there is a great standalone coming out called The Obsessions of Harvey Usher.
The questions, keep 'em coming.
David Putnam
Love to but no guarantees, I'm on deadline with three books coming out in the next ten months. Happy to give it a try though. Send me your email and I'll send you my address. writedeputydave@yahoo.com.
d.
d.
David Putnam
Thank you for the question.
A Lonesome Blood Red Sun comes out next Oct. and I'm almost done with A Gray Cadaverous Dawn due out a year from Oct.
I also have a third series starting in Jan. the first one is called The Blind Devotion of Imogene.
d.
A Lonesome Blood Red Sun comes out next Oct. and I'm almost done with A Gray Cadaverous Dawn due out a year from Oct.
I also have a third series starting in Jan. the first one is called The Blind Devotion of Imogene.
d.
David Putnam
The Diabolical comes out next Feb. But I also have a second series that started last Oct. The first one is, A Fearsome Moonlight Black. It's getting some great reviews.
Next Oct the second one in that series will be A Lonesome Blood-red Sun.
Thanks for being a fan. Tell a friend.
Also, reviews help a great deal. The Scorned just went up on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you get a chance a review would be greatly appreciated.
d.
Next Oct the second one in that series will be A Lonesome Blood-red Sun.
Thanks for being a fan. Tell a friend.
Also, reviews help a great deal. The Scorned just went up on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you get a chance a review would be greatly appreciated.
d.
David Putnam
I never used to try and put humor in the Bruno books. Readers at book conferences and while signing books at bookstores had commented on the humor. I would turn to my wife and say, "My books are funny?" So to answer you question I originally didn't do humor on purpose the words just fell where they did. Now that I've included a dog as an added level of conflict and a foil, I do purposely make the dog humorous.
Thank you for the great question.
d.
Thank you for the great question.
d.
David Putnam
I'll give it a try, thanks.
d.
d.
David Putnam
Thank you Michael.
I'll help anyone who asks and as it turns out quite a few do ask. I lost count after 16 of those kinds of "thank yous" in books. :-)
d.
I'll help anyone who asks and as it turns out quite a few do ask. I lost count after 16 of those kinds of "thank yous" in books. :-)
d.
David Putnam
As I said the writing it top notch, without a doubt he is one of the masters of our time.
I think though, for me it is the structure. I read to be dropped into the Fictive Dream and it wasn't here. For several reasons. The biggest one is that he didn't pat the head of the dog, didn't endear me to any of the characters. There were some very tender scenes with the husband and wife who I think were supposed to be the leads. But there were too many shifts away from them which moved the book more to "telling," vs. character.
The Force the reader is buried waist-deep in that main character, we knew everything about him, and most importantly the MAR was absolutely correct.
In the new on the MAR (motivation, action, reaction) was disrupted too often causing speed bumps that tossed me out of the story.
Also, there was a large MAR, motivation for the cause of the main conflict. It happened so fast and seemed insignificant. If we had known the girl a little more I would've been on board. But she is tossed in, abused and the story takes off. So in this case the MAR is skewed in multiple ways. First the motivation for what happened was light, not enough depth, the action happened too fast and the reaction did not in anyway equate with the first two, motivation and action. This leaning toward the reaction leaves too much room for mellow drama.
I could go on if you like I have more.
And as you can tell based on my answer that the book might not have worked for me because of my editorial eye toward the craft of the story.
Please do give the book a whirl and let me know what you think.
d.
I think though, for me it is the structure. I read to be dropped into the Fictive Dream and it wasn't here. For several reasons. The biggest one is that he didn't pat the head of the dog, didn't endear me to any of the characters. There were some very tender scenes with the husband and wife who I think were supposed to be the leads. But there were too many shifts away from them which moved the book more to "telling," vs. character.
The Force the reader is buried waist-deep in that main character, we knew everything about him, and most importantly the MAR was absolutely correct.
In the new on the MAR (motivation, action, reaction) was disrupted too often causing speed bumps that tossed me out of the story.
Also, there was a large MAR, motivation for the cause of the main conflict. It happened so fast and seemed insignificant. If we had known the girl a little more I would've been on board. But she is tossed in, abused and the story takes off. So in this case the MAR is skewed in multiple ways. First the motivation for what happened was light, not enough depth, the action happened too fast and the reaction did not in anyway equate with the first two, motivation and action. This leaning toward the reaction leaves too much room for mellow drama.
I could go on if you like I have more.
And as you can tell based on my answer that the book might not have worked for me because of my editorial eye toward the craft of the story.
Please do give the book a whirl and let me know what you think.
d.
David Putnam
We will absolutely keep you informed. If you haven't read The Sinister we have some extra ARCs if you like one. We'd love to send you one. Hopefully your in the US. Just need a mailing address. Please tell a friend. Pass the word about Bruno and Marie. :-)
writedeputydave@yahoo.com
writedeputydave@yahoo.com
David Putnam
Writing today is the same as it has always been. A story is first and foremost about the Fictive Dream. The author strives to drop the reader into this dream and make the rest of the world disappear. To do this Voice is the big Kahuna in writing, its the "everything" in writing. And for me voice is comprised of three components, Language and syntax, point of view, and attitude/emotion (the one most often left out by novelist authors). What I try to do is avoid "speed bumps," that knock the reader out of the fictive dream. And there are a great many to avoid. But one of them is the use of language. I personally don't believe vulgarity to be a necessity to creating a colorful character. There's truly no need for it. When I read a book and come across one its like fingernails on a chalkboard. And if an author does use one, they should use it sparingly because otherwise it looses its power. The same with exclamation points there is no need to use them if your writing is strong and stands on its own.
Hope this answers your question. :-)
d.
Hope this answers your question. :-)
d.
David Putnam
Thank you so much for being a Bruno fan. Did you start reading the series with The Disposables?
Book nine The Sinister was due out Feb 1 but due to shortages the printing had to be pushed the pub date to Feb 22.
Good news though, the publisher just bought book ten, The Scorned due out next a year Feb 2023. And they also bought book eleven, The Diabolical due out Feb 2024.
I'm sitting here right now finishing book twelve as yet untitled maybe The Scandalous.
Since you were kind enough to buy all seven we have some ARC's (Advanced Reader copies of The Sinister Book nine) left over we'd love to send one to our newest fan. We just need your mailing address. writedeputydave@yahoo.co
Thanks again
d.
Book nine The Sinister was due out Feb 1 but due to shortages the printing had to be pushed the pub date to Feb 22.
Good news though, the publisher just bought book ten, The Scorned due out next a year Feb 2023. And they also bought book eleven, The Diabolical due out Feb 2024.
I'm sitting here right now finishing book twelve as yet untitled maybe The Scandalous.
Since you were kind enough to buy all seven we have some ARC's (Advanced Reader copies of The Sinister Book nine) left over we'd love to send one to our newest fan. We just need your mailing address. writedeputydave@yahoo.co
Thanks again
d.
David Putnam
Very nice thank you. If you like I can send you a couple of Bruno books to get you started. :-)
d.
d.
David Putnam
I have read it and enjoyed it. I did a review on Goodreads. The first part of the book, the voice, reminded me a little of To Kill a Mockingbird. The author handled the little girl voice wonderfully. The Sheriff's voice didn't ring true me and kind of clunked. The ending fell a little short as well. I think I gave it four stars. It's still a book well worth reading and I highly recommend it. I'm just pointing out things that caught my eye. Love the little girls voice.
David Putnam
Great question.
I assume your talking about writing a novel. I give a class on how to write a novel and it seems to be well received. Happy to do as a zoom if enough folks are interested.
When I start a novel, I take the kernel of an idea and work it until I have enough for a scene. The scene is always designed how best to display the character, not in how best to tell the story.
Then I decide on the theme. For example in a recent book Bruno had a child and that massive responsibility stole his bold, and fearless attitude that keeps him from handling things like he used to. So the theme is the loss of mojo and his search to find it. This is the backbone of the book. Then I pick two plot lines that run side by side. In this case was a baby that was snatched from a young mother. The other is Bruno's mother who has returned after 45yrs, Bruno doesn't even remember her. She back and bilking Bruno's dad out of his life's savings by going on a gambling spree.
I then scene sequence using these three threads and weave them tighter and tighter until they all come together at the end.
This is the basic idea in how I do it. It's a little more complicated. I have 16 precepts of writing I follow very strictly so I never get lost or have writers block.
Hope this helps
Please ask any questions you like, always here to talk about writing or reading.
d.
I assume your talking about writing a novel. I give a class on how to write a novel and it seems to be well received. Happy to do as a zoom if enough folks are interested.
When I start a novel, I take the kernel of an idea and work it until I have enough for a scene. The scene is always designed how best to display the character, not in how best to tell the story.
Then I decide on the theme. For example in a recent book Bruno had a child and that massive responsibility stole his bold, and fearless attitude that keeps him from handling things like he used to. So the theme is the loss of mojo and his search to find it. This is the backbone of the book. Then I pick two plot lines that run side by side. In this case was a baby that was snatched from a young mother. The other is Bruno's mother who has returned after 45yrs, Bruno doesn't even remember her. She back and bilking Bruno's dad out of his life's savings by going on a gambling spree.
I then scene sequence using these three threads and weave them tighter and tighter until they all come together at the end.
This is the basic idea in how I do it. It's a little more complicated. I have 16 precepts of writing I follow very strictly so I never get lost or have writers block.
Hope this helps
Please ask any questions you like, always here to talk about writing or reading.
d.
David Putnam
Thanks for keeping in touch. The publisher has said the ARC of Sinister is coming out next month and my wife and I will get them out (and to you) promptly. I am very pleased with the cover on this one. Thanks for being a fan and tell a friend. :-)
Your favorite deputy
d.
Your favorite deputy
d.
David Putnam
I am constantly learning the craft of writing and writing everyday helps to advance that craft. I guess I look at it like a shark if I stop writing I drown. A thousand words a day helps keep the doctor away. :-)
David Putnam
Also would mind sending me your email address to add to our list? :-)
david@davidputnambooks.com
david@davidputnambooks.com
David Putnam
Thank you for your great support of Bruno and his family. I just last week sent in the first edit of The Sinister to the publisher. This is the edit that is turned into the ARC so it should be coming out in the next few months. I am just finishing up The Scorned and will be sending that one to the publisher next month. Then hopefully I'll start writing The Diabolical, Bruno 11. We would be happy to send you an ARC as soon as they come available. Please tell a friend, and if you can do reviews, it does help a great deal.
Thanks again.
Your favorite deputy
d.
Thanks again.
Your favorite deputy
d.
David Putnam
Thank you for thinking so. I really don't view my career as being all that impressive, it's just what I did for a living. I mean. I joined law enforcement for the adventure not to have an impressive career. I just followed it where it took me. I had a great time in my job. I looked forward to going to work every day and getting paid to play adult cops and robbers was just frosting on the cake. I miss the action, the camaraderie, and dream about it to this day. I would still be doing it if age hadn't jumped on my back and rode me into the ground.
Thank you for the question I'm happy to answer others as well. :-)
d.
Thank you for the question I'm happy to answer others as well. :-)
d.
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