Doug Walsh's Blog

I’ll be teaching a class on story structure at January’s meeting of the Iron Horse Writers. This local writer’s group is sponsored by North Bend Art & Industry. “Fundamentals of Story Structure” utilizes material from my upcoming novel-writing workbook, Novel Now. I’ll be discussing the scenes that every three-act novel should have, go over the core scene requirements, and discuss the importance of goal, motivation, and conflict.

Local writer Takako Wright says in this article in Living Snoqualmie, “there is a large yet almost hidden number of writers here in the Valley.” I hope that by teaching classes at Iron Horse Writers, I can help bring those writers into the fold, show them what’s possible, and help them achieve their writerly goals. The Iron Horse Writers meets on the third Tuesday of each month, often for free-write, with free classes taught on the first month of each quarter. I’ll be in attendance each month to provide critique and answer questions.

Read the Article Here

The post Local Author Teaches Story Structure appeared first on Doug Walsh.

Local news source and community hub, Living Snoqualmie, was kind enough to feature me and my latest release, Shadows of Kalalau, in their news-zine. The article is less a book review and more of an author profile, which fits the close-knit community I’ve called home these past 17 years. The article, by Lynda Lahman, tracks my career as a writer in video games, my love of travel, and how this all resulted in my becoming a novelist.

In a lot of ways, Shadows of Kalalau, is my first novel. I first got the idea for the book in 2005, long before I knew the first thing about writing fiction. But it took until 2019, with the lessons learned from Tailwinds Past Florence behind me, that I finally had the skillset to return to that initial idea. It evolved a lot over the years. And, perhaps, the stories of how I came my present self, somewhat related in this Living Snoqualmie piece, reveal the why and how if you look hard enough.

Read the Article Here

The post Living Snoqualmie’s Regional Reads appeared first on Doug Walsh.

I think about setting a lot. Anyone whose read either of my novels would attest that location is as much a character as my protagonist and villains. So I was appropriately pleased when the editor of Mystery & Suspense magazine spotted the advance reviews for Shadows of Kalalau reached out, inviting me to submit an article about location. Namely, why setting thrillers in the tropics can make for exceptional reading.

I’ll be the first to admit a thriller can be staged anywhere. Yet, We readers love contrast; we consciously (or not) delight when expectations are flipped upside down. When a character or setting reveals itself to go against the stereotype. And that, I argue in the article, is what makes the tropics so perfect. Think about it. Soft sand, strong drinks, laid back vibes. The picture postcard of vacation dreams. But beneath the serene veneer lies a world of danger. And we, readers and unwitting vacationers, can find ourselves far from home, in a foreign culture, where our own sense of infallibility is our greatest vulnerability.

Read the Article Here

The post Why The Tropics are Ripe for Thrillers appeared first on Doug Walsh.

I don’t listen to many podcasts, but I have to hand it to Spotify for recommending Adam Blank’s “Remember the Game,” retro-gaming podcast. This hilarious trip through the archives of gaming’s yesteryear quickly became one of my favorite listens. And when I heard Blank and a guest discussing gaming magazines, I knew I had to reach out to the show and get myself an appearance.

Adam is an excellent interviewer and came prepared with a litany of questions about my career writing strategy guides for BradyGames and Prima Games. And, of course, my memoir, The Walkthrough: Insider Tales from a Life in Strategy Guides. We discussed everything from my inauspicious beginnings, to the hassle of taking screenshots, to whether or not studios helped with collectables. This episode of “Remember the Game” is roughly two hours and those who want to skip ahead to the interview can find it thirty-eight minutes into the show, but you’d be missing out on some Grade-A content. Warning: Explicit language.

Listen Here

The post Remember the Game? I Sure Do appeared first on Doug Walsh.

As featured in Shadows of Kalalau, this genuine sunrise shell has been crafted into a gorgeous necklace by Sandra Rosner of Von Frost Jewelry. And it can be yours! Now through November 15th, in celebration of the book’s release, I’ll be raffling off this necklace along with multiple signed copies of Shadows of Kalalau. No purchase necessary to enter. Earn multiple entries daily by continuing to share, like, and follow.

Sunrise shells are coveted by hikers and beachcombers on Kaua’i and Maui. Take home this perfect reminder of your own tropical escape — or your connection with Malia’s adventure. To enter, hit the link below, enter your email and — this is important! — hit the link in the confirmation email. Then hit the links to follow me on BookBub, Goodreads, and social media to earn additional entries. Spread the word for additional entries!

Enter the Contest

The post Win Malia’s Sunrise Shell Necklace appeared first on Doug Walsh.

Foreword Clarion Reviews is first in with a major trade review for Shadows of Kalalau, and I couldn’t be more proud. They gave it a very rare 5-star rating and called it “A cinematic thriller that mixes noir sensibilities with a young woman’s search to find herself.” The review went on to praise the characterization, dialogue, and worldbuilding, and said “the book’s real appeal is its prose, which is jaunty and visual.”

This is a great time to also mention that Shadows of Kalalau will be releasing wide, across all major retailers in paperback, ebook, and audiobook on November 16th, 2021. Newsletter subscribers and social media followers should keep a lookout for an upcoming contest, giveaways, and other promotions. Hit the link below to read the early raves from Foreword Clarion Reviews.

Read the Review

The post 5-Star Advance Praise for Shadows of Kalalau appeared first on Doug Walsh.

Hey everyone, it's been a long time coming, but I can finally reveal the cover for my next novel! My designer did an incredible job, nailing the mood and themes of the book.⁠

*Please add it to your Want to Read list*


Shadows of Kalalau
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🌺 "Shadows of Kalalau" is a coming-of-age romantic suspense, set along the wild Napali Coast of Kaua'i.⁠
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🌺 Reeling with grief, Malia flees to a remote valley, hoping to connect with her mother’s spirit. But when two people end up dead, her adventure in paradise becomes a battle for survival.⁠
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👉 Learn more at www.kalalaubook.com and sign up for alerts and special offers.⁠
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👉 Releases everywhere November 16, 2021 in Paperback, Ebook, and Audiobook.⁠
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🚨 eARCs available on NetGalley to registered reviewers. ⁠

Shepherd creator Ben Fox says his new website aims to replicate the wonder of browsing a bookstore alongside a clerk capable of recommending the best books based on your interests.

Currently focused on non-fiction, Shepherd has invited hundreds of authors to share their expertise on a given topic – mine was video games – by recommending five of the best books on that topic. Those interested in better understanding the video game industry will find links and explanations for my selections here.Read the Article

The post Best Books for Understanding the Gaming Industry appeared first on Doug Walsh.

One of my biggest thrills during this no-good-Covid summer was being interviewed by Joanna Penn, author and host of two of my favorite podcasts.

If you spend years planning your dream trip, what happens when life gets in the way? Do you change your plans or do you plow on regardless?

Well, my episode of “Books and Travel” finally went live (with photos and transcript) and though I know a lot of you have heard me discuss my round-the-world bike tour previously, this conversation was quite different. Joanna is an avid, savvy traveler who understands the realities of venturing off independently. Our conversation discusses the fears and challenges we encountered, from dogs to thieves, and also the disappointment when visiting so-called “romantic” locations. Listen here!

In other news, I’m headed to Whidbey Island for a writer’s retreat next weekend with my critique group. It’ll be the first time the five of us are together, in person, since the pandemic began. I can’t wait. Our weekly video meetings have been a great (and convenient) alternative, but this is long overdue. I miss them! And, yes, we’re each hunkering down in our bubbles between now and then to ensure we’re doing this responsibly.

But not only will next weekend give us a chance to see one another, I’ll be using the time to kick off a month-long revision sprint. I’m aiming to have Chapters 10 through 24 of Shadows of Kalalau in the hands of my line-editor by Thanksgiving. That’s the middle 50% of the book! My group will be reading the big fight scene that caps off Act 2 next week. I can’t wait!

Until then, happy reading. And listening. Hopefully to “Books and Travel.”

The post Talking Books & Travel with Joanna Penn appeared first on DOUG WALSH.

By far, one of my biggest highlights of 2020 was appearing on Joanna Penn’s podcast Books & Travel to discuss travel and my novel Tailwinds Past Florence. We discussed favorite (and most disappointing) destinations as well as the challenge of facing fears while traveling.

I’ve been a big fan of Joanna Penn’s indie publishing podcast, “The Creative Penn” for years and had only recently learned of her other podcast. And unlike other discussions I’ve done with travel writers, our chat focused more on the challenges, fears, and disappointments that cropped up. It’s not a negative discussion, by any stretch, but it’s honest. And the travel world needs more honesty.

Listen In

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