Author Interview with Derek McFadden

Today’s author interview is with Derek McFadden, author of the fantasy novel, What Death Taught Terrence. Below, find out how McFadden’s real life inspired his book, what advice he recommends to other authors, and why he loves Disneyland so much.

You can also read my review of What Death Taught Terrence here!

About the author

Author Name: Derek McFadden

Book Title: What Death Taught Terrence

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Inspirational, Poetry (novel with poems at the chapter-fronts).

Social Media

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Book Summary 

A man looks back on his life from the beyond and must determine its meaning. If he’s unable to do so, his soul will cease to exist.

Review excerpts

PRAISE FOR What Death Taught Terrence

“What Death Taught Terrence offers a powerful, painful, and poignant
look at the life of a man rarely encountered in fiction. Derek McFadden’s
writes with an insight few can match.”
— T.F. ALLEN, author of The Night Janitor and The Keeper

“A good story allows the reader to experience life as another person,
and McFadden made me do so on a deeply personal level. If you
like the works of Mitch Albom, I think you’ll find What Death Taught
Terrence a worthy addition to your library and the reading of it a lifeaffirming
journey.”
— BRADLEY HARPER, Edgar-Award Finalist, author of A Knife In The Fog and Queen’s Gambit

“In What Death Taught Terrence, Derek McFadden builds a world that
satisfies both our desire for imagination and our need for personal
introspection. I found this (story) immediately immersive, and it stuck
with me long after I finished. McFadden is doing something rare in
today’s fiction—exploring the limits of what we will believe to form a
better understanding of who we are.”
— ALEX DOLAN, author of The Euthanist and The Empress of Tempera

Talking Shop

What is the central theme or message of your story? What do you want readers to take away from it?

My story was written because I’m not perfect. Because no one is. The central theme of the book is: Don’t be afraid. Try, even when you’re sure you’ll fail. It’s the only way we learn.

How have you promoted your books? What has worked best? What has failed?

What has worked best is when I can get one-on-one with readers and explain the why of my writing. Why I am so deeply passionate about this book (because, to some extent, it is my story, but it’s also yours, dear reader, and that matters to readers.) As much as it can be, reading should be an experience shared between reader and author.

I think, as a self-published author, plenty of things don’t work. We’re just trying to get seen. There’s this book I wrote! You should read it! 

Depending on who a person is, that kind of appeal may work great, or readers may see it as desperate. I think the key thing to remember is this: The people who are meant to read your book will.

Did you use any professional services before publishing your book? Are there any you recommend to indie authors?

Indie authors MUST–and I stress MUST–edit. Not by yourself. Get an editor. Pay as much as you need to (within reason; don’t get ripped off).

Use critique partners. Be OPEN to critiques and constructive criticism. You have not–and you will not–write the best book ever written.  

But you can and should make your book better. Invest in a professional cover. I used the incomparable Stewart Williams. For formatting, I used 52novels.com. They rock!

Name a fact or detail about your story that can’t be found within the pages of your book.

It is largely autobiographical.

What’s the best review/compliment that you’ve received about your book?

It came when someone I’d never met, in reviewing the book, said, “I think that the author has created something truly special here — a razor-witted deeply moving (book) that examines the modern human condition. It’s a novel of so many layers, with such a massive heart, that it succeeded in making me weep a time or two. So in this way, it was incredibly profound and shattering yet provided a sense of joy when it all came to an end.”

How active are you in the online writing community? How has this community helped you as a writer?

Fairly active, I’d say. I tweet often, though not to an annoying extent. I think it’s nice to know, as writers, that we’re not alone. That’s a service Twitter and Goodreads and the like provide.

What famous books can you compare to your own?

The Five People You Meet In Heaven, Shoeless Joe, For Love Of The Game, The Lovely Bones.

What is a fun or strange source of inspiration that ended up in your book?

The Seattle Mariners will always inspire me. They’re lovable, and they try hard. Aren’t we all, and don’t we all? *Grin.*

How long did it take to write your book from the day you got the idea to write it to the day you published it?

Twelve long years. The length of time made the day of publication a sort of graduation. I will forever love my book, and I hope others take from it even more than I intended. As an author, I think we end up putting in our books (and so giving to the reader) way more than we even realize.

How long have you considered yourself a writer? Did you have any formal training, or is it something you learned as you went?

Since I was six years old. My dad’s a writer, I grew up in a house with a writer, and my mom is a voracious reader. This combination, plus my cerebral palsy and my need to express myself through writing… it all meant I was destined to write. I’d always wanted to write a novel. And now I have.

What is your day job? How, in any way, does it relate to your life as a writer?

I am an intern/reader for an amazingly talented agent. I read books all day. And I love it!

Are your books for sale at any book stores? Have you tried any other methods of selling hard copies in person versus online?

What Death Taught Terrence can be procured at bookstores. It is in the Ingram catalog, so any bookstore or library should be able to order it! Shop your independent bookstores whenever possible, please!

What were your expectations for writing and publishing your first book? Have they changed since then?

My first book was a poetry collection I published back in 2003, not long before the collection’s main subject, my grandfather, passed away from lung cancer. That book was the last he read. Since then, I know so much more about the business of publishing. I understand the literary world’s expectations better than I did way back when.

At the same time, sometimes I miss that inexperienced author. He may have experimented more. I may have to take my own advice and do more of that these days.

Do you have a writing ritual or any odd habits or superstitions?

I love to write at night. I especially love to write in winter. When it’s dark at around 4 PM, I love the atmosphere those surroundings evoke and the frame of mind they help me get into.

How well do you handle criticism, either while writing, editing, or reviews?  Do you ever use that criticism to change your story?

Sometimes I will use criticism to change my story, but only if that change betters the story. After you’ve published a book, the criticism that book gets is more for prospective readers, and I try my best to tune it out.

How do you autograph your books?

I can’t write free-hand beyond my name (cerebral palsy), so anyone who asks for an autograph will get Derek. My hope, though, is that while I’m signing the book and we’re engaged in conversation, you’re enjoying our little talk as much as I am. And that you’ll take away the signed book and our conversation.

What is the most fun part about writing? The most difficult? Do you focus on word count, hours spent writing, page count, or another way to measure your daily or weekly progress?

In my job, I focus on word count and pacing and all kinds of things. When I’m drafting, I have to just get down what I can get down on paper and be okay with what comes.

What skills have you acquired or information have you learned from writing?

I can edit now much better than I could early on. That’s from years and years of trial and error and editing other people. Also, I’ve always been an outgoing person. People were sometimes afraid to approach me, so I learned to approach them. Bond over our common interests. Writing has bonded me with many people.

“What If” Scenarios

If your book ever becomes a movie, and you get final say over the cast, which actors would you hire to play your characters?

This is hard to say because Hollywood is always changing. There’s always an It-girl or sex symbol type producers want. But if my book became a movie, I’d do all I could to find a role for my professional actor-brother, Ben.

If you could have one person that you admire, living or dead, read your book, who would it be?

My grandfather: Richard Dale Kenbok.

If you could be in a writer’s group with up to four famous writers, who would they be?

Scott Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, Mitch Albom, Richard Paul Evans.

A wealthy reader buys 100 copies of your book and tells you to hand them out to anyone you wish. Who do you give them to?

Oprah, Bob Iger, CEO of Disney (my girlfriend and I LOVE Disneyland.), Scott Rudin, uber movie-producer.

Your favorite character that you’ve written comes to life for one day. What do you do together for 24 hours?

If Terrence McDonald came to life, I think we’d have to go see a baseball or a football game (depending on the season), and we’d watch some good movies or TV, and we’d be glad to get to talk to each other, so that both of us could feel less alone.

You are transported into your book for one day. What role do you play? How do you alter the events of the story?

I’m Terrence. I don’t think I would alter the events of the story. As the author, I’m the conductor of the symphony, the director of the film, and I wrote the book I wanted to write!

You’re offered a contract to rewrite your book in another genre. Which genre do you choose and why?

TERRENCE is not a thriller, though many of my friends write thrillers. It would be cool to write in a genre that has been so successful commercially over the years.

You’re given $10,000 to spend on marketing for your book. How do you spend it?

I’m not the math guy. So I think I’d have to sit down with my girlfriend and go over what a budget like that could get and what we think is wise to try and achieve.

Your book becomes a best seller. What do you do next?

Cry. Really, really hard. I cry at Folger’s commercials, so those who know me won’t be surprised by this answer. But becoming a best-seller would affirm for me what I know: The book is good and deserves readers.

Would you rather own your own book store or your own publishing house, and what would you sell or publish?

Publishing house. I would publish authors who I’ve read. While great, some of them don’t exactly fit the market these days, and I’ve always thought publishing markets were a bit too narrow.

 Just For Fun

Your trademark feature.

Disney. As a handicapped kid in the 80’s and 90’s, I had to go to California for a surgery and follow-ups. I didn’t much like that. But going there meant going to Disneyland, and back in those days handicapped people did not have to wait in the ride-lines. They entered through a ride’s exit. I loved it!!!! The longest I waited for a ride was ten minutes.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

I want people to read my books and, through them, know who I was.

One year of your life you’d like to do over.

I don’t know exactly. One of my twenties would be nice! *Grin.*

One bucket list item you’ve completed and one that’s still on your list.

To have my book published is the one I completed. To become a best-seller would be amazing!

A movie or piece of music that changed your life.

It’s A Wonderful Life.

Favorite time of/part of your day.

Cuddling at night with my girlfriend after we’ve both changed into our cozy clothes. We might watch TV or movies. Maybe read. But I do enjoy a good cuddle at the end of the day!

Favorite place you’ve visited.

Disneyland!!!!!

Food you’d like to win a lifetime supply of.

Goldfish crackers!

Your favorite podcast.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The topic you can’t shut up about/the topic you wish everyone would shut up about.

The topic I can’t shut up about is politics. I wish everyone else would shut up about it, though. It’s ironic. *Grin.*

Celebrity you’d want to be friends with.

Lin Manuel Miranda.

Your most unrealistic dream job.

President of one of the TV Networks. I’d love to be able to decide what aired each season, and what got canceled.

A talent you have and a talent you wish you had.

I’m a good writer. I wish I were athletic. *Grin.*

Buy it!

Buy a copy of What Death Taught Terrence here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

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