Where the idea came from:

I’d been wanting to write a story about escaped convicts ever since hearing about The Texas Seven in 2000. After having my first “suspense” novel published (The Second Thief), I planned on writing another one with Moody Publishers. In the summer of 2002, I got inspired to write Gun Lake for two reasons: one was seeing the movie Road To Perdition, and the other was going up to Gun Lake where my in-laws have a place.

One Line Synopsis:

Five escaped convicts and a whole other cast of characters end up crossing paths at a scenic lake in Michigan.

Journey to publication:

After handing in The Second Thief to Moody, I began talking with them about doing another novel. I signed another one-book contract for Gun Lake.

The Response:

While the reviews were decent, some spoke about how it was overly ambitious. The reaction at Gun Lake, however, was tremendous. People couldn’t believe I’d written a book set in their beautiful and beloved Gun Lake. I’ve sold close to a thousand copies of Gun Lake myself around the area. That NEVER happens. My brother-in-law wants me to start a whole line of lake books–write the same story and just replace the title of the lake it’s based on. (That’s something that will never happen either)

My Thoughts:

Gun Lake was a bit ambitious. The problem lies in having seven character viewpoints throughout the story. It probably shouldn’t have been over four or five. The editing process was a nightmare (no need to get into details about that). With proper editing and rewriting, I think the book could have been stronger. But again, every novel is a learning experience.

Interesting Fact:

This was the first time I did a book tour for a book. I did a week long tour starting in Florida and ending in Tennessee. It was a long and arduous experience but one that taught me a lot.