On Writing Ghostwriter

Today is the official release day of Ghostwriter. I hope you get a chance to buy a copy and check it out. 

I get this question sometimes: “Why did you write this story?” This is one of those questions that makes it sound like you had all these grand plans going into the writing process of a story. Usually, I write a story that I think is compelling and interesting. I write something that I would want to read myself. As usual, certain themes and storylines will come out of the writing and sometimes even surprise me. 
So why did I write Ghostwriter? Besides hoping to tell an engaging and thrilling story? Here are a few thoughts. 
First off, I wanted to delve into the publishing world again. It’s a world I’m familiar with, both in my time spent at a publishing house and with writing full-time now. I wanted to explore the world of a bestselling horror author who doesn’t believe in the supernatural. I also wanted to try and share a little insight on where story ideas come from. 
One theme that came from writing about a writer was the notion of control. Dennis Shore creates his own worlds in each story he writes, yet he has no control over his real life. He is grieving the death of his wife and is still trying to control the situation. He soon discovers that he can’t control anything, including his own grief. 
With Ghostwriter, I also wanted to tackle the topic of evil. I tried to show the chronology of a young man obsessed with the idea of evil and the dark alleys it takes him to.
One final theme I tackled in Ghostwriter was the theme of belief. Dennis Shore doesn’t believe in anything, and this journey changes things for him. 
My hope is that anybody who likes a fast-paced, intense read will enjoy Ghostwriter. 
I’m looking forward to hearing readers thoughts on it. 

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