UFI welcomes author D.D. Symms. Thanks for Joining us!!
What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?
I read a variety of genres and I write non-fiction entrepreneur bios as well as fiction. Some authors delve into one specific genre and never look back. On one hand, I wish that was me. I don't think it ever will be and that matches the varied interests I have.
What do you enjoy doing on your down time?
Being outside. Preferably hiking, running or reffing soccer.
What is your Favorite part of writing?
Having a solid draft and going back to rewrite segments that you know already work. You're tightening them up and improving them by finding just the right phrase or making an awkward sentence easier to read. That's satisfying.
Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?
Hmm, I like having a cup of coffee near me. It can be stale. It takes me about a half hour to get into writing and unwinding from whatever activity I was doing.
What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?
You know, I just haven't familiarized myself with these genres yet. It's on my list for 2015. I feel like I haven't mastered the various styles of romance.
How would you pitch In His Sights to someone who has not heard of it before?
Our inner wounds hurt the most and a loving partner can lead to healing.
Can you tell us a little bit about the world that In His Sights is set in?
A military base in Southern California's Mojave Desert. It's desolate and yet the desert has an odd warmth that I find attractive, almost comforting.
Do you have a favorite scene in In His Sights?
Yep. A bar scene where Dalton Blake storms out. It's a turning point. I feel I captured the ambiance and the inner conflict.
Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?
I enjoyed creating the bartender, an outgoing female. A minor character. The hardest part about the two men was getting the ending just right so it wasn't gratuitous but had meaning and kept the tension going until the end.
What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?
I've got thoughts of a male-male through the eyes of the character in my novel Boarding. Really, a series of stories and life through his eyes.
I'm also at work on a novel Arrival, a look at the fashion industry and how we define success.
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Fiction writing in university was his original calling, but it took a detour of many years as he focused on journalism. The joy of writing fiction is when characters seep into his imagination and take on a life of their own with a story that must be told.
He lives in southern California and hikes in the mountains with his wife, wishes his dog would stop sleeping on his side of the bed, and would like to take more walks along the beaches north of Malibu.
Find D.D. Symms and her books
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In His Sights
Buy Link
Wounds on the inside can be the hardest to heal. Dalton Blake takes responsibility for the death of his comrade and lover when a roadside bomb explodes in Afghanistan.__________________________________
Back in the states, and preparing to end his military service, Dalton withdraws from society and is prepared to face a new life alone. A perceptive captain on the base notices the pain and tries to find a way to Dalton's heart and soul
Excerpt:
Afghanistan fascinated him. He saw beauty in what many deemed a desolate landscape. A flower blooming among rocky crags was like an act of defiance interrupting the bleakness. He had gained confidence and felt like his leadership abilities were growing rapidly on the day a colonel, a senior engineer from the States, and a camera crew from a television network were among the audience members.
The last questions finished and he gathered his materials. He headed to the coffee shop on base to revel in his success but soldiers were scrambling amid confused shouts.
"Hey, what's happening?" Dalton tried to get someone's attention.
"An attack. There was an attack just down the road."
The news screamed back to base. An IED had exploded in the field, ripped through a convoy, and killed several soldiers. Jerry was among them.
Dalton froze. A volley of commands were unleashed in his mind to run here or there, but he was helpless. He shook free from the initial shock and ran to his barracks, buried his face in his pillow, and fought to suppress his rage. He wanted to scream, grab a weapon, and head off on his own personal assault and find the son of a bitch responsible. A debriefing revealed a connection failure in the jamming device and the feeling of failure Dalton experienced was like water bursting through the walls of a reservoir and flooding everything in its path.
Afghanistan fascinated him. He saw beauty in what many deemed a desolate landscape. A flower blooming among rocky crags was like an act of defiance interrupting the bleakness. He had gained confidence and felt like his leadership abilities were growing rapidly on the day a colonel, a senior engineer from the States, and a camera crew from a television network were among the audience members.
The last questions finished and he gathered his materials. He headed to the coffee shop on base to revel in his success but soldiers were scrambling amid confused shouts.
"Hey, what's happening?" Dalton tried to get someone's attention.
"An attack. There was an attack just down the road."
The news screamed back to base. An IED had exploded in the field, ripped through a convoy, and killed several soldiers. Jerry was among them.
Dalton froze. A volley of commands were unleashed in his mind to run here or there, but he was helpless. He shook free from the initial shock and ran to his barracks, buried his face in his pillow, and fought to suppress his rage. He wanted to scream, grab a weapon, and head off on his own personal assault and find the son of a bitch responsible. A debriefing revealed a connection failure in the jamming device and the feeling of failure Dalton experienced was like water bursting through the walls of a reservoir and flooding everything in its path.