An Interview with Alex
1) What inspired you to co-author this book?
When Dalton first approached me about the project and told me about his ordeal, I knew immediately this was a classic David and Goliath story. There was no way I was not going to do it.
2) How did you start writing?
I started by tackling the heaviest lifting; the interviews. First Dalton, then his family, lawyers and so on.
3) What is your favorite part of the book?
Since I particularly love writing dialogue, I�d have to say the chapter that deals with the evidence. This is where we have Dalton and Chris going through the allegations and the evidence in detail. I loved the challenge too of figuring out how to deliver a potentially heavy scene with a light treatment.
4) What was the hardest part to write in the book?
Believe it or not the toughest hurdle for me came early. And by that I�m referring to the scene in which Dalton is fired by Scott. It�s an intense, emotionally charged scene between two individuals, and yet only one actually speaks the entire time.
5) What do you wish was different about the book?
I don�t know�.perhaps it ought to have been a little longer! Most seem to have read it in two or three days.
6) What kind of research did you do for this book?
I went through the court bundles used in Dalton�s defense, so I used those. I asked his lawyers a lot of questions. And I also spent a little time going through newspaper archives for general information about that period -- such as weather and major news-making events.
7) What�s the best thing about being an author?
As a ghostwriter I get to enjoy the role of acting as the conduit through which everyday people can share their exciting stories. I really like that.
8) What are you working on now?
My next project is a �coming of age� story, with the protagonist this time being female.
9) What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Write with your ear, not your ego. Grab any opportunity you can to build your portfolio. And don�t forget to read � constantly.
10) Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?
I read up and down and all around, so it�s hard to narrow it down. But if I had to name a few, I�d have to include Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Malcolm Gladwell, Amy Tan and Isabel Allende.
11) When you hear from your readers, what do they say?
That they felt as if they were right there watching the story unfold in their very own front row seat, and that they couldn�t put the book down.
12) How is this world a better place because of your books?
Oh my�.I think I�ll let Dalton answer this one! lol