I know you’ve been waiting with bated breath for the follow-up post to my last one about my strategy for cutting back on my social media presence, so I apologize for making you wait till next time.

Seriously though, I did receive a request to answer some excellent reader questions gathered during what the facilitator described as a lively book club discussion about my newest release Core Haven: Hope Amid the Ruins.

So here goes nothing:

1. How long did it take you to write this book?

• The original idea materialized while I was backpacking in the Cascades in my early twenties. I asked myself a series of “What if…?” questions & wrote them in my journal, along with some notes. Fast forward a few years & I started thinking about that scenario again & came up with the basics. But due to a series of events, I decided to serialize it for Kindle Vella just as that platform was tanking. All the same, I enjoyed the process of breaking the story down into episodes, then recombining them into chapters before publishing the whole book on KDP this past July.

2. Was Nate based on anyone you know?

• Not intentionally, but I probably tapped into some of my own characteristics at that age, especially the feeling of being sheltered from the outside world. Also, I was a lot like Nate when it came to a belief in fairness & his surprise at the kindness of strangers. Throughout my life, I’ve been blessed to see people helping each other in critical situations, so the notion of paying it forward has always been a central tenet for me in my interactions with the world.

3. Why did you choose Oregon as the setting?

• I actually thought about placing this story in a world I made up entirely, but after I started outlining what that might look like, I decided to go with the state I live in. It has all the necessary geographical components to serve as a good setting—from wilderness areas to the coast to major rivers. I’ve traveled the state a fair amount & have always liked the Alsea River, so it was a natural fit.

4. Did you always know how the story would end?

• Ah, if you only knew how many alternative endings I came up with for this novel. The short answer is that I had no clear idea how it would end till I finished the second draft. The long answer is that to begin with I wrote a backstory for each of the central characters & even a few side characters, then used my “What if…?” framework. For example, what if Nate found himself separated from his family in the Siuslaw Wilderness with only a few days left before the Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia River closes? Using a digital version of notecards on corkboard helped the rest of the story develop seemingly on its own.

5. Which scene was the hardest to write?

• A few immediately come to mind, but the only one that isn’t a spoiler happens early in the story. Detailing the rocket attack on Nate’s neighborhood was difficult given the reality of the number of innocent civilians who are currently caught up in situations like that all over the world & throughout history. The destruction was challenging enough, but describing the human toll was especially painful.

6. How much research went into the survival details?

• I’d like to say a lot, but the truth of the matter is I did almost no research in that regard. However, when I was young, I read about numerous survival stories. One that still stands out for its sheer craziness & dedication to teamwork is the Shackleton Expedition (officially known as the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917). Also, my backpacking experiences over the years have made it easier to imagine what it might be like to go without basic necessities. I did experience one mild version of running low on food with a few days of hiking left, but it was enough to stick in my head.

7. Do you think you would survive in a situation like this?

• I like to think so, mainly because of my own past experiences & my generally calm reaction to crises. That said, I know when people are in difficult situations, old patterns can emerge, not to mention survival instincts. However, I’ll stick with the idea that my commitment to teamwork would carry the day. The bottom line is that I know I’d do my damnedest to survive while helping as many others as possible.

8. What was your favorite part to write?

• Hands down, Sunny’s pivotal role in the story. In fact, after finishing Core Haven & shelving it for a bit, I started working on Sunny the river merchant’s standalone story which became the companion novel Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown: A Tale of Survival. Her character is an homage to all the strong women I was blessed to grow up with.

9. Are you planning a sequel?

• A month ago, my answer to this question would’ve been a hard no. However, here of late, I’ve started wondering what another companion novel might look like. Maybe I’d go with a novella, or a series of short stories, or even another full novel about a side character.

10. What authors or books influenced this story?

• Probably more than I can write here, but the ones that come to mind first & foremost are the true accounts of the Shackleton Expedition (see above). Those dudes were fierce survivalists beyond anything I can imagine. Their determination & teamwork have inspired me for years.

11. Did the story change while you were writing?

• I swear, if I showed anybody the original draft, they would barely recognize the story. I had the basic structure of the Finleys becoming refugees, but everything from the names to the actions of the characters to the locations changed dramatically. But that’s my process. I’m solidly in the camp that believes writing is rewriting to a level that’s almost mind-numbing. That’s precisely how I know I’m done revising, rewriting, editing, & proofreading a novel—my brain becomes so numb I can barely think straight whenever I even consider taking a look at the manuscript.

12. What advice would you give new writers?

• I rarely give advice, & never unsolicited. But since you asked, I’ll tell you my simple take on writing: embrace the chaos. It can be exhilarating at times, debilitating at others, frustrating as hell at a moment’s notice, but overall fairly steady when I need it to be. After having journaled & written fiction most of my life, I wouldn’t have it any other way. My advice? Enjoy the ride.

Keep you posted.

Drew

P.S. I’m happy to report that at the time of my writing this post, Core Haven: Hope Amid the Ruins has maintained its 4.8 out of 5 stars with 52 global ratings & 50 customer reviews on Amazon, & 133 ratings & 121 reviews for a 4.62 on Goodreads. Not too shabby, right?

P.S.S. If by chance you’re interested in reading and thoughtfully reviewing either of my two companion novels, please see the Amazon links below. (And thanks so much in advance!)

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Lee Hall’s Review of Core Haven: Hope Amid the Ruins

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I invite you to check out Lee Hall’s excellent video review, especially the first book he includes on his short list of memorable indie reads—uh-huh, that would be Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown.

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