Had my number-dyslexia not kicked in on the last day of Bouchercon this year, I might not have read what’s become one of my favorite thrillers of the year, written by one of my new fave authors. (I still swear my flight itinerary said 5pm, not noon. Ironic, or maybe not; Daniel Palmer’s book, DELIRIOUS, is chockfull of such mind trips. Hmm…)
Because of my “bonus” time at the conference, I had the opportunity to meet Daniel, thank him for his contributions to a panel I’d attended and learn more about his work. When I told him I write psychological thrillers, he said I might like his. Forget ‘might,’ I loved it. The characters, including those with psychiatric disorders, are relatable, the plot wicked smart and the opening and ending gratifying and unique. Books as enjoyable as DELIRIOUS are what led me to pursue a career in writing and keep me enthused about the thriller genre.
One day, Charlie Giles is an up-and-coming electronics superstar. The next, he’s a prime homicide suspect as his former employers are picked off one by one. Charlie watches his life unravel as his company and inventions are wrenched from his control, and his family is decimated. With nowhere else to turn, he enlists his schizophrenic brother to uncover the dark family secrets that lie at the heart of the unfolding terror. “Delirious” is a mind-bending story where the line between what is real and what is imagined twists and turns…an addictive literary puzzle that every reader will want to solve.
(Kensington, 2011)
What others are saying about DELIRIOUS:
“Smart, sophisticated and unsettling…not just a great thriller debut, but a great thriller, period.” —Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Delirious is one awesome kick-off for an exciting and multi-dimensional talent. It’s an electrifying ride, whetting the reader’s appetite for more. Daniel Palmer is a writer to watch. This guy is going to be around a long time.” —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author
Palmer is also a super nice guy who took the time to share some insight with us all…
AM: I loved DELIRIOUS. What inspired you to write it?
DP: Thanks so much, August. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. DELIRIOUS wasn’t my first attempt at novel writing. I started out writing romantic comedies from the guy’s point of view, only to discover that women, who tend to buy the majority of romance books, don’t particularly care about the guy’s point of view. I decided to take a swing at writing suspense novels, which happens to be the genre I love the most. I set off in search of a compelling ‘what if’ question that could be the basis of a thriller. I looked to my background in e-commerce and Web start up companies for inspiration. I thought, what if a super successful software/electronics entrepreneur, suddenly and inexplicably starts to go insane? I guess you could say the novel evolved from there.
AM: You threw some mighty intriguing twists into the story. Were these planned? Did you know the ending before you began?
DP: I wanted DELIRIOUS to feel like a trip down the rabbit hole. To pull the reader into the story I knew I had to emphasize how it might feel to go crazy. I made up a lot of the scenes showing Charlie’s decent into madness as I went along. However, I wrote with a framework for the story already in place. I knew how it would open. I figured by the middle of the book he’d be forcibly committed in a mental hospital. I had a rough idea of how it was going to end. Basically, I had markers I wanted to hit, but I didn’t have a detailed outline of how I was going to hit them.
AM: I felt you handled mental illness in a respectful, realistic way. Was this your aim? Can you tell us a bit about your research?
DP: I’m so glad you felt that way. Next to delivering non-stop suspense, it was my top priority for the book. It was important to me that I portrayed Joe’s schizophrenia as accurately as possible. I set out to write a story that avoided stereotypes of the disease without being didactic or sounding preachy.
My cousin is a Harvard trained neuropsychologist. In addition to her being my inspiration for Rachel’s character, my cousin educated me about the disease and various cognitive therapies. I read a ton on the subject as well, but she validated and vetted everything I wrote. In addition, I leaned heavily on an uncle who is a neurologist and a psychiatrist cousin. Bottom line, it helps to have really, really smart people in your family, or a network of friends who are generous with their time and expertise.
AM: I think I have a crush on Monte, the beagle. Was he based on a pet? Can I have him?
DP: I seriously owe my writing career to Monte. Acquiring editors at various publishing houses loved the book, but thought Charlie was too rough around the edges. He wasn’t a very kind person at the start of the story. I conveyed my publishing woes to a good friend of mine over burgers and beers and he suggested I give my protagonist a dog. It took me about two seconds to see the genius of his idea. I contacted my agent who took about one second to see it. “Yeah, a dog,” she said. “Give him a dog.”
From there, I reached out to a cousin (see a theme here?) who happens to be a veterinarian. We spent an hour talking about dog breeds, searching for the best breed for Charlie. We settled on a beagle. From there I gave Monte his quirks, chewing shoes and his devote love for the neighbor’s poodle, Maxine. A few weeks later I signed a three book contract with Kensington. Oline Cogdill wrote a blog post for Mystery Scene all about Monte. Soon after, I got a letter from a delighted reader informing me that she named their new family dog Monte. Apparently, a lot of folks were taken with my beagle.
AM: *Pauses to gush for Monte* You’re also an uber-talented musician. How does your experience as a songwriter influence your book writing?
DP: That’s very kind of you to say. I think of songwriting as just another form of storytelling. Often times, the magic beans that go into making a song work can be found in a compelling novel as well. A suspenseful story requires the right mix of conflict, character and stakes in order to take flight. I try to write songs that contain some (hopefully all) of those elements, albeit in a very condensed format. Songwriting has also been great for developing my sense of word play. The craft challenges me to write emotionally, without being obvious or clichéd. I try to bring that sensibility to my longer prose as well. I love writing novels and songs with equal passion. My only wish is that I could write a novel in one sitting the way I can sometimes pull together a completed song.
AM: I’m excited to read your second book, HELPLESS, come January. Was it easier, harder or otherwise different to write?
DP: The simple answer to your question is yes. Parts of it were easier because I had a better grasp on the craft of storytelling. There is something to be said for experience. At the same time, it was a very challenging book to write. I wanted to show the reader the hidden dangers of our tech-centric world without losing them in the jargon and concepts. I also wanted to show the inherent dangers of sexting without sacrificing the scope of my story.
HELPLESS is part family drama and part action thriller. A friend described it as Tom Clancy invades the O.C. I think that’s a pretty fitting description but those incongruous elements made for some interesting writing challenges. Library Journal gave HELPLESS a starred review so hopefully others feel that my efforts have paid off. The research for HELPLESS was similar to DELIRIOUS in that I had experts at the FBI and Navy SEALs who helped me bring the story to life in a realistic fashion.
AM: What are you most proud of in your writing career thus far?
DP: Pride is an interesting thing because it’s not woven into the DNA fabric of most writers I know. In this business, we’re as good as our last book. From what I’ve seen, the fear of losing our touch doesn’t really go away, regardless of having a publishing track record. I think a healthy dose of the skepticism is good for fueling the drive to write and create to the very best of our abilities. So if I had to pick my proudest moment, I’d say it was the first time I heard from a truly satisfied reader. That said, I haven’t made any best seller lists yet, so I reserve the right to change my answer.
AM: Ha… So granted! What do you find most challenging about novel writing?
DP: Solidifying the idea is for me the hardest part. It’s easy to come up with ideas, but to mold something into a workable structure, one that could carry the reader for four hundred plus pages, takes time, patience and the discipline to stare at your computer screen, or pad of paper, without jotting anything down.
AM: Any major goals or aspirations you hope to reach—writing or otherwise?
DP: I just hope to stay in this game. I have a tremendous passion for creating. It’s a true blessing that I can do something I love and call it working.
AM: Many unpublished writers consider themselves “aspiring authors.” What’s your take on this? Any suggestions for newbie/ wanna-be/gonna-be authors?
DP: Writers write. I was never an aspiring songwriter. I was just a songwriter. If you want to write, then do it. Don’t think about it (unless you’re thinking about your idea). To be good at this craft you’ve got to read a lot and write a lot. It takes time and perseverance. Unlike reality TV, there are no short cuts to success. There’s a reason nobody has made a reality show about becoming a novelist. Well, perhaps the reason is it would be a really dull reality show.
Diane Capri (@DianeCapri) says
Daniel Palmer has been one of my favorite people for years. So glad to see he’s hit a home run on this book! Thanks for posting!
gingercalem says
What a great interview! Sounds just like a book I’d LOVE! Funny about Monte. I can tell so much about a character (and people in real life) based on their pets and how they treat them.
Shannon Esposito says
Okay, I’m intrigued! Sounds like a great read and I love the dog already Great interview, August. Thank you for introducing us to Daniel…skipping off to Amazon now.
August McLaughlin says
YES! More fans for Monte AND Daniel. Thanks for your warm words, ladies… I suspect you’ll dig the book, too.
Karen McFarland says
Very cool interview August! Daniel seems like a genuine nice guy. What a great opportunity! Good for you girl. You did an awesome job!
EllieAnn says
Oh what a wonderful interview! I LoL at the line, “only to discover that women, who tend to buy the majority of romance books, don’t particularly care about the guy’s point of view” ha!
August McLaughlin says
I know, wasn’t that remark awesome?? STILL laughing. So glad you dug the interview, Ellie!
coleen patrick says
What a great interview August! I always love to read about a writer’s journey, see a glimpse into the hows and whys of their writing life. The book sounds very interesting, going to look it up right now
August McLaughlin says
Thanks, Coleen! It’s always fascinating to see how writers find and maneuver their path. Glad you enjoyed.
Marc Schuster says
“Give him a dog.” — Great advice!
Holly Kammier says
Fantastic interview August! I have experienced number dyslexia myself at the airport and ended up reading quite a few good books that way.
August McLaughlin says
Glad to hear I’m not the only one, Holly! In this case, the mishap paid off big time.
Sheila Seabrook says
I love interviews with writers, August. And now you’ve just helped me add another author and book to my TBR pile!
August McLaughlin says
Glad to hear that, Sheila! I’ll be eager to hear what you think.
Elaine Smothers says
Great blog post & interview! I will have to read this book! How ironic his father is Michael Palmer … I’ve enjoyed his medical suspense novels for years!
August McLaughlin says
Thanks so much, Elaine. I’m a fan of Michael Palmer, too. He and Daniel coauthored a couple of short stories… If you get the chance, worth checking out! Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up at Night
Pat O'Dea Rosen says
Thanks for a terrific interview, August. I can’t wait to read DELIRIOUS and HELPLESS.
Ellis Shuman says
Thank you August for introducing me to this author. I am putting Delirious on my “books to purchase” list now.
Angela Orlowski-Peart says
Great interview, August! Your line “the plot wicked smart and the opening and ending gratifying and unique” really caught my interest! This book sounds like something I would very much enjoy. Thank you for introducing it to me
Kathleen says
Oooo, a new author to read, yay! “Give him a dog,” and “Save the Cat” – good advice for writers I’d like to read a romantic comedy written by a man, too.
August McLaughlin says
Thanks, all! Hope you enjoy DELIRIOUS. Confidant you will.
Tameri Etherton says
Awesome interview! Not only is the author super cute, but he was smart enough to put a dog in his book. I’m all over this book ~ secretly I’m a thriller fan. Shhh, don’t tell. I especially love how Daniel uses his cousins for research. Very smart man!
August McLaughlin says
Can’t go wrong with pooches, right?? I may have to set Monte up with Zola, the spaniel in my novel…if things don’t work out with Maxine, that is.
So glad you dug the interview, Tameri!
journalpulp says
Tameri, we’re all thriller fans. Do you know why? Because thrillers represent the grand Romantic tradition.Thrillers are the product of the great Romantic novelists who electrified the world by showing the world that human beings do possess the power of choice, that desires and goals are not only possible but attainable and good, and that the “pressure to record” is not the sole purpose of literature.Thrillers represent a world of limitless potential and infinite variety, of color, clarity, richness. Thrillers show us that human beings are efficacious, if we choose, and that we are not merely “alive but fated.”
That is why we’re thriller fans.
What people see in thrillers is a condensed, simplified pattern, reduced to its essentials: a man fighting for a vital goal, overcoming one obstacle after another, facing terrible dangers and risks, persisting through excruciating struggle — and winning (“Bootleg Romanticism,” The Romantic Manifesto, Ayn Rand).
August McLaughlin says
I keep wanting to read your comment over and over, Ray. You spoke with such poignance, straight to our thriller-loving hearts.
marklanden says
Great interview!
The Hook says
Pets – fictional or otherwise – add immeasurable value to our lives!
amyshojai says
How did I miss this post? I met Daniel at Thrillerfest last summer, saw him and his dad perform (sing) at the banquet, bought his book–it’s autographed–and loved it! And yes, Monte is awesome, arrooooooo!
What I liked about Monte, too, is that too often the pet becomes ONLY a prop. But obviously from the comments Daniel knew exactly what to include to make Monte a real, viable addition to the story line. Wagging-good fun (says the pet writer!).
Ellis Shuman says
One month later = I purchased Delirious based on August’s post. I read the entire book in one day, as it has a “cannot put it down” plot. Everything comes together and the technological innovations important to the narrative can easily be imagined. It’s good that Daniel didn’t continue to write novels of a romantic nature, as the one element in this regard was probably the weakest link in the story.
August McLaughlin says
So glad you enjoyed DELIRIOUS, Ellis! It’s definitely tough to put down.
PS Daniel’s next book, HELPLESS, comes out this month.