Author Interview 006: D. W. Brooks - Unveiling the Chaos of Mystery and Romance

Today, I am sharing an interview with D.W. Brooks, the talented author behind the Model MD/Chaos series, featuring the captivating novel "Homecoming Chaos." With a background in medicine and a passion for storytelling, Brooks brings a unique blend of mystery, suspense, and romance to her readers. Let's dive into the fascinating world she's crafted.

Navigating Mystery and Romance: An Author Interview with D.W. Brooks

In the interview, Brooks shared insights into her inspiration for the series, the complexities of her protagonist Jamie Scott, and the themes that drive her storytelling. From navigating personal and professional challenges to balancing life as a writer and advocate, Brooks offers a glimpse into the intricacies of her creative process.

Featured Excerpts

• "The idea for 'Homecoming CHAOS' and really the series centered on writing a story about a female physician who had made the decision to leave the practice of medicine, like me."
• "Some issues like leaving the practice of medicine and the somewhat challenging relationship with her mother are based on my experiences."
• "For me, it is important not to let the romance overshadow the mystery."

Full Questions and Answers

1. Can you share with us the inspiration behind your series, Model MD/Chaos, particularly the first book, "Homecoming Chaos"?

The idea for Homecoming Chaos and really the series centered on writing a story about a female physician who had made the decision to leave the practice of medicine, like me. I thought it would be interesting to explore some contradictions surrounding that. When I decided to leave medical practice, it was not as common as it is now. My friends and family had many questions and doubts. But as I began writing, I moved away from that career decision as the major component of the story but kept the backstory about a person who completed her medical training but left practice for an unknown (at that time) reason. I then created a chaotic reason for her to leave town and more chaos when she returned. The lead character has much more drama in her life than I ever have. I like the characters, so I have plans for more novellas and novels in the future.

2. Your protagonist, Jamie Scott, seems to navigate through a complex web of personal and professional challenges. How much of her character is inspired by your own experiences, and how much is purely fictional?

Some issues like leaving the practice of medicine and the somewhat challenging relationship with her mother are based on my experiences. My mother and I didn't always see eye-to-eye, but Jamie's relationship with her mother is 100x more challenging than mine. My relationship did give me a solid foundation to create some of the fictional issues that Jamie has. Otherwise, Jamie's character differs greatly from mine. My life is considerably more boring than what she has experienced so far.

3. "Homecoming Chaos" deals with themes of facing the past, family dynamics, and unexpected twists. What drew you to explore these themes in your writing?

For this story, some of these themes were expected–at least in my mind. Once I decided that Jamie was going to leave town and burn bridges behind her as she left, the themes of facing the past and family dynamics were all but expected. There is no universe in which her return home would not be messy and challenging given the way she left. And if she plans to remain in town, she has to address why she left the way she did. It impacted the family in ways that I haven't fully addressed yet. Those effects will continue to surface in future stories, too. I also looked at the back story that I created for Jamie and created a family dynamic structure based on what was already there. It seemed to be a logical flow from the back story to me.

As for twists, I have been a mystery/suspense/thriller reader for most of my life. Incorporating twists is a large part of my reading and writing DNA.

4. As a doctor and former medical editor, how has your professional background influenced the way you approach storytelling, especially in the realm of mystery and suspense?

I have used some of my medical knowledge in my writing, but I don't plan to ever get too technical in any of my stories. Being a medical editor has helped with my editing skills somewhat, although the skill set doesn't easily transfer. However, in my role as a medical editor, I had to help create small educational lesson vignettes with a beginning, middle, and end. That has been somewhat helpful as well.

5. Your blog, "Life: The Reboot," focuses on lifestyle topics like fitness, cooking, and family life. How do you balance your writing career with these other aspects of your life?

This point is where the challenges lie. While I have written and posted articles about life balance, as a writer, I am still trying to make it happen for myself. As an indie writer, I have to handle all aspects of my writing career at this point, including creating, writing, and marketing. It is easy to get pulled into the creative process and let other parts of my life fall to the wayside. I am still new at this, so I am working on making sure that I can continue to write and promote at a high level and not let the rest of my and my family's lives suffer. 

6. What challenges did you face in transitioning from the medical field to becoming a self-published author, and how did you overcome them?

The transition was a lot simpler than it sounds and was out of my control. After I received my MBA, I left medical practice and entered the medical education field by taking a job at WebMD. After that, I worked as an employee for different medical education companies and also as a freelancer. However, I have a genetic kidney condition and in the 2010s, I went into kidney failure. During my battle with kidney disease, I spent a lot of time in bed. I could only watch so much television, so I decided to start writing again (I had a brief stint as a writer as a child). I finished my first novel before I received my transplant in 2017, but I sat on the book for a couple of years as I helped care for my elderly father. After more editing, I finally decided to put the book out there, and published my first novel, Homecoming Chaos, in November of 2023. 

So, for me, there was no direct transition. 

7. "Homecoming Chaos" features a strong romantic subplot alongside the mystery element. How do you approach writing romance within the framework of a suspenseful storyline?

For me, it is important not to let the romance overshadow the mystery. There should be scenes that demonstrate that there is interest between the characters and conversations between the two that have nothing to do with the mystery itself. Depending on the structure of the story, there may even be room for more intimate scenes. There wasn't room in Homecoming Chaos for that. Since I write in the third person omniscient, I like to document inner thoughts about their attraction to the other person as well. It can be difficult to find a reasonable balance between the legs of the story that I am trying to tell, but I think this one came out well.

My next novella will be contemporary fiction so there will be more room for romance to blossom.

8. What can readers expect from future installments in the Model MD/Chaos series, and do you have any other writing projects in the works?

This series will be a multi-genre series. The prequel novella to Homecoming Chaos is called I Do Chaos and covers the days before Jamie left town four years ago, It is a contemporary fiction story. Moving forward, I plan to write multiple novels which may be romantic suspense stories or mysteries depending on the story. There will also be novellas based on different characters that will likely be either romances or contemporary fiction stories. There will be a variety!

As for this year, I would like to finish two novellas and one novel. Wish me luck!

9. As a writer in the mystery romance genre, what books or authors do you personally enjoy reading, and is there one in particular that you would recommend to everyone?

There are so many out there! When I was younger, I read Sandra Brown, Mary Higgins Clark, Janet Evanovich, and a few Nora Roberts novels. My favorite of those remains Janet Evanovich. For a while, I had stopped reading as much because I didn't have the time. However, I am making a point of reading a lot more. I am also learning about a lot of indie authors and would love to support more of my fellow indies.

10. Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors, particularly those who are considering self-publishing their work?

Keep writing. This life can be challenging especially if you self-publish, and most people don't hit a home run out of the gate. It's easy to get discouraged. But hopefully, as you build your back catalog and your brand name, you will both get better at writing and finding your audience. Also, if you self-publish, be prepared to manage all aspects of your craft. I didn't realize how much marketing I would have to do as an indie author! 

Conclusion

I extend my sincerest thanks to D.W. Brooks for sharing her time and insights with us. Readers, be sure to check out "Homecoming CHAOS" and stay tuned for more thrilling adventures in the Model MD/CHAOS series. And to aspiring authors, remember Brooks' words of wisdom: keep writing, stay persistent, and embrace the journey.

About  D. W. Brooks 

D. W. Brooks, a former doctor turned author hailing from Texas, infuses her writing with a unique blend of authenticity and imagination. Her passion for mystery, romance, and storytelling shines through in her captivating Model MD/CHAOS series, where she expertly navigates the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Drawing from her own experiences, Brooks creates vivid narratives that resonate deeply with her readers, immersing them in suspenseful plots and engaging dialogue.