Author’s Bio: David Swinson is a retired police detective from the
Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, having been assigned to Major
Crimes. Swinson is the author of the critically acclaimed Frank Marr Trilogy – The
Second Girl, Crime Song and Trigger, and the standalone City
on the Edge. He lives in Upstate New York.

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired
you to write your book?

David Swinson: The song,
“Sweet Thing” by Van Morrison. It’s both beautiful and sad.

Here’s the Synopsis: In a red brick
house on a tree-lined street, DC homicide detective Alex Blum stares at the
bullet-pocked body of Chris Doyle. As he roots around for evidence, he finds an
old polaroid: the decedent, arm in arm with Arthur Holland, Blum’s informant
from years ago when he worked at the Narcotics branch.

But Arthur has been missing for days. Blum’s only source: Arthur’s girl,
Celeste—beautiful, seductive, and tragic—whom he can’t get out of his head.
Blum is drawn to her and feels compelled to save her from Arthur’s underworld.
As the investigation ticks on and dead bodies domino, Blum, unearths clues with
damning implications for Celeste. Swallowed by desire, Blum’s single misstep
sends him tunnelling down a rabbit hole of transgression. He may soon find the
only way out is down below.

Set in 1999, Swinson, a former DC
cop, offers a look back at a rougher, grittier, bygone DC replete with seedy
strip clubs, pagers beeping, and Y2K Anxiety. It’s here we’re taken inside
sting operations, fluorescent-tinged interrogation chambers, and rooms that
have seen irreversible mistakes. At once authentic, gritty, tragic, and
profound, SWEET THING asks how far can you fall when the world teeters on the
edge?

DL: What is your writing process?

SW: Music is essential. I
always create a playlist for the books I write and then listen to them over and
over. I’m inspired by music. It is an important part of my life. I take a lot
of notes when listening to music and come up with characters before the story.
After that, I try to sit down at the same time every day and hope for the
best. 

DL: Is there any particular
author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

SW: Without even having to
think about it I’d have to say To Kill a Mockingbird. I have read it numerous
times and each time I get something new out of it. It is, in my opinion, the
perfect book. It is so many genres put into one – Crime, Mystery, Suspense,
Courtroom drama and so much more.

DL: What was the best writing
advice you’ve ever been given?

SW: A bestselling author, and
a mentor of mine, told me years ago to always have a time designated for
writing, and to just sit and stare at the screen until something happens.
Hopefully, what happens is wonderful.

DL: If you were hosting a dinner
party which three authors would be your dream guests and why?

DS: Donna Tartt, because she
is absolutely brilliant; Stephen King, because I’d be an idiot not to invite
him, and if I could resurrect him from the dead, James Baldwin. He is one of
the greatest American writers and I could learn so much from him.

DL: What tips would you give to
aspiring writers?

DS: Don’t ever give up and
never realize the obstacles in your way because it will cripple you. Most
importantly, read as much as you can.

DL: What are three books you’ll
never part with?

DS: My hardcover first
editions of The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George Higgins, The Poets and the
Lunatic, by G.K. Chesterton, and my paperback of To Kill a Mockingbird by
Harper Lee.

DL: What’s your favorite line
from a book?

DS: “Here at last is the
thing I was made for.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

DL: What are three fun facts
about yourself?

DS: Three fun facts about
myself are:

1. I promoted alternative and punk rock
   concerts in the eighties.
2. I developed and produced a feature
   film for New Line Cinema and had the rights to a couple of very popular books,
   but quit and joined the police academy in Washington, DC and eventually became
   a police detective.
3. I wrote my first book when I was
   seventeen and got my first rejection when I was eighteen. I have always wanted
   to be an author but did not get published until I was 51 years old.

DL: What new projects are you
currently working on?

DS: I’m working on my next
book, Hound of Heaven. It takes place in a small fictitious town in Upstate,
New York. A retired homicide detective moves there after his father dies
because he has to take care of his younger brother who suffers from severe
agoraphobia and PTSD. It isn’t long before something bad happens and he finds
himself assisting the very small local jurisdiction with the case.

DL: Where can readers learn more
about you and purchase your book(s)?

DS: Readers can get more
information here:

• Website: https://davidswinson.com/
• Amazon Author Page: https://a.co/d/g6LriOC
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sluglord.presents
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.swinson/
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash

DL: Thanks for being
here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your
work.

DS: Thank you so much for
your support! 

Originally Published on https://vocalexpressions.blogspot.com

Deliah Lawrence Attorney, Author, Blogger, Workshop Facilitator

Deliah Lawrence is a Maryland-based attorney and award-winning author of two romantic suspense novels (Gotta Let It Go and Gotta Get It Back) set in Baltimore. She’s also a blogger and workshop facilitator who writes poetry and short stories.

When Deliah isn’t writing, you can find her reading a book, indulging in her addiction to investigation discovery shows; or painting her yet-to-be exhibited oil artworks of landscapes, portraits or whatever else comes to her creative mind. Constantly on the go, she is also a member of the Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland and Sisters in Crime.