Rising Stars: Meet Alex Greenwood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Greenwood.

Hi Alex, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve written since I was a young person, then studied writing in college. After early stints as a journalist, and decades working as a public relations professional, I turned to write fiction more seriously. In 2003, I was marketing and PR director for a small college in Nebraska, which had a real-life murder-suicide on campus in the 1950s.

I dug into the files on it and told myself someday, that might make a remarkable book. Fast forward to 2006, and I’m vice president of KCPT here in KC, and unpacking, I find my notes on that campus crime. I took the true story, updated it, and added a backstory to publish ‘Pilate’s Cross’ in 2010. I thought the book would be a one-and-done deal, but I had a friendly response, and I thought about what could happen next if I continued with the characters and took it to the next level.

From there, seven more books in the John Pilate Mysteries sprang. Since then, I have won some awards, sold a few books, and tried my hand at several genres, including horror, Westerns, and suspense. I’m also working on a project I can’t discuss much at the moment for a new film. Since 2016, I have produced and hosted Mysterious Goings On, a podcast dedicated to writers and creativity. Oh, and during the day I’m a PR consultant.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being a writer is like always having homework. Writing is a solitary pursuit, and being a fairly social guy, it can get a little lonesome too. And when you are working ten-to-twelve-hour days running your own shop during the day, as well as family and social obligations, the inkwell can get a little dry.

I’ve noticed that it takes me much longer to finish a book now, almost thirteen years since my first John Pilate Mystery novel. Back then, I cranked out a new book about every fifteen months. Now it takes about three years. And finally, people often don’t take you very seriously if a Big Five publisher doesn’t publish your book. That gets old.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Besides being a writer, I’m a public relations consultant specializing in crisis communication planning, message strategy, and content creation. I like the strategic parts of preventing poor crisis response, and of course, anytime I can write copy for a client—whether it be for a website, social media, ghostwriting a book, script, speech, or whatever, I jump on it.

I work with many C-suite folks and business owners and confess I may come across as an unusual PR pro because of my creative streak. However, I do quality work that gets results, and after twelve years in business, I’m still a going concern.

How do you think about happiness?
I realize that life affords only so many occasions of genuine happiness. That said, I am happiest when I have a moment to appreciate writing a good sentence, my kid rolling her eyes at my dumb jokes, and surprising my wife by getting paid (a little) to write mysteries about an amateur sleuth with a funny name.

Of course, smoking a good brisket and witnessing a decisive Chiefs win is a bonus.

Contact Info:

• Email: alex@alexgpr.com
• Website: https://mgopod.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexginkc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/John.Pilate.Mysteries
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/a_greenwood
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ3_KPLoG-pQUdyJnoODC6Q
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/J-Alexander-Greenwood/e/B004LSNT4G/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Image Credits
Landon Vonderschmidt