Local StoriesMarch 6, 2023

Rising Stars: Meet Danny Dickerson of Wichita

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Dickerson.

Hi Danny, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved stories, no matter in what form. Whether it be books or movies, I like getting lost in the characters and whatever messed up world they find themselves in. I write dark thrillers in the horror genre because that’s where my imagination takes me. When you play with fear and begin brainstorming for new concepts on ways to scare, the possibilities are endless.

My ultimate goal is to elevate the genre of horror. Fear is powerful emotion, and you can turn it into entertainment. I don’t care if you’re Stephen King or some emerging Indie Horror writer. My passion is storytelling. I can write it, illustrate it, and even paint it as I’m an artist as well.

I love to write but my inspiration for storytelling springs from all of the great actors I grew up with and the many films I’d watched over and over. I’d dream of being one of them someday and what stories I could portray. Tarantino was an inspiration. His dark storylines and humor are represented through his unique style. Hitchcock, the “Master of Suspense,” is at the top of my list. He was such an icon! I grew up watching his movies and TV show. Another idol is Stallone. The amazing story of a man who wouldn’t give up on his dream of turning “Rocky,” a screenplay he wrote, into a movie, but only if he had the leading role. He refused larger and larger sums of money for years while living in poverty until he convinced Hollywood producers to give him a chance. I once wanted to be such a star and create many stories.

And now, my first story, “Hell’s Play,” is available in many bookstores in the USA and internationally, such as in the UK and Australia, etc. As for being a star, I’m not as interested in that as I once was, but It’d be great to do some cameos if, by chance, any of my books are one day turned into movies or TV shows.

As a youth, I was the product of an overactive imagination. Since then, I’ve learned to harness and balance my creativity, which I later turned into a skill that I later used to craft exciting stories. I’ve got big things on the horizon that I look forward to doing and can’t wait to show everyone. My next book, “The Devil’s Tree,” is nearly finished and it’s turning out great so far!

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?

I could not write at a young age but knew someday I’d be ready. So, I jotted down many of my ideas to one day turn into novels. Once I was in my mid-30s, I was there. I was capable. How? Consistent writing, short, strenuous writing, but small goals accomplished regularly. For 6 months, I woke early, went to a coffee shop and wrote for an hour, hit the gym, and started my workday. Getting up early gave me the extra time and the momentum I needed to develop a body of work.

Once I had a solid piece of writing going, I could see my vision more clearly. I could see what was missing and what needed to be taken out. Around that time, I began to develop my own style of storytelling. Once you have all the pieces laid out in front of you, then you can start having fun with it. I let the story play itself out in my head with the idea of feeling what should happen next. And that’s the secret. You have to feel the story and let the correct people, places, and events formulate.

I can write anything, but if it doesn’t feel right than it’s not going to work. I like creating characters and concepts. In order to elevate horror, the characters have to be intriguing, whether you like them or not. In the world of horror, you may find some character’s that are too evil to like but, are carry a level of intrigue you cannot deny. And the concepts behind the characters a take pride in. I like coming up with fresh ideas that expand your mind and leave you wondering how the fuck anyone ever thought of that.

Next, hiring an editor. An editor is your team, and if you want your writing to stand out, you must have a great editor. Picking the right one is crucial, so I picked Kenneth P. Rossal. I found him on a site called “Upwork.” I would highly recommend him! We went through my book, “Hell’s Play,” page by page until it was top-notch.

And I was then getting published. I signed with Olympia Publishers in August of 2021. It was a great accomplishment for me, and now that it’s out, it feels unbelievable to see my book sold in major bookstores. I will continue to write and come up with dark thrillers to scare for many years to come.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.

Imagine the last thing you remember is dying but somehow, you’re alive. Your life isn’t the same though. Everyday gets darker and darker until you realize something is very wrong.

This is the essence of “Hell’s Play.” My debut novel temper darkness and thrill with humor that will keep you turning the page to get one step closer to discovering what in the living hell is going on with the protagonist, Abe Winters?

Indie horror lovers! “Hell’s Play” by Danny Dickerson (@talldarkandwriting) is available now!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
This project for me had been five years in the making. It was a long road that I took alone and without a guide but in time, I discovered which way to go. Be around people that support you. You may find there is few that want to take the time to fully understand your vision and support you, so you have to carry your own self through.

I made a big networking move last year, before my book was even out. I went Texas for a horror convention and shook as many hands as I could. I spoke with actors, directors, authors, and publishers all the while wearing a shirt promoting “Hell’s Play.” I had the shirt made along with nicely laminated flyers containing information about my upcoming book.

I even drew a picture of Neve Cambell and got the chance to meet her. On the back was information about my book which, by the way, would make a killer movie! I’ll keep going to those events to promote myself and to network with as many people as I can. There’s a lot of opportunity to give up in five year’s time of working on a project. The secret is to not give up!

Pricing:

Hell’s Play Novel $12.99

Contact Info:

Website: WWW.DANNY-DICKERSON.COM
Instagram: talldarkandwriting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danny.dickerson.581?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Twitter: DannyDickerson@AuthorDannyD
Other: Linktr.ee/dannydickerson

Image Credits
Lauren Elle Mercado, Brandon Vogt

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