B. David Warner of Clarkston has always wanted to be a writer, and wrote as much in his high school yearbook.
‘I’m one of those few people that actually wound up doing what they said they would do,? he said.
He has written for about 30 years, using about the last 10 to research and write his first novel, ‘Freeze Frame,? a 295-page thriller.
His lead character is a woman, Darcy James, and the story is written in the first person.
‘I’ve finally found my voice, and it’s that of a 32-year-old woman,? Warner said.
With this book, he is following advice from Hollywood writers: create a female lead and place her in assorted perilous situations.
‘I constantly put her in danger,? he said.
His goal is to write the Great American Novel. ‘Freeze Frame? isn’t it ? the fast-moving story is written in short, cliff-hanger chapters for a quick read ? but it was still fun to write.
‘I want to sell books and have fun,? he said.
James, like her author, is in advertising. Like him, she creates million-dollar, multi-media advertising campaigns and gives presentations to large corporations. Not so similarly, she helps solve murders and foil terrorist plots.
‘I use my experiences in advertising for background, not to get in the way of a thrilling plot,? said Warner, a graduate of Michigan State University.
He has put years of research into the story. The advertising subplot comes from his own background in advertising for the automobile industry. For the story’s other elements, he has looked in subliminal advertising, police work, and the international terrorist Carlos the Jackal.
Like the bestseller ‘DaVinci Code,? Warner starts with a fact and builds his story from that. In Warner’s case, it is MKULTRA, a CIA experiment into mind control through subliminal messages, from the 1950s.
‘It’s a part of history,? he said.
In his story, terrorist use the research in a plot to subvert a presidential election.
The story is set in Michigan, starting with a car chase in Mt. Clemens and continuing at a cottage in Gaylord, as the characters race up and down I-75.
‘They hide out in a cottage that’s a lot like my cottage,? he said. ‘I know Detroit, and I know Gaylord.?
The thrill of writing comes from creating your own world, he said.
‘It’s fun ? I can create people and situations, and put those people in those situations,? he said.
He has learned quite a bit about the writing process while finishing his first two novels, and enjoys sharing that knowledge.
‘I always tell new writers to just put words on paper and not stare at a blank screen, but I started that way,? he said.
It took a few years before he remembered his own advice.
‘I was at the point where what I was writing was bad, and I told myself that it was bad ? then it started to get better,? he said.
‘You don’t have to start in the beginning of your story,? he said.
‘Start with what scenes you know ? don’t just look at a blank screen.?
It’s much easier to connect a collection of scenes already created than to try and write a story from beginning to end, he said.
His long-term goal is to become a full-time novelist.
‘I’d love to write full time,? he said. ‘It would give me the ability to travel, to go where I want and not be tied down.?
He wants to continue writing about Darcy James? adventures.
‘I’m sticking with the character,? he said. ‘Hopefully people will like her and want to read more about her.?
For his follow-up, a prequel featuring Darcy’s great aunt, he researched World War II, Nazi saboteurs, and Sault Ste. Marie, a vital strategic asset at the time. The book is titled ‘Dead Lock,? in honor of the Soo Locks.
He publishes his books himself, having created Pine Tar Books, Stories That Stick With You, for the endeavor.
‘I was getting tired of rejection slips,? he said. ‘I had put the manuscript in the drawer, but I was encouraged by a friend in Virginia to give it a second chance.?
In his day job, Warner works as creative director for a Detroit advertising agency. He lives in Clarkston with his wife, Marlene, and their daughters Andi and Margi.
Several best-selling mystery and action novelists, including James Patterson, Clive Cussler, and Mary Higgins Clark, have backgrounds in advertising. Warner hopes to join their ranks.
‘There’s a theory that if you can write about fasteners, nuts, and bolts and make them interesting, writing about a murder is a piece of cake,? he said.
Freeze Frame is available at the Greats Lakes Mall Borders book store, and online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobel.com. Cover price is $16.95.
Warner will set for a book signing at Wild Birds Unlimited in Royal Oak, 28558 Woodward Ave., at noon on Dec. 23.