A most prolific writer of tropical thrillers.

Please, introduce yourself. Tell us about your personal life, family, education.

I’m Douglas Pratt. I am the author of the Chase Gordon Tropical Thriller series. I’m also the co-host of the podcast, The Two Authors’ Chat Show.

I’ve been a writer ever since I became a reader. In fact, I can’t recall a time I didn’t want to be a writer. My first foray was in elementary school when I wrote a collection of stories about a frog named Frisky. They were all terrible, but I bound them together into a book which still sits on my shelf at home.

I grew up in the South—born and raised in the Memphis, Tennessee area. I have a degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis which I could use as a coaster and get more from that use.

In 2011, during the early days of Kindle, I published my first book. Over the next nine years, I published eight more. In 2020, I became a full-time author—in January, pre-pandemic. I wrote the first book in my Chase Gordon Tropical Thriller series, Diamond Reef, during that first few months.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Most of my free time is spent traveling—often on my Catalina 30 sailboat I keep on the Gulf of Mexico. However, my wife and I love to travel anywhere, and I try to incorporate those locales and experiences in my books. When I’m in Memphis, I’m usually on my farm or playing with my grandkids.

If you are active in career fields other than writing, what do you hope for the future of that business? Describe your work or business activities in which you are presently active.

Before I became a full-time author, I had a bevy of careers. My latest was in the food industry, where I managed a spice plant. If you want to know about spices, I might be your guy. However, be warned it’s actually pretty boring.

Special Note

Gulf Dreams is my latest release: Some Dreams Are Really Nightmares. When an old flame goes missing, Chase storms in to find her. Instead, he comes face to face with a small army intent on keeping strangers out.

Do you have hobbies? How did you get started in them?

I write adventures on boats, so my absolute favorite pastime involves water. I often joke if you wanted to kidnap me, it just takes asking me to go on a boat ride. I grew up on the lakes around Memphis, spending the majority of my teen years on Greers Ferry Lake in the middle of Arkansas.

About Reading

If you are a writer, are you an avid reader?

I think if you are a writer, you have to be a reader. It’s like being a chef and enjoying food. I’ve always loved reading. As a kid I devoured Encyclopedia Brown or The Three Investigators. In high school, I graduated to Tolkien, Pat Conroy, John Grisham, and countless others. I still read when I can—a task made difficult when I write as much as I do. Still, my favorite authors right now are Mark Greaney, Nicholas Harvey, K. Moore, and Lee Child.

What is your ultimate writing goal as you see it today?

Pay my bills. Just kidding. If I won the lottery today, I’d still write books. Storytelling is so much fun to me, and I get a rush from sharing that with people.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book is Blood Remembered, the first in my Max Sawyer Mystery Series. I had that story rolling around my head for years, and it took me nearly seven years to get it down on paper. I think most of my stories are ideas I have that seem fun. If I don’t write them out, they literally bounce around my brain over and over. I need them on the page so I know how that story ends.

Book Titles

How do you decide on the title of a book?

Titles are funny. Sometimes I hate them. How do you compress everything about a story into a couple of words. With my Chase Gordon series, I focus the titles on something to do with the ocean or Florida. Most of the time, the title has a little something to do with the story, for example my latest book, Havana Sunrise begins with Chase Gordon waking up in Havana, Cuba with no idea how he got there. Other times, I find a title and make up a story around it. The title for my book White Coral was suggested by my daughter with the premise that the “white coral” was a stash of cocaine on the bottom of the ocean. I think it just takes having an active imagination to piece those word nuggets together.

Have you developed a specific writing style and why?

Every story needs its own writing style. I love writing action in first person. It moves the story in a different manner. The reader and the main character don’t always know what’s going on, so they are trying to figure it out together. Other times, I’ve written in third person because it’s important to see the results of the protagonists’ actions.

As a writer, it’s also important for us to grow and develop our skills. Finding our voice is like working out in a gym. We have to try different things to build it to the best we can.

How much of your books is realistic and experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?

At this point, very little. I might take inspiration from news stories, but I don’t base characters off of people I know. With an exception, I often offer readers a chance to appear in my stories. I’ll put them in their as themselves (or at least as close as I can get for the narrative.)

A Favorite Writer

Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

John D. MacDonald. He crafted stories based in the real world, and he had no problem allowing his protagonist, Travis McGee, to share his commentary on life. John D passed away in 1984, and his writing still rings true. He expressed viewpoints that, while they don’t seem as enlightened to us in 2023, they were radical in the 60s and 70s. Yet, he was still popular then.

Do you remember the first book you read?

Not even a little. I was reading so young. It could have been The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I recall my first-grade teacher reading that to us. I’d say the early mysteries like The Three Investigators played a big role in my love of mystery thrillers.

Is there an author, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

That’s a tough question. John D. MacDonald would be my answer, but my desire would be to pick his brain on technique and characters.

If you could not write, how would you express what you wish to convey through any stories?

Personally, I believe anyone can write. However, I’ve seen stories conveyed in painting and music. Neither of those are in my skillset. Writing has so many facets that I truly think anyone can do it. It can be scientific or poetic. Fiction or nonfiction. Technical or fantastical. Even simple journaling is writing.

When you see new authors struggling, what single piece of advice could you give them on a moment’s notice?

That’s simple. “You need to listen to those who have done it.” Not because they have the right way, but they might know what the wrong way is. I see fledgling authors determined to sell their books their way. No matter what. Instead, listen to people when they give you critiques.

How do you want others to see you or remember you? Is it important to you?

For people to remember me for my stories and what I’ve done to impact their lives. However, it’s only important for me to be remembered by my wife and kids.

Do you have a blog or website viewers can visit for updates, events and special offers? Include links to any and all of your sites.

The best place to find me is www.douglas-pratt.com

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Douglas-Pratt/author/B006M6UQVE

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/DouglasPrattWrites

You can also sign up on my newsletter here:

http://www.douglas-pratt.com/sign-up-for-news.html

The Two Authors’ Chat Show can be found here:

https://thetwoauthorschatshow.podbean.com/

 or anywhere you get your podcast.