Dan Walsh: The Interview
Dan Walsh
Latest book: If These Walls Could Talk
Website: www.danwalshbooks.com
Bio: Dan is the bestselling, award-winning author of 21 novels. He’s been married to his wife, Cindi, for the last 42 years and has 2 children, 4 grandchildren.
David: Dan Walsh, thanks for joining us. Tell our readers where you call home and any other places that have special significance in your past.
Dan: I’ve lived in the Daytona Beach area since 1965. We came here as kids from Philadelphia when my Dad was hired to work on the Apollo moonshot program. I still have family in the Philly area but feel like Florida is really where I’m from.
David: I love Florida. That’s where we vacationed most often as a child. What do you write about?
Dan: Here’s how I answer that question on my website: I write character-driven novels, both contemporary and historical. Several of my books are love stories and family-life dramas, but I also love to write suspense novels. Even when writing inspirational books, I want to keep the pages turning. My goal, whether writing contemporary or historical, inspirational or suspense, is for my readers to feel satisfied and thoroughly entertained.
David: You are great at entertaining us. Tell us about your most recent book and the message(s) behind it?
Dan: It’s called If These Walls Could Talk, and it’s a clean-read suspense novel, told from a Christian worldview. As such, it doesn’t have any strong spiritual themes, although the plot deals with the historical racism of the 50s and 60s, as part of the murder mystery being solved.
David: I’m in the middle of If these Walls Could Talk and I’m loving it so far. What authors do you like to read and why?
Dan: I usually read books that either help with my novel research or provoke me as a writer to keep writing the best books I possibly can. Some of my favorite authors are the writing duo of Preston & Child, Jeff Shaara, and Adam Makos.
David: You’ve stumped me those folks, but I will check them out based on your recommendation. Other than the Bible, which we all can agree is a must-read, what books affected your life and how did they make an impact?
Dan: I love the books written by CS Lewis, including his fiction works. I was a pastor for 25 years before retiring from that to write novels full time in 2010. I’ve probably read dozens, if not hundreds of books that made an impact on my life. The writing of Charles Spurgeon and Andrew Murray are certainly among the best for me.
David: Yes! Love each of those guys. What are some of your favorite things to do when you aren’t writing?
Dan: We like to travel (some, not all the time.) I’m always reading books, like to take walks with Cindi, play with my grandkids. And sometimes I like to play historically-based video games on PS4 (lately I’ve been playing a WW2-era game and a Wild West game.)
David: Sounds like a lot of fun at your house. What goals to you have as a writer for the years ahead?
Dan: To keep writing novels that are as good or better than the ones already penned. And also to learn how to adapt novels into screenplays. One of my novels, The Reunion, is currently being adapted into a feature film by Oscar-winning screenwriter and producer, Nick Vallelonga. Working with him the last 2 years has motivated me to want to do this myself. He plans to start shooting the film this summer. My hope is to have at least 2-3 more of my novels adapted into screenplays before the movie comes out.
David: That sounds exciting. I took a screenplay course at Wheaton College too many years ago, but I remember loving it. Do you have a life motto or Bible verse that guides you?
Dan: Probably 2 Bible verses. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct your paths.” (Prov 3:5-6), and also Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.”
David: Those are both great verses. Thanks so much for joining us. Tell us about what’s next for you? Any appearances, forthcoming releases, etc.?
Dan: Obviously, this movie project is the biggest deal going on for me. Can’t say anything now until I get the okay from the producers, but they’ve already raised most of the money and have recently had some very “big name actors” commit to being in the movie (after reading the book, since the script isn’t finished just yet). If this project is confirmed to start shooting in late summer, as planned, my life will become pretty full after that.
David: I certainly wish you the best. Based on my recent discovery of your work, I hope to see much more from you in the future.
Readers, are you enjoying these guest interviews with Christian authors? If so, who would you like to see me interview next? I’m all ears (as my brother said about me often growing up.)
