Interview with Don Mathews and his debut novel, Subverted.

I interviewed Don on 12/12/19 in a previous blog, now defunct.

Today I have novelist, Don Mathews discussing his new novel, Subverted. I love this type of novel, political thriller, and suspense. There's even some romance! I was intrigued when I saw him advertise it on Facebook. I offered Don the opportunity to discuss his novel here.

So what is this novel about? Let's investigate before I interview Don. 

Subverted.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction." Ronald Reagan

Berk Renner thought he was done fighting for America after being kicked out of the DELTA Force. Resolved to never be on the Teams again Berk started his own security company. Settled into his new life Berk receives a phone call from an old family friend. She wants to hire Berk to save her son from the death penalty. While fighting to save his best friend from high school from the electric chair, Berk stumbles upon a conspiracy that will change the world. Some of the world's elite have teamed up with one of America's old foes. If he can't stop the forces bent on changing the country he lost blood, sweat and tears to protect America will be lost forever.

So let's dive in and see what Don has to say about his new novel!

Thanks for stopping by, Don. It's a pleasure to have you as my guest! Now let's dive into this novel.

Subverted is your first book novel. Tell us about your journey to becoming an author.

Great question Peter. My journey to becoming an author, like most people who have the calling to become an author is an interesting one. Around 2006 I started studying screenplays. I even started writing one. After weeks of writing my screenplay I got up enough nerve to tell my wife I was writing. Well, being a loving and supportive wife, she went to Borders that night and bought me a book called “How to Write a Novel”. I didn’t have enough courage to tell her I was writing a screenplay, so I read that book in two days. It felt like that was the direction I was to go with my writing. I think that was a God thing. He was directing my footsteps. Shortly after reading that book, I rewrote my screenplay into a novel format.

I’d like to say since then it was all smooth sailing, but it wasn’t. I quit a couple of times. Those times were difficult for me. I was ready to give up on writing. Both times it was God’s word that got me back to writing. Literally God’s word. Both times I was listening to Christian talk radio. Two different radio programs. Both times, when I turned on the program the host stated. “So, you want to be a writer.” To some, they would chalk that up to coincidence. I saw that as God telling me I was to be a writer and I have held onto that ever since. 

Introduce us to your new series, and specifically Subverted. What inspired the story?

As you said, Subverted is the first book in the Berk Renner series. Berk Renner is a former Delta Force operator who was kicked off the teams and out of the Army for something he didn’t do. Subverted starts with Berk settled into his new life as a private security contractor when he gets a call from the mother of his best friend from his childhood. She wants Berk to come to Tennessee to find legal papers she hopes will prove her son is innocent and get him off death row.

What was the hardest part of writing Subverted?

The hardest part to write Subverted was the death row scene. I based John Callaghan, Berk’s friend on death row on my cousin who was on death row in Tennessee when I was a child. I only met him a couple of times, but those times left an impression on me. While I was writing the final scene with John, I imagined my cousin on the electric chair and how that would affect my family. It was an emotional scene to write.

How did this title come about? Is it linked to specific themes or message in the novel?

The title comes about because while Berk is looking for the legal papers to save his friend, he stumbles on a conspiracy that would change America forever. The conspirators are trying to undermine a presidential election. It sounds a little like the news recently, but the powerful aren’t trying to change the results of the election, they want to install their own president.

How long did it take you to write this novel?

It took me about eight years. It was a long eight years. During those eight years I thought I was learning how to write.

This novel was released in 2014. What made you revise it?

This answer is connected to the previous one. I said I thought I was learning to write during the eight years it took me to write Subverted. What I was doing was learning how to not write. Even though I was a reader since high school, I didn’t understand how to write a story. Last year I took Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild course. It opened my eyes to how to construct a story, so I took down Subverted and rewrote it, so it was focused and a tighter story.

What type of author are you? Novelists tend to use one of the following methods:

-Plotter: by extensively plotting it out, -Pantser: as it came to you (that you write by the seat of your pants) Or was it a bit of both?

Oh, I am absolutely a pantser. It hurts my head when I try to outline. I feel more comfortable when my characters introduce themselves to me. It probably takes me a little longer than plotters, but if I had to outline, I’d never finish.

Writers usually write what they know. Is there any of you in Berk Renner? Any of your past life experiences or occupations influence this novel?

I wouldn’t say there’s any of Berk in me. I can say I have always been a political junkie since I was about 18 and Subverted touches on politics. I also read and listen to a lot of news and I try to incorporate topics that aren’t necessarily making headlines but are important stories and as a Christian, I think are important for the Kingdom of Christ to be a part of the conversation.

What biblical themes or message(s) have you incorporated in the novel or based the novel on?

I didn’t intend on incorporating any biblical themes in Subverted. One of my goals in writing fiction is to bring Jesus to those who may not know Him. I try writing types of stories that would appeal to the secular market. That being said, Berk Renner is a Christian. You’ll see as the story plays out Berk is challenged to understand why things happen and he has to rely on his faith in God and how He works all things for good.

Let's give our readers a taste of this novel, you have provided a short excerpt, but first, why did you chose this one? 

I chose this because it shows the struggle of a believer when his best friend dies and nothing he does can help him. Berk isn't doubted his love for God but he like most people don’t understand Gods ways when it affects us directly. I wrote that scene a long time ago but I found myself asking God the same question when my sister died last year in a car accident so it has an even more significant meaning now.

Berk stayed in Tennessee for an extra three days.  Part of him wanted to get home to be with Sarah but he had promised John he would help her transition into life without him. He spent those days going through some of John’s things that Mary still had in his room that she hadn’t touched since John was arrested. He thumbed through old yearbooks that he hadn’t seen in years. The memories flooded him. Several times throughout his final days in Tennessee Berk fought back the emotions they crept up now that he didn’t have the drive to prove John’s innocence to keep his mind busy. 

He must have come across twenty pictures of the two throughout their high school years. “Why God? Why John?” His question was rhetorical, but he had to ask it anyway. John was meant for greater things than dying in a tiny cell. Berk found his class pin and letter in a box John had kept under his bed.

“Mary, I think these would be perfect,” Berk said.

“Oh, yes. That boy could skate, couldn’t he? I think he would love to be buried with those.”

What authors have influenced your writing or genre?

I would have to say the author who influenced me the most would have to be Robert B. Parker. He wrote the Spenser series. Early Autumn was the first book I read as a teenager. Until that point, I really wasn’t much of a reader. Since I became a Christian, I would have to say Joel Rosenberg has influenced the genre I write in. I would have to include Bob Hamer in that list as well. If you haven’t read any of Bob’s books you really should. “Targets Down” and “Enemies Among Us” are great.

Who became your favorite character and why? Who was you least favorite and why?

Beside Berk himself, my favorite character would have to be Michael Greenwood. He has done some really bad things but, in his mind,  he justified them because he thought he was doing right by his daughter. I know as a dad and somebody who has gone down some dark holes because I let the enemy convince me I was doing right; I can relate to him. Not to the level of bad Greenwood has done but doing something you think is just because you think it is for the better of others. My least favorite character would have to be Yeri. When I say least favorite, I mean, I don’t care for what he stands for and what he believes and what he is trying to achieve.

Without giving away too many spoilers, what can we expect from the next novel in this series? How many novels have you planned for this series? Any prequels or novellas planned as well?

The next book in the series takes Berk on a new case. He will be confronted with pure evil. I hope to shine more light on an issue that most of don’t realize is happening still. In some cases, it is even happening in our own communities. If your readers sign up for my newsletter, they will be among the first to know about its release. I have one other Berk Renner book written. I’m in the process of editing the second book right now and hope to release it in early 2020 and the third one released in mid to late 2020. I have a plan for a fourth book in the series and wrote a very short teaser story that acts as a bridge between Subverted and the fourth book. If anyone is interested in receiving Subverted and the short story for free, they can sign up for my newsletter at donmathewswrites.com and I’ll send them both.

Apart from Subverted, what other works in progress do you have?

I am working on new series about a former CIA assassin who has a supernatural conversion to Christianity. After leaving the CIA they start hunting him and the others from the CIA hit squad he was on. When he is found he also receives critical information that forces him to sneak back into America in order to stop an attack on his country.

Any closing comments?

I’d like to thank you for giving me this chance to share Subverted with your readers and if anyone is interested in reading Subverted, they can read it for free at donmathewswrites.com. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter from my website. Thank you and God Bless.

Great interview, Don! You are welcome back anytime to discuss any new novels or anything to do with your writing. It has been great having you and giving insights into you as an author and your new novel. Look forward to next time!

If this interview has piqued your interest further about Subverted, click on the image below: 

Readers and reviews are an author’s best asset, so I encourage any reader, to consider reading Subverted and submit a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (or any other social media you subscribe to).

Reviews help promote an author’s novel to potential readers and encourage the author to keep writing. Reviews also help get the author’s message (and God’s message) to the reader, whether Christian or not, who may need encouragement and support in their lives while being entertained by the story.

About Don Mathews:

I live in NH with my wife. We have two daughters. One is with Jesus, the other is grown and on her own. We have son who lives with us along with two golden doodles and one adopted cat. When I’m not writing I like to ride my mountain bike and spend with my family.
Don can be found on Facebook and Twitter and his author website.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I am required to disclose that book cover images or titles of novels in this post are paid links if they are linked to Amazon and result in a sale.