Today I have the honor of interviewing Dony Jay. Dony and I have connected on social media a couple years ago. I noticed he and I shared similarities in the way we wanted to represent and present Christ in our storytelling so I’m grateful that he was the first I interviewed for WWW.CIAREVIEWS.COM

CR: Let’s start at the beginning. When did you realize you were called to be an author?

DJ: I don’t know that there was ever a singular moment in which I felt “called” to be an author. I can tell you though that writing has always come fairly easy to me. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t worked hard at it over the years (and still do each day). Learning the art of writing is a lifelong process and requires time, considerable effort, and a feisty determination. To me, writing is equal parts hard work, vulnerability, fearlessness, exhilaration, intense personal challenge, and about a hundred other things. 

I began writing seriously in 2010, but I think the draw to storytelling has always been with me. My late grandfather, Charles Douglass, was such a great storyteller. From my earliest childhood memories, I can remember him telling stories at family gatherings, on hunting trips, and out on the lake fishing. And there were some good ones, believe me. One even inspired a scene in my book Artifacts of Conspiracy. His stories had everything: drama, comedy, suspense, you name it. His was an amazing and very full life. He was also a tremendous warrior for Jesus Christ.

CR: You are a detective in your day job. Do you find any similarities with being a detective and being an author? If so, what are they?

DJ: I do, and they are legion. Generally, at work I carry around 15-20 active cases at any given time. These are cases in which investigative tasks are ongoing, things like pursuing leads, getting search warrants, pouring through reports, interviewing suspects/witnesses, collecting and analyzing evidence, keeping up on crime trends and technology, documenting everything, and coordinating with the DA’s Office and other agencies. Detectives learn early on how to multitask.

Other qualities that are necessary to being a successful criminal investigator not just on the street and in the office but in court, too, include the following: a strict attention to detail, grit (lots of it), a willingness to learn and be teachable, humility, being a good teammate, self-confidence, resourcefulness, and independent thinking.

Authoring books requires many of these same traits and attitudes. In addition, writing mandates constant thinking: maneuvering pieces of a story into place, keeping track of character details, researching new things and places. All things I love to do.

Crime victims deserve you to be at the top of your game. You may be their only chance for justice. Similarly, readers are trusting you with their time and money. Thus, they too deserve your absolute best work product.

CR: How important is Christ to you, not only in your writing but your life as a whole.

DJ: “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) My faith is integral to my writing, because it’s at the core of who I am. I can’t fathom writing books without a faith element. It doesn’t mean my books are preachy and dull and everyone sings kumbaya at the end. From the start, my aim has been to write high-quality novels that are not just palatable but competitive in both the secular and Christian fiction markets. To date, I haven’t found an agent who understands me or my competitive drive. Or maybe it’s just that they think my writing approach lacks legitimacy in today’s vapid culture (i.e., won’t sell). I’m no industry guru, but I firmly disagree. I think our world is desperate for hopeful books and characters. Books that capture the imagination, inspire, and cause readers to think. Books that champion traditional values while at the same time providing maximum entertainment value.

CR: Do you have any routines that you do before you sit down to write? 

DJ: I don’t have any particular routines. However, I love having a hot cup of coffee on my desk while I write. Cops live on coffee. Writers, too. Good thing I’m both. Oftentimes, I’ll have classical music playing in the background. Music conducive to thinking.

CR: Are you a pantser or plotter?

DJ: I’m definitely a pantser. I’ve tried plotting but I invariably veer off course when the actual writing starts. I think as you mature as a writer and get your sea legs, you come to terms with how you write and what really gets the creative juices flowing. For me, it’s not knowing where the story is going. I may have some general idea of the ending of the book or a scene, but nine times out of ten I am simply writing as the story comes to me. I know some writers draft out fifty-page outlines before they start writing. That’s not me. And I’ve come to accept and appreciate my own approach and style.

CR: Your newest series is Nathan Press and it’s a detective/mystery. Your Warrior Spy series is a thriller. Why did you decide to start a new series in a different category? 

DJ: Technically, my Nathan Press series is a crime thriller. But there are definitely elements of other genres throughout, namely the mystery and police-procedural genres. I’d always imagined writing a novel series with a detective as the main character. Reagan Rainey, the main character in my Warrior Spy series, is special to me, but there is much more of me in the Nathan Press character. I’m curious about what readers will think of him.

I have so many ideas for books and even additional book series. It’s exciting to think what may be down the road.

CR: If God told you tomorrow that you are no longer to be a detective or author, what is the one thing you would want to do for a career?

DJ: I’d love to coach soccer at the club and/or university level, so that’s probably what I’d do. Soccer is one of my all-time favorite sports. I’ve loved the game–the strategy, the tactics, everything about it–since I was a youngster. And I’m a super-competitive person. I’m the type of guy who hates to lose more than he loves to win. Maybe when things slow down with my kids or when I retire, I’ll be able to dive into coaching. Mentoring kids, challenging them, and seeing them grow and succeed both as individuals and in a team dynamic appeals strongly to me.

CR: If you could recommend one book for the CIA Review reader, what would that book be?

DJ: I’ve heard good things about John Galt Robinson’s books as well as Taylor S. Newport’s new thriller Line of Fire.

CR: What are you currently reading?

DJ: Right now, I’m catching up on some Scot Harvath in Use of Force (Brad Thor).

CR: Is there anything you want the reader to know about you? 

DJ: I will always consider myself a reader first. Therefore, I strive to write books that I want to read. I’m excited for a long and thrilling relationship with readers. I love hearing from readers, what they liked about a book or character, or even what they’d like to see more of in my books.

CR: Where can readers find you online?

DJ: Readers can start by visiting my website: DonyJayBooks.com. There, you’ll find links to my socials. I’m very active on social media. I also encourage readers to sign up for my email newsletter, what I call my Reader Intel Bulletin.
There are lots of cool things ahead. In the coming months, I’m going to release a FREE Nathan Press short story. But it will only be available to email subscribers. By signing up for my email newsletter, readers can be sure they won’t miss anything.

CR: I a want to thank Dony for taking time out of his schedule for this interview. Make sure you check out his website: www.donyjaybooks.com and follow him on his social media and sign up for his Reader Intel Bulletin and buy the book, link is below..