An Interview with Dan E. Hendrickson: Author of The Good Fight

Dan Hendrickson was born in Sheridan Wyoming near the rustic Big Horn mountain range in 1962 to Carl and Helen Hendrickson. Dan went to school in the Sheridan School District graduating from Sheridan High School in 1981. He spent his athletic time participating in boxing, martial arts, wrestling and a little track. His father Carl owned a small eight lane bowling alley that he ran until Dan was 12 years old. After losing the business to the bank he was forced to go back to school and finish his masters in English. Dan picked up on his father’s love of the written word and enrolled in Casper Community College in 1982 majoring in journalism.

Although he found that he had an aptitude for investigative reporting he decided that his desires lied in other areas. He went on to do much volunteer Christian ministry work throughout the United States most of his adult life and continues to pursue those endeavors to this day. During that time he gained another degree in Practical Theology and throughout his many ministry assignments work several secular jobs. Most notable were his auto detailing endeavors. He and his wife Cheryl have owned three different detailing businesses throughout the country the last of which they still run to this day. Recently he has returned to his passion of telling stories and has several books in the process of being published.

Tell us about your book.

The Good Fight is a story about the struggles that a young women and her grandfather are going through in the aftermath of losing their family. The women, Danielle is the daughter of a famous Coast Guard Commander who along with his wife and mother died in a plain crash years ago. Danielle and her grandfather Jim, are all that is left to run the family business. The drama ensues when an crime kingpin who has been targeting their family and company for decades makes his final move to eliminate them and gain control of the company.

Why did you want to write a book?

I have a degree in Journalism from a Junior college that I earned decades ago. I love to write but never really went after a career in the field. A few years ago I published an article in a christian magazine and started to blog here and there. People started to encourage me to pursue writing but articles and blogging about events really is not my thing. Then I got inspired with the idea for the book The Good Fight while listening to the song by Rachel Platten called “Fight Song.” I have two daughters and one son. I am all three’s biggest fan. That song just reminded me how strong my girls can be when they want to be and that is how the whole character of Danielle formed in my mind. Writing fun and exciting stories is what I really want to do, and that’s why I wrote the book.

Why did you choose to self-publish?

When I did my research on how to launch into writing many “experts” counseled to self-publish at first to see if the public is interested in your talent and then go the traditional route. That’s my plan as of now.

What do you think are the main pitfalls for indie writers?

Getting help, listening to feedback and changing. Finding a good editor and being patient for the final product.

What tips can you give other authors looking to self-publish?

Work with a professional editor from the very start.

What was your steepest learning curve during the publishing process?

Editing, production, marketing.

Tell us about the genre you wrote in, and why you chose to write this sort of book.

Action/adventure and thriller are what I love to read and watch. It’s the stories that come out of me.

What are your plans now your book is published?

Write more.

What did you learn on your journey as an author?

Patience.