An Interview with Dan E. Hendrickson: Author of The Commander

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 Commander is the story of a United States Coast Guard officer who is first and foremost a family man. He has a loving wife and an adorable daughter. He’s smart, capable and dedicated. He also has issues with rage brought on by a horrific incident in his past that he constantly has to keep in check. He has recently been promoted and given command of a refurbished Hamilton Class Cutter The First Responder. That responsibility is juggled with being the number two man in an elite joint military/law enforcement task force headed by Captain Tommy Williams of the United States Navy.

On the first Responders first mission after being refurbished a threat against US oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is detected by Tommy in Naval Intelligence and he calls on Commander Edwards to handle it. Terrorist attacks, mass murder, and industrial sabotage are just the beginning of what Commander Edwards and his crew have to figure out and stop. Through team work, guts and grit they work though one problem after another until the final showdown near the Texas coast at one of the biggest oil rigs in the world.

Why did you want to write a book?

I wrote the book because Jacob Edwards is a principal character in my Last Enemy Series and I felt like his character and history needed to be explored a little more deeply. In the series I show him as a man with a horrible event in his past that causes him to do radical things but I never showed why he is so revered among his friends and colleagues. I believe The Commander does that.

Why did you choose to self-publish?

I like self publishing right now because it forces me to get a full education into the publishing world. I am told there are over 2 million books published every year. That is a very competitive playing field in any endeavor. Self publishing makes me look into everything from editing, book design, formatting, and marketing. Things that traditionally published authors do not have to look at as fervently as the rest of us. Don’t get me wrong if a traditional publishing opportunity arises I’ll jump on it. But when it does I have a well rounded understanding of the process.

What tools or companies did you use, and what experience did you have?

I use editing software, and real editors, all my books go through 5 stages of editing. I also contract out to book formatters and producers as well as cover design. I heavily go after editorial reviews because they are good for advertising and educating me to be a better writer. The Commander is my fifth self-published book so far. I have had a lot of trial and error in getting a good story out there that the public will enjoy. It has not been easy but it has been very satisfying and enlightening.

Would you self-publish again?

Yes I will continue to self-publish until a better opportunity comes along.

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

Probably frustration and discouragement are the biggest. We have to be willing to adapt and grow in our writing. If something does not work and we know it we need to get rid of it and move on.

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

Begin the journey and develop a thick skin. Not everybody is going to love your work. Do your absolute best to make it perfect before you publish and then go for it. Don’t forget to learn from your victory’s and your failures, but more than anything don’t give up, keep moving.

What was your steepest learning curve during the publishing process?

This time around the cover design. I had this idea that the cover had to depict an actual event in the book. The people that designed my cover this time showed me that it has the catch someone’s attention by presenting the entire feel of the story, not just a scene.

As a writer, what is your schedule? How do you get the job done?

Mornings, mornings, mornings. I am at my best mentally in the morning. So as early as possible I go to my office, close the door and give at least 2 hours to my writing. After that I handle my “Day Job” responsibilities and sometimes squeak in some publishing and marketing stuff as well.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Has not been a problem with me. I think because so far by the time I am about half way done with one novel the ideas for the next one start sparking. I don’t look at myself as a world changing author who is out for a Pulitzer prize, just someone who really loves to write cool stories. I keep myself inspired by prayer, love for all things entertainment, and a passion to tell stories.

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

Action, Adventure, Thriller, Drama. They are all my favorite types of entertainment. I often use the military as a backdrop because I grew up in a military family and know a good deal about the lifestyle.

Who are your biggest writing inspirations and why?

That would probably be Robert Ludlum and his Jason Bourne series. They were the first real action adventure books I got into in high school and I found them easy and exciting to read.

How do your friends and family get involved with your writing? What do they think of your book?

Besides the fact that I base a lot of my characters on them I think they love it, ha ha. My son Carl who is a Lieutenant in the Coast Guard really helped me with The Commander, and my daughter Rebeccah who is a journalist news reporter for ABC does a lot of my editing.

What are your plans now your book is published?

I already have three more novels in different stages of writing, editing, and production in the works.

Why did you write about this particular subject?

Two reason; I already said that I wanted to elaborate more on Commander Jacob Edwards character and past, and I also wanted to explore the historical relevance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US, as well as the whole “Oil Spill” scare of Deepwater Horizon in 2010. I believe that The Commander did both.

What did you learn on your journey as an author?

Being an author is a growing experience. Changing and trying new things is all part of the experience, but never forget why your doing it. For me its that I want to inspire and entertain people.

What’s next for you as an author?

More books and more books. I’ll just keep chugging away at it. One of my lines I use in social media is: Writing books is the reason I write books.