Why Do You Do This? — a guest post by Randy Overbeck
Recently, I met a friend and former colleague for lunch. We hadn’t seen each other in a while, so first we got caught up on our families’ doings. Then she segued, “So, you’re an author. How many books have you published now?”
“So far, five and the publisher will release my sixth novel this July,” I said.
She took a sip of her margarita. “Didn’t I read your books have won some awards…like Mystery of the Year?”
In between drinks of my own sangria, I grinned. “Twelve different awards and counting.”
“Nice. Have you made much money from your books?” She sounded genuinely curious.
I shrugged. “Let me put it this way. If I had mouths to feed, we’d all go hungry.”
Her red lipstick left a small smudge on the rim of the glass and she stared over the top of the tumbler. “Then, why do you do it?” Before I could answer, she added, “I heard it’s a lot of work. I’d guess thousands of hours just for the writing. Not counting all the promotion you do. I see all your posts. If you don’t make very much money, why do you do it?”
That is the real question, I thought.
Five—soon six—books in, and realizing what it takes to put together a single title, get it out there and work to get it noticed, why do I keep doing it? Especially if the financial payoff is so limited.
My answer to the friend was simple. “I really love the whole thing, inventing the story, the writing, interacting with readers. And I’m pretty good at it, from what my readers tell me. Besides, it keeps me out of trouble.”
While that was true enough, later I realized it wasn’t nearly complete. Oh, I love writing a great story and enjoy crafting a puzzling whodunit for my readers, blending in a little humor and a nice dose of romance. (My previous title, Cruel Lessons won “Mystery of the Year” in ’23.) I also revel in using my storytelling to take readers to resort places they’ve never heard of, much less visited. Places like Cape May, New Jersey or, for my newest mystery, Saugatuck, Michigan.
But something else drives me even more. At a writing conference a few years ago, I attended a session offered by the successful mystery writer, S. J. Rosan and something she shared stuck with me.
“Non-fiction is about reality; fiction is about the truth, or at least should be.”
As a writer, I’ve taken these words to heart.
When I pen a new novel, I’ve given it considerable thought and chosen the “truths” captured in my writing with care. For all six novels, I selected teachers as my protagonists because real life teachers have always been my heroes. DeeDee (from Leave No Child Behind), Darrell (from the Haunted Shores Mysteries) and Ken and Stacy (from Cruel Lessons) are all fictional compilations of actual great teachers I’ve witnessed educating and empowering kids. The truth is teachers are real—though often unrecognized—heroes in life and now, heralded on the pages of my books.
Also, for each novel, besides an award-winning story, I’ve tied the murder mystery to another important truth, a social truth. Truths like the harshness of racial injustice in Blood on the Chesapeake, the ugly reality of human trafficking in Crimson at Cape May and the lethal dangers of drug experimentation in Cruel Lessons. In my stories, my protagonists stumble upon these social “truths,” which only makes the reality all the more chilling. Did blacks really get lynched on the Eastern Shore? Do five American teens get sucked into human trafficking every day?
For my newest novel, Red Shadows at Saugatuck, I chose to align my whodunit with another ugly truth: Native females, women and girls, disappear at a rate of ten times that of white females. Did you know that? When I did the research on MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women), I was astounded at the blatant discrimination, abuse, rape and murder indigenous women suffer in this country. The more I did this research, the more I was convinced this was fertile ground for a compelling narrative. I could write a great murder mystery with this ugly reality at its center.
However, Red Shadows at Saugatuck is also a story about family and parents and children. In this fourth entry of the Haunted Shores Mysteries, Darrell and Erin, married now seven years, have a precocious five-year-old son, Leo. He is like other five-year-olds in most ways, except he is a sensitive like his father. Leo can see ghosts. This gave me the chance to explore truths about parenting and family love, both for the Henshaws and, in a parallel narrative, for the family of the missing Native teen.
I think Red Shadows at Saugatuck is the best work I’ve ever done.
One early reviewer called the novel “thoughtful, deeply human and low-key terrifying.” (Literary Titan) A second reviewer wrote, “Slow-burning, socially relevant, and strangely beautiful in its grief; haunting in every sense of the word.” (litandcoffee) Another critic wrote, “Red Shadows at Saugatuck is one of the finest books ever written…it stole my soul and took my breath away.” (N N Light Bookheaven)
Yes, that is what the reviewer wrote. I could hardly believe it, myself.
The Wild Rose Press will conduct the international launch of Red Shadows at Saugatuck the week of July 23, 2025 in Saugatuck, Michigan. The new novel is available for order now, wherever you get your reads. Or just click this link. https://books2read.com/u/bxD1nq
Blurb
Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo has inherited his “gift.”
Now, they both can see ghosts.
This time, Darrell drives his young family 800 miles to celebrate his Aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once in the resort town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—”Those girls run away all the time.” Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen.
Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and five-year-old son in danger?
Excerpt
Darrell chanced another look in the rearview and saw the SUV accelerating, closing the distance. Darrell stared, fixated on the wide silver grill growing larger in his mirror. Alternating glances from the road ahead to the car behind, he watched it move closer, now less than a car length. He stared at the shield, could make out its colors of silver, gold, black and red. He checked out the road ahead then shot another look at the Cadillac emblem. In the center of the shield, he saw a small nick, like a stone from the road had chipped it. His gaze returned to the asphalt ahead of him.
He punched the accelerator and felt his Taurus respond. When the distance between the cars opened up a bit, he checked the speedometer. The needle moved past eighty. The scenery flew by. He didn’t think he could keep this up for long. At least, the road was straight…for now.
He sensed more than saw movement behind him and yanked his gaze back to the rearview mirror. The SUV accelerated even more and drew still closer, the black frame and tinted windshield filling his mirror. Darrell’s knuckles tightened on the steering wheel. The car came so close, the grill with the shield disappeared from his view. The darkened windshield was all Darrell could see through his mirror.
God, he must be within a foot. He’s going to ram me.
He floored the gas pedal and the engine whined in protest. The needle passed eighty-five. He wanted to turn his head and look back through the rear window but couldn’t chance it. Not at this speed. He had to stay focused on the road ahead. His Taurus raced along the blacktop.
Then it started. First, a few thunks on the roof and, within seconds, the sky opened up, the rain cascading in sheets. He flipped the wipers on high and stared through the windshield at the rain-slicked asphalt. Damn, what else can go wrong? Driving like this in the rain was major- league stupid.
He needed to slow down in the downpour but couldn’t. He feared if he slowed, even a little, the larger SUV would slam into him and probably run him off the road. He chanced another glance in the rearview and saw…nothing. All he could see looking back was the torrential rain slicing down onto the blacktop.
Where had the Cadillac gone? Could he have turned off when the rain hit and Darrell hadn’t noticed? He didn’t think so but where was the car? He stared ahead and then shot another glance in the mirror. Nothing.
Then, he caught some movement in his peripheral vision. The Cadillac SUV had slid over into the oncoming lane. He was passing the Taurus on the left. He must’ve disappeared into Darrell’s blind spot before pulling even with the Taurus. Darrell stared from the SUV beside him to the road ahead. As far as he could tell, both lanes seemed empty of traffic, but the rain reduced how far he could see.
He shot a glance to his side. The Cadillac had pulled up, almost even with his car. He peered across but could make out nothing but the damn dark tinted glass. He jerked his gaze back to the road. What was this idiot going to do? Pass him and make him skid on the wet road? He risked a glance in the rearview to see if there was a second car, to block him in. Nothing.
The SUV inched forward, both cars hurtling at almost ninety! This was crazy. No, this was suicide. He should brake and slow down, let the Cadillac whiz by him. But he feared what might happen in the rain. He could hydroplane, lose traction and skid.
He had no time to consider any options.
Right then, the SUV surged forward and steered hard to the right, angling in front of him, cutting off the Taurus. Darrell had no choice. He stepped on his brake so as not to hit the Cadillac. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the SUV whiz into his lane right in front of him. He yanked the wheel to the right, swerving to avoid hitting the other car. His tires slipped on the rain-slicked asphalt. He tried to control the steering wheel but felt the car skid onto the narrow shoulder. He slammed on the brakes as hard as he could and watched the car go over the edge of the shoulder. His heart raced. He practically stood on the brake. The car bumped over the shoulder. It bounced down into a ditch and partway up. The Taurus jerked to a stop, slamming his head into the steering wheel.
Everything went dark.
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Author Bio
Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator and author, as well as a popular speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined this experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series—the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Thriller of the Year (Readers Favorite) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets. He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his book talks and popular programs with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S.
As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community. When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy around the country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.
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