Life & Work with Darin Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darin Miller

Hi Darin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Darin Miller, and I am primarily known for my mystery series, The Dwayne Morrow Mysteries. They aren’t hardboiled and they aren’t cozy—they’re somewhere in between. I aim for a perfect blend of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance, featuring a cast of characters who feel like old friends. I’ve been self-publishing since May 2021, with six entries in the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries currently available. I have collaborated with fellow author and friend, V.R. Tapscott, on a novella featuring both of our series characters, Dwayne Morrow and Jane Bond. It’s called “Over Consumption,” and is a sort of worlds-colliding meta joke that we had a ball writing. I have also released an unrelated short story collection, “Broken Bits and Bobs” that is primarily comprised of some of my earliest work written when I was preparing to dive in to writing a full-length novel. It includes a handful of newer shorts, too. One of my short stories was selected for inclusion in the 2023 Ohio Writers’ Association anthology, “House of Secrets: Every Room Holds a Story.”

Since I was last interviewed by Bold Journey, my second Dwayne Morrow book, “Circumvention,” took First Place in two categories in the The BookFest Spring 2024 Awards—Detective/Amateur Sleuths and Mystery/Thriller.

This year, I’ve decided to try something completely different, and I’m very excited about it. I’m about to release my first horror novel, “Equilibrium,” and it’s a whopper of a big story.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road for an indie author is anything but smooth. Most of us are a one-person team, responsible for almost every aspect of getting our work out there including promotion, which is probably the biggest challenge of all. With limited resources, it is vital to make every advertising dollar count, and as most of us are not experts at this, there’s a whole lot of trial and error involved. While Amazon and Facebook ads have at times proven to be valuable, both platforms are constantly evolving. There are some campaigns that work like gangbusters for a while before something in the algorithm changes and it’s almost like flipping a switch. You’re suddenly just wasting your money. Live events can be a big boon but require a certain level of salesmanship that doesn’t come naturally to me. I am better today than I was at the start, but I still have a lot of room for improvement.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My upcoming horror release, “Equilibrium,” will likely be a little surprising to fans of the Dwayne Morrow series. I have always been as much a fan of well-written horror as mystery, and my favorite writer is Stephen King. I feel like every time I read one of his books, I’m in a master class of storytelling. His imagination may be a matter of taste, but his ability to infuse distinct life into his characters is extraordinary. At this point in this career, he has dabbled in multiple genres, but in every case, his character development is top drawer. I think the best way to involve readers into any story is to get them to invest in your characters.

Much like the first Dwayne Morrow book, almost all of “Equilibrium” was written almost a quarter century ago. I had gotten all the way up against the ending when I decided, for whatever reason, that it was all a bunch of garbage and just shelved it. After realizing some success with the Dwayne books, it has been in the back of my mind this whole while. Easily the length of two of my Dwayne books, it started to feel foolish not to give it another read. I honestly couldn’t remember a thing about it, but I was having an incredible sense of déjà vu. This was exactly how “Reunion” came to be. I edited as I read, every single page marked up with changes tracked in red, but I really got invested in the story. By the time I reached the point where I had abandoned it, I was a little upset with myself for not giving it the end that was so completely clear to me now. I have since finished it, and it’s in the final stages of editing. I hope to release it in the Fall 2024. I’ve also included what is essentially a cover reveal in the pictures accompanying this article.

What’s next?
I plan to continue writing the Dwayne Morrow series until I run out of road. I’m about halfway through the seventh book and already know the basic plot for the eighth. I truly love these characters, and as long as the stories feel organic and fresh, and people keep asking for the next one, I would love to keep going. One of the best and most complimentary pieces of feedback I frequently get is that the characters and settings feel real. That makes me feel like I’m doing something right.

As far as the future, I want to expand and write other genres. I have started a second horror tale that I’m excited about. I would also like to try my hand at flat-out humor. I feel like I’m really late getting into the game, and in a way, I’m dancing just as fast as I can. Any departure from what is expected is a gamble, but at 56, time isn’t exactly on my side. I can’t really afford to be afraid to take risks.

Pricing:

• Free to read on Kindle Unlimited
• 3.99 – 4.99 for Kindle
• 15.99 for paperback
• 22.99 for hardcover

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.darin-miller.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darinmiller4628/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DwayneMorrowMysteries/