MEET THE AUTHOR

David Hayes

Except for four years with the United States Coast Guard, David Hayes was firmly planted in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. One day he had an epiphany while waiting on a red light. He realized it was the same corner where he caught his daily ride to school twenty years earlier. Like the words to the Peggy Lee song, Dave thought, "If that's all there is, let's break out the booze and start dancing." He's been a rolling stone ever since. Six states and thirty residential moves later, he found himself a comfortably retired entrepreneur with a yearning desire to write fiction. As a former owner of his own Private Employment Service, he's interviewed thousands of candidates and their employers from coast to coast. It's given him a broad insight into the multiple facets of human nature. You'll see this in his characters.

The Bratwurst Kidnapping
Author Interview
by Joan Myers

 How did you come up with the unique title, The Bratwurst Kidnapping?  

The setting is Milwaukee where I grew up.  Nothing is more representative to the Milwaukee-Deutch culture than the backyard bratwurst cook out. I thought the title was unusual enough to capture one's curiosity and amusing enough to set the tone. 

Where did you get the inspiration for the character driven plot? 

I spent thirty years in the private employment business. As a result of the thousands of interviews that endeavor required, I feel I have gained some insight into the many facets of the human condition. 

Of the two diverse characters, Roofy and Pec, which do you relate to the most? 

I love eccentrics. They march to their own beat. That one thing I have in common with both of these characters.  

Are you aware of the vivid use of American idioms in your writing? 

I don't think I use them as a conscious effort. In other words, I wouldn't consciously think, "Oh, this is a good place to use one." I think they come naturally as a result of living in six different states and conducting thousands of interviews. Regionalism, provincialism and colloquialisms are easy to pick up given the opportunity, especially if they come with a local accent. 

How long was the writing process? Was this your first novel? 

This is my second novel. I wrote it simultaneously with my first novel. I switched back and forth between the two to give me relief from the cathartic experience of the other novel. It took me close to two years to complete both books. 

What part of the writing process do you find most enjoyable? Most challenging? 

I don't write an outline or plan of what's going to happen in advance. The most fun and most challenging is finding out what’s going to happen next. 

What authors do you read? Fiction or non-fiction? 

I read both, but mostly fiction. I've read everything Dayana Knight has written. My favorite novel is Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. I love the absurdity, the irony and that's what I tried to capture in my first novel, The State of Grace. 

Are you currently working on a new project? Possibly continuing with Roofy and Pec on their next case in crime solving?

I glad you asked. Yes, I'm three quarters the way through my third novel, The Sugar Town Connection. My intrepid P.I.s are working on a murder mystery that involves drugs shipped from Afghanistan to an abandoned sugar beet factory in Southern Colorado. 

Tell your readers about your family life?  

December 22, 2008 I will be married 52 years to my soul mate. I have two grown sons nearby, Art and Roy, and a brother Bob.  

You’re retired; what are your other interests or hobbies? 

My major hobby is writing, of course. I communicate often through e-mail with family, friends, old shipmates, and fellow writers. I belong to Hemingway Hall, a writers' group within Writers' Village University. They critique my work and I return the favor. I'm active in the local Kiwanis Club, an association dedicated to help children succeed in life.

The Bratwurst Kidnapping
by David Hayes

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