Dragon Soul Press had the opportunity to interview Douglas Allen Gohl, an author featured in Lethal Impact, Imperial Devices, Murder and Mayhem, Glitch, Organic Ink: Vol 3, Age of Artifice, Haunt, Life At Its Best, Pirate Gold, A Death in the Night, A Winter Promise, Pirate Legends, Soul Ink: Vol 2, Apocalypse, Malice, Crime Wave, Magick and Malice, Dragon Legends, Reach for the Stars, and Lured into the Deep.

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1) Introduce yourself!

My pen name is Douglas Allen Gohl, but only my mother called me that when she was upset
with me. Which was a lot. Just call me Douglas. I chose to do this interview because I wish for
more people to get to know me and my growing resume of work. I have always loved to read
and hope my stories fulfill their intention, which is to entertain. Even if someone only likes one of
my stories–or maybe just part of a story–then I have succeeded in taking that person on a
journey, however briefly. If I’m lucky, it will resonate with them for the rest of their life.

I am taking a Digital Design/Webpage Design course. It’s kind of a bootcamp program where
if you really want to succeed you need to fully immerse yourself. There is a lot of stress
involved, yet I still make time to do other things because that is my nature.

One of my recent assignments was to write two paragraphs about my “brand”. This is a
wholly strange concept to me. I grew up in a different era and don’t associate people (especially
myself) as having a brand. Actually, I think it’s ludicrous. I’m also kind of a technophobe, which
is hypocritical because I actively chose to take this course.

Anyway, it was a writing assignment and that is something I know a little about. I don’t fully
know if I accomplished the task–I mean, I did it, but in my own way. Maybe that’s my brand.
However, I did get an A. Here is what I wrote.

On Being an Author, and the Art of a Good Story
A good story should have plenty of action. The dilemma there is that action without
precedence seems… off. Askew, if you will. This means it is difficult to write a story with 100
percent action, or all you will have is gratuitous violence with no rhyme or reason why things are
happening. Pure confusion. This only appeals to unstable, crazy people. So, yeah, you need a
little bit of dramatic storyline mixed in. But does it have to be boring? No. I’m not saying the story
should lack action. If it is important and relevant–if it moves the story along–then you have to
agree that drama is essential to the story. In fact, it is the story.

In my opinion, it is during these “essential” parts where the story lags a little. It is also where it
can amp up or heighten the intensity. You read through (rush through) these essential parts,
gleaning the bits of important data necessary to keep an understanding of what is going on–and
why–hoping to get back to the action soon. A good story is well balanced and has a healthy
mixture of essential (boring) storyline, and action. The two are equally necessary, just not
necessarily equal in proportion. And that is what I provide–a good story that is both entertaining
and exciting. With enough essential drama mixed between the action to keep you wanting to
turn the page and see what is going to happen next.

2) What prompted you to begin writing?

Like many writers before me, I took a creative writing class. To say this is what prompted me
to begin writing would be too simple an answer. I have always been creative. As a kid, playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends (we were all on the football team, as well), I created worlds populated with strange creatures, creating new races and languages. Every campaign and adventure I wrote up was a story in itself. However, it took taking a college course to realize my true passion in life. I have always had a head full of ideas, now I know what to do to get them out.

3) Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?

Not that I have hundreds of stories from which to choose, but it would still be difficult to select
a single one to be my favorite when each has their own unique nuances. I will say that I hope
my best is still to come. Though, “Blood Magic,” featured in the DSP anthology, Glitch is pretty
good. Four friends play a virtual reality video game they find, not realizing only one of them can
leave the game alive.

4) How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.

I have a 12 x 18 inch box full of notes and ideas for stories, along with multiple novels I have
collected extensive data for in preparation to flesh them out. It is enough to keep me busy for a
lifetime. Especially since I continually add to the darn thing more than I take out and complete.
One particular novel I am working on is titled Less Than Random. The main storyline is about a
bounty hunter in pursuit of his quarry, tracking him to a roadside motel on the border of
Arizona/Nevada. However, there are several arcs involving the other people that wind up stuck
at the motel for one reason or another. Each with their own troubles, and the interaction and
drama between them all as their trajectories intermingle brings a climactic conclusion.

5) What is your writing process like?

My writing process is not a consistent thing. It’s not set in stone. It is chaotic. How I go about
writing a story seems to change every time. This lends belief that I may need medication. Every
novel I have written (seven, to date. And I hope to publish my first soon through Amazon) was
done differently. Not just the process, but the format also. Then again, if I were to take
medication, I fear I would lose my creative juice.

6) Where do you draw inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from life itself. I know, that sounds real cheesy, but it’s true. That, and
also from reading magazines. Scientific American, Popular Mechanics and Discover magazine
has fueled a lot of science stuff in my stories. Things in the news, random conversations I’ve
had with people, personal life experiences; these are all things that have inspired some of the
stories I have written. For instance, I tied scars on my own body to an alien abduction story
about two kids. I also referenced a couple movies within the story from my childhood, and loosely based the town where they lived on a real place. It made for a pretty good story. See? Writing based off life!

Also, dreams. Don’t doubt the power of dreaming. Dreams provide a lot of cool and inspiring
ideas.

7) Who is your favorite author/what is your favorite book?

Asking me who my favorite author is impossible to answer. Asking me my favorite anything is
impossible. There are too many options in the world to settle on one. And why should I? Here
are a few authors I do enjoy. Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series is pure fun. There’s a
little bit of Stephanie Plum in my Betty Badass character featured in many of my stories. I’m also
a fan of Lee Child, Clive Cussler (who weaves historical details into his stories superbly),
Elmore Leonard and Brad Thor. Last but not least, Bernard Cornwell–especially his The Last
Kingdom series–is fantastic.

As I can’t give you one author, I also can’t give you one book. Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer;
The Beach, by Alex Garland; and Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane. These three books
standout in my mind as the most riveting reads I can remember. Like I mentioned before in
hoping my stories resonate with the people who read them, these stories resonated within me.
They are the only books I have read multiple times simply for the pleasure of reading them. And
the funny thing is none of them were written by the aforementioned favorite authors.

8) What is one goal you have for your writing future?

This one is easy. I would like to be a bestselling author. That would mean thousands, maybe
millions of people are reading my stories and enjoying them. I guess that’s the true goal, to
entertain millions of people with my stories.

9) What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?

I hope that readers enjoy a story they read by me enough to seek out more of them. That
they tell everyone they know to also read my stories. My enjoyment is gained from bringing
emotion, joy and entertainment to readers.

10) Where can readers learn more about you?

Not too long ago, my Facebook page had been hacked; stolen. I had over 1500 friends–99%
of them I had not met in person. But they were my friends. I tried opening an Instagram account
but received the “Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again soon” message. Technology is
not my friend. I was forced to make a new Facebook profile. I have only accepted three friends, to date. And once I complete my web design class, I will upload the author webpage I have been working on that will display my body of work as it progresses; feature a blog; and a forum for interaction with people visiting the page.

Thank you for spending this time with me, and happy reading.