Author Q&A With Keith Dando
Keith Dando lives the good life in beautiful Wales with his wife, two young daughters, and a fluffy cockapoo that looks suspiciously more like a four-legged teddy bear than a dog! Before diving into the thrilling world of fiction, Keith served in the British Army, completing operational duties in demanding locations such as Iraq, Kosovo, and Bosnia. After his service, he explored a variety of industries—gaining invaluable real-world experience—until he finally decided to follow his true passion: writing edge-of-your-seat thrillers.
When he’s not busy crafting his next gripping plot twist, you can usually find him exploring the stunning Welsh landscape. He’s often conquering one of the many majestic mountains or relaxing on the breathtaking beaches—and yes, the “teddy bear” is always in tow, eternally demanding just one more throw of the ball! Meet Keith:
You are an author, but is it your day job? If not, what fills your days? That’s a great question! While my true passion is writing, I’ve historically balanced my creative work with a demanding day job. While writing my first two novels, I worked full-time as a Business Manager. However, I’ve recently embraced a new professional challenge and have taken on the role of a Brand Manager.
Did you always want to be an author? The dream of becoming a published author has been with me for a very long time. It started in childhood, when I first fell in love with reading, particularly with R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series. That love of stories deepened over the years, and even later, while I was away on operations with the armed forces, I remember being completely engrossed in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels. It was always a distant, yet firm, ambition to one day see my own book on a shelf. Now, I’m thrilled to say that I’ve achieved that goal, with two published novels under my belt.
What is your most recent book, and what inspired you to write it? My most recent published novel is A Craftsman’s Work, which serves as the follow-up to my debut, “Lies After Death”. My main inspiration for writing it was to immerse readers even further into the world of my protagonist, Tom Crane, and deliver another gripping crime thriller that continued the high-stakes narrative established in the first book. I wanted to deepen his character, raise the tension, and give readers who enjoyed my debut an even more intense experience.
How do you hope your book uplifts those who read it? When readers pick up my books, I primarily want them to feel gripped, thrilled, and thoroughly entertained. Beyond that, I hope they feel a personal connection to my protagonist, Tom Crane, and become invested in his complex missions. Ultimately, my goal is to deliver a captivating reading experience that keeps them eagerly turning pages right up until the very end.
What are you most excited about with this book? I’m super excited to hear my readers’ reactions to A Craftsman’s Work, especially when it comes to the twists and turns I’ve woven into the plot! As a writer, there is genuinely nothing more rewarding than receiving reviews and feedback. Getting to know what people thought and felt about the story, the characters, and the overall experience of my work is truly the best part of the publishing journey.
How did writing a book help your career take off? It’s still very early days in my writing career, and I’m very much at the beginning of this journey. I’m not hitting the major bestsellers lists just yet, and I certainly don’t have Netflix knocking on my door asking to adapt my novels for the screen! However, getting those two books published represents a massive first step towards building my lifelong dream, and I’m focused on moving forward, one step at a time, and continuing to learn and grow as an author.
What advice would you give someone wanting to succeed in your professional industry? The best advice I can give to anyone wanting to start writing is: Make a start. That’s precisely what I did. One day, I decided enough was enough, and I told myself to just wing it and see what happened. I started typing words into my phone during any spare moment I had between work and family time, and I wrote the entire first draft of my debut novel right there on my phone! You don’t need the perfect setup; you need to commit and go for it, because, ultimately, you can’t edit a blank page.
How do you handle setbacks and criticism? I’ve been extremely fortunate and grateful not to have received much criticism so far, though even a small amount of negative feedback can be challenging to deal with. So much time, energy, and heart go into writing a novel that every piece of feedback feels incredibly personal. This sensitivity is why, as writers, we feel like we’re on cloud nine when we get positive reviews. Still, conversely, when we encounter anything negative about our work, it can sometimes feel heartbreaking. I try to focus on the constructive elements and remember that not every story is for every reader.
Being an author today is like running a business. How do you manage your publicity and social media and maintain engagement with readers? Before the release of both my novels, I was proactive with posting and engaging on social media, but I’ve recently had to take a step back. Sometimes in life, there are too many plates to keep spinning, and with starting a new job recently alongside existing family commitments, it has become challenging to dedicate the necessary time to proactive marketing. This is especially true when you’re a complete novice in that department, like I am! I’m currently working on finding a sustainable way to manage my publicity and re-engage with readers as my schedule allows.
How do you hold yourself accountable and achieve the goals that you set forth? I am naturally very disciplined. When I set my mind on a goal, I tend to become fixated and almost obsessive about achieving it. While this fixation often drives me to succeed, it can also be detrimental. For example, if life throws a curveball and prevents things from going exactly to plan, I tend to beat myself up for not achieving the specific outcome I set out to achieve. I’m learning to balance that drive with greater flexibility and self-compassion.
How do you structure your day and make time for writing? I’ve had to take a short break from writing recently while I settle into my new Brand Manager role, as it’s been quite consuming. However, when I am fully in “writing mode,” my structure relies heavily on flexibility. I still do the vast majority of my writing directly on my phone. This method is key for me, as it lets me tap away and create whenever I get a spare ten minutes—whether I’m waiting for an appointment or on a lunch break—so I can consistently progress the story no matter where I am.
What do you find most fulfilling in the career that you’ve chosen? The most fulfilling aspect of my writing career is the feedback from readers. Hearing people say they were genuinely entertained by my stories, especially that they were shocked or thrilled by the plot twists, feels absolutely amazing. Knowing that the world I created provided someone with an exciting escape and a memorable experience is incredibly rewarding.
Anything else you’d like to share with your readers? It is with genuine gratitude that I thank every one of you. Taking a punt on a relatively unknown writer is a leap of faith, and I am truly appreciative that you chose to spend your valuable time within the pages of my work. Above all, I sincerely hope that the journey was entertaining and that you found something within the story that resonated with you.
You can learn more about Keith and grab a copy of his book on his social media account.
