Author Name: David Boop
Name of Publication: The Drowned Horse Chronicle Vol 1
Where to find it: https://a.co/d/irbDwio
Describe your work in 10 words or less for people who are just learning about it.
Weird Western: cursed town where your inner demons become actual monsters.
Can you talk a bit about your path to publication for this work?
The DHC started twenty years ago with one of my earliest weird short stories. It was well
received and I started getting more requests for them. Before long, I’d built three distinct
eras and plotted out the whole timeline. WolfPack Books took a chance with me and this
is the first mosaic novel.
Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot and plan, or is your writing more
organic?
Depends. Novels I need to outline because I’m very ADHD, but short stories I tend to be
more organic. Since most of my stuff is historical, knowing what I need to research
before I sit down to write saves me time. DHC is a combination of the two. I know what
type of story needs to go into that chapter, having plotted that out, but I have no idea
what the story will look like going in.
Who was your favorite character in this work to write? Why?
As for good guys, Marshal Tucker Bandimere, named after the 70’s rock band. He’s so
far over his head, he becomes almost comic relief.
And my main bad guy, Noqoi, the gambling god. He’s so evil, and yet, sort of relatable in
ways. He feels the other gods did him dirty and he wants revenge. He’s planned
everything well in advance of the heroes, so the best they can do in this first book is a
draw.
Do you have a least favorite character? Anyone you ended up cutting from the story?
Any character I didn’t like, ended up dead. That’s the great thing about this type of work.
You never know who will make it to the end.
Do you identify with your main character, or did you create a character that is your
opposite?
There are multiple POVs, but Sheriff Forrest is the main one. He lost his parents young
to a supernatural creature and has sought purpose in his life ever since. I struggled
finding my purpose until I became a writer. So, I guess in some ways, sure. In others, he
seems to be able to figure people and situations much better and quicker than me, so
he’s what I’d like to be someday.
What was your favorite (or most difficult) chapter to write in this work? Why do you think
that was?
The second to last, which I can’t say much about, but someone dies. And I didn’t cry
when they were killed, but I did cry when their friends found them. I still do every time I
read that scene.
What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author? What has been
the best compliment?
That my crafting still sucks. I’m a much better storyteller than wordsmith. I need a lot of
editing. Again, ADHD often keeps me from seeing glaring errors. As for compliment, I
was recently called an evil, evil man for the scene mentioned above. I take pride in that.
What is your favorite line from your book?
Um, wow. Let me think. You’ll have to read the story to get why I love that line so much.
“So, you’ll never believe what happened next…”
Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?
Some people carry their demons as carry-on luggage. When we traveled west during the
expansion, we didn’t just take all our belongings, but all our fears, legends, and
boogieman. Fear can be very culturally person. A growl outside your cabin at midnight
will bring different monsters to mind depending on whether you’re from Ireland, China,
Mexico, or Africa. It’s this individual horror I wanted to get across in this first volume.
David Boop is a Denver-based speculative fiction author and editor. He’s also an award-winning essayist, and screenwriter. Before turning to fiction, David worked as a DJ, film critic, journalist, and actor.
David’s novels run the gamut, such as the sci-fi/noir She Murdered Me with Science, the Weird Western series, The Drowned Horse Chronicle, and The Soul Changers, a historical, dark fantasy media tie-in to the Rippers Resurrected TTRPG.
David edited the bestselling and award-nominated Weird Western anthology series, Straight Outta Tombstone, Straight Outta Deadwood and Straight Outta Dodge City. He’s currently working on a trio of Space Western anthologies starting with Gunfight on Europa Station, High Noon on Proxima B, and Last Train Outta Keplar-283c. He’s edited several pulp anthologies, including Green Hornet & Kato: Detroit Noir.
David is prolific in short fiction with many short stories including media tie-ins for Predator (nominated for the 2018 Scribe Award), Kolchak the Night Stalker, The Green Hornet, and Veronica Mars. His first comic, Travailiant Rising, co-authored with NYT Bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson is a giant mech series.
Additionally, he does a flash fiction mystery series on Gumshoereview.com called The Trace Walker Temporary Mysteries. David works in game design, as well. He’s written for the Savage Worlds TTRPG’s Flash Gordon (nominated for an Origins Award) and Deadlands: Noir titles.
He’s a Summa Cum Laude Graduate from UC-Denver in the Creative Writing program. He tutors and teachers Creative Writing, collects Funko Pops, and is a believer. His hobbies include film noir, anime, the Blues and History.
You can find out more at Davidboop.com, Facebook.com/dboop.updates, X: @david_boop
HWA Colorado 