Mike Walters

Today, America turns 250 years old. I have traveled abroad enough to know that the world does not always see us the way we see ourselves. In the Air Force, I learned early that the perception of the obnoxious American was real. Drilled into my head. A warning. Be mindful. Be respectful. Do not be that guy. Fair enough. But here is what I have learned: Americans are not uniquely jerks. We are just human. I have seen plenty of arrogance in other countries. Seen plenty of rudeness. Seen people...

Why My Characters Are More Important Than the Mystery I did not set out to write character-driven mysteries. That just became what I do. Early on, I thought the mystery was the thing. The plot. The twist. The revelation. I figured if I could surprise readers, keep them guessing, make them turn pages fast enough, that was enough. But somewhere along the way, I realized the mystery does not matter if you do not care about the person at the center of it. The Advice That Changed Everything I...

Why I Set a Murder Mystery in the Oregon Outback I went back to Lake County, Oregon to get away. To reconnect with that part of Eastern Oregon. To revisit childhood memories. I was not looking for a book setting. That came later. The Trip I had not been back to that part of the state in over forty years. I camped at Dead Horse Lake. The same lake where I camped as a kid. Reconnected to those memories. The fire. The cold nights. The simple pleasure of being outside with nothing but time and...