Detective Watts (Series)

Q: Give me a brief, spoiler-free synopsis.

A: The protagonist, an apprentice detective and bird enthusiast named Marty Watts, solves various mysteries in Granville with his mentor Sherman Hoakes. As Marty develops his skills, it becomes evident that he did not merely chance upon his profession; rather, he was “grandfathered in” to help rectify the tragedies nearly lost to time. His true identity and purpose slowly unravel over the course of the series, resulting in a litany of shocking conclusions.

Worse yet, there is trouble brewing in Granville’s streets. Like a venomous fog, a phantom from the past has returned to silence any foes who seek to expose the truth; any creature connected by even the smallest thread risks a fate far worse than death. Marty soon finds himself at the mercy of this apparition, and he’ll need every ounce of his determination to stop it from hurting the people he loves.

Q: What inspired you to write this series?

A: The concept for Detective Watts dates back to my freshman year of college. I found creative activities like painting and writing as reprieves from the stress of a tumultuous first semester. During that time, I learned about self-publishing through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) service. All I needed was a manuscript and a cover image to print my own paperback, flip through its pages, and display it on a bookshelf for the rest of my life. Wouldn’t that be neat? And so I got to work.

I whipped up a rough outline for a story and spent many long nights fleshing out its details. The story involved a woman who kidnapped her sons and vanished without a trace; in response, a grossly incompetent detective duo set out to rescue the family. The plot also included excerpts from the children’s father and the mother’s best friend, neither of whom could fathom why the mother would act so recklessly.

Between my other responsibilities as a college student, it took me about two years to publish the story through KDP. I’ll never forget the moment when I unwrapped the package containing my proof copy; it was finally done, and all the work leading up to it had paid itself off with interest. Logically, the next step was to share my work with my family and friends.

That, regrettably, is where my authorship journey began to stumble. Despite the pride I took in my achievement, I hesitated to share it for a few reasons. The first was that my book didn’t look like the ones I read in school; its formatting lacked structure, and its cover featured a rather amateur illustration (I gave it my best effort, of course). I learned that publishing a book was a holistic effort, one that involved far more than filling pages with words, and I didn’t have the time, resources, or skills to do it all myself.

The second problem cut a bit deeper than the story’s meat and bones. Simply put, I lacked confidence. I had no “sales pitch” to entice readers; I could hardly summarize the plot or even describe a character with a hint of intrigue. In addition, I feared that the smallest bit of negativity or criticism would crush my spirit beyond repair. With only one first impression to deliver as an author, there was no unringing the bell.

So I decided not to ring it. I archived the book on my KDP account, thus officially discontinuing it from print. (I still have the author copies, FYI. My dad keeps one by his bedside, too.)

Q: So that story will never be told again?

A: Fortunately, no. After graduating from college, I rediscovered my interest in storytelling through an unexpected medium: video games. I grew particularly attached to the Ace Attorney and Professor Layton series for their well-drawn characters, suspense-filled plots, and logic-based puzzles. The mountain of parodies and fan fictions for these games made me wonder if I should give writing another chance.

I didn’t have to think too hard, because I already had an idea sitting on my bookshelf. I resumed my authorship journey in October 2023 and gave writing my full attention outside of my job. I reworked the detective duo from hell into an apprentice and mentor who conduct themselves with integrity and cover each other’s weaknesses. I tweaked several plot points, added new side characters, and devoted more attention and nuance to world building. I also hired an editor to tighten my grammar and properly format my manuscript, as well as a cover designer to hook curious readers.

On August 16, 2024, after proofreading my work more times than I’d care to admit, I pressed “Publish” on my KDP account. My remastered concept from years prior, renamed to The Shattered Alarm, had finally been served its cup of literary justice. I mustered up the courage to share my work, and pretty soon friends and family (and even a few strangers; thank you!) started reading the book and providing feedback. Although I’m still sharpening my “sales pitch,” I’ve had a blast discussing plot points and characters with those who picked up the book and gave it a try.

As stated at the top of this page, The Shattered Alarm is part of a series. I’m not sure how many books it will contain, but all I can promise is that I’ll continue writing until I stop enjoying it… which I don’t think will happen anytime soon.

Q: How does your work stand out from other mystery novels?

A: For one, the structure for each book is rather unusual. Each “act” of the story contains several sections, each of which is devoted to a different character. For example, The Shattered Alarm follows four different characters (including Sharon Braveheart, Hudson Hawkeye, Nellie Hawkeye, and Sherman/Marty acting as a duo). In the beginning, the characters embark on their own journeys and rarely interact; however, as their stories become intertwined, they eventually unite as a chaotic ensemble that culminates in the grand reveal. Although it takes some getting used to, I believe the gradual crescendo pays off splendidly.

Additionally, the books contain “intermissions” between acts, where Marty summarizes the evidence he’s come across so far. They reduce the burden to remember every minor detail so the reader can focus on the main plot. In addition, they provide a well-deserved break for the reader, particularly when the narrative and subject matter grows heavier throughout the story.