Tell us a little about yourself.
This is literally the one thing I hate writing about: myself. I’m a Missourian who was raised in a very closed-off conservative environment, fundamental Christianity. It never suited me all that much, but I’m 40 now and have a better understanding of who I have always been underneath.
I currently reside just outside of St. Louis with my family. I’ve been a bit of a renaissance man for decades – I’m a trained method actor (of the Lee Strasberg variety), have worked in television, theatre, and indie filmmaking as an actor, camera operator, director, screenplay writer, editor, producer, and more.
I dabble in music sometimes with my voice or by writing lyrics (sometimes I attempt composing). I’ve also done stand-up comedy, which is a lot of fun. And now I’m getting to what I’ve wanted to do for a long time but wasn’t sure I could do: write books.
What made you become a writer?
When we were kids, one of my older brothers started to write short stories and read them to us younger ones. After that, I dabbled, and started writing stories along with my best friend, and we’d share them with each other.
I grew up watching a lot of older movies, like the Universal Monster flicks, Hitchcock films, and the old Sherlock Holmes adaptations, which gave me an appreciation for exciting stories. I also read a lot. When I was in high school, our drama teacher encouraged us to write our own scripts to perform and that got me even more into writing.
Where did the idea for Sweet Sixteen Killer come from?
When I was in my mid-to-late twenties, I was listening to some old 1950s music, and it was one of those “sweet sixteen” songs. I hadn’t heard one of those songs since childhood, but as I listened to it as an adult, I realized how gross it was. Here was a 30 to 40-year-old man singing about how this sixteen-year-old girl was all grown up now, how beautiful she was, that she was a woman, and that he wanted to be with her. And from that an idea about a serial killer who targeted sixteen-year-old girls was born. Shortly after that, I looked up as many of those “sweet sixteen” songs as I could find and listened to them. That was the spark. I outlined it at the time and let it sit for years. I started writing it days before the 2016 U.S. presidential election(without the old outline) and published it days before we voted Trump out of office in 2020.
What is Sweet Sixteen Killer about?
The book is the first in a series following a private detective named Mercedes Masterson, so while the book is about a serial killer dubbed the Sweet Sixteen Killer for targeting sixteen-year-old girls, it also serves as an introduction to the main cast of characters.
Mercedes is just turning 30 years old and decides to retire from the State Bureau of Investigations to start her own private firm while at the same time the first killing takes place. So, the two events kind of happen in tandem and she ends up being hired by the mother of the first victim out of frustration by the lack of empathy and commitment coming from the Babylon Police Department.
The book addresses issues of sexism, phobias, and corruption, which will continue to be running themes in the series – Mercedes is a closeted bisexual. It also deals with mental illness, as Mercedes has her struggles with mental health.
Tell us about your main characters, are they based on anyone you know?
No. Not really. I did start writing this main character in 2005 as part of a short film, and it was written for a friend who would be playing her. While it wasn’t intended to be representative of her, she and I have both influenced her development in different ways through the years.
That friend, Heather Jackson, who played her in the short film back then has reprised the role for the book covers. That’s her on the cover of the first book, Sweet Sixteen Killer. She also appears all over the website and marketing. So, I guess her appearance is definitely based on Heather.
We are both very passionate about Mercedes. I think when it comes to writing, often times (not always) bits of our own lives trickle into the story or characters. But that’s because we often write about things we know. For example, my family has a history of mental illness, and Mercedes suffers with mental illness as well. So, it’s easy for things I know from real life to seep into that, but it’s not intentionally biographical or autobiographical (I have bipolar myself). Mercedes has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and this is something my family is familiar with, but I’m not writing about a particular person.
What tips would you give a new writer?
First, I’m going to repeat myself here. I recently answered this question on another blog/newsletter:
Writing finds a way. Whether it’s a lack of time, finding confidence, overcoming burnout or writer’s block, writing finds a way. Carve out time where you can. Be proud of the writing you accomplish. Just keep at it.
But here’s something new… put the same amount of weight on your craft as you would a job. You wouldn’t no-call/no-show to work and the same is true of writing. Schedule time, call it work, and show up or you’ll get your ass fired. It’s easy to make up excuses or blow off writing time. Make it a priority for you.
After poet Sylvia Plath divorced her husband for his infidelity, she was raising their kids by herself, but every morning she got up at 4am and wrote like hell until it was time to get the kids up. I’m not saying we should do that, but it goes back to the previous point that writing finds a way.
What are your favourite books?
I read The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas when I was 14, and I still love that story, and it has been very influential to me. But I also love The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy by Stieg Larsson and the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” which was published in 1892, has become a pivotal piece in my education.
I’m currently studying English Language and Literature at SNHU, and I’ve read and re-read and written multiple papers about this absolutely fantastic piece of feminist literature that also deals with mental illness. Cannot recommend “The Yellow Wallpaper” enough to folks who haven’t read it, and it’s in public domain so you can find it free on the web.
Sweet Sixteen Killer is a great book. I look forward to more from Nat.
Thanks again Sam for this opportunity! I enjoyed the interview and talking with you. Thanks for supporting authors.