D.J. Williams
King of the Night
Chase Hardeman, who fought the war on terror in the shadows under the secretive direction of the Oval Office, is on an international hunt for revenge. After the kidnapping of an FBI agent, who the government refuses to acknowledge, Hardeman and his partner Dexter Thompson embark on a dangerous globetrotting journey against the clock to rescue a woman who betrayed them.
DOSSIER: With all of your personal experience and world travel, what is it about going to places like Hong Kong, Africa, and the Far East that have the biggest effect on your writing—the fact that you have a general understanding of life in those places, or the fact that those places leave a mark on your soul, giving you an altered perspective (hopefully a better one) on life in general?
WILLIAMS: As an expat who’s traveled throughout the world, I’ve experienced diverse cultures and unique cities, towns, barrios, and regions. From the neon skylines of Hong Kong to the slums of Manila, to the shores of the Zambezi River, those encounters have profoundly inspired my writing. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many who live in mega cities and forgotten places—experiencing their differences and commonalities—and I’ve been inspired by those encounters to create diverse characters who have sparked my writing through unique perspectives on the world. And I’ve found myself chasing the next adventure, whether escaping a charging elephant in the back of a Land Rover (filming the entire time), nearly driving off a cliff in the mountains of Guatemala, or hiking through the jungle with a fifty pound sack of food on my shoulder alongside those who the world will never know. Each one of those moments and the diverse people I have had the privilege of meeting along the way have left an indelible mark on my soul.
Inspiration from a best friend
DOSSIER: Not all writers are able to draw from personal experiences, but that shouldn’t necessarily slow them down, right? When you sat down to write your Chase Hardeman series, a main character with a grueling history in military special operations, what did you draw from to create his backstory and life experiences?
WILLIAMS: When I sat down to write book one, The Auctioneer, the idea for Chase Hardeman was inspired by one of my best friends—the greatest auctioneer of all time in the collector car world. Shout out to my buddy, Mitch. When I listened to him recount his life experiences, I was instantly struck with a spark of an idea for an entire backstory for Chase and the rest of my cast of characters. Of course, that was only the beginning.
As a massive fan of the Bourne, Bond, and Reese franchises, as well as drawing inspiration from films such as Black Hawk Down, American Sniper, and Zero Dark Thirty, I knew from the start that I wanted to root Chase Hardeman in the world of high-end auctions with the players lingering in the gray and shadow espionage without rules or oversight, while honoring the bravery of military service. I have great respect for the military and what each one has done, and is doing, to protect our freedom. But a game changer occurs in King of the Night that shifts the entire series when Chase and Dax face shocking alliances, heartbreaking losses, and world-shattering revelations.
Find that writing rhythm
DOSSIER: When and where do you write, and what kind of environment do you prefer? (Music/silence/in your fancy trailer on a set somewhere?)
WILLIAMS: My writing schedule and environment varies. In the last few years, I’ve found a rhythm in writing in my office during the day between meetings and other projects, then editing and writing late at night with a cutoff of 12AM. Right now, I’m writing six to seven days a week. I create a playlist for each book, crank the music, and lose myself in the characters and story. There was a season where I was writing two series at the same time—a YA supernatural and Chase Hardeman—so I had to make sure Chase or Dax didn’t get chosen for the Hunger Games before the book was done!
Executive producer and director
DOSSIER: What series out of your 500+ episodes of broadcast television stands out the most in terms of what you learned from the business, and how has that shaped your novel writing?
WILLIAMS: As an executive producer and director, my experience in television has been on the unscripted side, as well as developing pilots to pitch to various studios, networks, and streamers. I’ve managed to keep my production life separate from my writing life. When Covid hit, there was a bit of a crossroads after I signed a three-book deal for the YA series, and started writing the second book in the Chase Hardeman series, King of the Night, which releases September 2024. I’ve been on the writing wheel ever since as I’m currently chasing a new novel due to my editor in August.
I’m not really sure how the years in television have influenced my writing, except it has given me a clear perspective on the odds of optioning a series like Chase Hardeman. Let’s roll the dice and hit the slots in Vegas! Seriously, perhaps the greatest lesson I’ve learned from the entertainment business is that collaboration alongside the hardest workers in the room will make the final story better.
Visualize the scene first
DOSSIER: Since many TV shows and films start out as books, do you envision how your scenes will be filmed when you write or are you unshackled by the bounds of having to worry how easy or hard it might be for a producer to adapt your work? If it’s good, Spielberg will just have to figure it out, right?
WILLIAMS: Hello, Antoine Fuqua! Hold on while I come back down to earth. When I’m writing, I visualize the scenes before chasing a chapter. I’m not thinking about how much it will cost to film, or even the actors who I envision playing Chase, Dax, or the others. Of course, there is a tendency from my production background where budgets and shooting schedules flash in my mind but I’m pretty good at pushing those aside these days. If I’m fortunate enough to have the series optioned and Chase Hardeman finds himself in Hollywood, then the series will take on another life whether it be a film or a streaming series. I’m just hoping I’ll be allowed in the room.
Website: D.J. Williams | Amazon Author Page