A Conversation with Sean Dow, author of 'A Leafy Green World' & 'Al-thar'

Sean Dow is a pulmonary and critical care physician in Great Falls, Montana. He started writing thriller novels in 2011, and has three titles, one of which, Debridement, is in its second printing and is being made into a feature film.

Sean was born in Iowa City, but was raised on a small farm in Kansas before leaving for medical school, and the adventures beyond. His career was largely in Klamath Falls, Oregon, a town that still feels like home. He did a brief stent in Las Vegas before moving to the paradise of Montana. When not working or writing, Sean can be found in the kitchen perfecting his New York cheesecake, or on the mountain streams with Bailey, his beloved (and perfectly behaved) Mastiff and his favorite 2 weight fly rod-a parting gift from a dear friend and patient.

His latest books are A Leafy Green World and Al-thar.

For More Information

• Visit Sean Dow’s website.
• Connect with Sean on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Books:

Title: A Leafy Green World
Author: Sean Dow
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
Pages: 449
Genre: Thriller

A Leafy Green World is a fast paced, action packed thriller set in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Brent Holcomb has moved to Portland in hopes of resurrecting his life and his career. There, he meets Robyn-the girl from his dreams. All is going smoothly until he realizes Robyn and her friends are not what they seem. Now, wrapped up in the murder of an innocent man, and with nowhere to turn, Brent forms a bold plan-a plan that will put him on a dangerous course, aligning himself with domestic terrorists and ultimately, a deeply hidden cell of Islamic terrorists. 

For More Information

• A Leafy Green World is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Title: Al-thar
Author: Sean Dow
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
Pages: 466
Genre: Thriller

In Al-thar, (Arabic:revenge) Brent is living a tranquil life on the peaceful Philippine island of Masbate. But the FBI's witness protection plan is not enough when you have destroyed the plans of the world's most feared terrorist group-an assassin is on the way, and his plans are far worse than a simple bullet in the head. 

With the violent destruction of his new island home, Dr. Holcomb is once again thrust into danger, this time on an international level. There are only two outcomes in this new high-stakes match, Brent's painful and public death and the destruction of America's, or the death of Saadullah Abul Ka-beir, and his council. 

Brent brings together his cast of memorable friends from A Leafy Green World as he devises the greatest deception ever imagined. The action goes at a break-neck pace from the Philippines to Washington, D.C., and from a remote valley in Pakistan to the jungles of Sierra Leone in this novel that has been described as almost too real, and too timely.

For More Information

• Al-thar is available at Amazon.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing?

Living in Montana, I try to take advantage of the many outdoor opportunities-fly fishing, rock and gem hunting and searching for edible wild mushrooms. Cooking is my other passion-I am working to perfect my cheesecake, a true labor of love. The recent addition of a Mastiff puppy has me spending a lot of time retrieving shelf items from her possession and finding new, safe places to store them.

When did you start writing?

2011

As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?

Reading and implementing a most incredible resource, “Self-editing for Fiction Authors.” I strongly recommend this book to all aspiring fiction authors-it’s advice was invaluable.

If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?

A log cabin in the mountains. Clean air and beautiful surroundings-who could ask for anything more. Oh, and a good supply of coffee beans and a French press!

If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?

Clean my truck-Bailey(my Mastiff) and I searched the flooded river bottoms for mushrooms last week, you can guess the rest….

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

The Bob Marshall Wilderness, possibly a horror story.

Back to your present book, A Leafy Green World and Al-thar, how did you publish it?

Self-published. I had a good publishing experience with my first novel and decided to stay with it.

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?

No, all research was done over the computer, though I would love to go to the Philippines where much of Al-thar takes place. It is a beautiful country, and I have met so many wonderful folks from there that I am certain it would be a delightful trip.

Why was writing A Leafy Green World, Al-thar so important to you?

My only motivation was to create a story completely different from any others out there, and for it to be enjoyable for my readers. It is inevitable that some of my biases and political leanings show through, but there was no plan for these stories to be anything other than involving thrillers.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?

Hard to answer that one- some of my best ideas come when I am involved in other pastimes, ie driving or just getting to sleep, but most come when I am in my recliner, feet up and actively writing. I develop my plot as I go, usually with no idea where it will go until I get there.

Any final words?

Writing has become a passion and a very rewarding experience. I would encourage others who have thought about starting a book to quit saying someday, and jump in-you won’t regret it!