Phil M. Williams has written twenty-five thrillers spanning murder mysteries, political drama, dystopian futures, and more. His stories feature everyday people facing extraordinary challenges ripped from today’s headlines.
In this interview, we talked about his latest relase, What Happened in the Woods, and Williams shares insights into his writing process, from researching military techniques to crafting realistic characters and emotional depth.
Brandi’s father Jack subjects her to extreme survivalism and guerrilla warfare training. Were these methods inspired by real-life military techniques, and how did you research them to ensure authenticity?
Yes, these were inspired by real-life military techniques. I consulted my brother who is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and I did a lot of research on traps and techniques used by Vietcong guerillas during the Vietnam War.
Jack’s character deals with paranoia and PTSD. How did you approach depicting his mental health challenges, and what steps did you take to portray them accurately and sensitively?
Again, I consulted my youngest brother who produced a documentary on veteran mental health and suicide titled, Tribal.
The strained relationship between Brandi and her parents plays a crucial role in the story. How did you explore the impact of parental influence on Brandi’s decisions and resilience?
During the outlining process, I used discovery writing to see where the causes and effects of her strained relationships might take her. Even though this is an action packed, scary thriller, I tried to stay true to Brandi’s roots. She made the bad choices and mistakes that someone in her situation might make. At the same time, she was a fighter who had been through the ringer, so when she had to, she fought for her life.
Throughout the novel, Brandi struggles between fear, defiance, and the survival instincts drilled into her. Was there a particular moment in her journey that you found most challenging to write in terms of balancing her emotional vulnerability with her growing resilience?
There was a scene where she had to kill a tracking dog, but one of Brandi’s redeeming virtues was that she loved animals. In my first draft, she killed the dog, problem solved, but it didn’t sit right with her characterization. I didn’t want her to lose her redeeming virtues as she became hardened by her attackers. She found another way out, and the dog survived.
The novel addresses severe trauma and survival situations. How did you balance creating a gripping narrative while ensuring a realistic portrayal of trauma and its aftermath?
This is difficult. I tried to show her wounds, to show her physical and emotional pain as realistically as I could, at the same time, I didn’t slow the story with excessive exposition on her trauma.
The story unfolds with a mix of tension and action. How did you approach structuring the narrative to maintain suspense while developing character depth?
I used a single POV, Brandi, but I used a Before and After sequence of chapters. The Before and After stories each build to their climactic conclusions, but they also enhance the readers understanding of Brandi’s plight.
Get Phil M. Williams latest release, What Happened in The Woods, available on Amazon
Forced to choose between loyalty and love…
A twisty serial-killer thriller about a kidnapped young woman who is trained to fight back.
They thought she’d be easy prey… They took the wrong girl.
High school senior Brandi Hunt lives for the moment, without rules or immediate consequences. After her meth-addicted mother is arrested, she’s sent to live with her father, Jack, who she hasn’t seen since she was a child.
He’s a strict disciplinarian and a veteran suffering from paranoia and PTSD. Despite his demons, he’s determined to set his daughter on the straight and narrow, albeit with unconventional methods that include: extreme training sessions on survivalism, self-defense, marksmanship, and even guerilla warfare.
But when Jack’s boot camp has a serious casualty, Brandi is finished with her crazy father…
Several years later, while working as a cashier at a fast-food restaurant, Brandi is approached with a modeling opportunity. Despite her misgivings, the lure of easy money is too much to resist.
Red flags wave when the handsome photographer drives her to a remote cabin for the modeling shoot. However, Brandi is blinded by her infatuation, even when he crosses the line of professionalism.
But they aren’t alone. When the photographer vanishes, she’s left naked and alone. The perfect prey to be snagged by the stranger watching from the woods.
Brandi cannot imagine the hell that is planned for her. It’s a rigged game that only ends one way. Will she survive or die? And either way, can she take a few of them with her first?
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