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.
Leave a Reply