Steve Stratton brings real-world experience to his fiction—and it shows. In Dances with Arrows, military insight, deep research, and memorable characters come together to make a story feel strikingly real. What makes a thriller feel believable to you: the details, the characters, or the stakes? 👇Watch the full conversation on The Author’s Backstory.#AuthorsBackstory #SteveStratton #MilitaryThriller #Bookstagram #WritersOfInstagram

Exploring History and Adventure in Desert Heist

Alex Dekker shares his journey from Green Beret to author.

Welcome to this week’s edition, where we dive into the fascinating world of Alex Dekker, a retired Green Beret whose debut novel, *Desert Heist*, combines military prowess with historical intrigue.

A Unique Perspective on Storytelling

Alex's military background provides a rich foundation for his writing. He reveals that his experiences in special operations and his passion for history are woven throughout the narrative of *Desert Heist*.

"I wanted everything to be grounded in reality so that if you do go Google something... it’s gonna pull back to a realistic thread." — Alex Dekker

This commitment to accuracy is crucial in today’s literary landscape, where readers are more informed than ever.

The Inspiration Behind *Desert Heist*

Surprisingly, Alex never set out to become an author. His journey began during a lull in his deployments, where he sought a creative outlet.

"I had this idea for kind of a high adventure Indiana Jones style story... I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if that story was grounded in reality and in historical fact as much as possible?" — Alex Dekker

Behind the Words: Sam Whitfield's Writing Journey

Exploring the path of an indie author and the role of AI in creativity.

In this inaugural episode of *Writer's Backstory*, Travis Davis welcomes Sam Whitfield, a talented indie author known for his engaging storytelling and unique approach to writing. Their conversation dives deep into Sam's journey into authorship, the challenges he faced, and how modern tools like AI are reshaping the writing landscape.

The Spark of Creativity

Sam's journey began with short stories in junior high and high school, influenced heavily by his love for comic books. He candidly shares that while he lacked the artistic skills to illustrate his ideas, he found solace in writing.