Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come to us like a lightning bolt, through the lyrics of a song, or in the fog of a dream. Ask any writer where their stories come from and you’ll get a myriad of answers, and in that vein I created the WHAT (What the Hell Are you Thinking?) interview.

Today’s guest for the WHAT is Hawke Smith author of 29 Palms: An American Odyssey for True Love, in which he recounts his personal experiences on a journey of a lifetime that he took across the United States in the summer of 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the trip he makes a promise to a beautiful girl to go as far as his heart will carry him; only it all begins leading to her. It’s a tale of an outsider trying to find his place in the world, dealing with loss and self-doubt, all while on a quest to find out what love truly is.

Ideas for our books can come from just about anywhere, and sometimes even we can’t pinpoint exactly how or why. Did you have a specific origin point for your book?

Well, I’ve always wanted to write a book, but I felt like I didn’t have a story to tell. When I hit the road and took my journey across the country in the summer of 2020 that all changed. It felt like fate carved out the tale itself and it all clicked into place when someone special inspired me to do it all.

Once the original concept existed, how did you build a plot around it?

I didn’t have to build a plot; that’s the funny part about it all. All I had to do was write the story as it occurred through memories and text messages. The rest just flowed along. 

Have you ever had the plot firmly in place, only to find it changing as the story moved from your mind to paper?

No, it never felt that way to me. I began writing the book to win over a girls heart. I wanted her to truly love and understand me; flaws and all, but as the story went on it grew to being more about my legacy.

Do story ideas come to you often, or is fresh material hard to come by?

I can’t write a fiction story. I have to base all of what I write off of actual events. I do that because I get very personal and deep within my emotions so I can put my whole heart into it. They say write what you know; so that’s what I do.

How do you choose which story to write next, if you’ve got more than one percolating?

Well, I was a teenage runaway at one point in my life, so my next book will be about that. Of course, there will be a sequel to 29 Palms as well. It all depends what country I want to travel next.

I have 4 cats and a Dalmatian (seriously, check my Instagram feed) and I usually have at least one or two snuggling with me when I write. Do you have a writing buddy, or do you find it distracting?

No writing buddies for me. Maybe my leather recliner if that counts.