Tell us about your new book.
One Night in Bridgeport is about Jack McGee.  He’s about to marry his high school sweetheart, finish law school, and live the life of his dreams.  Until he goes out of town for work, has a one-night stand with the beautiful Lea Rogers.  A few days later, he is arrested for rape.  The story follows him, Lea and the citizens of small town Bridgeport through a weaving tale of lust and revenge.

What genre is it?
Legal Thriller.

What kind of readers will it appeal to?
People who like books written by John Grisham, Steve Martini and the like.  It’s not a complicated tale.  Simple, straightforward and readable.

How long did it take to write?
I wrote the first draft ten years ago.  It took me a year and was told in the first person.  I took another year to re-write it in third person, adding 40,000 words to it in the process.  It sat on the shelf for the next five or six years, until I decided to revisit the thing.  I spent a few months editing it, cut out 10,000 words.  Spent a few more months editing it, cutting out another 10,000 words.  And then self-published in paperback on Amazon and as a download for the Kindle.

Wow, sounds like quite an enterprise. What was the most challenging part of your creative process?
The re-writing.  It’s not something I enjoy.  Although I was happy about finding all those words to cut to get it below 100,000 words in total.  I was also challenged by whether the story was worth it.  The self-doubt about whether anybody out there will actually want to read it and like it.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I live in California with my wife, two teenage sons, two dogs, two leopard geckos, and a fish.  During the day, I play the role of attorney, hoping I can find a way to one day make a living as a writer.  I also am a mean pizza-maker, bread-baker, and all-around cook, interested in learning how to prepare any style of food I can.

Now you’re making us hungry. Have you got a blog where we can follow your work?
kingmidgetramblings.wordpress.com
markpaxson.com
@MkPaxson.

What’s next?
Weed Therapy.

What?!
It’s a story about Kelvin Rockwell who is unhappy with his marriage, unhappy with how his kids are pulling away from him, and generally unhappy with the shape of his life.  He “runs away” from it all and spends a few days with Father Juan Miguel Santos, an old priest tending his flock in the Mexican village of Santo Cielo — a world far removed from Kelvin’s.  Father Santos shares his words of wisdom and life lessons with Kelvin, who returns home to try to put those lessons into action.

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Enjoyed this interview? Then check out our conversation with Thomas Benigno.