Jeff Edwards
Author of Torpedo
By: Trisha Bleau

CS: Torpedo sounds like the kind of book my father absolutely loves reading. I will have to recommend it to him for sure. He loves military/warfare types of books and the issue of nuclear war in this book will intrigue him. What made you decide to write a fictional book on this topic? What is your own personal interest in subjects like this?

JE: My first book was a high-tech detective novel. There was a lot of technology woven into the story, and my agent saw that and decided that I should put my Navy experience to work by writing a military thriller. I wasn’t really interested at first. I was still on active duty at the time, and I was too close to the military to want to write about it. I’ve always loved reading military novels, but I didn't think I'd be any good at writing one. But I agreed to take a crack at writing a naval thriller, and - much to my surprise - I fell in love with it. The result was Torpedo.

CS: Have you written any other books? Any books along the same lines as this book? If so, how have they been received by the public?

JE: Torpedo is my only published book so far. My first novel is tied up in a movie deal, and its publication will probably be timed to coincide with the release date of the movie.

CS: What are your next plans for writing? Do you plan to do any more books similar to this book? Will you move on to new writing and projects?

JE: I’m currently working on another naval thriller. As I said earlier, I fell in love with writing about the Navy. It turns out that nearly two and a half decades of military experience gives me quite a bit to write about.

CS: Who have been your biggest influences in life? Who have been your biggest influences in your life as a writer?

JE: The biggest influences in my life have been the men and women who serve this country. They give so much: their effort, their sweat, their blood, and sometimes their very lives. And they ask so very little in return.

The biggest influence in my life as a writer would be a tie between my wife, Maria, and my literary agent, Don Gerrard. Don saw promise in my writing when I was very raw and inexperienced. He took the time to mentor me, and to help me discover my own unique style of writing. Maria has been my partner in this writing thing. She helps me with my research; she has an uncanny knack for marketing, and she protects my writing time. Without Maria running interference for me, I’d probably never finish a book.

CS: What is your favorite type of writing? Do you prefer fiction like this? Or do you enjoy other writing as well?

JE: That’s a tough question. I love writing fiction, no doubt about that. But I’ve been writing non-fiction articles and opinion columns for the last couple of years, and I really enjoy that too. If I had to choose only one, I’d go with fiction. But it’s a close call.

CS: What kind of research is involved in writing a book like Torpedo? How do you verify and ensure that things are accurate when you are putting a fictional slant on the subject? Do you have resources that you go to when you have questions about nuclear warfare or military strategy to make the book more realistic to readers?

JE: I served in the Navy for twenty-three years, so a lot of people assume that I don’t need to do much research to write a book about it. But my particular expertise was in anti-submarine warfare. I had to write about missiles, radars, satellite communications systems, helicopters, and all sorts of things that fell outside the scope of my own training and experience. I also had to learn about international politics, diplomatic protocol, foreign languages, and dozens of other subjects. So there was a lot of research involved. The real trick was in making the book realistic, without revealing classified information. There are quite a few technical and tactical details in the book that are deliberately wrong. I had to alter some things, and eliminate others entirely. But I always tried to get the flavor right, even when the details were wrong. For instance, the book contains a fictionalized version of the tactics that modern warships use to evade torpedoes. The details are changed, but you can get a very real sense of what it feels like to try to decoy a hostile torpedo that’s screaming toward your ship like a runaway train.

CS: Can you share with our readers your experience with military life and writings you currently do for www.military.com? Give our readers an idea of the other writing you do and the impact it has on readers who check it out.

JE: When Military.Com first invited me to write an opinion column, I was pretty intimidated. Their other columnists are an impressive collection of celebrities, authors, national leaders, and military experts. They’ve got bestselling authors like Joe Buff, Dale Brown, and Michael DiMercurio; as well as political heavyweights like Senator Chuck Hagel and former Secretary of the Navy James Webb. I’m just a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer. What could I possibly offer? And then it occurred to me that my weakness might actually be my greatest strength. I see the military through the eyes of the ordinary enlisted man. I know what it’s like to be a deck plate Sailor. So I decided to call my column "The View From the Deck Plate." I write about freedom, the struggle against terror, and the sacrifices made by our military personnel. But I do it from the perspective of the ordinary service member, and that’s a point of view that is too often overlooked.

CS: Do you have a regular full time job or do you focus solely on writing?

JE: I’m still a part time writer. I’m not quite ready to give up my day job and write full time, but I’ve got my fingers crossed.

CS: What is the last book you read? Did you read it for research purposes or for pleasure?

JE: At any given time, I’m reading four or five books. Usually one or two of them are for pleasure, and the rest are for research. I leave them laying all over the house, and it makes my wife crazy. At the moment, I’m reading ‘Dangerous Weapons, Desperate States’ (research), ‘The New Russians’ (research), ‘Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces’ (research), and ‘The Year the Lights Came On,’ (pleasure).

CS: What training do you have in writing? Any military training? Did you take any courses in college to obtain the skills you have currently?

JE: I took a couple of college courses in expository writing, but otherwise I’m self-taught. I’ve read about a hundred books on the craft of writing, discussed the subject with every writer I could corner, and - as I’ve mentioned - I’ve had an excellent mentor.

CS: What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in writing?

JE: Don’t give up the dream. Practice, hone your skills, improve, and never forget that every best selling author in the world started out as an unpublished beginner.

CS: What advice would you give to someone interested in publishing their works?

JE: Forget about looking for publishers. Find a good agent. Mind you, that’s nearly as difficult as finding a publisher, but it’s utterly worth the effort. If you’ve got the right agent, he or she will open doors for you in the publishing world that you can never open for yourself. And - again - don’t give up the dream.