Interview with David Mahood

Author of One Green Deed Spawns Another: Tales of Inspiration on the Quest for Sustainability

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was raised in a small town in Western New York called Geneseo. My parents were both educators and books were always a part of conversations. I now reside in Beverly, Massachusetts, north of Boston.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

Like most children, we followed our parents’ aspirations, which took us from Elmhurst, Illinois to Syracuse and ultimately Geneseo in New York State. I have always had the traveling jones and I’ve lived in many states since leaving Geneseo. I wound up in Massachusetts as a result of personal relationships. I have lived in three of the four quadrants of the country over my lifetime.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

My book was the culmination of an MBA in Sustainability I pursued. It dawned on me that over a twenty-year period I had met some passionate environmentalists who had shaped the direction of my life. Once I began to reflect on all this and write about it, I knew I had an important story to tell. If I could be so affected by the influences in my life then others might gain similar inspiration from this story.

After a few hiccups with a literary agent, I researched publishing alternatives on my own and determined that Ingram’s publishing programs met with my desire to support indie bookstores. We lose a foundation in a tight community if no independent bookstores exist. Local bookstores are a healthy source of interrelation for a city or town. It allows for the intersection of minds and ideas. It has been such a joy for me to travel around the country in support of these bookstores.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My book is a nonfiction book dedicated to ecology, nature, and the climate crisis. While the book does contain data and scientific analysis, it is inteded for the general public since it is more a story of environmental awakenings, ecological observations, and the philosophical question of what role we have played and what role should we play in the future. In the telling of my story I revisit many of the original sources of my inspiration to gain their current perspectives knowing that it requires a collaborative effort from a variety of angles to combat such an overwhelming challenge. I was fortunate to have worked with or met individuals from a range of disciplines who all had the same goal in mind. From these stories the reader can get a sense of purpose as it relates to climate. So, there is an educational and philosophical component to the book.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

The topic is universal, of course, but anyone who has a yearning to know more about the changing environmental landscape and what is and can be done will be drawn to my book. I have received reviews from people representing every demographic category so I cannot target one in particular. I would state that the younger college-aged generation has been focused on climate change and they connect with my chosen topic. More and more, people are beginning to ask questions as to what one person can do in the face of such an overwhelming challenge. We need options as well as motivation, and my book may spark some of that. If we do find a way of participating and making a difference then others can benefit from that and take their own steps.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

I learned that I am an unconventional writer unlike my dad, who wrote ten books. I struggled with the pattern of writing, which surprised me. Many of the best writers of our time have such successful writing methods. Their discipline is a source of amazement to me. I found that I wrote my book in fits and spasms, which may have been a factor of loose deadlines. My second book is under a tighter timeframe.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Fight through it. No writer worth a damn fails to have moments of panic. Don’t ignore those moments but don’t let them stop you in your tracks either.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

There is a large sector of the population that isn’t paying attention to the potential for climate-related catastrophes. I would like my book to make it into that sector. It is written in a manner that is compelling but nonthreatening, serious but still hopeful. If I could reach a hundred thousand readers who never picked up a book about the environment, I would be abundantly satisfied.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Writers embarking on their first book face big hurdles that established writers do not. To me the least satisfying part of writing my book was the months of inactivity waiting on responses from my literary agent. My book could have been released months in advance otherwise. I understand how the business of literary representation has changed but I found it a source of frustration. I, like most writers, want to dedicate my time to writing not promoting my marketability.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I am far from alone in stating this but I have a deep passion for my book topic. Additionally, as a rather older first-time writer, I had the benefit of years of experience on the subject of environment and sustainability. Living experience allows for better storytelling. One of my strokes of luck is to be in the company of many fine writers, editors, and bookstore enthusiasts. Making critical connections is not easy so I was fortunate to have some of those in place in advance. I have owned businesses in the past and marketing is essential to the success of any venture. Writers need to get comfortable with marketing their work and themselves. To some writers that is an obstacle but I found that just a function of the process. And modern publishing is deeply dependent on marketing.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

In one word: time. The time required to self publish is substantial. If you cannot budget the time to create a meaningful product, you should wait. That undeniably has been my biggest weakness, and it is always because of external factors. I simply got overloaded with my first book and although I am pleased with the outcome of it, there never was enough time. In hindsight, I’d have made a few changes as to how I went about my book.

When do you think you will write your next book?

It is currently being written. It is in the same genre but in a completely different format. I have written poetry for thirty or more years and I am converging many of my past writings into a new book. Also included in this are ten years of Earth Day essays I have written. These form the chapters of the book. It is a bolder effort, risky but bold. It is shaping up.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

All of my efforts at traditional publishing were at the mercy of my past literary agent.
In the end I turned to Ingram Spark and couldn’t be happier. They ask more of the author but in return give the author more control. I wouldn’t choose any other means of self publishing. They also give the author the ability to price the book into a bookstore discount. This is critical for any bookstore, and equally critical for an author trying to gain shelf space. I’ve made my bed with bookstores forever.