Interview with Timothy Renner

Author of Don’t Look Behind You

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

I grew up on a small farm in northern Baltimore County, Maryland. I currently reside in York County, Pennsylvania.

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

It was a love of the Pennsylvania landscape and folklore, combined with the love of a woman which brought me to York County. My wife and I met at a young age. We were actually pen pals to start, some time before the internet. Over time our relationship grew from friendship to romance. Having been interested in folklore from a young age, I was fascinated and impressed with how much Pennsylvania folklore has been preserved – and how it seems to be integrated into the landscape. When it came time to choose a place to live, the choice was easy for me.

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

My first book, “Beyond the Seventh Gate”, was written to address some urban legends regarding some supposedly haunted areas in York County, Pennsylvania – mainly an area known as Toad Road. When the story of Toad Road and the Seven Gates of Hell would come up in the local papers, the reporters would often state things like “nobody knows the true story of Toad Road.” I decided that somebody was going to know the true story – and that somebody would be me.

Through a combination of boots-on-the-ground research and historical study, I was able to find a lot of forgotten history about the area. I debunked a lot of foolishness, while at the same time discovering mysteries new and old related to Toad Road.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books look at the paranormal through the lens of folklore and history. Using old maps, old newspaper articles, and old folk tales I connect the strange things people report seeing today with the strange things people saw in the past. It seems the unusual has always haunted humanity from the shadows – we simply used different names for these things in the past.

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

The open-minded paranormalist or those interested in Fortean subjects – especially folks who realize that these strange things are not yet solved, and may never be, but that the mystery itself is a rewarding and worthy pursuit.

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

I had been a musician for some years before I ever published my first book. I self-produced many albums, so I was familiar, with producing content, though it was not books per se. Upon publishing my first book I was surprised by how seriously people take a book versus a album of music. People seem to be much more impressed when I tell them I have published four books than when I tell them I have released over a dozen albums.

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

I would tell myself to start writing earlier. I have more books I want to write than I will likely ever have time to get to in my life.

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

This is a difficult question. How many people are interested in the topics about which I write? The paranormal seems, on some days, to be this very fringe topic. Then, I see tons of television programs about ghosts and aliens and bigfoot and I think perhaps these topics are more mainstream than I imagined. I would like to reach everyone who is interested, certainly.

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

Converting my books, which I also illustrate, into ebooks. I have not found a satisfactory way to translate the look and design of my physical, printed books into ebooks. It’s a very frustrating process for me.

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

I think what I do best with my writing is to find and make connections. When I can connect a modern paranormal sighting with an old folktale and perhaps find a newspaper article from the 1800s which all seem to talk about the same thing, or something very similar, it is a very exciting and satisfying moment for me.

As far as publishing – I grew up in what was known as the DIY underground movement. This gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities to make and publish books on my own. I just jumped in and did my best and trusted that I could find the audience for my books once I made them.

I think my only strength in marketing comes from my excitement and interest in the topics about which I write and in the information I have gathered. I enjoy talking about the subjects, so I am happy to go on any radio programs or podcasts that will have me.

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

In writing I suffer from the notion that time is always breathing down my neck. Sometimes a text will suffer a bit if you don’t put it aside for awhile, give it some breathing room, and come back at a later date. I have pressured myself to treat writing, as much as possible, like a job, and so that idea of producing sometimes gets in the way of that breathing room.

In publishing, besides the difficulties producing ebooks I mentioned previously, I still think like an “old school” designer and publisher. I have ways I like to do things and I am sometimes resistant to change.

Marketing is somewhat of a mystery to me. I never figured out how to promote my music. I think I’m somewhat better at promoting my books, but I can’t point to anything I am doing differently. If I could afford to hire someone to take care of this aspect of writing for me, I would absolutely do just that.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am currently working on a two book series with a co-author, Joshua Cutchin. We are hoping to publish the first volume before the end of 2019 and the second volume in 2020.

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

I am self-published. I have been approached by small publishers, but at this point I can not see what they can do for me which self-publishing can not – except they would take a good chunk of the profits.