Dandyflowers

Dandyflowers was written during a very low point in my life.  My wife and I had seperated and divorce was looming on the horizon.  With lots of empty hours to fill, I began writing a story around a single word my then three year old son had coined; dandyflowers.

When you are three, this world is a great big exciting place full of new things that pique your interest.  While looking at one of those little yellow blooms in our yard, he looked up and and said, "See da' dandyflowers Daddy?"  That word, "dandyflowers",  stuck with me.

For a long while I had toyed with the idea of writing a book.  The story was going to be about a young woman who learns    about a part of her father's life she never knew existed.  She was going to learn this when she returned home to settle his affairs after his death. 

I actually wrote fifty pages using this as the plot, but I came to realize that if my father had had a "secret" life and I found out about it, I would have lots of questions.  I scrapped the story and began again.  This time the daughter would be newly engaged and her father, who was very much alive, would tell her about the "secret" part of his life.  And the rest they say is history.

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Q: Is Jordan T. Maxwell your real name or a pen name?

A: Jordan T. Maxwell is a pen name. 

Q: How did you come up with that pen name?

A: It is a combination of my daughter’s first name, the first letter of my first name & my son’s middle name.  Besides, Mark Twain was already taken!

Q: How long did it take to write Dandyflowers?

A: I began writing the story April 19, 2004.  The first draft was finished December 4, 2004.

Q: When you write do you do it for a set period of time each day?

A: I write when the mood strikes & for however long I have something to add.   I do try to do something everyday even if it’s editing earlier work.

Q: Do you have any set writing goals when “the mood” strikes?

A: When I sit down to write my goal is one page.  I usually write more than that, but if one page is all I get done I still feel like I have accomplished something.

Q: Have you ever had writer’s block & what did you do to get through it?

A: Yes.   When it occurs I re-read what I’ve written & then do some editing.    There have been times when I have been stuck & I won’t write for a week or more.  I think it helps when you’re stuck to get away from the project for a while.

Q: What is the most you’ve written in one sitting?

A: The most I have ever written at one time was nineteen pages.  It was a great day & the creativity was really flowing!

Q: Why did you write Dandyflowers?

A: I wanted to see if there was a book in me.  Also, I was going through a divorce & had A LOT of time by myself.  It was really good therapy.

Q: Why did you name the book Dandyflowers?

A: Read the book & find out!!!

Q: Are the characters fictional or did you base them on real people?

A: Yes.  The characters are fictional, but I based some of their characteristics on people I know.

Q: Is Laura based on a real person or is she totally fictional?

A: Laura’s physical size & her intensely blue eyes are based on a young lady that I know.  Her mannerisms are a blend of several people.  I took the best of a lot of people & made Laura.  I think of her as my “Franken-hottie”!

Q: Does the young lady know that Laura was somewhat based on her?

A: Yes she knows & she was quite flattered by it.

Q: Did it take a long time to get your book published?

A: From the time the first draft was finished to when I signed my publishing contract took only 14 months.  From what I have learned about publishing, that is fast.

Q: Is there any part of the book based on real events?

A: Many of the events described in the book are based wholly or partially on things I have heard about or participated in, but I’m not telling what those are!

Q: What message do you hope to send to the people who read Dandyflowers?

A: For those who are married, I hope they will appreciate their spouse more than they did before reading the book.  For the unmarried, especially teenagers, who are dating, I hope they realize that waiting to have sex until they are married is not only a good idea, but it’s also a biblical mandate.

Q: Are you working on any new projects?

A: I just finished editing the raw audio files for the audio book edition of Dandyflowers.  I’m also writing the second of three planned Dandyflowers books.  The second one is tentatively titled Dandyflowers: Laura’s Diaries.  The third and most likely last Dandyflowers book is going to be about the Adelaide sisters.

Q: Who are the Adelaide sisters?

A: Read the book & find out!!!

Q: What has been the best thing that has happened to you since the book got published?

A: The best thing, without a doubt, was when my kids saw it in print & they told me they were proud of me.  It doesn’t get any better than that!

Q: Anything else?

A: One of the youngest people that I know who read it told me, “Your book is freaking awesome!” 

Q: How old was this person?

A: She’s 14 (and has really great taste in her reading material!!!)

Q: What age group do you see as the market for Dandyflowers?

A: As I said, the youngest person I know who read it is 14.   The oldest is a lady in her mid seventies.  I think Dandyflowers has appeal in a wide age range.  I think anyone who reads it will find something they can relate to.

Q: What was the hardest thing you had to do while writing the book?

A: I am a stickler for details so when you read that there was a full moon or a certain date was on a certain day of the week, it is accurate.  For example, when I wrote the part about the Apollo 11 countdown, I listened to the actual recording several times to make certain it was accurate.  When you read the countdown dialogue, you are reading what was actually said on July 16, 1969.

Q: Why did you do that?

A: Because there are people like me who check out things like that!!!

Q: What piece of information was the hardest to find?

A: Oddly enough, it took me a long time to find the name of the man who did the countdown for Apollo 11.  His name is Jack King. 

Q: Are actual historic events in Dandyflowers?

A: Yes.  A large part of the story takes place during the 1960s.  There were a lot of things going on in the world then.  In fact, there was so much I had to leave some of them out for the sake of the book’s length.  I plan on using those in the second book.

Q: In five years what do you hope to see because of Dandyflowers?

A: In five years I hope I am writing for a living.  Also, I would love to see Dandyflowers made into a movie.  Seeing the story come to life like that would be absolutely wonderful!!!