Anderson releases “The Legend of the Child”

Devin Anderson has a few stories to tell, in a novel way.

He has just released his novel 'The Legend Of The Child.' This book follows on the heels of his debut novel 'Into The Midnight Hour.'

“I've been writing off and on for 13 years,” Anderson said, then added with a laugh, “Now that the kids are out of the house I can get things done.”

Born and raised in Concordia, Anderson has been a police officer in Concordia for 23 years and now holds the rank of lieutenant. He wrote his first book in 2010. “I tried to get it published through traditional publishers, but that didn't work out,” he said.

Anderson wrote the crime thriller 'Into The Midnight Hours' in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. But, as a cop, Anderson said he's not drawn to the crime thriller genre. “My favorite writers are Stephen King and J.R.R. Tolkien. They're what made me want to be a writer. I read a lot of different stuff, but I don't write horror or suspense.”

Anderson dedicated 'Into The Midnight Hours' to a fellow police officer, the late Marc Henry. “He's the one who talked me into writing the book. He was always encouraging me to write.”

Anderson's latest release, 'The Legend Of The Child,' is a young adult fantasy. His third novel 'Neon Nights' will be released on March 12, 2024, and is another different genre. “It's a cross between old noir and steampunk. Dark and gritty.”

Anderson said when he gets an idea for a novel, he usually sits on it for six months before he puts words to paper. “I get an idea, and then a beginning and an end. I know where I want to begin, and I know how I want it to end, and I just let my brain fill in all the in betweens.”

Anderson said that he writes every day. “It's usually in the evening for at least two hours. Even if I'm just staring at the blinking cursor, I'm there for two hours. I enjoy writing when the words flow out. I get it down on the paper, and I like that part. Then you do a rewrite, and another and another, and that's the hard part. I don't like it when I find 'plot bunnies' – something that doesn't make sense.”

Anderson plans to retire from the police force in five years and then work at writing full time. “It was an agreement I'd made with my wife before she passed away, and I'm going to honor that. It was something we had planned on doing, and she knew it was what I wanted to do.”

Anderson's novels can be purchased on Amazon. By February 2024, his books can be ordered through any bookstore.