Mystery thrillers have a way of gripping readers, pulling them into a world of suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists. For Dave Milbrandt, winning a 2022 Illumination Mystery/Thriller Silver Medal for his novel Fool’s Luck wasn’t just an acknowledgment of his talent—it was a powerful confirmation of the dedication and passion he’s poured into his writing since 1998.
We sat down with Dave to talk about his journey to becoming an award-winning author, the inspiration behind his stories, and what it feels like to see his creative dreams flourish.
A Milestone Moment: What Winning Means for Dave
“When you share your creative work with the world, it is hard to know whether it is objectively good or just something you and your friends and family believe has value,” Dave said. Winning an Illumination Award gave him the external validation he had been striving for in his fiction-writing career.
“Professionally, I am able to demonstrate to current and future audiences that my work merits consideration among the scores and scores of volumes produced each year,” he explained. “I and my friends are not the only ones who can tell you it is worth reading.”
The Inspiration Behind Fool’s Luck
Sometimes, the best stories are born from everyday musings. Dave credits his wife, a fellow writer, for the spark that ignited Fool’s Luck.
“We often spin yarns around the dinner table,” he explained. “One day, we were speculating about what would happen if a regular person won the lottery and did something extraordinary with the money…like run for president.”
From that imaginative conversation, a unique and compelling story was born.
A Rapid-Fire Writing Process
With a background as a newspaper reporter, Dave was no stranger to working under tight deadlines. His writing process for Fool’s Luck involved leveraging his summers off from teaching.
“I spent 30 days writing all day, taking breaks for food and not much else,” he revealed. While the approach was more all-consuming, it allowed him to craft the first draft quickly. After completing the draft, Dave moved into the editing phase, polishing the story into its final form.
As he moves forward, Dave is exploring more balanced ways to approach his craft.
“Now that I am looking to move into screenwriting and film production full-time, I am trying to find a more balanced way to approach my writing, but I imagine I still instinctively will write a lot very quickly and then move into the editing phase,” he shares.
Overcoming Challenges Along the Way
Like many authors, Dave faced hurdles during his publishing journey. “I had written several books before Fool’s Luck that I had self-published because I had been unable to publish traditionally for many, many years,” he explained.
For this project, however, he took a more deliberate approach. “With this book, I was selective in my pitching until I found Ambassador International, who was willing to take a chance on me.”
Advice for Aspiring Authors
Dave is passionate about helping other writers navigate the complexities of the publishing world. In his presentation to writers’ groups, titled Putting the ‘I’ in Indie Writer, he emphasizes the importance of patience, community, and strategic planning.
“When I present to writers’ groups, I give the following pieces of advice:
- Investigate your genre
- Slay the beast of impatience
- Impress your audience with details
- Ingenuity is key
- Get interconnected (with other creatives)
- Craft a distinctive image
- Intrinsic motivation will make you
- Seek out investors (investors of time and support such as Beta Readers, a Launch Team, etc.)
- Identify realistic goals
- You must be inspired
- Be a person of influence (Inspire others as you have been inspired)
- Index your success (you gotta be able to talk about yourself)
- Accept your split identity (you may be an author, but you also have a regular life, too).”
Dave also emphasizes the importance of patience. “I wish I had more patience with the process and that the Indie publishing market had been more well-established,” he admits.
What’s Next for Dave?
Since the success of Fool’s Luck, Dave has shifted his focus to the world of screenwriting and film production. “I am moving into the screenwriting and film production space with the film company I co-founded: M68 Films,” he shared. “I adapted Fool’s Luck into a screenplay that we have made a proof of concept film short we will use to sell it to a major film production company hopefully in the near future.”
But that’s not all. Dave is also working on multiple projects with his creative partners. “I am working on this and several other projects with my friends and creative partners Justin S. Fisher and Gary Gould,” he said. “It is very exciting to see what God has in store for this next phase of my career.”
As he continues to evolve as a storyteller, Dave remains open to the possibilities ahead, always looking for new ways to share his vision with the world.
Encouraging Authors to Submit to Awards
For those considering submitting their work to the Illumination Awards, Dave is all for it. “Absolutely do so. It may feel like you are bragging about your skills, but it is more like earning a badge or certification. It can easily be what separates your work from that of others, and it gives you a larger platform from which you can share your vision and values.”
Dave’s journey from self-publishing to winning a prestigious Illumination Award shows that perseverance, passion, and a willingness to share your voice can lead to incredible opportunities.
If you’ve poured your heart into a book that reflects your passion and purpose, consider submitting it to the Illumination Awards. Our judges can’t wait to see what you’ve created!
