Writers and Readers discussion

Kevin J. Hallock was born in Missouri, grew up in Michigan, and now lives with his wife in Massachusetts. He studied mathematics and chemistry at Albion College (Albion, MI) and obtained his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI). His passions include scientific research, teaching, and writing. He’s a proud member of Grub Street (a writing community in Boston, MA).

Dead Doughboy Walking is his first short story and is available for free.

Kevin's Goodreads Profile: Kevin J. Hallock

I was wondering why you chose WWI era as your setting.

Hi Kevin,

I was wondering, what came first your love for writing or your love for science?

-Jason

Grub Street, what an unusual name for a book club!

Pamela Brown (PamelaKayNobleBrown) | 22 comments Hi Kevin,

Your Dead Doughboy book seems really fitting for October. :) I looked at your page and was interested to see that your other book is The Physical Basis of Biochemistry.

My question is did the two feed off of each other? Was it ghoulish fun using your knowledge of biochemistry to enhance the possibilities of making a man with no physical body actually seem plausible?

Is Dead Doughboy to be part of a future collection of short stories?

Your moderator here. I'm not sure where Kevin got to, something may have come up. I sent him messages, but I haven't heard from him. So keep posting questions until it gets sorted out.

I'd like to apologize to everyone. Unavoidable circumstances prevented me from logging on before now.

Now to answering the questions...

A.F. - I chose the WWI setting because it "fit" Cecil. When I was considering what type of history would have created him, WWI's brutality fit him like a glove.

Jason - Science came first. My mother tells me I started "collecting" insects when I was two-years old. (Of course, collecting looked a lot like me chasing other kids around with bugs...)

Jo - Grub Street it great! If you're in the Boston area, I strongly recommend checking it out.

Pamela - The two books aren't directly connected, but subconsciously, my scientific knowledge definitely slants my writing. I often research a lot while writing.

Erma - DDW is the first installment in a series of stories that will include novels, short stories, and novellas. One of the things that intrigues about ebooks is that publishing isn't restricted by word count. Trying to print up and distribute DDW as a p-book would have been prohibitively expensive, but as an ebook, it can go around the world (thanks to Amazon).

Hi Kevin,
I downloaded your book tonight. I will read it but from the post it will be a thrilling experience
Ann

Hi Ann,

Thanks for downloading it, and I hope you enjoy it!

I have two questions this time.
What inspired the idea for Dead Doughboy Walking?
How did you come up with the title? (which I love by the way)

Hi A.F.,

The original title caused confusion with some of my beta readers, but it wasn't enough to make me change it. My editor really didn't like it so I had to hunt for something new while working with her. My wife and I were tossing around ideas and she suggested Dead Doughboy Walking and it stuck.

As for its inspiration, that's a lot harder to pin down. But if I had to take a guess, it was probably the idea of two minds fighting for control of a single body that made me start writing what became Dead Doughboy Walking.

Kevin wrote: "Hi Ann,

Thanks for downloading it, and I hope you enjoy it!"

I read your book and it was a Great Scary Read five stars!

Glad you enjoyed it!