Last week, Warwick's Independent Bookstore in La Jolla, California, hosted author Dan Lawton to celebrate ABOVE THE GROUND: A True Story of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The author poses with the audience at a sold-out book signing and community event.
Attendees at this sold-out event had an opportunity to connect with Dan Lawton as he presented some of his research and signed copies of the book. Literary discussions and events like this one serve as powerful reminders of the profound impact that books have on our lives.
The evening featured an appearance from best-selling author, television broadcaster, and college and NBA basketball legend Bill Walton, who brought his trademark charisma and enthusiasm to the stage.
“ABOVE THE GROUND by Dan Lawton is a masterpiece—it’s a remarkable, riveting, engaging read that spans the entire spectrum of the human spirit... a combination of tragedy, travesty, nonsensical absurdity, and farce, with the requisite perseverance, persistence, commitment, and determination of the tireless and heroic efforts of some of the participants of this epic struggle for truth, justice, and freedom... Lawton has done his job. Our job is to read, learn, and act.”
—BILL WALTON, Emmy Award-winning television broadcaster, New York Times-best-selling author, 2x NBA champion, 2x NCAA national champion, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member
Learn more about the troubles in ABOVE THE GROUND: A True Story of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, out now!
ABOVE THE GROUND: A True Story of the Troubles in Northern Ireland by Dan Lawton is available now in hardcover, paperback, and ebook, with the audiobook edition coming soon!
Going beyond the book launch event, we asked Dan Lawton about his approach to crafting narratives that delve into significant themes and captivate readers. He reminded us that the creative process is a deeply personal endeavor unique to each author. Whether it's the vibrant energy of a live event or the peaceful solitude of a writing space, what truly matters is the dedication to one's craft and the love for storytelling.
Creative process? I wish mine were interesting. A famous writer and journalist counseled me along the way. I asked him about his creative process. He told me he liked to listen to rock-‘n’-roll and sometimes drink Scotch while he wrote. The proof is in the pudding—he’s had several best-sellers, he’s on national TV and has a hit podcast, and his writing is terrific. But his way would never work for me. I need whiteboards and quiet.
Lawton's creative process is as unique as his storytelling. Unlike some who find inspiration in rock 'n' roll and Scotch, Lawton prefers whiteboards and the tranquility of silence.
As a lawyer, I compulsively treated all of my writing time like legal work. That is, I recorded my time on timesheets every day and logged my output of words every week, on a spreadsheet. I guess I felt I didn’t have any better way to measure my output. In the mornings I would wake up, eat my breakfast, sit down at the keyboard, and start, and I wouldn’t quit until dinnertime. Sometimes nothing would come out, or just a hundred words or so. But I thought the discipline of regular hours was needed, and I couldn’t think of a better way to do it, so that’s what I did."
