Author:  David Walks-As-Bear

Books: "Old Money"

"The Murmurings"

"The L.P."

"How To Become A Swamp Creature"

"Mystery of The Medicine Pipe"

Interviewer: W. H. McDonald – President of the MWSA

W. H. "Bill" McDonald:  David Walks-As-Bear is a Shawnee Indian and former president of the Native American Preservation Council. He is retired from a long career in the U.S. Coast Guard. He has worked as a reporter, a high school journalism teacher, a magazine staff writer, and a free lance photojournalist. He has also been a forest ranger in Alaska, a park ranger, a deputy sheriff and forest fire fighter among other jobs.  David lives in Michigan and Hawaii with his family.

Q: First off I have to ask you about your book “The Murmurings” and how you got the ideas for that story? What was the inspiration?

A: Ah well, sir, there’s always the old adage, “Write what you know.” And, I guess that I know something about most of the stuff that’s in that tome. ‘Murmurings was my first novel – and for me, personally, if I were going to write a novel, then I would have to write it about something that interests me – hence the little mystery that’s in the Murmurings story, sir.

Q: How long did it take you to write that book? I have heard that you are looking at re-editing it to make it more compressed and easier to market – what is that process like for you? I mean editing down your wonderful work seems like it could be painful for a creative story teller like yourself – what brought this possibility to focus?

A: With the research, I scribbled it in about eight months, more or less. My wife – who got me into the dumb novel-writing thing, kept saying that it was getting too long. But by then, I was wrapped-up in the tale and having way too much fun telling it, eh. I could also see the sequel and was laying the groundwork for that future book.

Creative storyteller? Well, okay, Bill. But this is the last one, sir – I mean it. I can’t afford to keep paying you for complements – I just can’t! All joking aside, “The Murmurings” novel is indeed being re-edited. The man that’s working with me on it is a great guy and a well-known and highly respected editor – a real pro. I know that the dumb book’s too long and I have no problem cutting it down. Really, my only angst comes from what I call the ‘Tomato – Tamah-toe’ syndrome in any editing process. In essence it’s when what one person calls special and what another person calls mundane… come into question. In this instance, I think it’s like the dealer in a black jack game – the writer should get the extra point, eh. If it’s just personal preference, then let the scribbler have it his or her way. I haven’t run into any problems with the guy that I’m working with on the ‘Murmurings book, but I have seen it with other editors in the past.

Another thing that I have trouble with in regard to editing is the so-called ‘accepted industry standard’, or whatever. When I scribbled “The Murmurings”, I knew nothing about all this. So being a dumb Indian, I just wrote it the way it felt right to me – writing the protagonist in the first-person present and writing the other characters in the 3rd –person past. I hear that that’s a bit unorthodox. For me, I figure that if the story flows well – who gives a rat? In a nutshell, I figure that editing is always a hard thing for any writer. So, I’m just a member of the group in this regard.

Q: From conversations with you, I detect something which is very rare now-a-days in writers and that is a lack of ego – one could almost say you are very humble. Was that something you learned growing up in your family or through your culture?

A: Ah heck, I used to have one of those, sir. Nice little car, built in Serbia, I think. No wait – that’s a Yugo – not an ego. Okay, okay. I’ll quit goof’n.

I actually I do have an ego, and it’s a normal enough one. Probably what you see as having a lack of ego is actually… just confidence. I do know who and what I am. I’m pretty much aware of my abilities, capabilities and my many limitations – and, more or less, I’m satisfied with it and them. That’s sure not to say that everyone else is. But, like Popeye says, “I am what I am”, sir. So, maybe that’s what seems odd today – I’m not sure. I don’t take myself too seriously because, well… there’s nothing too serious about me. And, it’s my opinion that there’s nothing too serious about anyone else either, so… there you are.

Q: It is not hard to see that your hero in your books Ely Stone bears a close resemblance to your own personality and appearance in some ways. Was this intentional or just a natural flow of creative energy from you? And are we going to see more Ely Stone novels coming out?

A: Just a part of that ‘write what you know stuff’, I reckon. I had never written a large piece of fiction before, and it just seemed like the easiest way to go. So, it was intentional in that respect. But, when I wrote Murmurings, it was mostly just to get my wife off my back. She’s a retired librarian and was just positive that I could write a good book. Of course… she drinks a lot, too. (Just fun’n ‘bout that.) She kept riding me to write a novel, and it was, and indeed still is, she who gives me the inspiration to scribble stuff. There were no creative writing classes in college, no snappy jobs writing ad jingles – just an idea for a story and that’s it. I’ve never been in a writing group and don’t have anything but a journalism background in writing.

So, I had absolutely no clue about the writing or publishing world when I wrote the book. I just told the story – period. I did have a blast doing it though. I’d always written for newspapers, magazines and military pubs before. So spinning a yarn like this was, and is, akin to old-time Indian storytelling for me. Whenever I speak somewhere about my writing, I always tell the audience that if this were 400 years ago, I’d be doing this orally, in front of a big fire, eh. So, if I had to nail it down, I’d call it the natural flow of writing energy, I guess.

And yep, there’ll be more Ely Stone novels. “Old Money” is book two in the series and it just came out. I figure that I could write ten books in this series and then maybe another ten prequels. The protagonist had a 20-year career as a Coast Guard intelligence agent while simultaneously serving on a clandestine Defense Intelligence Agency team. So there’s plenty of fodder there for this dude, eh. Each book in the Ely Stone series is based on an old, but true, mystery, many, that somehow changed the course of the world. The next book in the series brings old Ely Stone back to Michigan and another eerie tale involving Indian mysticism. I have that tale… stuck in my fat noggin, too. It’ll be fun to pen.

Q: Your books lend themselves very clearly as good vehicles for an action film. Have you been offered anything along those lines or is your book agent still looking around for the right fit?

A: There’ve been people who’ve said that ‘Murmurings would be a great film. Honestly, I don’t see it, but heck – what do I know? Now, I personally think that “The L.P.” novel is an ideal candidate for a movie. It’s a thriller tale about the 2003 invasion of Iraq, so it’s topical as all get-out. The story is one that Uncle Sugar’s Soldier machine probably would get behind quick, too. The squad is from the 3rd Infantry Div – that’s Audie Murphy’s old bunch, eh. So, there would probably be plenty of support from the Army; and due to the small cast, type of locations needed, props, etc, and it could be a very cheap flick to make.

But that’s probably what appeals to me most – the fact that a good picture could be made from it inexpensively on a topic that’s in the news daily. So, that’s how I look at stuff. I always see the best for the least versus the biggest for the most. There had been a British film company sniffing around about “The L.P.”, but we lost contact with one another when I had successive ankle surgeries on my Achilles tendon. “The Murmurings” story? … maybe… yeah, I guess. I’d sure go along with it if someone wanted to give it a shot.

Q: What was your time in the USCG like for you? You made it a career and even went into the reserves when you got out I believe – so I would think that for the most part it must have suited you?

A: Actually, my whole career was as a reservist. I started out as a Civil Air Patrol cadet and then went into Army ROTC in college. The only place I seemed to excel was in military settings. And man, all I ever wanted to do was a fly a helicopter. I’d qualified for flight school and was Ft. Rucker-bound when it suddenly stopped. They said I couldn’t go because my blood pressure was too high for flight at that time. They wanted me to consider, instead… going Special Forces and I even had a slot at jump school all ready for me. Then I’d go to Ft. Benning. Even as a punk kid, I was incredulous because, I mean, geeze, if I could jump out of an aircraft then I should be able to fly the dumb thing, eh. But no amount of talking would change it because as you know, sir, military guidelines are military guidelines. I’d have to wait another year if I insisted on going to flight school. So, I got out of the program and went into the Coast Guard Reserve as a Direct Petty Officer. They’d let me be aircrew there, so what the heck.

Now, few people know this, but the whole US Coast Guard is smaller than the New York City Police Department. And yet, the service’s activities range all over the world. The CG has fought in every war that this country has been in, and was, in the beginning, the only Navy that we had. So, it’s the smallest branch of the armed forces and it used to be the most informal. Your brother would know that cause he’s an old Coastie, huh, sir? And heck, the CG Reserve is integrated with the active duty side nowadays. So, when you see a CG small boat or cutter, it’s probably manned by both reservist and active duty Coasties. Heck, actor Humphrey Bogart was a CG reservist in WWII and many famous others have served in this branch. So, I was always in good company – past and present. Over my 20+years, I did a lot of stints of active duty ranging from 30 to 60 days at a pop. And yes, sir, I love the Coast Guard. It was a fun ride.

Q: What duty stations did you serve in while in the USCG? Was there any place that you liked best or would think about moving to some day?

A: Hawaii. Yep, the answer to that is positively Hawaii. Uh… did I mention that the answer is Hawaii? Because it is Hawaii. It’s absolutely Hawaii! Just saying the name Hawaii… makes my mouth water. I love that place. Hawaii is like one big Indian reservation, and I ain’t kid’n.

Q: Your books bring out all kinds of what appears to be Native American philosophy. How much of that is passed down from your family and tribe histories and how much of that just your own personal outlook – or are there any differences any more between the sources?

A: Hmm. How the heck are you camouflaging the Doctor of Psychiatry behind your name, anyway, Bill? That’s a shrink question – if ever I heard one, sir.

I’ll try to answer a part of it, though. Although I’ve been to a lot of them, I didn’t grow up on a Rez. There basically are no Indian reservations in the South. Most all of the recognized Indian nations that used to inhabit those states were marched to the Indian Territories (Oklahoma) on the Trail of Tears. Those that didn’t do the hike, faded into the deep woods and hills. My people are their decedents. Just the same, the philosophy I hold is that of a Southern Hill Indian of Shawnee lineage - that’s the predominant strain - but there’s Choctaw, Cherokee and Blackfoot mixed in there, too.

I have ties to the East of the River Band of Shawnee in Ohio. As an aside, Author James Alexander Thom is married to a gal in this Band, eh. Anyway, I served a five-year hitch as president of the Native American Indian Preservation Council and during that time, I learned this most important fact – “Mitakuye Oyasin” – we are all related. North American Indians are pretty much the same from band to band and nation to nation in regard to their philosophy and belief structure. An Indian outlook does dictate all of who I am and how I approach life. I may not wear fringed buckskin regularly, but I do at least an hour of prayer outside every day – no matter where I am or what I’m doing – that’s just the way it is. In an easy-to-explain nutshell, this philosophy means that… if I don’t see it in nature… then I’m not supposed to be doing it. Simply put, this American Indian philosophy is the predominant difference between right and wrong and I was taught this as a child and into adulthood. I, in turn, have taught it to my kids. Life experience has only added to and proven the validity of the process for me, sir. So, at this stage of the game, the two are irrevocably intermeshed within me.

Q: I have to ask about the PC of the term “Native American” and “American Indian.” I have seen you use the term “American Indian” and I see all the newspapers and universities using “Native American” as the standard. Does it make any difference to you or to others which is proper? Is this more a concern of non-Indians trying to be PC?

A: I get that question a lot, sir, most recently while in England from another writer in the audience. I wrote a column about this not long ago, and it was one of those that produced tons of comments. Let me know, and I’ll send it to you if you like? And nope, I almost always refer to all original peoples of this continent and myself as simply American Indians. I mean, as a generic term, that’s what we’ve always been. There is nothing wrong with being called a Native American, if you were born here. And, shoot Bill, I’m betting that you were slapped the very first time… right here in the good ole US of A. Ipso facto, you are a Native American. Sorry, but that’s a fact, and everyone… knows it. You may not be an American Indian, though, and therein lays the difference. The “Native American” terminology started in earnest back in the 1990s when political correctness was at its Zenith. I don’t know who came up with the Native American moniker, but I’m laying odds that it wasn’t an Indian. Most of us refer to each other and ourselves as Indians and prefer that name overall. So, as far as most Indians are concerned, either saying fits. There are a small few, as there are in every group, which would indeed get offended at NOT being called by their politically correct name. All I can say is that I’m not one of them and neither are most Indians. It’s just too silly to contemplate further, sir. And that’s my take on the PC of the NA.

Q: Growing up did you have much contact with your tribe? Was there someone (an uncle, grandfather, an elder or just a neighbor) that added to your knowledge of your Indian heritage or gave you reasons to be proud of it?

A: Nope. Just traditions, carry-overs – that kind of thing. And yeah, my uncles were strong passers of both honor and tradition. My oldest brother taught me about war and another taught me about hunting and still another taught me life circles. My mother and aunts lived wisdom that I will never fully comprehend, and my dad, as best as he could, taught me the balance between youth and manhood. Kotha (My father) spent WWII as a B.A.R. infantryman with the 314th of the 79th Infantry. He was a variation of the Pima, Ira Hayes; Indians, war and alcohol don’t mix. They never have and never will.

Q: How did you come by your name “Walks-As-Bear”? Was this formally given to you or added like a nickname later on in life?

A: As is done with my people, a male elder gave it to me. My uncle named me Walks-As-Bear when I was little. We did no ceremonies when I was a kid. We were traveling back and forth between Michigan and Tennessee a lot. But I don’t think they would’ve done this anyway. That part of the culture had been dormant a long time. All five of my kids have gone through their naming ceremonies though. So, it’s kind’a like auto restoration, sir. You can always bring it back to what it once was.

Q: You have been married almost forever to your wife so how did that happen? Where did you meet each other and was it something that you thought would eventually end up in marriage? How long have you been married?

A: I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure out what I did wrong. (Just fun’n.) We met June 24, 1974 at the local drive-in theater. One of my buddies was working security there and had me set-up with this tall, lithe, stark-raving black-haired beauty named Carmel. And that’s what she looked like, too – something so dangerously inviting and sweet, it seemed exotically sinful. And this chick wanted to go out with me! I was the envy of all the guys I ran with. So Saturday night comes and I’m there, hanging out, watching one of the Billy Jack flicks, waiting at the concession stand for Carmel to get off work. But there was something about this mousy little chick sitting at the cash register, ringing people up.

She had her light hair pulled back into a ponytail and had on a smock about five times too big for her. She couldn’t have been five-feet tall. To top it off, she was wearing a pair of those monstrous glasses that were popular back in the ‘70s. She sure wasn’t too appealing, but man… there was something about her. So later, when my buddy came to tell me that Carmel was going to have to work about an hour later than normal, I asked him who the cashier girl was. He said that he didn’t know and that this was her first night on the job – just hired - but she would get off in fifteen minutes. So, I asked him to ask her… if she wanted to meet me. He looked at me like I was nuts, asked why I wouldn’t just wait for Carmel and then, finally... just shrugged, and said okay. He stopped by the car a few minutes later and said that she had agreed to meet me at the back door of the concession stand. When she walked out the door, I thought I had crossed over into the next land. She was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen, the sweetest girl I’d ever known or imagined. She had this long golden brown hair and the brightest, most gorgeous gray eyes I’d ever seen on a two-legged. In a tenth of second I knew… just knew, eh. I knew innately that I would do any and everything I could to be with her from that point forward. Every single breath and thought I had involved her, and fortunately or unfortunately… it still does. We’ll be married 30 years September 4, 2006.

Q: You write about things supernatural, even about UFOs – is this something that goes deeper within you or just something that comes out when you write? What do you really believe and accept about our present reality?

Okay, Bill. I may’ve been guessing before, but… you are a card-carrying member of the US Psychiatric Association, ain’t’chu? Hey, what’s with the white jacket? Why does it have all of those straps on it? That’s strange. Man, those sleeves are long, aren’t they.

Hmm. Well, probably, if you want to pick my id… we’ll have to do it over a beer or sarsaparilla sometime. I’d be more than happy to do that, sir, and would enjoy it, too. But some of my responses here could possibly lead to my incarceration in a padded room, and I can’t sleep on a pillow… know what I mean? So as to the writing, I just write what I feel and believe, whenever and however I can.

I do remember this though. One of the reviewers who called me for a follow-up on the review that they were writing on ‘Murmurings was prior career military. This person said that they were retired from the US Army as an E-8 and wanted to ask… most of all… was that round ball the actual power source? They quickly added that they completely understood if I couldn’t say. They did understand the military’s take on some of these kinds of things. Sooooo, see?

Aw come’on, Bill. Thanks, but you can put that funny-looking jacket away, Bill. Really, I don’t want to wear it, okay???

Q: Do you have any personal heroes that have inspired you or help to motivate you? How about growing up?

Oh man, a lot of them. Personal heroes for me were both in-family and out. My grandmother, my mom, my brothers, my uncles and aunts – almost all of them were heroes to me. Tecumseh, Crazy Horse and Chief Joseph, Black Elk and Sacagawea and a lot of other Indians were, and still are, idols of mine. Teddy Roosevelt was the greatest president, in my opinion, and Ronald Reagan was the best. George Patton was the greatest warrior of the 20th Century and Robert E. Lee was the best of the nineteenth.

But as ‘crazy’ at it seems to most guys, there has never been a hero of mine who was a sports star. I played football, but only because everyone else did. I could care less about any of that stuff and could not tell you who won last years’ super bowl or World Series. I don’t chase little white golf balls, bowl or ski. So...

Hey, why are you interested in that funny-looking jacket again, Bill? We’re not through with this interview, yet… okay? Come on. Put it down, will ya.

Q: How hard was it for you to leave home and go into the USCG and be gone for such a long part of your life? What was that like for your parents?

I was married when I entered the service so my folks already had my old room re-painted, eh. Basic training was hard, being away from my wife and little one and home for the first time. But, you adjust. You know how that goes, sir. It’s like anything else, and my experience was, and still is, being mimicked by thousands of military folks every day. But, even for me back in the 1980s & 90s, I could usually get to a phone. Not so for you in ‘Nam 20 years earlier, eh? And the poor guys in Korea and WWII only had mail. But jeeze, compare that to the people fighting in Iraq today. They can call home or instant message right from the dumb field. Being away in the service is never easy, especially when one is so young. But, it’s do-able and it builds character. You and millions of others are living proof of this, sir.

Q: You have done a variety of jobs in your lifetime including teaching high school. Was or is there any job that you really enjoyed best or one that you would still like to try?

I love flying most of all. In Alaska, we flew Beavers and Otters, old WWII vintage aircraft; they’re still the best bush planes in the world. We’d drop out of the sky and straight down into a tiny little puddle that was a high-alpine lake. We’d land, take care of business and then take-off again. I loved all of that. Military flying has always been the same way with me – I loved it all. I was also romantically attached to my little water cop job when I had it, too. Like the game warden occupation that I have now, you have to be simple-minded to enjoy this kind of work. I’d sometimes get a road deputy assigned to ride with me in the boat for a special event and they’d be bored out of their mind. But heck, all I needed was to see a big bass jump by the boat and my whole day was made. In Alaska it was seeing whales and bears, and nowadays, it’s deer, otters, fox and the like that make my day. But I really enjoy the writing a lot. I write a weekly newspaper column called The Bear’s Den and I do some outdoor stories, too. That’s how I keep my hand in on the journalism side. But, by writing the novels and kid’s books, I get to play with the creative part of writing, and that, sir, has been the most fun here lately.

If I can ever get my ankle to work right again, I really want to get my helicopter endorsement. Being an old ‘Slick’ rider, you know that there’s a lot of footwork in flying a whirlybird, huh, sir? But, man… that would be something.

Q: When you write a novel, what is that process like for you? Do you write an outline of the story and then fill it in as your flesh it out – or do you just begin at the first word and allow the story to unfold from your mind? Can you share what it is like to create one of your books with us? How long does it take to write your novels and what times of the days or night do you work on them?

No, I don’t write from any kind of an outline. I have the whole story stuck in my fat little head right between my pointy little ears. So, I just start researching while laying down the tale, interspacing the facts where needed as I go. Research is important to me. If I’m going to state it in a novel, then I want it to be accurate. Still, as I said before, I really have no idea what is proper and improper about writing a novel. I just tell a story – period. I have learned stuff, but as to processes, I don’t know what to say. For me, it’s just getting the chance to sit back down and pound out the tale. So, honestly, I don’t have a clue. For me, it’s a burning desire to tell this story; that’s my impetus. I hope that folks will like it, but well, if they don’t, then they don’t. It’s what motivates me to write – the need to say it and get it out of my head and onto paper.

I’m sure no Steven King as far as being driven goes, but I do understand his motivation and need to write. So, there is no special time or place. This goes back to when I was a kid and even after I got married. My wife would go to bed early, and often I’d sit up late writing a story long-hand. When it was done, I’d read it over, make changes and then read it again. When I was satisfied, I’d wad it up and toss it. I’d told the tale, as it were, and I was done. My wife would find it the next morning. She’d straighten it out and save it, saying that it was good and that we were going to do something with it some day. This happened over and over again. We never did anything with those stories, but there you go. Right now, I have ideas for five novels kicking around in my head. So, that’s the ‘why’ I write, I guess.

As to the when and where, well, I can and will scribble anywhere an opportunity presents itself. Now, since I’m not doing this full-time, it means that I have to do other things to keep the heat on and the ice box from echoing. It sometimes drives me nuts when I can’t get back to writing a story, but shoot, everybody has a little rain falling in their world, know what I mean? So, in essence, I just write the book whenever I can. When I’m finished, I go back through, adding and subtracting here and there, and then we do the edit. I go through the whole thing once again, and when I figure it’s as good as it’ll get, I ship it to the publisher. Then, they and I will work on the thing if they figure it needs it. For what it’s worth, that, sir, is more or less the process for me.

Q: If you could pass along some wisdom to others in life what would you like to tell them? Is there something that you have learned from all your life experiences or have read that you feel is worth sharing?

Fight selfishness all of the time and everywhere in your personal being. It is absolutely the worst thing in the world and the number one sin. Selfishness is the Great Evil One’s best and foremost weapon against two-leggeds (humans). Everything else – greed, lust, theft, murder, adultery, envy – all of them – work off selfishness. You have to have selfishness before any of the others can even come into play. So, you can spend your whole life fighting each of these individual battles, or just kick the @#^%! out of selfishness in your personal world. If you win this daily battle – then you win the whole dumb war here on our Earth Mother. You will have balance, and that, in turn, will bring you harmony. This is an American Indian philosophy and it necessitates always doing what is right – no matter what.

If you can’t figure out what is right and what is wrong, then pray! Don’t ask someone – pray. That’s your job, not someone else’s. You’ll get an answer, and it’ll be as clear as a sunny day… as long as you take selfishness out of the formula before you apply it. Now mind you, the odds are good that you won’t like the answer, but… it’ll be there, just the same. If you take it and apply it to your dilemma, regardless of the pain, anguish and possible sorrow, then… things will be okay. The Creator will cover you – He always does.

There is an old Shawnee question that each one of my five kids could answer in a heartbeat today. It goes like this: You are walking a trace (trail) and suddenly, it ‘Y’s off in two directions. One way is level, clear, easy walking and appears well-traveled. The other way is up-hill, difficult-walking, rock and vine covered and disused. Which way do you go? The answer that my kids would give is the automatic. You take the hard path, the perilous trace going uphill. You do this because the right way… is never the easy way. In a nutshell, that’s what I’ve learned from life, sir. But I think that you’ll be hard-pressed to find it written anywhere.

Q: What is your next novel going to be like? Have you started it yet and when, if you have, is it due to be out?

Well, “Old Money” just came out March 31st, 2006. It’s the sequel to “The Murmurings.” Reviews are still pending, so I have no idea if folks will like it. But I did have a blast writing it, and that’s no lie; I just wanted to tell this story. There is a little thing going on in this book called, Neyap Zhyan Meshomas, (Visiting with the Grandfathers) It’s kind of an Indian form of time-travel. Overall, there’s a lot of spiritualism and mysticism mixed with modern-day terrorists, Confederate Navy Civil War history and an old, but true, mystery. So, there you go.

The next little tome is a science fiction thriller based on a murky, but possibly true, story. I started the basics on it a year ago. The book will be entitled “No Green Card” and will be out in 2007. I did a lot of the preliminary research, scribbled the prologue and set it aside. I did the same thing at about the same time; with a little ‘old west’ thriller I’m going the scratch out, too. That one will be called “Place of the Fate Spirit.”

So right now, I already have the story pounding in my head for “No Green Card” – I just need the opportunity to write it. I had to finish “Old Money” and get it out. Now, I have to edit “The Murmurings” novel and tour for “Old Money”. So, I’LL NEVER GET TO IT! That’s just the way it feels, but I know that I’ll eventually get to write it.

Q: Any advice for new writers and someone working on their first novel or story?

Write what you feel and feel what you write. I know that this sounds corny, but in my opinion, it’s fact. Don’t write a story for somebody else while you’re writing it. You can decide what it’s going to be and who are the target audience and market. Then research and outline or whatever your process is. But once you start, write the story for you – not anyone else. Writing is a tough way to make a living and that’s a truism. Odds are better that you’ll win the lottery than become successful at this game. So, if you don’t go into it thinking that you’ll be some big-time writer, then maybe you can enjoy what it is that you’re doing. Authors are no different than anybody else. There’s nothing special about them even if they’re at the top of the number one best seller list.

People are just like cars. A Ferrari may be worth a lot of money, but when everything is said and done, it’s really no different than a Ford Escort. It’s just a car. Now there are exceptions to everything. I once met and shook Bob Hope’s hand. I respected and admired that man immensely. But I can’t say the same about many actors out there today – regardless of how much money they make or how good everyone says that their movies are. For the most part, you have to do something significant to warrant any adulation. I look at authors the same way. We’re just two-leggeds – nothing special – writing stories. So, I guess that I’d pass that on. Folks shouldn’t get above their raising with this writing stuff. Have a good time telling the story, and do what you can to see that others read it when you’re done. Even if it doesn’t get picked up right away and become a NY Times best-seller, keep at it if you’ve a mind to. But, ultimately, be satisfied with telling the story that you wanted to tell.

Q: You talk a lot about spiritual things and God in your books. Are those thoughts expressed in your books close to how you feel about life, the universe and God? Do you have a formal belief system or is your spiritual search more a personal one?

Well, I can and will state this one for the record. There is a God – there always has been and there always will be. And equally, there is, and always has been, His counterpart, too. American Indians were the easiest race on Earth to cross over to Christianity because the belief system is so similar. For Indians, God is called different versions of the same thing, all equaling the same deity. In essence, He is known as the Great Mystery, the Creator and the Great Good Spirit. Funny how that’s similar to the… Father, Son and Holy Ghost… isn’t it?

And I know this for absolute fact also. Barring those that are, or were, tetched-in-the-head… there has never, ever… anywhere, at any time in history… been a true two-legged atheist – period. Sorry, but that there… is fact.

In answer to the second part of your question, Uh, huh, my belief system is very formal for a Kispoko Shawnee. It is suffused with my Pentecostal church attendance as a kid and adult. On a different note and in the same vein, suffice to say that I know what I know and that it’s not my fault that I know it. When I was younger, I used to think there was something wrong with me. But, eventually, the Creator clarified this, and I’m 4-0 now. In the Shawnee tongue, there is a name for that of which I speak. And if we ever have that beverage together, and you still want to know, I’ll tell you about it.

Why do you keep looking at that funny-looking jacket, Bill? I really don’t want to wear that, okay? It’d be too confining for me. Thanks, anyway, but you can put it down now, all right?

Q: Do you get contacted by people who have read your stories and given any feedback? What is that like to have someone asking about your books? Does it surprise you sometimes about what readers sometimes focus on in your stories?

Oh yeah. Sure. And mostly, it’s fun. I really haven’t gotten any negative feed-back thus far. But then again, maybe the Old Money book is going to garner that – I haven’t a clue. I never know until the story is read and reviewed. I usually have some pre-readings of the book before it gets published, but there wasn’t time on this one. So, who knows? In the Ely Stone series, I am absolutely telling it as it is. My life experience has been that often folks may actually agree with a moral premise… but political correctness is so ingrained within their world that they have a rough time disassociating it from reality. So, I guess we’ll see, sir. And sure, sometimes I am surprised. I was down-right dumbfounded to learn that colleges were using "Murmurings" as a spiritual reading assignment. And, I’m always amazed when folks say that they felt like they were right there… in the story... while reading it. One of the comments I get a lot from readers of "Murmurings" is that they never understood the “warrior” concept before reading this book. They’re making this comment not only in regard to Indian warriors but to military warriors overall. So, since few civilians really have clue what this unique phenomenon is, I guess maybe I did something right there.

The other part in answer to your question is this. What any two-legged is supposed to do here on Mother Earth is help others whenever they can. It’s in the job description – check it out. So, when I can hold the door for someone, stop or alleviate someone’s pain, pass-on any info that helps, etc… well, then I’m working as We'she manito (God) intends. That’s my job as a human, and heck man, I want to stay employed, eh. So, yeah, a lot of people do contact me on the novels and the newspaper columns and stories. And I always respond. I both get and give feed-back, and we all learn stuff. For a beat-up old redskin, that’s a win-win scenario, sir.

Q: Is there anything about yourself that you would like to share that is not known about you on your website or book jackets? Is there some part of you that you choose to remain hidden from public view?

In spite of all of the evidence… I am not as dumb as I look, sound or as people may tell you that I am.

Q: Any last comments or remarks that you wish to address that perhaps I did not cover?

Geeze, Bill, you have enough here already for your next research paper on Indian mental health problems, so I can add little. I do hope that the guys at the hospital like my answers. And really, you can put down the jacket, sir. It’s too small for me anyway… all right?

In all seriousness, I will say this though, William. This has been one of the best interviews that I’ve participated in. You ask some very unique, deep and relevant questions… queries not usually asked by an interviewer of a writer. Nice job, sir. I enjoyed this. Megwetch (Thanks).

Closing comments from Bill: On a personal note David, you have impressed me in many ways and I know it was never your intention to do so. Your gift for story telling is almost spiritual. I wish you well with your future books and creative projects. May the Great Spirit be with you my friend!

Ah, and may the Great Mystery grant you balance and harmony, too, sir. Paselo.

Bear

Check out David's website:  www.Walks-As-Bear.com