Interview With Literary Thriller Author Eric Eichhorn

  

1. What inspired you to write the book?

My dog, Keith, was getting older, so I drafted a children’s picture book called “Keith is Getting Older.” During that process, I began reflecting on life's natural evolution and its associated challenges, in particular, the period between the end of a career, re-socialization, and full retirement. Connections are lost, and new paths must be chosen. The struggles are real and often hard to observe. At the time, I was working on a short story about a man returning to his college to find a woman he knew who had never left. The two roads, reflection and search, converged, and Ogallala was born.  

2. What is the book about and who for? 

Ogallala is a darkly funny road trip into the quiet collapse of Bennett, a man in decline, who should have stayed home. It examines the trouble we’d save ourselves if we just enjoyed the moments we have without seeking answers to every little question, especially from the distant past. 

Bennett is searching for the thread that will pull him back to life. He travels from New York to Ann Arbor to reconnect with his college girlfriend, Jenn, who is oblivious to his intentions. Before he can say no, he heads west with her daughter, Zoe, to her MMA tournament in Utah, not with Jenn, but with Zoe’s crusty, old, mysterious trainer, Hector. Bennett’s need for connection causes bad decisions that lead to murder and betrayal, forcing him to protect Zoe and himself. The novel culminates in Vernal, Utah, where Zoe’s MMA fight and a Dinosaur Festival happen at the same time. Ogallala is told through the dual narration of Bennett and Zoe.

Ogallala is for anyone who has made a bad decision while trying to find something missing in their life. 

3. What do I hope readers get out of the book? 

I read a review that said, “that is exactly how my life feels.” In that case, the reviewer identified with Bennett, but I have also had young women say they identify with Zoe and her struggles with identity and direction. The characters in Ogallala do struggle, and while they don’t overcome everything, they find hope to take chances and change. 

4. How did I decide on the book’s title and cover? 

As a young boy, I visited Ogallala, Nebraska, and was struck by the sense of danger and desolation. Once my characters left Ann Arbor and headed west to Utah, I-80 was the best route, and it ran straight through Ogallala. I knew I had to go back. Finding the right cover art was a challenge. The initial submissions showed ominous clouds and darkness but didn’t capture the feeling of being alone in a rugged environment. I mentioned this to another writer, and later that week a piece of stock art appeared on my computer. I knew it was perfect, and I'd found the cover. 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?

Trot, and if you decide not to run, go back and finish your project. Writing a book is hard, and it's easy to quit. Honestly, that might be the right decision if you don’t want more turmoil. If you do press ahead, don’t put yourself on the clock. I wanted to be finished, and I resented new feedback that meant more work. Without a deadline, I could consider the feedback, and it often improved the book. Don’t settle. You may only do this once, and you want to be proud of the book twenty years from now. 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?  

Anything I say would be based on limited knowledge of the publishing industry. My hunch is that hybrid and self-publishing will keep growing, based on published authors' comments about the increasing difficulties of traditional publishing. I am encouraged to see more independent bookstores opening. 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book

I spent much of my career in the corporate world, and those interactions gave me a wealth of observations about human behavior. Living in disparate parts of the country gave me a range of character types and odd ways of handling life. There is a lot of quirkiness out there. Bennett’s interactions with his dog, Keith, were based on my interactions with my dog, Keith.  

8.   How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? 

I would describe my writing style as crisp and unencumbered. Having started in playwrighting, I know dialogue is crucial to building my characters, and I rely on their situations and physical behaviors to support the story. The hardest writing for me is exposition, which leaves my characters inactive.

An agent told me Ogallala reminded her of Carl Hiassen, which was interesting because he is a huge fan of Harry Crews. I was fortunate to be in a seminar with Harry Crews at the University of Florida, and I have read most of his work. To keep the theme in Florida, I recently read “My Search for Warren Harding” by Robert Plunket and thought it was fantastic.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? 

I’ve never been a great closer; I tend to start multiple projects and not finish many of them. The thought of writing multiple drafts of a novel was unappealing, and it was a big challenge to keep returning to the beginning. Plays are easier to patch up and reconnect. In Ogallala, I added a major event in the 3^rd draft, and the ramifications rippled through the whole novel. It was also intimidating to know I might spend a great deal of time on something nobody would want. As a first-time novelist, every step in the process brought significant learning and growth.  

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? 

I think after reading my book, you'll say you’ve never read anything like it before, or even recall a book that's directly similar. A common refrain from reviews is “unexpected twists and turns.” The mix of characters, settings, and chaos offers a fresh take, and it doesn’t fit neatly into any genre. It’s a story you won’t forget. 

About The Author:  Eric EICHHORN is the author of several plays and feature pieces. He was born in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan. He now lives in New York with his dog, Keith. He has never been to a dinosaur festival. For more information, please see: https://ericeichhorn.com/

 

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About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 10, 850,000 page views. With over 5,700+ posts over the past 15 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2026, 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2026.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum