An Interview with J.L. Askew
J.L. Askew is an award-winning author and a lifelong bibliophile. With a psychology degree from the University of Memphis, he had careers in social work and the medical industry.
After writing the non-fiction War in the Mountains on the American Civil War, Askew wrote Alaska Deadly, a mystery thriller. The sequel, Alaska Bloodlust, was released on September 9, 2025.
Single and with no pets, Askew enjoys all aspects of writing, especially connecting with readers and sending out notes of thanks.
Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
The previous book took two weeks to find a title for, but this one took only a couple of days. It was after I had to redo this book’s third chapter that it came to me. My original idea for the book wasn’t working, and after multiple rewrites, the villain Kallick Smith appeared. Once he took centre stage, the book’s title became clear.
How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?
The book cover took two months of intensive work with a designer. I had an image in my head of a person in conflict rushing forward. It came from a black and white sketch that appeared in the closing credits of a TV show back in the 1960s. Impressions from our youth can be powerful, and that vague image became the book cover of the killer fleeing with a knife.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
I’ve always loved reading anything with words – even the daily newspaper, front to back, when in grade school. I remember finding a list of ‘great books’ early in college and checking off each one until I’d read them all. Along the way, I’ve found writing to be enjoyable. I’m a chronic note-taker and diary keeper. My lifelong interest in the Civil War led to my first published book about my great-grandfather’s artillery company. Favorite authors include William Faulkner, Joseph Conrad, Hemingway, and Ray Bradbury.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
Fresh from college, I was a social worker for several years, then I became a service technician in the medical field, working on MRI and CAT scanners. Most of my life, I lived in Memphis, Tennessee, except for a year in Alaska and now three years in Colorado.
What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?
The process of writing is very rewarding – the book taking shape through reflection, revision, and refinement to eventually match up with your original conception. Talking with a particular editor and hearing his interpretation of the book was meaningful. But best of all was holding the finished book and seeing that it was everything that I had imagined.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
A hard question. I am not gifted in the aural realm, but I suspect any music would come from the old black and white cliffhanger serials of the WWII era.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?
We are all unique individuals, and reading choices are a matter of personal taste. I appreciate anyone who picks up my book and gives it a close reading. My hope is that they will leave with a favorable opinion.
What creative projects are you currently working on?
I have two. I’m going over my non-fiction book, War in the Mountains, intending to bring out a revised and updated second edition in an archival hardbound format. Also, I’m making outlines and gathering ideas for the third Alaska book. This one will take longer because I am determined that it will be the best of the three.
How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?
Working with Atmosphere Press has been a delight. They have exceeded all my expectations, and I am overjoyed with the result. I look forward to another collaboration on my next book.
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