An In-depth Interview on THE TOWPATH 

It’s been a minute since I’ve posted. With several life events happening, including the loss of my father this past summer, the loss of my brother-in-law this past fall, and a whole lot of stress from the day job, it’s been difficult to keep up. And of course, launching my debut novel has come with its own stressors, including learning a new platform for my revamped website, which still has some bugs to work out.

But there have been some bright spots related to my book, including a feature from the Akron Beacon Journal, courtesy of Barbara McIntyre’s “Book Talk” column, and one that was recently published on Cleveland.com. It’s that article that I’d like to reprise here, but in its full glory, as there was much the editorial team had to leave on the cutting room floor to keep the reading time reasonable. I have no such bounds for my personal blog and had much to share in the in-depth interview, much of which I think could be interesting reading—if I do say so myself. Hence, what follows is my full interview with Maura Zurick (who did a fantastic job) of Cleveland.com and the local Northeast Ohio Sun newspapers.

Could you tell me a little about yourself? 

I’ve lived in Northeast Ohio for nearly my entire life, having grown up in Akron before moving to Cuyahoga Falls where I spent a good chunk of my formative years. I attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton. By trade, I am a User Experience (UX) Design professional and leader (currently Director of UX at Rockwell Automation) and my previous employers have included small startups and Progressive Insurance. And yes, I’ve squeezed in fiction writing too! I currently reside in Broadview Heights with my wife Becky, and my sons Nathan (16) and Wesley (10), and love spending time in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and our surrounding “Emerald Necklace” Metro Park system.

Congratulations on the release of “The Towpath.” What inspired you to write a time travel suspense thriller set in this region?

Thank you! I always knew that I wanted to try my hand at fiction, though it took me a long time to work up the courage. For several years now, I’ve written non-fiction, including writing a monthly column for UXmatters magazine, where I share insights for the global UX design community. However, the itch to write fiction has always been there and I’ve been a life-long avid reader, having devoured everything from Cormac McCarthy to Jane Austen. I knew I wouldn’t be fulfilled unless I gave myself a chance, and so I started by writing a few short stories here and there to see how it would feel and to learn what it’s like to work with a fiction editor.

When it came time to consider my debut novel, I admit I was overwhelmed. So, as what I tend to do in my professional life, I chose to make the problem smaller and focus on what I know and know well, which is our region and our incredible Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Doing so made it easier to take on the heady topic of time travel, which was no small task. And finally, I wanted to pay homage to our green spaces, which I feel are unsung and undersold. Though, in a way, I don’t want them becoming too popular!

How did you come up with the idea for “The Towpath,” and what drew you to the suspense and time travel genres?

As for the suspense side of the equation, I simply wanted to tell a story that got the heart pumping. As for time travel, there’s a deeper backstory. I’ve long been convinced that time doesn’t operate the way we think it does, and books such as Carlo Rovelli’s THE ORDER OF TIME have further cemented this conviction. But there’s a personal side of this too. When I was ten or so, my dad told me that he’d been fishing along the banks of the Cuyahoga River earlier in the day, alone, and he kept getting the sense that he was being watched. But whenever he’d turn to see who he knew was behind him, he’d see nothing but swaying reeds. He was in a hard-to-reach spot. It was early morning and there was a constant drizzle. Needless to say, he wasn’t expecting any company. Perhaps it was the breeze off the Cuyahoga playing tricks on him. Maybe a whitetail deer was passing along the ridge of the steep embankment above. But perhaps it was something else. Someone else. Watching.

Now, I should mention that he told me this story after he’d previously described the various indigenous tribes who’d once called the Cuyahoga River Valley home. An association quickly formed in my ten-year-old brain. I feel the best stories always start with the question, “what if?” What if it wasn’t just a ghost watching my dad, but someone from the past—in the flesh? If so, how would that be possible? A story took root from there, and it set me on a journey that soon drove itself, demanding I tell a story that I hadn’t initially expected to tell. In fact, there’s a scene in “The Towpath” where a character is fishing at an out-of-the-way spot in the CVNP and feels as if she’s being watched. 

The book is set along the CVNP’s towpath. How important was the setting to the story, and what do you think it adds to the book?

The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail isn’t the only familiar setting in the book, but it’s definitely a key one. Many of my favorite stories feature fast-paced scenes that leave you breathless, and again, get your heart racing—even literally—and the Towpath Trail lends itself well to one of the most suspenseful chase scenes in the book. There’s also an ethereal and even foreboding quality to the Cuyahoga Valley, especially in the summer months when the vegetation crowds in close along the Towpath Trail, any rumor of distance becoming less certain, and you’d never know that you’re just a couple of miles from the nearest neighborhood or town bracketing the valley. I wanted to find a way to make the main characters—who wide-eyed are teenagers—feelenveloped, stoking a sense of claustrophobia that’s made all the worse by a time-traveling killer and her warriors from the past hot on their tails. I also enjoy it when authors pepper in motifs and symbolism, and I hope astute readers will also catch on to the symbolism of the word, “Towpath” as the story unfolds. Okay, no more spoilers!

Were there any historical or local elements that you specifically wanted to bring into the story?

Yes, several historical events and elements are woven into “The Towpath,” including the ancient wreckage of the Le Griffon ship in the Great Lakes, the legend of Mary Campbell (for those familiar with her namesake cave in the Gorge Summit County Metro Park), and the Great Lakes Beaver Wars of the 1600s. Mary Campbell’s story in particular shaped the backstory of the antagonist, The Redeemer, who’s bent on righting the wrongs of her past as she falls in league with a band of Iroquois warriors. Speaking of which, historical accuracy and sensitivity were essential to successfully depicting indigenous warriors of the past, and I have to thank John Fadden, owner and founder of the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center in Onchiota, New York, for his hands-on help and guidance. John was instrumental in helping me accurately depict the indigenous characters, having imparted many lessons along the way. I learned a great deal about the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy: the people, their customs, and even the ways in which they named themselves and others. I owe John a debt of gratitude, as well as my editor, Michelle Kreuger, a fellow Midwesterner who also has a background in American history (a key reason I chose to work with her) and was able to keep me honest.

How does it feel to have your first novel published by Roundfire Books?

It still feels surreal. This book took me eight years, from writing the very first line to seeing it published this month and getting it into the hands of readers. In between, there were many false starts, poorly written chapters and scenes, and a great deal of uncertainty and imposter’s syndrome to boot. But I benefited from many encouraging collaborators along the way—all of whom I thank in the acknowledgements—and all of whom helped me shape it into the work it is today, including John. It really felt like a team effort. I also appreciate Collective Ink for taking a chance on me through their Roundfire Books imprint.

What do you hope readers take away from “The Towpath”?

My favorite books have a way of staying with me long after I finish the last chapter. I think books stay with readers in general because readers crave an emotional experience, above all, and whether they know it or not. Sure, a book’s cover may draw you in, and yes, if the genre doesn’t scratch an itch, you probably won’t choose it. But those things alone don’t foster staying power, and that memorable experience that will make you tell your friends or feel it kicking around in your brain at unexpected moments. It’s the characters and the trials they must go through, and who they must become and what they must do to overcome great odds. “The Towpath” doesn’t flinch from putting its characters into difficult situations, forcing them to experience pain and loss, but also confronting their fears and make sacrifices. At the end of the day, it’s about love, redemption, and how far—and when—you would go for someone.

Do you have plans for a follow-up to “The Towpath” or other projects in the works?

Yes, in fact, I have a follow-up to “The Towpath” that I’ve been chipping away at in my spare time. I wouldn’t call it a sequel or a part of a series (yet), but it definitely builds on the Northeast Ohio lore, legend, and elements that were established in “The Towpath.” There will be new characters, and you may end up seeing some familiar faces too. This one is going to be firmly in the Horror genre, and it’s already terrifying. I’m doubling down on some of the scarier legends that have risen from the valley and surrounding area. I’m only a couple of chapters in and I’m scared myself about where this thing is going. Stay tuned!

How has the local community responded to the release so far, and do you plan on doing any local readings or book signings?

I’ve received a great deal of support from friends, acquaintances and people like me who love our national park and surrounding areas—and I appreciate the support and visibility this interview will provide in helping me reach more potential readers in Northeast Ohio. My day job keeps me very busy, as does being a father and husband, so most of my outreach to date has been done online using what scraps of time I have. However, I am starting to look into to local readings and book signings, and my publisher has been “gently” applying this pressure too. It’s certainly something I want to do, it’s just a matter of carving out the space. More to come!

For aspiring authors, especially those in Northeast Ohio, what advice do you have?

Don’t write what you think will be popular. I can’t emphasize this enough. Rather, consider what fuels your passion, as that passion will come through in your writing and carry you, whether you’re conscious of it or not. If you’re just chasing some trend, you’re only cheating yourself and your would-be readers. So, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, let your passion shine through. I’m also a big fan of fellow Ohioan James Clear’s book, ATOMIC HABITS, in which he emphasizes creating systems over getting overly focused on a final goal. Motivation is fleeting and not sustainable. As James astutely put it, you don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fail to the level of your systems. Develop a system that will ensure you put the metaphorical pen to paper on a consistent basis. For me, it was instilling a 6:30-7:00 am daily routine to do nothing but write and research. When 7:00 am hit, it was time to wrap it up. Like your passion, your system will be there to carry you on the days when you feel less motivated. Just keep showing up and good things will happen.

Now, specific to Northeast Ohioans, we have so much to be proud of. I work with global teams, and anyone who visits our area is blown away by our park systems and green spaces. There are stories in these spaces, and stories live on. After all, humans are storytellers first and foremost, and if there’s a place that inspires you, there’s likely a history behind it and even elements that could lend to a deeper story. Why shouldn’t you be the one to tell it? 

Where can readers find “The Towpath,” and how can they stay connected with you for updates on future projects?

Readers can find “The Towpath” in any online marketplace, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Google Books, and through my publisher’s site at https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com. It’s currently available in paperback and ebook (Amazon Kindle available) and I expect the audio book to come out later this year. I invite anyone to stay connected with me via my website, https://jondwalter.com, where I share the latest updates on “The Towpath.” You can also take a deep dive on the characters, the settings—some of which are fictional—and some original artwork and media (mostly based on my own photography of the CVNP). My degree is in Visual Design, and I love it when a book spills outside the bounds of its pages, expressed visually, and my website serves as that creative reservoir.

Is there anything you’d like to add or think readers should know?

It’s not easy to succeed as an author, regardless of your focus, genre, or experience. If you have a story brewing that needs to come and you don’t know where to start, please find me online and reach out. We Northeast Ohioans need to stick together and support each other.

Finally, if “The Towpath” sounds like your thing (or that of someone you know), I’d greatly appreciate any word-of-mouth support. Reviews will be trickling in soon, so please consider leaving an honest review if you do read it, as reviews are the lifeblood to a book’s success. 

For more on The Towpath:

• Read an overview about the book
• Get to know the characters
• Learn about the settings and locations
• View an original image gallery

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