Sleepless Nights (The Drew Smith Series)">Norwood Holland likes to quote Ernest Hemingway: “It is necessary at first to endure.”

And endure he has. It’s been ten years since Norwood, a lawyer in Washington, DC, grew frustrated by the lack of prominent African American characters in legal thrillers. “I thought a Black attorney with a complex personality, living the high life, might make a compelling character,” he says.

Over half a dozen drafts he developed Drew Smith, the hero of the recently released novel Sleepless Nights. Peter Gelfan, The Editorial Department editor who worked with Norwood on his manuscript, describes the book as “a rich, steamy crime-novel-with-a-heart in the tradition of Walter Mosely…. Drew Smith might be DC’s Johnnie Cochran if he didn’t spend most of his time helping friends in need, and friends of friends, instead of his powerful, moneyed clients.”  Trouble comes at Smith from all angles. He agrees to defend a client charged with a heinous robbery and string of murders. Then the case gets tangled up with Smith’s disintegrating personal life, where an exotic dancer twists into a mid-life crisis. “The cast of characters is varied and distinct,” says Gelfan, “and the authorial voice is compassionate and authentic.”

Norwood tried to write every day, squeezing at least a page out around his busy schedule. Sometimes he wrote less, and on other days he received the “gift” of producing at least a dozen pages. “I was often surprised how details of the plot would develop effortlessly and the characters would take over…. It was similar to losing yourself in another author's story, getting involved with characters as though they were real.”

Norwood appreciates the work that he did with Peter on the manuscript, calling the editor “a real pro. When we disagreed, there was some give and take…. He really helped in the area of layering characters and reshaping the story.”

Beyond the writing, Norwood also invested in learning the business of books. He subscribed to Writers Digest and The Writer magazines, and attended conferences like the Algonquin Pitch and Shop and the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). “The guidance and peer critique has been invaluable. I enjoy learning how to build a platform, discovering industry trends, and how to pitch to editors and agents.”  Eventually, Norwood chose to self publish his book, releasing Sleepless Nights as a hardcover and an e-book. He’s focusing his marketing efforts on book clubs, particularly African American groups, where word-of-mouth campaigns continue to build his sales.

When asked what he’s learned from his first book, Norwood offers, “I learned that if you really believe in your product you can make it happen. It requires putting in long hours perfecting your craft. I learned to keep setting goals. I learned about writing techniques and publishing knowledge. Now I'm confronted with challenges of marketing. I'm enjoying the experience and committed to the journey.”  With three more books planned in the Drew Smith series over the next three years, we’re glad to hear it. Find out more about Norwood Holland and his new release at http://www.SleeplessNightsNovel.com