Author Spotlight: DK Coutant - Literal Literary

DK Coutant earned a Ph.D. in Psychology and spent most of her academic career at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. After many happy years in Hawaii, DK made the move out of academics to become a professional geopolitical forecaster for GJP, Inc ( https://goodjudgment.com/Inc ) and the Rand Corporation (https://www.randforecastinginitiative.org/frequently-asked-questions). She loves to travel with her husband and an Old English Sheepdog. Evil Alice and the Borzoi is her first work of fiction published by The Wild Rose Press. The second book in the series, Elegance and Evil, will be released in June 2025.

This is Author DK Coutant’s writing and publication journey in her own words…

I was a psychology professor for 20 years and I wrote non-fiction. But towards the end of that career I grew restless and wanted a new challenge. I started seriously writing about 9 years ago. I struggled with my first mystery, but also gave geopolitical forecasting a try. Somehow the two-career paths balanced me.

Coutant’s inspiration to start writing fiction…

I started writing fiction to relax on the weekends. It opened my mind to appreciate the beauty that surrounded me as I stole scenes and settings from my life to describe in my fiction. It also allowed me to control a reality, even if it wasn’t my own. I joined writing groups, Sisters in Crime, and the Guppy chapter, as well as Mystery Writers of America. I benefited tremendously from their classes and workshops.

Challenges as a writer…

I retired early to pursue my new passions. But writing professionally is a full-time job and sometimes that is hard to balance with the rest of my life.

Coutant’s favourite scene from her cozy mystery, “Evil Alice and the Borzoi.”

As I was musing ‘what ifs’, my eyes drifted to an intense mountain of a man in a red shirt so saturated with color I expected it to drip onto his jeans. The almost-to-the-elbow sleeves revealed ropey forearms the color of a dried kukui nut. The bones in his broad face, made me think of a tiger, not traditionally handsome, but arresting. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Almost as if he could feel my scrutiny, he turned his head and looked directly at me. My pulse quickened and I froze – an impala trapped in the gaze of a predator. I couldn’t look away. A barely perceptible smile appeared on his face. He knew the effect he was having on me. Embarrassment gave me the strength to jerk my eyes down to my feet.

What the hell was wrong with me? Maybe low blood sugar? I didn’t eat much breakfast.

Coutant’s works…

Evil Alice and the Borzoi was my first book published. It’s available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and wherever e-books can be found.
The sequel, Elegance and Evil, will be released in June, 2025.

https://linktr.ee/dkcoutant

Besides her upcoming cozy mystery, “Elegance and Evil,” does Coutant have any plans to publish further works any time soon?

I’m so glad you asked. I’m about a third of the way through Book 3 of my Cleo Cooper mysteries. My protagonist, Cleo Cooper, a cross-cultural psychologist, will be jumping the pond to Europe and into another exotic culture, with a murder to muddy the waters.

One thing that Coutant has achieved in her writing career that she’s proud of…

I finished and queried my first novel during Covid. Along with a million other people who turned the lock-down into an opportunity and finished editing their manuscripts. After over 100 query rejections, I was elated to find a home with my publisher. This is a tough business, and a win is always to be celebrated.

Advice and words of encouragement from Author DK Coutant for aspiring authors…

Keep writing. Rejections can be soul-crushing, but don’t let that happen to you. Use them as a chance to edit, revise, and work on your craft. If you do, I believe the universe will give you an opportunity. You just have to be ready.