At B&N Press, we’re excited to highlight the unique journeys of indie authors whose passion for storytelling has shaped their careers. This month, we’re thrilled to introduce Tom Fowler, a USA
Today bestselling author whose path to success began with childhood murder mysteries and evolved into a thriving career in crime fiction and thrillers.
In his own words, Tom shares how his early fascination with detective shows sparked his love for writing, and how it eventually led to the creation of beloved characters like Baltimore PI C.T. Ferguson and retired soldier John Tyler. Join us as Tom reflects on his journey—one fueled by persistence, creativity, and an unrelenting drive to meet readers where they are.
A Guest Post by Tom Fowler
A Fledgling Author
I was one of those people who loved to write as a kid.
Like a lot of kids, I decided to write the sorts of things I saw on TV. When I was young, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house while they watched reruns of
shows like The Rockford Files and Columbo. A few times a week, I got to see a cop or a private investigator trying to solve a crime—usually a murder.
Naturally, I wanted to write my own murder mystery.
My attempt would not go down as one of the great crime stories. As a polite young man, I didn’t feel comfortable killing anyone on the handwritten page. I also omitted the mystery part, naming the knife-wielding not-killer in the first paragraph. While I went oh-for-two on the murder mystery aspects, this story gave me the writing bug. All these years later, I still have it.
Picking a Genre
In the four decades or so since I penned my first “murder mystery,” I’ve dabbled in a few different genres.
I started and stopped a couple urban fantasy books. Then came a pair of spy thriller novels. They’re complete, but I wrote them twenty years ago, so they’ll only ever see print with massive editing. Eventually, I circled back to mystery and came up with my first series protagonist, Baltimore PI C.T. Ferguson.
A dozen or so short stories helped my find C.T.’s voice before I began working on the first novel. The Reluctant Detective chronicles his first case. This is a bit unusual in the genre, as we tend to meet our Marlowes and our Spensers when they’re already established.
Drafting this introductory novel took a while, and it came in fits and starts. I had a completed draft near the end of 2010 because my then-girlfriend (who would become my wife about a year later) read a copy. I knew it wasn’t ready for prime time, however, and after many rounds of self-polishing, I finally looked for an editor.
This was a vital step. Finally, I got feedback from a professional. While he had some nice things to say, he also didn’t mince words in telling me what I was doing wrong. After a fresh round of revisions, The Reluctant Detective went live in October of 2017. In 2020, I started publishing the John Tyler thriller series, featuring a retired soldier who can never walk away from trouble . . . even when he should.
Working with Barnes and Noble
My first visit to a Barnes and Noble store—a massive one in California—got me hooked on the place.
However, when I started publishing, I took the easy route. I had a non-writing-related day job and a family—still do—so I opted to publish exclusively with one retailer. Not having my books in other stores soon chafed at me, so I moved the C.T. Ferguson series everywhere.
It’s important for me to meet readers where they are. Barnes and Noble has been a huge part of my indie publishing strategy. I’ve been lucky enough to get promotional opportunities I wouldn’t find on any other retailer. A few times, by books—including the last several Tyler thrillers—have been chosen for the “Top Indie Favorites” feature, and I’m always happy to share these with friends and readers. John Tyler’s eighth adventure, Redline, releases shortly.
Today, I have the Indie Author Spotlight, and I’d like to use it to encourage those of you looking at indie publishing to meet your readers where they are.
About Tom Fowler
Tom Fowler is a USA Today bestselling indie author of mysteries and thrillers. He was born and raised in Baltimore and now lives in the DC suburbs of Maryland with his family. He writes the C.T. Ferguson crime fiction series and the John Tyler thrillers, both set in his home city. Tom’s stories feature flawed heroes, action, and plenty of snark.
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