Darin’s first book, Why Has America Stopped Inventing?, explored the critical issue of America’s broken patent system. His second book, The Vintage Club, tells the story of a group of the world’s wealthiest men who are chasing a legend about a wine that can make you live forever. His third book, Gil, is about a high school coach who discovers that he can pitch with deadly speed and is given an offer to play with the Rockies during a player’s strike. Gil soon discovers, however, that his unexpected gift is the result of a rare disease, and continuing to pitch may hasten his own death.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree, he is highly regarded in Denver’s legal and business community as a patent strategist, business manager, and community leader. He is also a sought-after speaker on IP issues at businesses, colleges and technology forums, where he demonstrates the value of patents using simple lessons from working on products such as Crocs shoes, Izzo golf straps and Trek bicycles.
An avid traveler and accomplished triathlete, Darin also enjoys back country fly-fishing trips and skiing in the Rocky Mountains. He lives in Denver with his wife, Robin, and their four children.
His latest book is the thriller, Chasing Hindy.
WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
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About the Book:
ADDY’S DREAM AS
a patent attorney is to help bring a ground breaking energy technology to the
When she is arrested for stealing US
technology from the patent office she realizes Quinn has used her. Now, Addy
must find a way to clear her name while salvaging her dream of propelling this
technology to the world, all while powerful forces attempt to stop her.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
As a book bloggin’ and book luvin’ Princess, I’m always
curious to find out how authors got the ideas for their books. How did you come up with the idea for your
book?
The genesis behind Chasing Hindy came from a surprising source—a hypnotist. When I was in high school, we had an assembly where a hypnotist put a group of volunteers under hypnosis. One of the questions he asked them was what would be the fuel of the future. What fuel would people pump into their tank? Almost without exception they all said, “water!” The hypnotist then told the audience that every time he asked that question he received the same answer.That was several decades ago, but I’ve always wondered whether that could possibly be true—and why all these people thought we’d all be driving cars that used water. In the following years, I realized that a car wouldn’t run on water per se, but from hydrogen that is extracted from water. The question, of course, is that if we know how to produce hydrogen, why aren’t there hydrogen cars? The answer is quite simple. As an engineer and patent attorney I know the science behind extracting hydrogen from water. The problem is that it takes more energy to do this than to just run a car on gasoline, or even electricity.But what if somebody invented a way to make it happen? That’s the germ of an idea that led to Chasing Hindy.
Can you tell us what your book is about?
Chasing Hindy tells the story of Addy who, as a patent attorney, has a dream to help bring a ground breaking energy technology to the world. Addy’s hopes soar when she is wooed by Quinn, an entrepreneur, to join his company that has purportedly invented a car that can run on water using an innovative catalyst. After resigning her partnership to join Quinn, Addy discovers things aren’t as they seem. The patent office suppresses the company’s patent applications and her life is threatened by unknown assailants if she doesn’t resign.When she is arrested for stealing US technology from the patent office she realizes Quinn has used her. Now, Addy must find a way to clear her name while salvaging her dream of propelling this technology to the world, all while powerful forces attempt to stop her.
Can you tell us a little about the main characters of
your book?
For me, a good character is far more difficult than finding a story idea. Not only does the character need to make the story line happen, but the readers need to relate to what the character is experiencing. I struggled with such a character for years, and, in fact, rewrote the book several times with other characters that just didn’t seem to work.What made the story finally click was my discovery of Addy—a patent attorney with a dream to change the world. I decided on a female character (who was also a patent attorney) for several reasons. Perhaps the main reason was that female patent attorneys are in short supply and I wanted to encourage women to enter the profession. So I created Addy to hopefully show what a difference one person can make, and through her experience more women would want to become patent attorneys. What I love about Addy is her determination to make the world a better place, no matter the cost.The other main character is Addy’s law partner, Perry, who is a crotchety old attorney who adamantly opposes Addy’s decision to leave the firm on what he considers a false dream. But people can change, and it is Perry who ultimately saves Addy and makes her dream happen.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything,
what would that be?
Learn how to write well. While marketing a book is really hard, if you don’t have a good book to start with, you have no chance.
What would you say is one of your interesting writing
quirks?
I like to move stories along, so my writing is to the point. I like to have the story show how my characters develop, rather than being a narrator who constantly tells the reader what the characters are thinking.
Do you hear from your readers? What do they say?
I do. My favorite story is from a woman who recently read my last book, Gil. She said that she was so moved that she keeps the book on her nightstand to remind her of her experience.Also, I was at the gym the other day and the cycling instructor stopped the class to say that she’d just read a great book and then pointed to me and congratulated me on the book.
What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
I had another author who told me my book was a “C”.
What has been the best accomplishment?
As an author, being interviewed at various studios for two days in NYC when I released my first book. It was so much fun.
Do you Google yourself?
All the time. It’s a great way to see when your books are getting attention.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Lots. I’m working a historical fiction book that’s been held up because I couldn’t find the documents I needed. I recently found a gold mine of documents, so now I hope to finish.
Do you have anything specific that you would like to say
to your readers?
Thanks for reading my books. I promise that you won’t be let down!
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