WINDSOR
While there might well be other authors living and working in Windsor, the latest to publish is Brian Lawson. Earlier in October, he published “Burning Minds: Volume I,” which is actually his fourth book, but first novel.

Born in Norfolk to Ted Lawson and Donna Lawson, he grew up in this town with his sister, Amy Lemley. Brian Lawson, 32, said he’s been’s dabbling in writing since age 12 or 13. Then as now, he would write plots and create characters that he put in complex situations.

“My biggest thing is characters,” he said. “Oftentimes I establish characters first — they’re the most essential thing to any story. I try to make them as human as possible. You give them distinct personalities and a lot of times I fill different things around that.”

Besides writing on his own, for a time in 2008 Lawson got to write for The Tidewater News thanks to a summer internship. There he sharpened skills by writing factually versus fictionally. More formal training came through studies at Old Dominion University, where in 2010 Lawson earned a degree in English and creative writing.

“That’s when I knew I’d like to write, particularly poetry,” he said.

Evidently inspired, that same year Lawson published enough accumulated poems for two books: “Contemplations of Essence: Poems and Haikus” and “The Turning Year,” both done in spring and summer of 2010, respectively. The first he described as “a chapbook,” or short collection of the poems and haikus. The latter are poems in a Japanese style, consisting of 17 syllables in three lines.

Lawson acknowledged he’s not 100 percent satisfied with how those first two books were produced, and sought a new publisher. That was found in Createspace.com, which allows independent publishing.

“It’s a really good process. I recommend for it for anyone,” he said. “I was more impressed by the quality of the paper stock and covers.”

With the new company, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Lawson was able to take time to not only write, but also edit and proof — “numerous times, of course.”

Anything of quality takes time in his opinion, and all that’s now found in his two most recent books, the new poetry collection, “A Good Day for Oxygen,” which became available on Sept. 3; and the aforementioned “Burning Minds.”

“I’m intrigued by the idea of characters having opposite sides [to their personalities],” said Lawson.

That experimentation is found in the novel. The setting is in Franklin City, which has become prey to not one, but two serial killers initially unaware of one another. In opposition to their crimes are Det. Reginald Barkley and Eric Parks. They each have their own set of troubles to contend with as they work to capture the murderers.

As with many works of fiction, the reader often wonders if the story is based on actual people or events.

“They’re [his characters] not based on any other character or person I’ve seen. I knew I wanted them to be colorful characters — even make them slightly over the top at times — their appearance, actions, the whole nine yards.”

Franklin was the inspiration for the setting’s name, but not modeled after the city itself. Instead, it’s a big city much like Norfolk. “More of a metropolis,” he added.

Beyond writing books, Lawson has another ambition: to get the novel into filmmakers’ hands for adaptation into a movie.

“Screenwriting interests me,” said the film buff, who has an extensive collection of movies and television programs.

Meanwhile, he’s hard at work on the novel’s second volume, which is expected to be completed by this spring.

“I’ve got another novel in mind, once I’m finished with Vol. II,” Lawson said. “I’m going into the fantasy genre. I’ve taken quite a bit of notes for a fantasy/supernatural story.”

When Lawson’s not writing, he’s steadily working at the NAPA store near his home, or with his family and friends, to whom he acknowledges gratitude.

“I’m very appreciative of all my friends and family for all their support,” Lawson said. “They’re definitely priceless to me.”

“Burning Minds (Vol. I)” and Lawson’s other books are available for sale in both paperback and Kindle versions through his Facebook page, which have links to www.amazon.com and www.b&n.com from where they can be ordered.