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In Episode 13 of The Miami Book Hub podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Pinecrest author John David, whose Pete Lamaster thriller series already has begun turning heads well beyond South Florida.<\/p>\nIn Episode 13 of The Miami Book Hub podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Pinecrest author John David, whose Pete Lamaster thriller series already has begun turning heads well beyond South Florida.<\/p>\n
John is a public relations strategist and crisis communications consultant by day, and \u2014 like many of us trying to balance careers, families, and creative dreams \u2014 an author by night. His professional background gives him a unique lens through which to write fiction, particularly fiction centered on journalism, media pressure, public narratives, and the dangerous speed at which stories can take on a life of their own.<\/p>\n
His first thriller, The Bystander, introduces Pete Lamaster, a television reporter who unexpectedly captures a shocking act of violence on camera. As John described it, Pete is \u201ca happy-go-lucky reporter\u201d covering a festive college football weekend when \u201cthere\u2019s an active shooter incident,\u201d and the footage he captures quickly goes viral. An armed bystander is hailed as a hero, but, as John put it perfectly, \u201ceverything is not as it seems.\u201d<\/p>\n
That premise launches a fast-paced mystery that touches on gun rights, veterans\u2019 issues, media ethics, and misinformation without, John emphasized, becoming preachy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wrote a work of fiction,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a mystery novel. It\u2019s meant to be fun. It\u2019s meant to be escapist. But when you touch on the issues of the day, it makes it more interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bystander won the 2025 Page Turner Award in the mystery category, was a Storytrade Award finalist, and was named one of the best thrillers of 2025 by BestThrillers.com. His second book, The Pawn, was released this May, and the third installment, The Pretender, already is in developmental editing and scheduled for release in March 2027.<\/p>\n
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was John\u2019s take on journalism in today\u2019s fractured media environment. Pete Lamaster may begin as a more casual local reporter, but over the course of the series, John said, he becomes \u201ca little bit more serious about his craft.\u201d<\/p>\n
That evolution feels especially timely in a world of social media, commentary masquerading as news, viral clips, AI-generated content, and click-driven coverage.<\/p>\n
John also offered generous advice for aspiring writers. His first rule: find the process that works for you.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people have to write every day, but I can\u2019t write every day,\u201d he said. \u201cI have day jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
For John, dictation has become a useful tool because, as he explained, \u201cideas come from my brain to my mouth quicker than they can come to my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
His second rule was even simpler: \u201cYou start by starting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether that means an outline, a first chapter, a character sketch, or a rough idea, the important thing is to begin, and then power through the inevitable self-doubt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe DNA is there,\u201d he said of those early drafts. \u201cThe idea is there.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it comes to book promotion, John\u2019s public relations background helps, but there is no magic formula. His advice: knock on as many doors as possible and experiment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we all knew what was working, we would all be doing it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Readers can learn more about John David, his books, and his newsletter at ByJohnDavid.com. His novels are available wherever books are sold online.<\/p>\n
You can watch this and other episodes of The Miami Book Hub at YouTube.com\/@J.AdrianBetancourt<\/a> and listen to it on Spotify. Please like, subscribe, and share with your friends and family. Until next time\u2026 keep reading, keep writing, and stay curious, Miami!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ABOUT US:<\/p>\n For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami\u2019s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami\u2019s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.<\/p>\n This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.<\/p>\n Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami\u2019s culture. Whether you\u2019re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami\u2019s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https:\/\/communitynewspapers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com<\/a> or Grant@communitynewspapers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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