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Q: Why did you publish both of your first books indie?
A: It all goes back to 1985. We had an assignment in Creative Writing class and my teacher Mrs. Bryant had invited a journalist student from Tulsa to spend the day in class with us students. The journalist collage student had issues with pride, and she was never wring about anything. I was not looking forward to her coming to my desk. When she did I hid my work, not out of shame, but out of preservation. Mrs. Bryant FORCED me to show her my work. She took my personal account that I wrote at age 17 about an event from my childhood and made it hers. I was dumbfounded. I asked it not to be published in that years magazine, Mrs. Bryant did so anyway, but under a pen name. From that day forward I viewed publishing editors as the same, although I know it is unjustified. Later I sent in some of my poems and got a similar reaction, not that I was not good, but they felt the changes they offered would be better. In the end, I'm not afraid of rejection, I just do not like my work becoming someone's else. Granted I understand the need for an editor to offer suggestions and corrections to your work. My present editor offered a lot with "David's mark" and most were taken, even though painful because I knew he was right. So it is not pride or fear that I went indie, it was an act of preserving my art. My wife & I set out some herbs and she was concerned that the cat would get into the garden and...you know. So she strung some yarn around the edge. The hope was that the cat would get entangled and stay out. We never thought of...THE BIRD. Recently I came across this blog http://michaeltaylormedia.blogspot.com and on that blog were photos of the school I attended in Oklahoma that in my book "David's mark" is presented as "Santa Fe" Oklahoma. I obtained permission from Michael Taylor to reuse some of his photos so it can show another angle of the school that I watch my first best friend die at. 
I remember hiding in this doorway with a rubber band gun playing cops and robbers at recess. 
This photo is very haunting to me. I have so many memories that just crowd my mind as I look at this photo. I can see me...once (I wish I could remember his name) me and my friend convinced a bunch of little girls to get on the marry-go-round, we promised we would not push it fast, once it was loaded we got on opposite sides and grabbed hold and ran in circles turning faster and faster, we only stopped when one little girl went flying off. She did not get hurt. So many memories.... 
This was the building that I went to class in Front the front you can see the opening off center to the far end. I entered that door, when down a short hall (think the letter I) and turned right. My class was on this end of the building and toward the back side. It was here that I won that art prize mentioned in the book "David's mark". 
This photo is very haunting. Change your focus from the slid to the water tower in the background. That fence runs along the street with the big hill. Just to the right in the photo is the crossing and were my friend was hit and killed by the station wagon. I sat at the foot of this water tower and cried for hours, no one with me. I was 7. From the book "David's mark".
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AuthorDeWayne Watts: I started out writing short stories and poetry. Some of which was published in the 1980's. I have parts of 5 novels written and have completed 2 novels. I have been married over 25 years and raised 2 wonderful sons who have been a great addition to the human family. Follow me on GOODREADS
The 3 Novels/Books Written By DeWayne Watts
"David's mark"
Click Title to Buy the Book. 
"The Boy in The Wood"
Click Title To Buy The Book. 
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