UnCensored Ink Interview – Christopher DeWitt

Hey everyone,

Ian Tan here, lead editor and project coordinator of UnCensored Ink: A Banned Book Inspired Anthology, set to release this October 29. Here is the UnCensored Ink interview series to introduce you all to the incredible writers, as well as the local bookstores and libraries that gave them safe creative spaces. Hopefully, you can put these incredible places on your to-visit list, and feel inspired to support your own local bookstore, library and indie authors.

Today I am with Christopher DeWitt from Arizona. He lives with his wife Christine, son Alex, three dopey but lovable dogs, and a weird, vegan cat. When he isn’t writing and reading, he is exploring the beautiful and sometimes eerie Superstition Mountains and the haunts of Tombstone. A United States Air Force veteran and licensed pilot, he loves anything that flies and earth-bound racing machines that go very, very fast.

1. You’ve written a fine piece for UnCensored Ink: A Banned Book Inspired Anthology. Can you give us a synopsis? How did the idea for this piece come about?

Lit Matches portray a dystopian America shattered by brutal ongoing civil wars, where two men have been set on a mission by their faction to seize what is regarded as a very dangerous book. These men, Logan and Potts, are members of the elite Archivist Corp and are journeying to Phoenix, which is now located in what is called the Southwestern Neutral Zone. Along the way, the men reflect on the harsh realities of their world, and the loss of their fellow archivist, Grooms, as well as the treachery of Anna, a former squad mate who has defected to the enemy. When they arrive at their destination, they encounter something that turns their whole mission on its head and causes Logan to examine the true nature of that mission, and the book they had sought to destroy.

When I was writing Lit Matches, firstly I wanted it to somehow involve American history, since I am a history nut (thanks again, Dad). I had never done anything dystopian before, but I thought it might be interesting if it was in a dark, near-future where the founding documents would be scandalous or seen as a threat in some way. Honestly, I think we have strayed quite a bit from our founding principles, and it just might be a good idea to get back to the basics, as it were. I think we have lost sight of them. Also, the notion that the writings of the people who literally started this country being kept alive by rebels seemed to bring it all full circle, since they themselves were rebels, big time!

2. Now, we would love to know you more! What do you enjoy doing in your free time, what is your favorite book quote, and how did you get into reading and writing?

Clearly, I love to read. No time spent on that is ever wasted. I like to read a variety of genres. When I am not reading, I enjoy just being out in the wild, somewhere, when the weather permits it here in Arizona. After a long summer one tends to develop cabin fever, so when the weather is cooler, I like to be outside as much as possible. I am also an avid fan of almost all forms of motorsport, but particularly Formula 1 and NASCAR. And anything to do with aviation. We have some great museums here and great airshows as well! Can’t get enough of those.

Favorite quote? Well, that is a tall ask, since there are so many great ones to choose from! I love the works of Rudyard Kipling, and a quote from his classic, The Jungle Book, always stayed with me since I read it when I was a kid, just because for me it was so memorable, especially the last line:

Now this is the Law of the Jungle – as old and true as the sky;

And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the Law runneth forward and back;

For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

Come on, now. That is just way too… cool. And I always thought that I could never write anything that bloody cool.

I was born into a family of voracious readers, and I have my Mom and Dad to thank for that addiction. Like most writers, I started scribbling stories when I was little, initially at least due to school assignments. Only then did I find out how much fun and fulfilling it could be. I remember writing one story set in one of my favorite TV shows at the time – The Time Tunnel. I know this is going to date me all too well! I had to have been around eight or nine, so it would have been one of my first efforts. I used that show’s characters, so apologies to Irwin Allen Productions for that. It was my first and only fan fiction! At least so far. I had fun doing that, but what was more fun was when my teacher praised my story and told me I had a wonderful imagination. That kind of thing will set you to glowing for days, at least for a budding writer.

3. Do you have a favorite local library or bookstore? Also can you remember bookstores and libraries from your childhood, if they are not the same as the ones now?

Probably my favorite bookstore is in what we call “Old Town Scottsdale.” It is called The Poisoned Pen, which I always thought was just a fantastic name for a bookstore to begin with.

4. Tell us more about this bookstore/library. What do you love most about it?

They have many author appearances and talks, both local and nationally known authors. Jeffery Deaver is coming up here soon, for instance. It’s a super friendly and cozy setting too. They have several subscription book clubs for fans of a variety of genres. They even have their own press, which focuses, of course, on mysteries. It’s a pretty cool place, so definitely check it out if you are ever in town!

5. What do you have to say on the importance of sustaining bookstores and libraries?

I can’t say enough on that topic. I have fond memories of going to the library from the time I was a little kid and it always seemed like a sort of sanctuary to me, and a place of endless possibilities, really. It is always heartening to me to see busy bookstores, especially the non-chain ones, filled with people, that reading is still important to many. In my opinion it is vital that we continue to pass that love of reading on and continue to protect the valuable, rich art form of literature.

6. Do you have any projects that your current and future readers can look forward to?

I am absolutely thrilled that my short story The Eye of Sucuri is included in Wild Ink’s horror anthology Tenpenny Dreadfuls – Tales as Hard As Nails, releasing September 10^th! Also, my first historical fiction novel, Devil Preacher – Tales of the Mystic Empire, about the notorious John Murrell and his gang operating on the Natchez Trace in the 1830s, will be out in December 2025. I cannot wait for that!

I am working on a fantasy set in the modern world. That is all I can say about it presently because – full disclosure – I am totally pantsing this one out. I find it quite fun and in a way very liberating, since I have no idea what is in store for the characters and the story. Okay, I have a vague idea… Beyond that, I have been wanting to do another historical fiction piece, adapted from a screenplay of mine, based on a World War II aerial battle, the famous raid on Ploesti, Romania. Code named Operation Tidal Wave, 164 B-24 Liberator bombers struck the Third Reich’s largest petroleum plant. The planners calculated that even if none of the bombers and crew returned, if they damaged the facility badly enough it would have been worth it. That is how important it was. It was a low-level mission (some of the bombers returned with cornstalks stuck in their bomb bay doors), and many incredible stories of valor came out of that one action. It still is the highest decorated single action in U.S. Air Force history.

7. Lastly, what platforms can we find you?

I am on a few platforms for now, but planning on more! So far, I am on Instagram: @christopherldewitt and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562008559855