Dale O. Garrett – Author Spotlight
I’m so excited to introduce you to author Dale O. Garrett today.
Dale O. Garrett has been an author since 2014. Dale is also a retired police officer and taught the D.A.R.E. Program to thousands of children in his community during his career in law enforcement. Dale is married and lives with his wife and three Labradors in central Florida.
Dale created D.O.G. Publishing in May of 2022. D.O.G. Publishing was then focused on creating unique, well-designed journals, log books, coloring books, and activity books that are useful for everyone in their daily life. Whether for entertainment, or their favorite hobbies. His current focus however has shifted to writing higher content books. Dale’s first high content book is titled, ‘My Name Is 201’ and is a memoir about his life as a police officer and his moonlighting career as a professional corporate comedy magician.
Dale O. Garrett’s books reflect his passion for dogs – especially Labrador Retrievers. A large majority of his books feature a hidden Labrador in the artwork of the books cover design. Make a game of it! See if you can spot them all!
I asked Dale a few questions so that we could get to know him better and learn about his books.
What do you love most about writing?
I enjoy taking my readers on a journey. Making them feel like they are right there and actually in the environments and situations that I create through my detailed descriptions of things around the character(s) in my books.
What inspired you to start writing?
In the early 1990s, I served as a police officer at the Winter Haven Police Department in central Florida. During an altercation with an arrestee in a parking lot, we ended up grappling on the ground, and I landed hard on my back against a concrete parking stop. Despite the impact, I didn’t seek medical attention and simply toughed it out, as one does in their youthful and resilient years.
However, in my later years after retiring from law enforcement, I began experiencing severe arthritis in the spine around the area where I had taken the fall. Over time, the pain made walking and everyday tasks increasingly difficult, compounded by other major health issues that arose. By around 2019 or 2020, the back pain and other health problems had worsened to the point where I found myself confined to bed.
After spending a year in that state, playing video poker and feeling sorry for myself, I decided to channel my writing talents. I penned my first book, ‘My Name Is 201,’ which enjoyed considerable success. Encouraged by my oldest brother, I embarked on another writing journey, delving into our family’s hidden history—three half-brothers who were infamous bank robbers in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This exploration led to the conception of my new book, ‘Criminal Kinfolk.’
Are you currently working on any new books or writing projects?
I just wrapped and published my latest book, ‘Criminal Kinfolk.’ I think I’ll take a break for a while before tackling any new writing projects.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
I attribute my success in this journey primarily to persistence—pushing through challenges and staying laser-focused on my goals. Initially I was hesitant to disclose our family’s secret, I mean, who wants to admit having relatives involved in bank robberies and murder? However, a pivotal moment came when my brother Gary shared a news article on social media about our half-brothers’ bank heists. This sparked a conversation between us, leading to the decision to write a book, unearthing every detail, even the uncomfortable ones.
My strategy revolved around extensive research—digging into old news articles, FBI documents, prison records, and conducting interviews with relatives who held memories of our half-brothers’ criminal activities. So, in response to your question, research was the cornerstone of my approach to writing and releasing this book to the public.
Any message for our readers?
“Criminal Kinfolk” offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the minds of serial bank robbers, juxtaposed against the careers of myself and my two full-biological brothers in law enforcement. The book delves into the adventures and exploits of both the “good” Garrett boys (us in law enforcement) and the “bad” ones (our half-brothers who were bank robbers). I believe readers will be on the edge of their seats as I recount harrowing moments experienced by both sets of brothers. Early readers have shared that they were unable to put the book down, eagerly anticipating what would happen on the next page. It’s truly a thrilling ride!
Where can people follow you online to learn more?
Both of my books are on Amazon of course, but they can also follow me on Face Book. Just search for Dale O. Garrett. Or they can access all of my books at these web addresses: MyNameIs201.com or CriminalKinfolk.com