In 2000, he moved some of that material from his mind to paper and wrote Dead Men Can Kill. He kept the book under wraps until he retired in 2008.

That was the year he started writing Cold Winter's Kill, his second novel that features former special agent Jim West and problems he encounters in New Mexico.  A third novel, also featuring West, is slated to appear in spring 2010. This satisfying depth of material from a debut author is a result of Bob's determination to write while searching for a publisher. By the time he found TotalRecall Publications, Cold Winter's Kill was finished.

 In Dead Men Can Kill, Jim's second career as a lecturer on investigative techniques turns into more of a nightmare as a his path intersects with that of a psychotic killer.  In doing a favor for a friend in Cold Winter's Kill, Jimstumbles into a more sinister situation that has somehow turned into an annual Christmas event. Caught between an impending blizzard and the killer's time line, Jim is in a race for survival, not only his own but that of his friend's missing daughter.

The Jim West saga will probably takeplace over five novels. And it was a planned series from the start because, as Bob says, "I have always enjoyed reading mystery series." It should be no surprise then that his favorite authors are Rex Stout and John McDonald.

Both Bob and his main character were special agents with theAir Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). Bob says this office was modeled after the FBI and "is very similar to NCIS" - the television series. The interaction his characters have with local authorities is also drawn from Bob's real life. Often he and his office were called upon to work with local law enforcement agencies when a member of the military was accused of a crime that took place outside the military base.

And if you are curious about the main character, Bob says he used the name Jim West when he was working undercover as a junior officer with the AFOSI.

Bob also located his protagonist in New Mexico, an area with personal connections including the fact he graduated from high school there after his father retired to Clovis. But don't count on Jim staying put. Bob says the third novel has Jim traveling to Texas (where Bob lives now). At some point, Bob admits he thought about using a foreign setting like his favorite European city, Vienna, for at least one of the West novels.

A writing day for this hard-working novelist is not strictly regimented. Since Bob enjoys writing, he finds it easy to write without having a specific and dedicated time allotted for it. A quick trip to a coffee shop or sneaking away to his bedroom provides stress relief when necessary.

A more pressing concern for this debut author is how to get the word out that his novels are available. "The biggest challenge I think a new writer faces after getting a publishing contract is getting their work exposed to a wide audience."

Fans of Bob Doerr will be pleased to know he likes to write and with two novels coming out simultaneously and a third only months away, readers who discover him will have a satisfying introduction to his work.

Visit Bob's website at www.bobdoerr.com.