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Poetic Justice: Guest Post with Co-Authors Willow Willers & Dan Antion

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Promotional Image by Teagan

This is a real treat for me, an opportunity to interview Dan Antion, my new-ish WordPress friend and Willow Withers, one of my Soul Sistahs and dear friends both on WordPress and in real life. Back in May I learned the exciting news that Willow and Dan had been collaborating and co-authoring a book; I thought that was amazing! Allow me to share my short interview with these two busy people to find out what it was like working together.

With more than one person contributing to the story, was it hard to determine where a character arc, or the story itself, was complete and when it was appropriate to go off on a tangent (or not)?

Dan: Having previously written four books in a “trilogy”, (this four-books-in-a trilogy is a long-running joke on my blog), I find this an interesting question. There are plenty of places where I could have continued down a path but I tried to keep the story moving.

Willow, in your poetry, was it hard to set boundaries for each poem?

Willow: Occasionally I wanted to say more …. be more political or forceful …. the poet sometimes shouted at me saying I needed to make a point. I just replied, “you will, you will!” Sometimes less is often more.

Dan, Willow …. did you ever have to go back and make changes because something earlier ends up being a spoiler for something later in the book?

Dan: Not so much a spoiler but one poem that Willow wrote ended up not fitting with the narrative when I asked for it. I was asking her ahead of time for poems so I could work around them. I ended up using that poem much later in the book in a kind of an “Aha!” moment – “Ooh, that poem would be perfect here!”

Willow: No, not in my part of the story; Dan was always more careful to share where the plot was going and occasionally he discussed the fact that a poem had altered the storyline. We seem to be of one mind most of the time. I honestly think I only had to change a poem once. In fact, on one occasion Dan asked me to shorten a poem. I said I would but I felt it should be left whole and he agreed to that.

Do either of you see a sequel to this story?

Dan: I don’t see a sequel but I can imagine some of these characters showing up in the future. I’m trying to keep the Rascal Todd Mysteries as stand-alone stories.

Willow: Personally, I see lots of scope for a sequel; my mind is bubbling! That said, I know where Dan is going with these books and he is right – the Rascal Todd Mysteries should be stand-alone stories. They have such great characters. Though yes, I can see a few characters popping up time-to-time …. maybe a spin-off here or there.

Question on Vietnam: the prayer card indicates that the war in Vietnam is a significant plot element in this book. Can you tell me how that figures in without revealing too much?

Dan: The poet, who may have witnessed the murder of Wilson Barcroft, is thought to be a homeless Vietnam veteran. His poetry makes references to the war but it is unclear if or how that matters as Brody Thomson and Trevor Barcroft begin investigating Wilson’s murder, but it provides a clue that might help them determine the poet’s identity.

Willow: I was surprised at how quickly I became emotionally invested in a war that started when I was two years old and finished when I was twenty-two years old. Saigon is 6,118 miles away from where I lived at the time. I didn’t realize at first how the poems and prayer cards I was writing would be helping to steer the story along. So many dark things happened in that war and affected so many people even until this day.


The Blurb

Trevor Barcroft is convinced that mystery/true crime author Brody Thompson wrote the scene in which Trevor’s father Wilson Barcroft was murdered. What should be a simple answer to this five-year-old crime is one that neither the police nor the FBI want to uncover; and one Bernie Bouchard doesn’t want his young investigative reporter, Rascal Todd, digging into. Warned to stay away from the investigation, Brody and Trevor begin a dangerous quest, led by the musings of a mysterious poet who has been hiding in plain sight for decades. What does the Poet know that keeps him in hiding? What did Wilson Barcroft know that got him killed? Why can’t Brody walk away from a meaningless yet dangerous pursuit?

Author Bios

Dan Antion is retired from a 42-year-long career in systems development and other technology. The day after retiring, he began writing his first book. He’s a married father of one, and although there are no pets around today, over the years he and his wife have had four Irish Setters and a handful of Tuxedo cats. Dan is the author of the Dreamer’s Alliance Series and the Rascal Todd Mysteries. When Dan isn’t writing, you might find him in his woodshop, working around the house, or walking around with a camera. He also might be having a beer with friends; some of those times have inspired the fictional bar stories on his popular blog – NoFacilities.com.

Author page: http://relinks.me/DanielAntion
Blog: Https://noFacilities.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ptjdluuxckfau3dnaihh2sn5
DAntionYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNHXESp0LosdxjU-7elOu3g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danantion
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dantion/

Willow Willers was born in London and is retired. She now lives in Berkshire, Southern England, with her husband and a steady stream of foster dogs, mainly Guide Dogs for the Blind. Willow is the mother of three sons, all grown and flown, and two fast growing grandsons. Writing poetry and prose has always been her passion; in fact, she wrote her first pieces before she was eight. After two life changing accidents, Willow started writing in earnest and has found it a lifesaver. You can find Willow at willowdot21.wordpress.com

Author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Willow-Willers/author/B0DZD1TNZX
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/16AwsHVCqk/
Blog at wordpress: https://willowdot21.wordpress.com


Here are some links where you may purchase Poetic Justice in its various formats:

Kindle – https://relinks.me/B0FBLH5YKB

Paperback – https://relinks.me/B0FBRCQSHQ

Audio – https://relinks.me/B0DP5FR58S

Thank you for joining us today.

103 thoughts on “Poetic Justice: Guest Post with Co-Authors Willow Willers & Dan Antion”

  1. Pingback: The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS July 26, 2025 Q. – willowdot21
  2. Pingback: POETIC JUSTICE PROMO TOUR! WEEK NINE. AND THANK YOU. – willowdot21

  3. Another fun interview segment on this blog tour! I love what Willow said about The Poet screaming at her. 🙂 I’m almost finished with this book and can’t wait to find out if I’ve guess who the person is behind the murders, Thank you for hosting today, Nancy. And of course, a huge congratulations to Dan and Willow!

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    2. thank you got coming over Jan. You will have to let us know if you guessed right! As for the poet he had a very loud voice! Thank you for your good wishes.

      We have had fun here with Nancy 💜

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    3. Thanks Jan. If you did figure it out, please don’t tell anyone what tipped you off (you could tell me). We’ve been enjoying this tour, and Nancy was so nice to host us, and I enjoyed these questions.

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  5. What a lovely interview with two great personalities- Dan and Willow! Many congratulations to both of them for Poetic Justice. Thank you, Nancy, for this fabulous share 👏👏💐

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  6. What a splendid interview, Nancy. Well done. As a follower of Dan’s for some time now, this latest book sounds completely delish. And who can resist his fabulous fotos of bunnies. Getting to know more and more about Willow with the publication of this latest book has been a real treat. Thank you for promoting these two talented writers.

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    1. Thanks for a very gracious comment! Willow is one of my dear friends so I’m happy to learn you’re enjoying getting to know her just as I’m getting to know more about Dan. It was an honor and a pleasure to help them with promoting their new book. And you’re right …. it does sound delish!

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    2. Hi thanks for joining us here it’s been good getting to know you too…it’s honestly amazing how many amazing people we are meeting on this tour.

      And how kind all our hosts have been . Just like Nancy today who has been absolutely great 🎉

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    3. Thanks Monika for the nice words and good wishes. Nancy has been a wonderful host. I love these interviews, and this one brought out some interesting aspects of the process Willow and I went through. We’re all meeting so many nice people during this tour. It’s been fun.

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    2. Hi Teagan thank you for popping in and for all your help on the book. I am glad you have met Nancy she is a great person and we are so grateful for her hospitality and her questions 💜💜

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  9. A great interview, Nancy, … and very informative, … I’m glad to hear that the books are stand-alone, … that’s my favourite kind, … just in case I miss one, … many congratulations to both Willow and Dan, … and here’s to their continued success and collaboration, …💫💙💫

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    1. Thanks very much, Penn! I’m very pleased with the interview …. the information as well as the way it looks! I’m with you about stand-alone books. This is going to make a great gift for my mister who’s a fan of political thrillers. Thanks for checking out our interview and leaving a comment. Much appreciated.

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      1. it was a great interview Willow, … and as I say, very informative, … I’m wishing you and Dan so much continued success, … exciting too, knowing I know you, ,… I’m basking in your success and celebrating too. ….💫🤗💙💜💫

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    3. Thanks Penn. After writing the first three books that were in a series, I wanted to make sure the rest stand alone so people can read when/if they like. I’m so grateful to Nancy for hosting us today. It’s great to meet new people in this wonderful community.

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      1. I agree, Dan, it is such a wonderful and close community,… I’ve felt that since I came back, … and Nancy is a wonderful friend, … as is Willow, ..(of course, goes without saying 😉. .. Penn, quickly inserted, … not playing favourites, ) …😂…. I’ll be dropping by your site soon…. Just to have a nosy around., …😉

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    2. Lol yes Dan always leaves us wanting more! Thank you for popping over here to Nancy’s place she has asked some interesting questions hasn’t she.

      Infact the four book trilogy did have our Nancy’s head spinning until it was explained. 😊😊😊💜💜

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  12. I am so happy to be here, Nancy. One of the best things about being in the blogging community is meeting new people, and I’ve met several through Willow–in fact, it’s where I met Willow. From the comments I’ve read, it looks like I’m meeting new friends today.

    I very much appreciate your support for our effort, and the way your questions let us highlight how well we worked together on this project. Thank you so much.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. It was my great pleasure, Dan. As I mentioned to Teagan, when Willow first asked me to consider doing an interview, I was all in. And in the process I got to meet you! As you said, I also have met a lot of new people in the blogging community who I now consider as friends.

      Thank you for stopping by this morning; it’s been an incredible journey!

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  13. Pingback: Think Before You Ask—1LinerWeds – No Facilities

  14. A nice interview with both, Nancy. Willow is one of my best blogging friends (along with your good self, of course) but I don’t really know Dan. I’ll check him out!

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            1. That’s fine. I just checked out your blog and arrived at the five last protest songs. Fitting companion to our story. I knew all of them, but I hadn’t heard Springsteen’s version of We Shall Overcome. Nice collection.

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    3. Thank you, Clive. I consider Willow one of my Soul Sisters here on WordPress and in real life as well; there are a few of us ladies in our soulship and I highly value their presence in my life. Even though you and I will never agree on Springsteen, I consider you one of my greatest blogging friends! I appreciate you taking the time to read our interview today and leaving a comment; that means a great deal to me. Thanks!

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      1. Thank you for your kind words, Nancy, much appreciated. If only I’d played Springsteen’s version of War yesterday as well as the one I did play!

        Happy to visit and comment, as it was a good interview 😊

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  16. Pingback: POETIC JUSTICE PROMO TOUR! WEEK EIGHT. AND THANK YOU. – willowdot21

  17. Good morning Nancy and thank you for having us over to visit with you . We are so grateful for your generosity and time Sis. It’s been really fun to answer your questions. 💜💜💜

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