Alan R Warren discusses his unexpected literary career and the power of authentic storytelling
INTERVIEW
‘I certainly never intended to become a full-time author; it just grew into that,’ Alan R Warren says, beginning his interaction with Literary Harbinger. What started with a few short newspaper and magazine articles gradually turned into a long journey through true crime, history, cults, and investigative storytelling. Today, the Canadian author has 39 published books to his name, released through a combination of traditional publishers and self-publishing.
Writing About Crime, History, and Cults
Warren began writing around sixteen years ago, though his first book was not published until 2016. Since then, all of his books have remained firmly rooted in the non-fiction genre, covering subjects such as true crime, historical events, and cults. Alongside books, he has also written articles for publications including Scoop Magazine and Serial Killer over the last decade.
‘Nine of these books are books of interviews that I did with people who were involved in a particular event,’ Warren explains. ‘These include interviews with several of the Charles Manson followers, journalists, and witnesses of events such as the JFK assassination. My work has consistently centred around people who experienced major events firsthand, allowing me to build narratives through direct conversations rather than distant observation,’ he adds.
Understanding the World Around Charles Manson
Warren’s latest book is titled Peace, Love, & Murder: The Charles Manson Story. Rather than focusing only on the murders themselves, the book explores the wider social and cultural atmosphere of the late 1960s. According to Warren, who holds a Master’s degree in Music and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology, understanding Manson requires understanding the world around him.
‘It really tells the story of the late 1960s in San Francisco and what was going on in the city, country, and the world,’ he says. ‘Charles Manson was reactionary to everything that was going on around him.’
For Warren, the cultural environment of the time played a major role in shaping both Manson’s influence and the people who followed him. He believes the events connected to Manson could only have unfolded during that particular period in American history. ‘I believe that Manson could have only done what he did and got away with it during that time and in that place,’ he explains. ‘He would have never made it work today.’
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Researching the People Behind the Story
Alongside writing books, Warren produces and hosts the House of Mystery radio show for several radio stations and podcast platforms. Through the programme, he interviews writers, publishers, producers, and others connected to the writing and entertainment industries. Between radio work, interviews, publishing, article writing, and books, his schedule remains consistently busy. ‘Between setting up, recording, and publishing those radio interviews, I usually write about five articles per month for different magazines and work on a book daily,’ he says.
Despite the workload, Warren continues approaching each project with careful preparation and detailed research. His process begins not simply with the crime or historical event itself, but with the people connected to it. ‘After deciding on a story, I have to be able to locate as many of the people who were part of the case as I can,’ he explains. ‘This would include survivors, victims’ families, detectives, doctors, and even the culprit.’
Without direct access to the people involved, he believes the work would remain incomplete. ‘Without the major players, the book would be second- or third-hand information and not complete,’ he tells us, adding, ‘So I would not write it in that case.’
Building Characters in Fiction
Although Warren mainly writes non-fiction, he also enjoys discussing fiction and character creation. According to him, fictional stories require the same emotional depth and understanding as real-life accounts. Character development, in particular, becomes central to the entire process. ‘This would mean that I have to create the main character and develop their own life story before I could put them into a plotted story,’ he says.
Sometimes, Warren explains, story ideas come long before the characters themselves. ‘Only after finding personalities that truly fit the narrative can the story fully come together,’ he asserts, adding that sometimes he has some different ideas for a story thought up way before any characters. ‘Only after I have some new characters, which I think would not only fit into the story but be great to watch as they handle the story, can I put it all together,’ he says.
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A Love for Historical Stories
Warren says he generally prefers both fiction and non-fiction historical books over modern stories. Among the works he particularly admires are Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Like many readers, he first encountered these stories through film adaptations before later reading the original novels. ‘It is really quite amazing how we grow up with these stories by watching movies that were made from the books,’ he says.
Be that as it may, Warren believes reading the original novels offers a far richer experience than watching adaptations. ‘Only when you read these books do you realise that there is so much more within the book,’ he tells us. ‘Even if a really well-made movie about it was released, you would still not have enough to capture what the authors wanted us to.’
Learning From Old-Time Radio
Another major influence on Warren’s creative life comes from old-time radio programmes, particularly mystery stories. He says he still listens to them every single night and continues finding inspiration in their storytelling techniques. Shows such as CBS Mystery Theater and Richard Diamond remain personal favourites.
‘The CBS Mystery Theater or Richard Diamond are in heavy rotation on my Audible player,’ he lets on. For Warren, these programmes help preserve the atmosphere and behaviour of earlier decades in ways modern storytelling often cannot. ‘Listening to them allows me to better understand how people communicated, behaved, and viewed the world during those periods,’ he says. Dated pieces of work, according to Warren, really help capture the time period in which they were made. ‘You can hear how they behaved around each other, what was important to them, and what they were living for,’ he adds.
Warren also credits these programmes with helping him improve his own ability to communicate mood and emotion through writing. ‘They really taught me how to convey to the reader what it is I am trying to say,’ he lets us know. The influence of those broadcasts appears not only in his interest in mystery and crime but also in the strong sense of atmosphere present throughout his work. For Warren, older storytelling forms continue to offer valuable lessons even today.
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Writing Without a Fixed Schedule
Unlike writers who follow strict daily routines, Warren says his writing process depends heavily on mood and mental clarity. He usually completes his radio work and other responsibilities first before attempting to write in between those tasks. Rather than forcing himself into rigid schedules, he prefers working when ideas naturally come together.
‘If I am not in the correct mood, or have too many things on my mind, I probably will not get my good work done,’ he explains. Ideas often arrive unexpectedly, especially while walking his dogs or handling completely unrelated activities. According to Warren, creativity works best when everything around him feels balanced.
‘For my writing to work, everything around me has to come together in the right way,’ he says. ‘That flexibility allows me to move naturally between interviews, articles, radio work, and books without separating creativity into strict compartments,’ he adds.
How Writing Became a Career
Despite interviewing writers for nearly fifteen years and attending numerous book events, Warren says becoming an author was never part of a larger plan. The transition happened gradually and unexpectedly through opportunities that emerged during his radio career. Looking back, he still speaks about it with a certain sense of surprise.
‘It began while I was hosting a radio show in Seattle, and a few newspapers and magazines had asked me to write some short articles for them,’ he recalls. One of those articles eventually attracted the attention of a publisher, who approached Warren about writing a book. What followed was a steady expansion of opportunities and projects.
‘After my first book became a hit, I began to get some offers, and the journey began,’ he recounts. Over time, writing transformed from a side activity into a full-time profession. Even now, however, Warren’s description of that transition remains grounded and straightforward rather than dramatic.
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A New Crime Fiction Project
Warren is currently working on a crime fiction story inspired by a real event that took place in Seattle during the 1960s. The story follows the murders of the Chapman family, who were mistakenly targeted by an anti-communist group. As with much of Warren’s work, the fictional narrative remains closely connected to historical reality. ‘It follows the murders of the Chapman family, who were mistakenly murdered by an anti-communist group that believed they were someone else,’ he reveals. Several characters in the book are based on real individuals Warren interviewed over the years. His tendency to combine research with storytelling continues even when writing fiction.
Outside of writing, one of Warren’s major interests is operating a small dog rescue, where he takes in older small- and medium-sized dogs from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The work remains an important part of his life away from books and broadcasting. Clearly, it also reflects a quieter and more personal side to someone whose professional work often focuses on crime and violence.
‘Write for Yourself’
When asked what advice he would offer aspiring writers who become discouraged by rejection or criticism, Warren answers immediately: Keep going back every day. Persistence, according to him, matters far more than outside approval or temporary setbacks.
He believes writers should remain focused on their own voice rather than becoming distracted by trends or public expectations. ‘I would ask them not to lose focus on what they want to say or why they want to say it,’ he explains. ‘Try to avoid as much of the surrounding noise as possible. It will only take you off your game.’
Most importantly, Warren believes authenticity matters more than pleasing others. ‘Do not write for other people, or what you think those people would like,’ he says. ‘Write for yourself, and what you would like them to know about you,’ he declares, signing off with a smile.
Do not write for other people, or what you think those people would like. Write for yourself, and what you would like them to know about you.
~ ALAN R WARREN
ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book you wish to read and buy yourself a copy right off the bat!
PS: The author’s remaining books can be found here.