D. M. Needom Delivers Rockstars, Magic, And Unforgettable Stories
PHOTO: D. M. Needom Inspires Readers With Her Powerful Storytelling And Creative Vision
Exploring Emotional Depth, Supernatural Intrigue, And The Human Experience Through The Better To Burn Out Series
D. M. Needom blends heartfelt emotion, supernatural elements, and vivid 80s-90s settings to create compelling novels that resonate deeply, offering readers a unique and immersive storytelling experience.
D. M. Needom, a New Orleans native now living in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago, is a master of weaving emotional intensity, supernatural intrigue, and intimate human relationships into her unforgettable Better to Burn Out series. With a unique blend of rockstar decadence and grounded realism, Needom captures the 80s and 90s with vivid authenticity while exploring universal themes of grief, love, and self-discovery. Beyond her novels, she is the host of the Better To Podcast and an intuitive tarot and oracle reader, which often infuses her fiction with a subtle yet powerful metaphysical undercurrent.
Needom’s journey as a writer is as compelling as her stories. After years of writing privately, life’s challenges and personal loss propelled her to finally publish her first novels, My Daze with the Dark Muse and Worth Waiting For. Since then, she has continued to create rich, multidimensional characters who resonate deeply with readers while exploring new narrative frontiers in upcoming works like A Magical Christmas and Judgment Day, Hell to Pay.
Needom’s novels are brilliant, immersive, and emotionally charged, captivating readers with unforgettable characters and gripping narratives.
Mosaic Digest is thrilled to bring you this in-depth conversation with D. M. Needom, where she shares insights into her creative process, the influence of her spiritual gifts, and the passion that drives her storytelling. Her advice for emerging authors is a heartfelt reminder: if writing is your calling, never give up—your story could be exactly what someone needs to read.
Your Better To Burn Out series features a mix of emotional intensity, supernatural elements, and intimate human relationships. How do you balance those elements so that one doesn’t overpower the others?
Very much like in life, we have to balance all those things and more. In my everyday life, the unexplained happens, and if I have things to do, I have to keep going without taking the time to analyze. When I write, I try to have an undercurrent of realism in my work, so I use my own experiences.
In your bio, you mention you’ve been writing stories since childhood and started publishing later in life. What was the turning point when you said, “This is the time I’ll go for it”?
I published two short stories in 2010 and even won and a ward for one. While I loved that I won, it didn’t push me out of the fear of failure. When my late husband was on dialysis, I took up residence at a bookstore, 3 days a week for 5 hours. When the bookstore was going out of business, they had one last New Authors night, and I was invited to take part. This pushed me to finally get out of my way to publish my first novel, My Daze with the Dark Muse.
“Publishing the first inspired me to publish a second, Worth Waiting For, later that year.” – D. M. Needom
You also work as an intuitive psychic medium, tarot and oracle reader. To what extent do these spiritual gifts influence your fiction writing (character arcs, themes, symbols)?
Most of my books have some type of reading or metaphysical aspect to them. Even if it is just the connection the characters share, be it energy or connecting in their dreams. There is always something, as most of us have those experiences in our lives. Not to mention, sometimes it feels like I am actually channeling a scene when I’m writing. So, my gifts do come into play just in the act of writing.
When you begin a novel, do you plan your plot in detail beforehand (plotter) or allow your characters to guide the story (pantser)? Has your approach changed over time?
I can plot a novel, but my characters always have something to say. In my first novel, My Daze with the Dark Muse, I thought it was finished, but the lead character, Nigel Hartagan, had other ideas. Those ideas led me to change the ending.
So, I listen to them and at least give them a say. If the scene doesn’t work, then it gets pulled, but at least I have worked through the idea. I also write out of order because of these scenes. I’ve come to learn that what doesn’t work right now might work in another book later.
The grieving process and love lost are recurring motifs in your work. How do you approach writing grief (for yourself or characters) in a way that feels authentic rather than melodramatic?
I go from my own personal experience. I know what it is like to lose a parent, a friend, a child, and even a spouse. When I am writing scenes dealing with grief or loss, I tap into those moments I experienced. An old acting teacher told me a long time ago that to be a good actor you have to live in the moment, and I believe that applies to writing as well.
Your podcast Better To…with DM Needom gives readers a window into you beyond your writing. How has hosting conversations shaped your own voice or approach to storytelling?
Not sure it has changed my voice or approached much. Each conversation is different, and if anything, it has made me a better listener. I’m grateful for those real, honest moments. Some of those moments have validated my writing, which always helps.
With multiple books in a series and some stand-alone novels, how do you keep track of continuity, character development, and world-building over time?
The characters are part of me and have been for a long time. One of my friends, who is also a writer whom I’ve known for 30 years, is always amazed that the characters are still with me. I know where the characters start and the journey I want to take them on. If I go off track, they nudge me back onto their path.
For continuity, if need be, I’ll go back and reread something to make sure it all works together.
World building is a matter of personal experience and research from those time periods, which means sometimes buying old travel books from the 80s & 90s because things that disappeared back then aren’t always on the internet now.
“World building is a matter of personal experience and research from those time periods.” – D. M. Needom
What has been the most challenging scene you’ve ever written (emotionally), and how did you overcome it?
There have been several, and when I get stuck or need to make sure it’s realistic, I place myself in the moment. What is the character feeling? That is one of the first questions I think of, and how do I tap into it. So, if that means I am sitting at my computer typing and crying, so be it. The adage about making the words bleed holds true; if you feel it, then the reader will too.
Looking ahead, what new themes or storylines are you most excited to explore in your upcoming works like A Magical Christmas or Judgment Day, Hell To Pay?
A Magical Christmas will be my first attempt at a romantic dramedy. There was such a positive response about Grace and Dylan in Come Out of the Shadows, I decided to give them a wedding full of high jinx and fun.
After that, I’ll be going darker than I have before with Judgment Day, Hell to Pay as I explore the world of a cult that has its roots in Hollywood but is worldwide. I will deal with all of their dubious dealings, so it won’t be a light read. The unanswered questions in Come Out of the Shadows are almost all answered in this book.
What one piece of practical advice would you give to emerging authors — whether on craft, promotion, mindset, or sustaining a writing career — that you wish you had known earlier?
Don’t give up if this is truly your passion. There will be days when you feel you’re shouting into the void, hoping someone reads your book and makes that connection with you. When they do, it makes it feel like it was all worth it. Best-seller lists come and go, but if you’re passionate, share your story because you never know who might find it the best thing they ever read.
