Thriller author, Jason Powell, joins the Spotlight this week to discuss his novel, No Man’s Ghost
Author Name: Jason Powell
Book Title: No Man’s Ghost
Book Genre: Thriller
Release Date: 5/27/25
Publisher: Datura Books
Welcome, Jason! How would you describe No Man’s Ghost?
A rookie firefighter still finding his footing, faces his biggest challenge when he finds himself the unwitting pawn in a twisted game of revenge. A scorned ex-husband, hell bent on disrupting his wife’s life, begins a relentless barrage of false fire alarms calls, until he decides that fake fires aren’t enough.
What sparked the idea for this book?
In New York City, there are call boxes on the street where anyone can push a red button and contact a fire department dispatcher, or a blue button and contact a police department dispatcher to ask for help. They were useful twenty, or thirty years ago when cell phones were less common, but now they’re just used by kids accepting a dare, or drunks looking for someone to talk to. There was once a three month period where my firehouse received a call from one of those call boxes every night between 2 and 3 am from a drunk guy who’d been kicked out of his house by his wife until he was sober. He wasn’t calling about her, he was calling and pretending to be injured or sick so that he could be taken to the hospital and have a place to stay. Then he’d go to work, get off and go to a bar. When he’d get home the next day, he’d be drunk and she’d kick him out and the process started again. I don’t have an opinion on whether or not the two made bad decisions, but the situation created a “what if” scenario in my mind.
How long did it take for you to write the book? Did you do any research?
The total writing time was about 9 months. I’m a New York City firefighter, and I was pretty new on the job when I started the book. I had all the research I needed to write about a probationary firefighter.
What drew you to writing suspense?
Authors like Donald Westlake, or S.A. Cosby, or Ann Patchett. Storytellers with voices that bring you into a new world that feels familiar. I love reading and feeling as if the author is talking to me personally, telling me a story that has me on the edge of my seat. I have so many stories in my head that I’d love to share, and give others the same excited anticipation.
What’s your favorite part about writing/being an author? What do you find challenging?
My favorite part about being an author is having readers see and read my work. Having them enter a word I created and enjoy the visit. The challenge is getting the story from an idea to a book. I could tell someone a great story idea with detail, but neither one of us would be as satisfied as if we read it.
If you were speaking to someone who hasn’t read your writing before, why should they want to read No Man’s Ghost?
No Man’s Ghost is about a probationary firefighter’s first week on the job. He has been through the academy but he has no real idea about what a firefighters life is like. The reader probably doesn’t either. This book is a thriller for those who enjoy thrillers, but it is also a glimpse into an interesting, exciting, sometimes scary world that not many people have access to.
What do you hope readers will take away from this story?
This isn’t a pro-firefighter propaganda book. I didn’t set out to write a book showcasing the good work firefighters do. I set out to explore the differences between living for yourself (selfishness) and living for others (selflessness). There are many types of relationships explored in this book, and I hope that what people walk away with is the realization that compassion is often necessary, because you never really know all that a person is going through.
What about the writing/editing/publishing process has been the most surprising to you so far?
The most surprising thing to me is how vastly different the book a reader picks up is from the first draft of a manuscript. It’s fascinating to talk over a completed manuscript with an editor or my agent or a beta reader and realize that what I thought was clear or made sense maybe didn’t. When I make changes, it’s so much better, but so different. It’s interesting. And cool.
Any words of wisdom you give your pre-published writer self (or to a new writer)?
I would advise to not worry so much about word count per day during the writing process. That seems to be a big thing in the writing community. Obviously, if you don’t write, the book will never be completed, but I think what’s important is that you give time to the book every day. Sitting down and forcing yourself to reach a word count may not be as productive as re-reading what you’ve already written. Or going over your outline. Or actually making an outline, even if you’re already a hundred pages in. Or, just reading someone else’s work to get your creativity flowing. Allot a certain amount of time every day to the process; where you don’t do anything else, but read, write, or think about your work, and you’ll get to where you’re going.
Are you working on a new project? Please tell us about it.
I am! No Man’s Ghost is intended to be the first of 6 books with these characters. My agent and I are in the process of making book 2 available to go out, and I’m currently working on book 3. Book 2 takes place 3 months after NMG, and book 3 takes place 3 years after that.
Where can readers find you?
I’m on Instagram at Uh_thousand_words and Facebook under my name. I’m on other platforms, too, but not as active. You can find the links to all of them at www.authorJasonPowell.com. This year I’ll be at Thrillerfest in New York City in June, and at Bouchercon in New Orleans in September.
Thank you, Jason! No Man’s Ghost is out on May 27 and available for preorder.
No Man’s Ghost
It’s an FDNY firefighter’s first – and possibly last – week on the job…
Charles Davids is a probationary firefighter working his first week out of the academy. For Charles, quietly battling his lack of confidence is a daily challenge as his new officers coach him on life as a New York City firefighter. The men love to tease and prank the new guy, but when it comes to drilling and training, they’re clear that the job is no joke. As is said in the fire service: “let no man’s ghost return to say my training let me down.”
Unfortunately for Charles, his first week is the same week that Alan Johnson, an unstable and soon-to-be-ex-husband, gets kicked out and comes up with the idea to report fake fires at his wife’s apartment every night. Alan laughs at the thought of her being awakened nightly by sirens and horns – if he can’t sleep in their apartment, why the hell should she? But after days of crying wolf, Alan decides that fake fires aren’t enough…
Set on the hot summer streets of NYC and building to a fiery conclusion, No Man’s Ghost is a vibrant and thrilling look at the people who keep a city safe – and the ones who want to watch it burn.
Author Bio:
Jason Powell is a FDNY firefighter and author whose work has been published in Slate, and numerous online writing outlets. When he isn’t at the firehouse or at a desk, he can be found out in New York City with his backpack full of snacks, or lost in the pages of a novel. Find him online at authorjasonpowell.com and on instagram at Uh_thousand_words.