Interview with D.F. Maddox, Author of Begin Again

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Begin Again?

My health started to decline about five years ago, shortly after a rough bout with COVID. It began with mysterious GI problems that never fully resolved, evolving into relentless joint pain—ankles, knees, hips, and spine. By age 32, I had four levels of spinal degeneration, my spinal cord painfully compressed by herniated discs. Recently, I underwent surgery to decompress the nerves in my neck, yet my journey through all of this continues. Writing a book has been a dream since I was a kid. Part of this process has genuinely been a mental escape—a distraction from the constant physical pain—but it wasn’t just about me.

I wrote it for those who, like myself, have found themselves spiraling into uncertainty, their health trajectory suddenly feeling senseless and chaotic. Yet, perhaps beyond this turmoil lies something greater. Maybe nature itself is rooting for us, Mother Earth silently bolstering our strength. Whether on this plane of existence or the next, there’s comfort in believing there’s purpose hidden within this struggle.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Begin Again, what would they be?

Quite often, I found myself listening to “RY X – Tell Me” while writing this book. I think it captures the mood I hoped the book to convey.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I don’t have a favorite genre, I love everything! Literature, History, Philosophy, Poetry, SciFi, Fantasy, etc. There are great books in every genre. If life weren’t so short, I’d read them all.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

PKD’s VALIS Trilogy, A Bell for Adano – John Hersey, The Invincible – Stanislaw Lem, Star Marker – Olaf Stapleton, Prophet Song – Paul Lynch.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Em & Bjorn at the coast.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Quirky, I don’t know. But I can’t write without good music!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Change is the only constant. Embrace it!

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

A fascination with liminality, transitions, and the vague boundaries that encapsulate everything. When does a tree become a forest? When does a person become artificial? Philosophers, Scientists, and Artists try to set boundaries so we can make sense of things. But at its core, its true nature, reality has no boundaries.

D.F. Maddox is the author of the new book Begin Again

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