Darrin J. Friedman - Thriller Featuring a Hedge Fund Manager with Bipolar Disorder

Darrin J. Friedman, a 4th generation Washingtonian, is a father, husband, and geek. He knows way too much about Star Trek (all versions), Harry Potter, and Star Wars. In between running his digital marketing company, he loves writing books. He now lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two children. As our Author of the Day, Friedman tells us all about his debut novel, The Crazy in Babylon.

Please give us a short introduction to what The Crazy in Babylon is about.

The Crazy in Babylon is really about a man who struggles with having bipolar disorder in a time where he is at his lowest. Though he was once highly, almost exceptional, at what he did (a hedge fund manager) he lost everything. He was then pulled back into the world by an old client who sends him and her granddaughter on a difficult task that has shades of the criminal underground.

What inspired you to write about an up-and-coming hedge fund manager with bipolar disorder?

I have Bipolar disorder myself, though this is by no means autobiographical. I wanted to give Dan a career of high stakes and stress. This seemed like a good career.

Tell us more about Dan. What makes him tick?

Dan is a good man who has been crushed by his disease. All he wants is his life back. But he trusted the wrong people and went through a horrible divorce. He really has no one. Except for his sister who treats him like someone who needs constant care.

Why is Bess such a great supporting character?

Bess is what makes all this go. It is all about her desires, legitimate and illegitimate that gets everyone in the book to take action. He is holding the strings.

This is your debut novel. What has the experience been like so far?

Though I have written the sequel and it’s published on Amazon, The Crazy ion Babylon was a dream come true. I have written for a long time, but never felt like my stories were complete. Dan meant so much to me. I just wanted to tell his story.

The book contains a lot of twists. Did you plan them all out before you started writing?

I believe every story should have twists. Or it gets boring. I sometimes get criticized for not going more in depth, but that doesn’t bother me.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I’m a creative person with a lot of passions. I perform as an actor. I enjoy making websites. When it comes to creative ventures, I am all in.

Readers say your book had them glued to the pages. How did you pull this off?

wasn’t easy. I worked hard to make sure the plot was fast moving and that I didn’t get stuck in minutia.

Why did you pick Washington D.C. as a backdrop for this story?

I was born and raised there.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received?

Have your character do something they would never do.

Is there an underlying message you wish to relay about basic human nature through your characters?

That mental illness is not a stigma. People should not be afraid to share their experiences.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I like to write every day. At least a chapter with 2-3 scenes in it. That is usually an hour or two.

What are you working on right now?

I am engrossed in the third and final installment of the series. It’s called the Lies We Tell. I am well on my way with it.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

They can always contact me [email protected]