iNTERVIEWS WITH DAN

THE CHAOS OF REVOLUTION 

Q   The Dung Beetles of Liberia is a thrilling novel following the life of an American in 1961 Liberia. What was the inspiration that made you want to put this story in a novel?

A   Over the years, a friend of mine in the FAA had been telling me fantastic stories about the seven years he spent as an air transport pilot in pre-civil war Liberia in the 1960’s. The stories were incredible. I decided that somebody had to document what he had experienced, and being a writer, I was the one to do it. After over 40 hours of interviews, listening to one amazing tale after another, it became apparent that in order to write a cohesive and thematic account of his adventures, I could not write the non-fiction memoir as I had intended, but had to rearrange his story into a novel based on his experiences. And so the historical novel based on fact was born.

Q  You did a fantastic job of capturing the setting and culture of Liberia. What type of research did you undertake for this novel?

A   Once I got a story line going, I used the internet extensively, as there are a multitude of photos showing Monrovia in its heyday during the period my novel takes place. I also did research into the history of Liberia, dating back to the 1820’s when President Monroe”s American Colonization Policy shipped hundreds of freed slaves “back to Africa.” These “Americo-Liberians,” as they were called, had set up a societal structure not unlike the Ante Bellum South from which they had come. My hero spent most of his time dealing with the indigenous people and the expat community and was thus able to see the amazing disparity between the classes.

Q  This is a consistently engaging book that is high in social commentary. What do you hope readers take away from this book?

A   Researching this society’s progression it became evident that it was a microcosm of a much larger truth. The Power-Elite Theory, claims that when a single elite group decides all issues for the nation as a whole, both political and social, this leaves almost nothing for the common person. It paints a dark picture. And in Liberia’s case, ironically, it even dipped its toe into the murky waters of forced labor and slavery. It is what caused its descent into the chaos of revolution.

Also, the metaphor of the dung beetle is referenced several times throughout the book creating a visual commentary of the society that is based on greed and corruption–again, leaving nothing for the little man.

Q   What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

A   I am currently working on the sequel to THE DUNG BEETLES OF LIBERIA, which covers a three-week period of the takeover of the government by Sgt Doe in 1980. The beginning of the bloodbath.

Q

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Lynette Latzko is talking with Daniel V. Meier, Jr., author of The Dung Beetles of Liberia: A Novel Based on True Events.

FQ: On the front of your book, it states that this is a novel based on true events. Whose life is it based upon, and why did you decide to write this story?

MEIER: A pilot friend and I worked together at the FAA and he was always telling these amazing tales of his life in Africa. He had dropped out of Cornell and was in search of adventure, so Liberia seemed the perfect place to test his skills as a small aircraft pilot. Little did he know! His stories were incredible. I kept telling him to write this stuff down. So, when I retied, I interviewed him for over 30 hours (and spent a lot of money for lunches) and amassed enough material to write a cohesive and thematic account of his adventures,

FQ: Has your friend been able to read a copy of your novel, and if so, what did he think of it? 

MEIER: Absolutely he’s read it.  He read the ARC.  Fortunately. he’s my biggest fan.  He loves it! However, I made a point of not letting him read anything before that point. As I told him, the book is not about HIM, but about a society headed toward ruin and his (true) adventures serve as a powerful way to illustrate the corruption and wealth of the time..

FQ: Were there any stories your friend told you that you enjoyed hearing, but had to leave out?

MEIER: Yes.  Animal rights groups would probably have banned the book.

FQ: The book’s title, The Dung Beetles of Liberia, is quite eye-catching. What motivated you to choose this particular title?

MEIER: The Dung Beetles was always the working title as it served as an appropriate metaphor of Liberian society at the time.  It seemed to fit at many different levels: the wealthy hoarding their treasures; the poor living in filth; the expats scurrying for profits—and the list goes on.  But I have to admit, I don’t like the title and I never have. The scatological reference is quite off-putting to some (including me) but I haven’t been able to come up with a more appropriate title. It’s a little rough, I admit, but life in 1960’s Liberia was a rough place.

FQ: While reading this novel there were a few shocking moments concerning the happenings in Liberia and the treatment of its people that this reader was unaware of. Did you ever come across any such similar experiences while you were writing or researching this story?

MEIER: Yes, absolutely.  The stories my friend told piqued my interest in Liberia—its history, its customs and what the future held after 1969 when he left. My research revealed not only the shocking events that I described in this book, but atrocities that cannot be fathomed both in the past and especially in the future.

FQ: As a former pilot yourself, have you ever flown into, or visited, Liberia?

MEIER: No. First of all, Liberia is not the same place today as it was in the 1960’s. Monrovia is a shell of its former self, with no infrastructure to speak of and very little law and order.  It is a dangerous place. But also, I have to tip my hat at what my friend did back then. To me, it’s a miracle he alive today. Call it young and foolish, but truth be told, his courage and piloting skills played a huge role in his survival. I have no interest in visiting or flying in Liberia today and I am doubtful I would have ventured there in the 1960’s.

FQ: Throughout the story, the main character is often forced to pay all sorts of bribes (referred to as "dash") to the locals from the lowliest kid on the street, to the highest government officials, in order to get even the most basic of things done. This of course is a foreign concept to many Americans. Why do you think this took place in such a wide area, and does it still occur in modern-day Liberia? 

MEIER: As I understand it, ‘dash’ is prevalent throughout Africa, even today. I personally ascribe it to the poverty on the lower rungs of society and greed at the top. The street boy who wants dash to watch your car has no other source of income. The small-time clerk needs dash because his paycheck is not a regular occurrence. The police do it because they CAN and as for the wealthy, that is just out and out corruption that has existed in this county for years and does still to this day.

FQ: Can you recommend any further readings into the history of Liberia so that readers may further their education on this fascinating country?

MEIER: The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood by Helene Cooper

Madame President: The Extraordinary Journey of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf By Helene Cooper

Another America: The Story of Liberia and the Former Slaves Who Ruled It by  James Ciment

FQ: What can readers expect from you in the future? Will there be any further adventures in the life of Ken Verrier?

MEIER: I’m so pleased you asked!  I am now finishing up the first draft of a covering the Liberian revolution and the death of the last Americo-Liberian president, William Tolbert. This book may have less humor in it than The Dung Beetles as it depicts the particularly gruesome coup by Sergeant Doe who declared war on the ruling class of Americo-Liberians and introduced the use of military atrocities that set the tone for the next 25 years.

1. Where were you born?

Wilmington, North Carolina

2. Was history your favorite subject in school? 

Yes. History and the Humanities

3. How did you learning American Literature at The University of Maryland Graduate School motivate you to start writing?

I was already motivated by the time I went to the University of Maryland to study American Literature. I knew I wanted to write and I went to graduate to further my studies.

4. In which year did you graduate from UNCW? Why did you choose history? 

I graduated in 1968 after getting out of the Navy and I chose history as my major because I believe that to know the problems of the present one must understand the problems of the past.

5. Do you think studying history has helped you in writing historical fiction?

Absolutely. Not only that, it piqued my curiosity to continue studying and researching history throughout my lifetime.

6. For how many years did you serve in the United States Navy?

Active duty:2 years. Reserves: 6 years.

7. How would you describe your experience of teaching English and History at a private high school for a couple of years?

I enjoyed it. I felt I was introducing the students to two important subjects that I loved, and hoped I was conveying that same sentiment to them.

8. Why did you decide to publish a mystery/thriller under the ‘nom de plume’ Vince Daniels?

To be honest with you, as it was quite some time ago, I am not sure why I did it.  I do know that the book was not in a genre that I particularly wanted to pursue and therefore didn’t wanted to be ‘branded’ in that genre, but it turned out to be a pretty good book with decent sales.

9. How did you come up with the idea for a short story in a college literary magazine?

It was based on a personal experience of mine. The story was about youngsters hunting squirrels and this was my first kill. It made a significant impression on me.

10. How is being a technical writer/editor for a U.S. government contractor different from writing your own books?

The differences are enormous. First of all, technical writing must be, above all, clear and informative—no nuance at all. You avoid the use of adjectives, adverbs, and avoid the use of complex sentences. In my own books I strive to use precise and powerful words while staying away from flowery adjectives.

11. What inspired you to start writing "The Dung Beetles of Liberia"?

Because I think it’s a good story, I will answer questions 11, 12, and 13 together:  Over the years, a friend of mine in the FAA had been telling me fantastic stories about the seven years he spent as an air transport pilot in pre-civil war Liberia in the 1960’s. The stories were incredible. I decided that somebody had to document what he had experienced, and being a writer, I was the one to do it. After over 40 hours of interviews, listening to one amazing tale after another, it became apparent that in order to write a cohesive and thematic account of his adventures, I could not write the non-fiction memoir as I had intended, but had to rearrange his story into a novel based on his experiences. And so, the historical novel based on fact was born.

14. What are you currently working on?

At the moment, I am, happily, very busy. Because of the research I did for THE DUNG BEETLES OF LIBERIA, I have continued studying Liberian history and am working on a book that takes place during the 1980 coup d’état led by Sgt Doe. The working title of that book is BLOOD BEFORE DAWN.

Also, over the years I have worked on novels that were never entirely completed due to my change in career choice.  I have since brought them back to life and have submitted them for publication.