Reader Q&A: Your Questions Answered

As an investigative journalist, I spend most of my time asking questions. But recently, I turned the tables and asked you to send in your questions. The response was overwhelming—from aspiring journalists to readers who’ve followed my work for years. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, answered directly.

On Becoming an Investigative Journalist

Q: What’s the single most important skill for an investigative journalist?

A: Persistence. You’ll face stonewalling, denials, and dead ends constantly. The story that takes weeks, months, or even years to break is often the most important one. I’ve had investigations where sources wouldn’t talk for over a year until the right moment arrived.

Q: How do you handle threats or pushback from powerful interests?

A: You learn to separate the noise from the signal. Legitimate threats get the lawyers involved. But most pushback is intimidation theater—the goal is to make you second-guess yourself. Document everything, verify your sources twice, and remember: the truth is your shield.

On Writing Process

Q: What’s your daily writing routine?

A: I’m up by 5 AM, coffee in hand, and at my desk by 5:30. Morning hours are for writing—before emails, before calls, before the day’s distractions set in. I aim for 2,000 words before noon, then spend afternoons on reporting and interviews.

Q: How do you approach research for a new book?

A: It starts with a question that won’t let me sleep. For The Settlement Machine, it was: “How did this developer get away with this for so long?” Then I build my source network—public records, court documents, tip lines, and most importantly, people willing to talk. Research isn’t just reading; it’s relationship building.

On Current Projects

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I’m deep into a project on Nebraska’s water rights that’s been in development for over two years. I’ve also started preliminary research on a story about campaign finance patterns in midwestern state elections. The best investigations are the ones where people say “you can’t do that”—and then you do anyway.

Q: Will there be another book?

A: Always. The next one is already taking shape. I don’t announce titles until I’m confident the story can be told—investigation journalism requires patience, and sometimes stories don’t pan out. But I’ve got material for at least two more books in the works.

On Reader Engagement

Q: How can readers support quality investigative journalism?

A: Subscribe to outlets that invest in long-form investigations. Share stories that matter. And if you have information about something that needs to be exposed, reach out. Protected source communication is sacred—I use encrypted channels and have never compromised a source.

Q: Do you read your reviews?

A: I do, but I don’t let them drive my work. Some of the best journalism was criticized initially. Focus on the impact, not the reception.

Have more questions? Send them to me through my contact page. I read every message, though I can’t always respond personally. Your questions fuel my work—keep them coming.