Author Name:
David Johnson
Book Title:
Rampage along Route 66
Website URL:
Link to book page on Amazon:
Social Media Links:
What is your book about?
It is a true crime story that is over 50 years old. A career criminal/serial rapist murdered a young schoolgirl in Griffith Park in Los Angeles in February 1971, and then fled once he knew the LAPD was looking for him. He chose Route 66 as his escaped route. He was stopped twice by different Arizona highway patrolmen and murdered both. He kidnapped and murdered a young Missouri couple near an abandoned coal mine by Galllup, NM. He was chased down and run off the road by officers of the Grants, NM police department and stopped in a hail of gunfire. His crime wave had people from Flagstaff, AZ to Albuquerque, NM on lockdown in fear for their lives.
What inspired you to write your book?
The story touched me personally, as a high school senior, I knew one of the police officers who was killed, and my then girlfriend (later my wife) witnessed the second officer get murdered.
What is a typical day like for you?
Since retiring two years ago, I spend my time running our small hobby farm (we raise cows and blueberries), and I now have time to write – something I love. I am working on another book, a history of the airline I used to fly for.
What do you most enjoy about what you do?
I love to write and do genealogical research.
What are some favorite books you’d recommend to our readers?
Michael Connelly books. I love Detective Harry Bosch. I knew true crime author, Ann Rule, who inspired my writing, and love her books as well.
What advice do you have to offer our readers?
When submitting your book to Ingram Spark, make sure you fill out the author biography portion (it is hidden). One of my books got out there but was linked to another author’s bio – because I had not included my own bio on IS..
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I know two NASA astronauts. The first, Dr. Janet Kavandi is married to a friend who used to fly with me. The other one, Commander Rick Husband, was the brother to another flying friend. RIck died in the Space Shuttle Columbia re-entry disaster on February 1, 2003.
What’s next for you?
I am about 3/4 done with a manuscript on the history of the small airline I used to fly for.
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