On One Knee Author Feature

Title: On One Knee 

On One Knee

by Connor Wilson

YouTube star Everett Keyes is found dead in the Central Pine Barrens. The police rule it a suicide. His cousin Olivia can’t believe it. Neither can his girlfriend, who insists Everett was making plans, not saying goodbyes. S

earching for answers, Olivia finds a video on his computer that someone would kill to bury. She launches her own investigation into Everett’s death before a warning arrives at her door: stop digging.

But Olivia can’t stop: someone knows what happened in that forest, and they’re watching her every move. Will Olivia expose the truth, or become their next casualty?

Publication: August 18, 2026 | Thriller / mystery | ISBN-13: 979-8234160416

Digital review copy: https://read.bookfunnel.com/pdf/o7bldqhh47

On One Knee

$16.99

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Author Interview

At what point did you decide to be an author, and what was your path to publication?

I wrote a novella during my junior year of college for fun. It was well received by my friends, so I made up my mind that at some point I would write and publish a full novel.

After graduating and moving to New York, I decided to write my first full-length novel, Things Lost at Flip Flop Island. Taking that book through publication made me realize how much I loved the writing process, and I knew I would eventually write another.

Then came a sabbatical. After leaving my job in New York City, I spent a few months in Europe and began developing the plot for my next book. I returned to New York, continued writing what became On One Knee in earnest, and published it in August 2026.

Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot, and plan, or is your writing more organic?

I’m a mix of planner and improviser. Before I write, I sketch out the broad structure and spend a lot of time thinking about my characters. In fact, I often start with an idea of who I want to write before I fully know what I want to write. Individual scenes and character decisions can change quite a bit once I get going. I try to write in the morning, and when I’m drafting, I aim for 250 words a day. The most important thing is keeping up the momentum.

What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?

I’ve enjoyed many authors, including John Grisham, but I’d say movies have influenced my writing even more than books. I like to write my novels as though they might one day become movies. When I’m working through a scene, I ask myself, “If someone were watching this, how would it unfold on screen?” That way of thinking lends itself to faster pacing, which is an element of my writing that I really enjoy.

Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in your jobs/education in your writing?

I think my background has influenced the way I approach the work, even when the stories themselves are fictional. I studied at Notre Dame, worked in investment banking, and later helped build an early-stage startup. That experience taught me the importance of following through on a project even when the going gets tough. It also gave me plenty of exposure to ambitious people and interesting personalities. Character development is my favorite part of writing, so I pay close attention to the people I encounter.

Describe the book or series in 10 words or less for people just learning about it.

A suspicious death, a hidden video, and unchecked ambition.

Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?

Most of all, I hope people enjoy the characters. I love a good mystery, but crafting each character’s personality is my favorite part of writing any story, even more than the plot itself. With On One Knee, I also wanted to explore the things that can go wrong in the viral-culture era, when so much of our lives is recorded and shared online.

Have you ever experienced writer’s block? How did you deal with it?

I’ve been pretty lucky: I don’t think I’ve ever had a serious bout of writer’s block. When I’m wrestling with a sentence or paragraph, though, I find that going for a walk is surprisingly helpful. Getting away from the page for a little while usually helps me work through whatever is bothering me.

Share some advice for aspiring authors. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Finish the draft. A complete manuscript, even an imperfect one, gives you something to improve. An unfinished perfect idea does not. I’d also tell myself to separate writing from validation. Sales, reviews, and attention can be unpredictable, but finishing the book is something you control. And once it’s published, you have to keep showing up to help readers find it.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love basketball, tennis, and pretty much anything active. I also enjoy the business side of things. Having worked in finance and startups, I’ve found independent publishing surprisingly interesting as a business challenge: you create something, put it out into the world, and then have to figure out how to reach people.

About the Author