I very much appreciated being able to share the inside, behind-the-scenes world of high-profile sexual misconduct investigations, as I wrote about the real challenges with these matters that are rarely talked about in public.

Dan Schorr – 20 August 2025

The Back Flap

Campus, corporate, and local politics collide when a high-profile sexual misconduct scandal rocks a prominent university.

Serena Stanfield, Mountain Hill University’s human resources director, has just learned that the school’s softball coach has been molesting teenagers in its youth summer softball program for years, and that the university has covered it up from both her and the public. Troy Abernathy, a junior associate at an international investigations firm, is navigating a turbulent, toxic workplace as the company aims to be retained by the university to investigate these sexual assault allegations. Megan Black, a new member of the Mountain Hill City Council, is thrust into the fallout from the national scandal while she simultaneously focuses on securing a presidential commutation for her childhood friend, who is unfairly facing decades in prison after stabbing her abusive husband to death in self-defense.

As additional disturbing details of the coach’s actions are uncovered, Serena, Troy, Megan, and other prominent community figures confront competing interests and unique obstacles while they each pursue different paths toward obtaining justice for the softball program’s sexual abuse survivors—and offer conflicting understandings of what justice would even mean.

About the book

What is the book about?

Based on my experience as a sex crimes prosecutor and investigator, Open Bar follows the chaotic fallout when a high-profile sexual misconduct scandal rocks a prominent university. Kirkus Reviews called Open Bar “A timely and absorbing novel that asks what it costs to tell the truth” and said “Schorr’s prose is clean, fast-moving, and often laced with dark humor.”

When did you start writing the book?

I began writing Open Bar in late 2021, right as my debut novel Final Table was published.

How long did it take you to write it?

I spent about a year writing the first draft, but then almost two more years revising with the help of beta readers and the SparkPress editors.

Where did you get the idea from?

This novel is based on real investigations I have conducted at colleges and universities. Open Bar pulls back the curtain on the real world of high-stakes campus sexual misconduct investigations, including the many concerning financial, political, and corporate interests that too often influence their outcomes.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

One of the most frustrating parts of writing is coming up with lines I really like but then seeing they just don’t fit with the story. I give them to a specific character and it’s just not working. So I try them with another character and it still doesn’t work. Or they may fit the story, but they make the scene too wordy. So I have to just cut the lines, even if I love them. I have a Word document of pages of lines that I hope to use one day but I just haven’t found a home for them yet, and cutting these lines from Open Bar was sometimes a struggle, but ultimately best for the story.

What came easily?

I very much appreciated being able to share the inside, behind-the-scenes world of high-profile sexual misconduct investigations, as I wrote about the real challenges with these matters that are rarely talked about in public.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The characters are very much based on real people, but sometimes I have combined two or three real people into one fictional character, or I’ve changed key aspects of the character from the real person in order to better fit the narrative.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I have learned a lot from reading Emily St. John Mandel, Ottessa Moshfegh, Mona Awad, Daniel Silva, Jacqueline Friedland, and Claire Vaye Watkins.

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone who enjoys a fast-moving, nuanced, and authentic story based on the struggles of real people.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I try to write (or outline) at least a little each day. I usually set a word count goal and push myself to stick to it. Some days are easier than others. I think it’s important to allow yourself to engage in writing that’s really bad and then you never need to show it to anyone. If you’re afraid of writing something terrible then you will probably never write.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I’m a big believer in the importance of plot structure so I outline a lot before writing. But I’m open to departing from the outline when I finally write the story. What’s most important is having a good understanding of the major plot points and the ending so I know where I’m going, but I don’t always know exactly how I’ll get there. Sometimes the characters surprise me.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I do some light editing as I write, but I don’t want to slow down the writing, so I usually wait until I’ve finished a major section of the manuscript to go back and seriously edit.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No – I love music and wish I could write while listening to songs, but I find it difficult to concentrate.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Years ago I submitted an unpublished novel to agents, but for Open Bar I only sent it to SparkPress because I had an amazing experience with them on my debut novel Final Table.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I love the professionalism, widespread distribution, and creative control that Spark Press provides.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

The book cover was created by SparkPress.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I am working with SparkPoint Studio on publicity.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I think it’s a great path, as long as you find a small publisher or other avenue that is right for you. Don’t let traditional publishing stop you from telling your story to the world.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Valley Stream, NY.

Where do you live now?

Rye Brook, NY

What would you like readers to know about you?

I write a weekly Substack newsletter about fiction reading and writing, and anyone can subscribe for free at danschorr.substack.com. More information about Open Bar and my first novel Final Table is also available at my author website danschorrbooks.com.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a third novel called In Happier Times, about a woman searching for the biological mother of her stalker ex-boyfriend, who was adopted at birth. As with my novels Final Table and Open Bar, this book is inspired by actual investigations that I have conducted.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Open Bar from Amazon US.