I wanted to write a nature vs. nurture coming-of-age story, but I was lacking the central twist. As I was pondering different ideas, there was a patient in the cardiology clinic who was a chimera. They had a slightly different hair pattern between their left and right sides, and a few other subtle differences. 

Michael Swartz – 29 August 2025

The Back Flap

Sixteen-year-old Ethan Rivers knows he isn’t natural. His two different-colored eyes set him apart at school and make him a target. When Ethan learns that his eyes are the result of having two different sets of DNA, he starts to catalog his physical attributes and recognizes that the traits on his left side align with his violent father and the characteristics on his right mirror his passive mother. Nothing ends in a tie, and one side has to win. Ethan wonders whether his father’s or mother’s side will dominate who he will become.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

I started working on this project in April of 2020 and finished a first draft in November of that year. I then spent the next several years rewriting several different sections and simplifying the plot.

How long did it take you to write it?

I’ve been working on Split for four years, but the bulk of the writing and editing took about 2 years.

Where did you get the idea from?

I wanted to write a nature vs. nurture coming-of-age story, but I was lacking the central twist. As I was pondering different ideas, there was a patient in the cardiology clinic who was a chimera. They had a slightly different hair pattern between their left and right sides, and a few other subtle differences. I thought the use of a chimera as part of the central plot would be a different angle that might resonate and interest readers.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I wouldn’t say that there were parts where I struggled. I had a plot outline before I started writing, which helped with the physical characteristics of the characters, as well as their wants, needs, and desires. Having that information ahead of time, before I started writing, was important.

What came easily?

I liked writing the dialogue between Ethan and his best friend, Mo. I generated both characters from several different sources, but constructed their mannerisms and their unique voice before I started writing. When I finally started typing, it was like they were having a conversation in my head, and it made it easy to put words down on a page.

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

The characters are entirely fictitious. I think it’s always a gamble to include characters based on real-world people. I’ve always worried that readers will disagree with the actions of a character if the character is based on a factual person.

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 very much enjoy John Green and Jeff Zentner. They both have very clear and engaging styles of writing that allow for both a YA and crossover adult audience.

Do you have a target reader?

I think my target reader could be someone who enjoys YA fiction, but with some crossover into adult fiction. Some of the themes for Split are a little heavy, but in my opinion, would resonate with both a YA and adult audience. I think many YA readers try to identify if they will turn into their parents, and Split helps to address that question, at least for Ethan Rivers. For adult readers, I think the central chimera question, the topic of nature vs. nurture, and the mid-1990s timeline during and after the Gulf War will hopefully be of interest.

About Writing

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

I drive back and forth between Buffalo and Rochester, New York. It’s about a 1-hour 20-minute commute, and while listening to audiobooks, I’m usually thinking about the plot and the characters of my own work. Once I have a good understanding of the plot and my characters, I start to roughly outline the novel, and then I write as often as I can. I try to shoot for 1,500-2,000 words a day, usually early in the morning, and ignore the editing process until the end. Once I have the story, I go back and figure out what doesn’t work, or how I can change things so that it’s tighter.

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

I do outline. It keeps me on track for what the characters are going to go through, and how each chapter will help support the story’s arc and themes. But I don’t use a chapter-by-chapter outline. As long as I am writing continuously, I generally know how the following chapter will start.

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

Most of the time, I edit at the end. I find that if I edit earlier, I waste a lot of time potentially editing passages or text that I may later discard. I’d much prefer to get the story on the page and worry about the finite particulars later.

Did you hire a professional editor? (May skip if being published by a small press rather than self-publishing)

I did. I had several editors review the work. Although outside readers and other writers are great, the experience of someone who edits manuscripts within a genre and within the publishing industry is extremely valuable.

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

No music for me. I prefer the silence at 5:00 am. Music gets me off track.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did. Although I had a couple of requests, there was nothing concrete, and after a year, I needed/wanted to have a physical book completed. I didn’t think I could start working on my next project until the previous one was finished.

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 think it was a gradual process. For Split, I queried several different agents for about a year. It was such an exhausting process. I had an Excel spreadsheet of all the agents I wanted to query, with a rating system that I developed based on response percentage and the agent’s background. I got some interest, but after about a year, I felt that I needed a physical book to keep working as a fiction writer. I know for many authors it takes years before they find an agent. I didn’t want to wait that long. Publishing with Koehler Books has been a great process, and I couldn’t be happier.

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

I am very fortunate to have the help of the design team at Koehler Books. One of the themes for Split is the use of shadow, and they did a great job incorporating that into the cover. Shadows are often thought of as dark or evil, but to Ethan Rivers, the protagonist, they are a silhouette without any distinguishing features. Ethan worries about which of his sides will dominate who he will become, so the imagery of his mother’s and father’s shadow behind him, in my opinion, is powerful and hopefully will be attractive to readers.

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

I have a publicist at Books Forward. Like most writers, I understand the importance of marketing, but I am completely inept at it. Maybe if I were part of a media outlet or had friends within the publishing or communications industry to help guide me, I might think differently. Luckily, Layne and Rachel have been very helpful in steering the ship with regard to media outlets. It allows me to focus more on writing, which is what I enjoy.

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

There’s nothing more gratifying than someone reading your book and enjoying it. A long time ago, when I was in a college rock band, I would scan the crowd looking for at least one person who was tapping their foot or bobbing their head to the beat of the music. Sometimes there was only one, but one was all I needed. The same is true for writing. Keep working, polishing, and editing, and eventually you’ll find a home for your story, and someone will enjoy it.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up on a farm in Ballston Lake, about an hour outside of Albany, New York on a small farm. Afterward, I lived outside of Syracuse, New York. Both places helped form the setting for this story.

Where do you live now?

My wife grew up in Orchard Park, New York (Home of the Buffalo Bills), and we moved there in 2014.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I like to write about protagonists who have a unique medical or scientific diagnosis. Working as a physician’s assistant specializing in adult, transplant, and pediatric cardiac surgery while running a research lab that investigates the outcomes of children born with congenital heart disease helped form the medical and scientific background I needed for the stories that I write. At home, I still play guitar and piano when I can, coach baseball and softball, and live with my wife, two kids, and a Bernese Mountain dog.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on a story about action vs indifference. When confronted with a dangerous situation, the historical adage was always fight or flight. However, I think there is a growing cohort who no longer flee but watch and record the event on a phone or mobile device.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Split from Amazon US or Amazon UK.