37 Years in the Making: Dorrance Author Rodney Phillips Brings Dissension to Life
At 19 years old, Rodney Phillips began writing a story during quiet moments at a furniture store in Pittsburgh. He used whatever paper was available, including the backs of furniture layaway cards. As his ideas developed, he moved to notebooks and legal pads, building a manuscript by hand.
Then his attention turned to other responsibilities. A career, raising a family, and years of coaching youth sports filled his schedule. His handwritten pages went into a filing cabinet, where they remained for 37 years.
Decades later, Rodney returned to those pages and gave his story another chance. Today, that manuscript is Dissension: A Disagreement that Leads to Discord, a published crime thriller he has promoted through bookstore appearances and podcast interviews.
Returning to a Handwritten Manuscript
Revisiting a story after nearly four decades meant reconnecting with the writer Rodney had been at 19. Before making revisions, he transferred his handwritten material into a Word document, preserving his original ideas so he could see where the story had started.
By then, he brought much more experience to the page. Rodney had built a career in the pharmaceutical industry, earned a master’s degree in human resource leadership management, and spent more than two decades coaching youth sports.
Those years gave him new ways to think about his characters. Relationships, loyalty, leadership, and communication had become familiar subjects in his professional and personal life. Returning to the manuscript allowed him to explore those themes with greater depth.
The original story provided a foundation. His later experiences helped him develop it into a novel.
For writers with unfinished pages tucked away, Rodney’s journey offers an encouraging possibility: returning to a manuscript can mean bringing something new to it.
Inside Dissension
Set in Pittsburgh and Miami, Dissension follows a University of Miami criminal law student who becomes caught in a conflict between rival drug cartels. As the situation grows more dangerous, competing loyalties and unexpected threats complicate her efforts to understand why she is being targeted.
Alongside the suspense, the novel explores what happens when trust breaks down and communication fails. Disagreements lead to assumptions, and those assumptions create consequences that reach beyond the people who started them.
Rodney has identified James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell as influences on his writing. His interest in short chapters, changing perspectives, and developed characters reflects the storytelling qualities he admires in their work.
For Rodney, the action provides a setting in which to examine human decisions: who people trust, what they believe, and how they respond when that trust is challenged.
Making Time to Write
Returning to the manuscript did not mean stepping away from his full-time career. Rodney worked on his book during weekends, finding a routine that fit around his existing responsibilities.
That approach makes his story especially relatable. Many aspiring authors are balancing writing with work, family, and other commitments. A manuscript may progress through a series of smaller sessions rather than long, uninterrupted days.
Rodney’s experience shows what that process can look like. Transferring the original pages, revisiting the plot, and developing the characters required repeated attention. The book took shape as he continued making room for it.
Meeting Readers at Barnes & Noble
After publication, Rodney began introducing Dissension to readers through Barnes & Noble book signings.
These appearances have given him opportunities to discuss the novel, share its unusual beginnings, and connect with people who enjoy crime fiction. They have also introduced him to the practical work involved in organizing author events, from contacting store managers to coordinating copies for a signing.
During his podcast interview, Rodney recalled one event where approximately 26 copies were sold. He described the arrangements as something he coordinated with individual stores, offering a useful glimpse into the personal effort behind his appearances.
Dorrance’s author events page also lists Barnes & Noble signings for Rodney, reflecting his continued involvement in sharing his book with readers.
Sharing His Journey on The Chris Voss Show
Rodney recently appeared on The Chris Voss Show to discuss Dissension and the experiences behind it. The episode gives readers another way to get to know the author whose handwritten manuscript became a published novel.
In the conversation, he reflected on beginning the story at 19, returning to it 37 years later, and revising it with the benefit of life experience. He also discussed writing on weekends and arranging bookstore appearances.
Listen to Rodney’s interview on The Chris Voss Show.
More Stories Ahead
Rodney has discussed working on a sequel to Dissension and planning a prequel that would explore earlier events connected to the original novel.
The story he began as a teenager has become a starting point for further writing. As he balances new manuscripts with opportunities to meet readers, he continues developing the world he first imagined decades ago.
Celebrating Rodney’s Publishing Journey
At Dorrance Publishing, we’re pleased to celebrate Rodney’s dedication to bringing Dissension to readers!
His journey began with handwritten notes at a furniture store and continued after a long pause. Returning to those pages took time and commitment, as did revising the manuscript and introducing the finished book to an audience.
Congratulations, Rodney, on your publication, bookstore appearances, and recent podcast interview. We look forward to seeing what you write next.
Learn more at Rodney Phillips’ author website and explore Dissension: A Disagreement that Leads to Discord in the Dorrance Bookstore.
Have a manuscript you’re ready to revisit? Learn more about publishing with Dorrance.