Character Interview: Thom Burroughs of 'Scarecrow on the Marsh'

We’re thrilled to be talking to Thom Burroughs from Don Weeks’s Scarecrow on the Marsh.  It is a pleasure to have him with us today at Pimp That Character!

Thank you for your interview, Thom.  How old are you and what do you do for a living?

I recently celebrated my fifty-second birthday. I’ve been working as Chief of Police in Sandwich, Massachusetts for over ten years now.

What would I love the most about you?

I don’t text and I don’t have an iphone. When I talk to people, they have my undivided attention. I can’t tell you how many times a day I end up repeating myself because the person I’m talking to is texting with someone else or watching something on the internet. It’s rude. I prefer the old days when people actually made eye contact and listened to one another.

Where do you go when you are angry?

There’s nothing like a brisk walk around the Sandwich marsh. It’s only a couple of minutes from my house on foot. I have to admit it’s a little weird for me now after the murder. Every time I pass the observation deck, I still picture that headless body. The image haunts me.

What is your greatest fear?

I’m afraid of not making a difference. Life is short and it’s important to establish some kind of legacy. That’s why I chose police work. In my opinion, there’s nothing more rewarding than keeping people safe. The terrorist threat here on the Cape last year—that was the scariest situation I’ve ever handled. But I’m not much of a story teller. You can read all about it in Weeks’s book.      

Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?

Well, there were two authors actually. I think maybe the first guy had it right. I’m not so sure about the guy who stepped in later. But I’ll give him credit for trying.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Spending it with my girlfriend, Abby. When my wife and daughter were killed by a drunk driver twelve years ago, I shut down emotionally. I didn’t think I’d ever love again. But time is a great healer and Abby is one of the most remarkable women I’ve ever met. It doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, we enjoy each other’s company. We worked together for seven years before actually noticing each other. She’s been through a lot herself and I guess neither of us was interested in pursuing a romantic relationship.   

Are you a loner or do you prefer to surround yourself with friends?

I have a hard time getting close to people. It’s a side effect of losing the people I loved most. Moving from Monterey, California to Cape Cod was the best decision I ever made. I’ve had a chance to reinvent myself here on the Cape. But it’s been a slow process. I have a very small circle of friends. I’m still a little skeptical about letting people in.   

Who is your best friend?

Paul McLeod. He owns the Laughing Gull Pub in Dennis. I’m very close with his wife and daughter too. They’re like family to me. Paul has a small yacht and, when the weather is nice, we go fishing. A lot of the stuff we catch ends up being served in his restaurant. The food is great there. I highly recommend it to anyone.

Do you like to cook?  If so, what is your favorite thing to cook?

Oh, yes. Good food is one of my passions. And I’m lucky to live on Cape Cod, where you can get fresh seafood year round. I like to try out new recipes at least once a week. I’ve thought about opening my own place, but I’d feel strange competing with my buddy Paul.

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?

Tell Abby I love her. That’s the one thing I’ve learned in life. When you love somebody, you need to tell them so. On any given day, you may never get another chance.

About the Author

For over thirty years, Don Weeks was among the most popular radio personalities in the Capital District region of New York State. He received a Marconi Award for radio excellence in 2005 and was inducted into to the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame four years later. He had just completed a rough draft of Scarecrow on the Marsh when he died of Merkle Cell Cancer in March of 2015. Author royalties from this project will be donated to the WGY Christmas Wish Campaign, which benefits a variety of charitable causes. Weeks worked tirelessly over the years to help raise money for the campaign.

Jonathan Weeks has published several books on the topic of baseball--four non-fiction projects and one novel. His latest work, a mystery-thriller entitled Scarecrow on the Marsh, is a posthumous collaboration with his father--former radio icon Don Weeks, who passed away in 2015. Weeks finished the book in fulfillment of a promise he made to his father before he died.  

Visit Don at:

FACEBOOK

About the Book:

Title: Scarecrow on the Marsh: A Cape Cod Thriller
Author: Don Weeks
Publisher: All Things That Matter
Pages: 192
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

When the mutilated body of renowned cosmetic surgeon Randall Landry turns up at a secluded bayside marsh in the town of Sandwich, Police Chief Thom Burrough's life is turned upside down. While investigating the murder, he and Barnstable County coroner Abby Rhodes will uncover a plot more sinister than anything they could have imagined. On the outskirts of Chatham, a group of terrorists has assembled to unleash destruction on Cape Cod.

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