Dissension: A Disagreement that Leads to Discord by Rodney Phillips

By: Emily King

Rodney Phillips’ debut novel began in a less than traditional way: in the warehouse of a discount furniture store in Pittsburgh, thirty-seven years ago. Phillips was 19 years old and working his way through college, and his job allowed plenty of downtime. To pass the hours, he started writing. Scribbled notes accumulated on stock cards, legal pads, and notebooks as he wove a tale full of crime, suspense, and deception. As Phillips went on to graduate college and begin his career, the handwritten manuscript was left unfinished, stored in boxes that would move with him from house to house throughout the years. He never gave up on the story that he believed in. As it turned out, what the story needed was time. d

Phillips is not a Miami gang lord or a young criminal law student, like the characters in his story. He is a resident of Treesdale, an accomplished oncology pharmaceutical sales professional with a master’s degree in human resources and leadership. He has also spent more than twenty years coaching youth sports, including football and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse. And now, 37 years after he started writing his book, he’s a published author.

Phillips spent months transcribing his handwritten manuscript onto his computer, with technology that didn’t exist when it was originally written. Then he was faced with the task of finishing the story. 

The book, Dissension: A Disagreement that Leads to Discord, follows a young woman named Kiley, who is a student at the University of Miami, studying criminal law. She gets caught in a war between two rival drug cartels and is hunted by hitmen. The book is packed with action and shocking twists to keep the reader turning the page. But it’s not all about action—the character development, specifically of the main character, demonstrates growth and change in the face of adversity.

Continuing a story that was written almost forty years ago was a challenge. Phillips had to update details in the story to bring it to current day, adding things like cell phones and fentanyl, which weren’t even in our vocabulary back then but have a significant impact on our world now. The unconventional timeline of writing the book, beginning it as a teenager and then finishing it with almost forty more years of personal growth and life experience, makes it almost seem like a collaborative effort of two writers, one on the brink of adulthood with all the hope and excitement of youth, and one with the wisdom that comes with age and weathering life’s joys and hardships. Phillips says that his day job, along with his experience in coaching and mentoring young people has affected the way he approaches characters, conflict, and teamwork in his writing.  

Since its release, the book has been very well received, with a five-star rating on Amazon. Readers have compared Phillips’ writing to James Patterson, noting the page-turning tension and unpredictable plot twists. Phillips has already been contracted for a sequel to the book, and he has been hard at work planning and writing the next installment. He has enjoyed the connections that have come from the book, like attending signings and discussing the book on a podcast. One of his favorite experiences was being the guest of a book club discussion. The book club was comprised of the mothers of some of the boys he coached in lacrosse. It was one of the first times that he really got to discuss the book in depth with readers.

“That was one thing that was really cool. I invested a lot into these characters, so they’re meaningful to me,” he says. Sharing the story with members of his own community was an incredible experience. 

Phillips has advice for aspiring writers: “If it’s important to you, make time for it.” He had to approach writing in the same way he approaches work. He found that blocking off time to write, actually scheduling it in an appointment book, kept him on track and more productive. Even if he felt stuck and didn’t know what to write, he would still take that time to sit down and work on editing or research. Otherwise, it’s easy to get distracted and prioritize all the other responsibilities in life.

“Don’t give up on your dreams. Life took me in a totally different direction, and I put this book away for years. It doesn’t mean that you can’t go back and still fulfill that dream,” says Phillips.