Surviving Hurricane Ian inspired Randy Wayne White's latest Doc Ford novel

When Hurricane Ian turned toward Sanibel Island, Randy Wayne White faced an impossible decision.

Evacuate , and the storm could head for his new location like it did during Hurricane Irma — when his son ended up stranded on I-75 with a pregnant wife and their pets.

• Or stay and risk a direct hit that could rip his home to shreds like Hurricane Charley did when he lived in Pine Island.

He gambled — and lost nearly everything.

Why it matters: White poured his experience of surviving a storm — plus the horrific aftermath — into the latest novel in his Doc Ford series, " One Deadly Eye ."

What he's saying: Selene talked to White about the storm and writing the book. The interview has been edited for brevity.

Selene: How did people react to learning you didn't evacuate?

White: "I've gotten a lot of criticism for staying, but I will point out I did not advertise that Randy White is not leaving. I did not tell anyone. I didn't encourage anyone not to leave.

• But on the positive side, I have an FCC Ham radio. And because of that, the next day I was able to have people evacuated and help people who were in dire straits get to the hospital."

Why turn this experience into a Doc Ford novel instead of a memoir?

"One Deadly Eye is, in my mind, the best thriller novel I've ever written. It's also among the most literate and literary. It's a serious, serious novel. But it reads like the speed of a passing hurricane.

• I have a contract for an autobiography, and hurricanes will be included — not just the most recent, but my experiences going through them.
• But the novel … it really was grounding for me to have something purposeful, where I could call upon the notes, the very detailed linear observations I made during the hurricane and use that in the scaffolding of the novel."

For the record, you're not telling people to ride out a storm for the sake of a story, right?

"For the record, I'm telling you: 'Get the hell out.'"

What's ahead: "One Deadly Eye" comes out Sunday. White, now a Tampa Bay resident, will be at Tombolo Books at 7pm Monday to celebrate.

Sign up for Axios Tampa Bay for free.