Sunday, August 1, 2010

Matthew & Stefanie Verish Interview
















1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write?

We are slaves to our day jobs, so we have to be opportunistic about the time we scrounge for writing.  However, given the choice, Stef would be typing away at the crack of dawn, whereas Matt would prefer to stretch his fingers in the evening.

2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?

All plotting, character profiling, mapping, and general note-taking are done with old-fashioned pen and paper. Our actual writing is done on the computer.

3: What do you draw inspiration from?

We draw our inspiration from each other and the ideas we filter through the media, books, movies, television, games, and real life adventures. Nature also plays a big role for us, as it’s an integral part of our lives.

4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?

Since we take turns writing, we have weekly goals of finishing a chapter or a scene. If either one of us should fail to meet that goal, the other is allowed to beat said spouse over the head with a copy of our first book (the hardbound version, of course).

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?

We are self-published authors for two reasons: immediacy of product and control. Cover art is one of the factors we have complete control over, and since Stef’s degree is in art, she designs the book covers. The design reflects the symbols in the novel.

6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?

To write as a career would be a dream we strive to materialize. Personally, we can’t live without the creative process or the expression. Our mission as writers, however, is to give readers an enjoyable escape from reality.

7: Do you own an ebook reading device?

Matt has an iPad, which contains both the iBook and Kindle applications.

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and What are you reading now?

Matt’s favorite authors are Michael Ende, C.S. Marks, and J.K. Rowling. He’s currently reading Black Sun Rising by C.S. Friedman. Stef’s favorite authors are Patrick Rothfuss, Peter S. Beagle, and Ernest Hemingway. She is currently reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?

We haven’t had much experience with book trailers. We tend to look at reviews, websites, a writing sample and the back cover to sway our decision to read/buy a book. However, we see the value in having a visual trailer as modern method of advertising. We don’t currently plan to create a trailer for Raven’s Heart, but you never know....

10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?

Years ago we started writing a round-robin story while Stef was away at college. She created “Raven’s Heart” as the name a magical stone because it sounded “pretty cool” at the time. It has since evolved into the novel it is today, but since the plot centers around the stone, the title Raven’s Heart made sense.

11: What are you working on now that you can talk about?

We are working on a series of novels we title: Black Earth. Some of the characters and plot threads from Raven’s Heart continue in the series, but the theme is darker, more sinister. We plan to include criminal organizations, identity crises, and maybe a little split-personality syndrome to spice up the plot. The first novel, Dawning, is underway now.





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