1: What is the most
productive time of the day for you to write?
I like to write in the
morning, hopefully after working out, but that doesn't happen too often.
Sitting down, typing by the computer with a tall cup of coffee... it's rather
relaxing!
2: Do you start your
projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?
A lot of times I get
ideas while I'm driving or just before I fall asleep. I'll write them down in a
notebook and extend the initial idea as much as I can. Sometimes I write
an outline or draw an illustration. Usually I just come up with some quotes or
an image of something I think is special. I take it later to the computer to
actually write it out though.
3: What do you draw
inspiration from?
I'm a big fan of comic
books and ancient myth. I think they're able to depict human truths in such a
simple and elegant way that you just can't get in other genres. They tap into
our collective subconscious and pluck these marvelous symbols that describe the
fundamentals of our human psyche. I think that's why they're so popular. I've
tried to incorporate this concept into my fantasy work and, as a result, it's
really become an existential allegory for the current political climate of
ideological extremes. But you know, comic books and ancient myths-- they're
just so much fun!
4: Do you set goals
for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?
Usually I try to write
a chapter a day. I make sure they have some kind of beginning, middle and end.
I think that makes a story more rewarding and engaging. Sometimes I get stuck
and I just have to take a break. It happens.
5: Are you a published
or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?
I'm a self-published
author. Most agents and publishers are simply not interested in the fantasy
genre anymore. I blame the Eragon books.
I considered
commissioning a professional artist to produce a cover, but I've tried to keep
my cost as low as possible. I've studied art in school and and have dabbled in
computer drawings, so I tried to come up with some illustrations on my own. I
picked my favorite and turned it into a cover. I was trying to evoke the
nostalgic feelings from those old 80's fantasy covers. I'm happy with the
result. It looks a lot different than the other covers out there, but I think
in a good way.
6: What drives you to
choose the career of being a writer?
Well, I wouldn't call
it a career just yet, but here's hoping! I did a lot of research for my novel,
and one of the things I came across was this bit about writing by Ray Bradbury.
He compared being a writer to being in love, and I think he's absolutely right.
When you start working on a project, it really is like being infatuated with
someone: you think about them all the time, you're laying bed thinking about
them late at night, you want to talk about them all the time. It becomes a real
priority!
7: Do you own an ebook
reading device?
Not yet. But I'm
definitely considering getting a kindle. Those ads on TV are very convincing!
“Real books are so 1999!” Books are so expensive nowadays, aren't they?
However, I confess. I still get the newspaper delivered to my door. I don't
think that's going to last though.
8: Who are some of
your favorite authors and What are you reading now?
Ray Bradbury and Anton
Checkov are two of my favorites. They write with such rich sentimentality, it's
just such so charming and emotional. It really hits you. Chuck Palahnuik and
Alex Garland write good stuff too. They take normal people struggling with
their place in the world and then they put them in over the top situations that
go far beyond the everyday. Their work is so fast-paced and engaging, you just
have to keep reading. Lately, I've been reading some ebooks though. I found a
real good one called Xenolith by A.Sparrow. It was a free download, and it was
very well written. Very impressive for a free, self-published author. I've read
stuff published by big companies that weren't as good as his work.
9: What do you think
of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?
I think they're cool!
Especially the professional ones. I don't have the resources yet to make one,
but if I did, I'd try to make one like a music video.
10: How did you come
up with the title of your latest book?
I listen to a lot of
rock music. The title of my book, “Torches” actually came from an instrumental
track by a band called the Dears. Their music gives me a lot of inspiration
too. This idea of bearing a torch, a flame, an aggressive passion, a legacy is
one of the reoccurring themes in my book.
11: What are you working
on now that you can talk about?
I'm working on a sequel to my first book. I've
got a few chapters already, and I like where it's going. However, once summer's
over, I go back to teaching. But that's ok. I'll be doing passive marketing on
my days off until next summer.
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