Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota when I was sixteen, and have lived there ever since. And after 45 years I can testify, one does not get used to the cold.
Reading has always been one of my passions and my oldest wish has been to be a writer. It took me a long time to achieve my dream. It wasn’t until the 1990s that I got serious about writing. I started with a novel, then turned to poetry. I returned to writing fiction in 2012 and since then have written 12 novels and a couple dozen short stories.
Aside from writing, I enjoy music, cooking, tea, and nature. My dream is to fly on an airship and sail on a a square-rigger.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is By Leaps and Bounds. It is the fifth in The Rocheport Saga, which is a post-apocalyptic series. The saga, over 2200 manuscript pages, began with the sentence “Today I killed a man and a woman.” And where that sentence came from, I have no idea!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
In this day and age, I’d say writing my stories with pencil or pen on paper is just a wee bit unusual.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert E Howard, H P Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Kazuo Ishiguro, Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, Saki’s short story “Sredni Vashtar”, Conrad Aiken’s short story “Silent Snow, Secret Snow”, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, Eric Frank Russell’s “Men, Martians, and Machines”, Geroge R Stewart’s “Earth Abides”, and T E D Klein’s “The Events at Poroth Farm” and “The Ceremonies”.
What are you working on now?
Right now I have several works in progress: the fourth and fifth books in my Justinia Wright, PI series, the sixth book in The Rocheport Saga, and the third book in my Lady Dru Drummond dieselpunk adventure series.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Marketing is something I’ve not focused on up to this point. Being an author/publisher, I’ve followed the dictum to have lots of product available and to produce it quickly. Now that I’m reaching the point where I have several books in each series, I’m turning my attention to marketing. Sites such as Awesomegang are on my list to investigate. I’m also looking at using press releases, scheduling book signings and talks. And, of course, nothing beats simply telling people about your books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best advice I can give a new author is to read “Letters to a Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke. It is the best advice ever written, especially the first letter. After that, follow Heinlein’s Five Rules of Writing: you must write, you must finish what you start, you must refrain from rewriting, you must put your story on the market, and you must keep it on the market until sold.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever received came from Marcus Aurelius in his “Meditations”: Life is what you make it.
What are you reading now?
After London Or, Wild England by Richard Jefferies
What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next? Why writing, of course!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Seneca’s Letters to Lucillus, the Sonnets of Edna St Vincent Millay, Basho’s haiku, and Saigyo’s tanka
Author Websites and Profiles
CW Hawes Website
CW Hawes Amazon Profile
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