Interview With Author A. D. Metcalfe
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have had many careers in my life, but it wasn’t until recently (ten plus years ago) that I started writing. I’ve always had a propensity for escapism and have amassed fodder aplenty, so why I didn’t start writing sooner is a mystery. Once I did, however, it became an obsession. I’ve published a kids’ picture book under the pen name Leslie Ann George, and my first novel, Street, just came out in December of 2023.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Street is adult upmarket fiction. It takes place in my hometown of New York City during the 1970s, a time when I, like my characters, came of age. The locations are inspired by places I have lived and hung out. Many of the characters are loosely based on people I have encountered, and some of the scenarios have been plucked from personal experiences.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not especially. I like to start writing as early as possible, so sometimes that means feeding and turning out the horses when it’s still really dark out. So far, they haven’t complained.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was a terrible reader as a kid, so it wasn’t until adulthood that I learned to enjoy the practice. But even then, I read mostly non-fiction, books on animal science and training, psychology and self-help books. Once I started writing myself, my appetite for fiction really grew. I am drawn to dark themes and urban locations. Some of my favorite authors are Richard Price, Colson Whitehead, Adam Rapp, Adam Mansbach, Chuck Palahniuk…
What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on final revisions for the sequel to Street and drafting the plotline for a third book in the same series. I am also outlining chapters for a completely different literary fiction project, and making notes for a memoir.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s been a learning process. I am involved heavily with my local writing community, so I love to take notes on what works for other authors. I also subscribe to an abundance of online sites that list contests, awards, and promotional opportunities. Combing through them to see which ones are a good fit and don’t require huge fees is time consuming, but I try to dedicate a small chuck of time every day to researching and applying.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join a writing group! It might take a while to find the perfect fit, but it will be so worth it. Nowhere else will you get copy, line, and content editing for free. And reading your peers’ work-in-progress is a huge learning opportunity.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Join a writing group! :>)
What are you reading now?
Currently I am reading Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have so many ideas floating around. If I can stay focused, they may all see the light of day!
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?
What a mean question! I absolutely loved The Year of Endless Sorrows, by Adam Rapp. John Irving has some weighty novels to kill time with, and maybe The Nix, by Nathan Hill, because I remember reading it and really liking it, but I’m still not sure what exactly happened. A desert island would be a good opportunity to find out.
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