Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing for the better part of 30 years, and seriously writing for at least 20 of those. I have “officially” written 2 books, one of which published that I don’t talk about, and the other available for pre-order now, available 2/1/2020. I have the lore and storyboards done for the next five in the Seven Seals Archive series, and most of the content written.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Embersoul; Book One of the Seven Seals Archive. This is my passion project. I have been developing these characters and this world for over twenty years, and can tell you every detail all the way back to the creation of all things. Each of these characters are representative of me in some way. The real inspiration came from using these characters in years of games of Dungeons and Dragons with my friends and really feeling them flesh out into reality. I have been storytelling and DMing for a very long time, and it was time to put life into characters that have been as real as life to me.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. My process is pretty simple, I write until I feel the burn, then break for a while. I am a hybrid of explorer and architect, I plan key points in the plots and then let the characters guide me from there. If I had to pick one “unusual” habit, I would say that on most occasions I will write many of a characters chapters in a row before I start the next characters POV, and edit them in place later.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hugh Howey strictly for his business sense and success as a self-publisher. GRRM, JRRT, Sanderson, Jordan, Crichton, Bret Easton Ellis, Barker, Jacqueline Carey. R.L. Stine, RA Salvatore, Mark Manson, Me.
What are you working on now?
Now begins the marketing phase for Embersoul. After I have a good foothold on promoting, I will be continuing work on Book 2 of the Seven Seals Archive.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish I knew!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The work doesn’t start until after you are ready to publish. If you don’t want it enough, you’ll fail. You could write the best words ever put to paper, but without all the insane amounts of legwork you need to do to get off the ground such as marketing, networking, promoting, etc, then you won’t make it anywhere. Read Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck.” He has the best advice for entrepreneurship I’ve ever heard. If you give up when it gets hard, you may as well give up now. This won’t be handed to you, it is a full time job getting noticed and read.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’ll never succeed if you never fail. We learn from our failures more than our successes.
What are you reading now?
The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker
What’s next for you as a writer?
HBO or Netflix series or bust!
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?
Embersoul by A.J. Morrison (No seriously, I enjoy my writing a lot, even though I’ve memorized it at this point.)
Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady just because it’s almost a million words.
GRRM or JRRT
Author Websites and Profiles
A.J. Morrison Amazon Profile
A.J. Morrison’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile