Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have 49 books in an on-going series of crossword puzzle books, mostly focused on music and the only crossword puzzle books that really dig into musical genres. I love music and play bass.
Plus, I’ve done 4 music biographies, a novella, 10 books of poetry (my earliest books, which I no longer write), 3 books of Freemason themed plays (as I’m a freemason), 7 non-fiction books on spiritual and political topics. Some of these are co-author situations.
Except for one, all these have come since I started publishing in 2007. Some bad times caused me to write a lot, and I had a lot of those.
Plus I still have time to work full time in a law firm, while having a little cozy life with my girlfriend and our two cats in Portland, Maine. I have actually turned my writing from a hobby to a profit making endeavor. Writing is also not just a side gig, but also intricately tied into who I am. I started writing when I as a 11 and am now 44. If I couldn’t write, or at least read, I’d shrivel up.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“In The Shadow Of The Gods: The Memoir of a Led Zeppelin Tribute Band Singer” published March 2021. This is the story of singer Jean Violet who has spent 20 years fronting the Zeppelin tribute band Kashmir. Its his story, but our words. I took his life, found a voice for him and crafted a story of highs and lows, growing pains, life behind the scenes, and advice for others. Its one of the few biographies of a tribute band out there, and the only one of a person in a Zeppelin tribute band.
It came about accidentally. I actually reached out to Jean to interview him for another book I was writing that mentioned a band he was in. I was reaching out to anyone I could find for interviews. We talked on the phone for an hour and then he asked if I might be interested in telling his story. I was hooked. I remember getting off the phone and taking a shower before bed. By the time I got out I had the whole book outlined. It wouldn’t change but a little bit in the writing process. I also knew how I wanted to approach the book. I sent a proposal to Jean and six months later we had a great collaborative book I’d recommend to anyone who likes music. Its my fourth music biography, but the one I always dreamed of writing.
As for the first book, maybe 2022 it might get finished? I actually started it seven years ago, so we’ll see.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write whole chapters when walking, like to work or just for a walk. I literally turned an entire bland coming of age fiction story into an epic sci-fi adventure one morning while walking the mile work. I then rush to write it all down or record into my phone. I do so much writing while walking, like the movement makes my mind buzz. And, honestly, in the shower. The shower is an amazing place for ideas. The key is to write it down fast afterward. I love recording in my phone in the moment that I will transcribe later. I’ve written a couple theater monologues that way … while keeping an eye out for anyone giving me odd looks while walking by.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My current endeavor is detective short stories all focused on a detective I’ve created. I’ve been studying short stories and particularly mystery stories like they are going out of style. I read at least one a night. I ordered 30 old issues of Ellery Queen magazine from ebay even, which get read, torn up, and sorted.
For the multiple music biographies I’ve written, my biggest influence is just reading other music biographies. I read tons of those, both musicians I like and others I’m not familiar with. I end up finding what I like and what I hate, and what I don’t want to do with my books. In general, my influences are the writers I like. G.K. Chesterton, Jack Kerouac, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Christopher Isherwood are four writers whose style I love and, for good and bad, influence me.
My last book, “In The Shadow Of The Gods: The Memoir of a Led Zeppelin Tribute Band Singer” was inspired by Ian Fleming. I love his 007 novels. He is famous for having every chapter ending on a sorta cliffhanger, where you can’t predict what will come next. I did that in this memoir, and everyone I talked to said they were sucked right into the story. Also, in that book Leonard Nimoy was a huge influence. Yes, Mr. Spock. As a director of theater and movies his mantra was “always tell a story.” Everyone loves stories and that’s one thing I don’t see in music biographies, which often just wander going nowhere. I find they often end with a let down. I’ve written biographies that don’t do that, but for Jean I turned his life into a story. I don’t think I’ll ever write another music biography any other way again.
What are you working on now?
I’ve been self-publishing since 2007, though my first book was in 1999 when I was in college. At that time I was writing a daily newspaper column and a monthly history column for another paper. Outside of a handful of things in the early days of my self-publishing, my focus and sales have come from non-fiction and history. Yet, I always have dreamed of being a novelist. I just could never find something that clicked. I have chapters and drips and drops, but nothing came until 2020.
I was working on the memoir with Jean Violet. I had no idea if we would work together well or if the book would be finished, so I thought of using his ideas to form a novel of a rock band. When I saw our project was flying, I just let my creativity run rampant on the novel when my focus needed a break. Soon the novel had a life of its own. It provided a great place to wander to when I’d hit a wall in Jean’s work. Actually, drafting the novel would inspire me with questions to ask Jean. I currently have it completely outlined and 1/5th written. This will be out 2022.
From there my mind just popped and hasn’t stopped. So, I’m now moving into the fiction world as I long dreamed. Before the novel I’ll be debuting a series of detective short stories that have music as a theme. I’m very excited about those, but the details are under wraps a little while longer. I already have one written, four outlined, and a novel somewhat together.
It took forever, but I found my niche. For years I tried to be a novelist writing about this or that, with no luck, but when I hit music, which is a hobby and passion, well … I haven’t been this creative and this excited about my work in years.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website www.aaronjoyauthor.weebly.com. I also put stuff up on youtube and have 3 channels, which I believe have helped (not writing related channels, but my books are mentioned as a way to support me), but for a recommendation for others I’d say experiment and do what works for your genre. I’ve started tapping into paid product promotion. Its too early to talk results. My one suggestion is watch your expenses. A lot of us want to make money, but its so easy to spend money and find you’re not breaking even or wasting money or whatever.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write, read, read, read. Practice and do your homework. Learn your craft. I know so many writers who honestly don’t know their craft, don’t take it seriously and then wonder why nobody is buying. Would you buy your own book?
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be patient. It was told me 25 years ago by an old man whose wisdom was amazing. Be patient. Don’t give up, don’t rush, just keep on working and the results will be great.
What are you reading now?
‘The Marathon Monks Of Mount Hei’ by John Stevens, about the Japanese Buddhist monks that run 1000 day marathons.
‘The Sea Is My Brother: The Lost Novel’ by Jack Kerouac, his first novel written at age 21 before he wrote ‘The Town And The City’.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My detective stories are my immediate project for late 2021. Its very exciting to be exploring a new style of writing, having done poetry, non-fiction and playwrighting, and one novella. Its a very Indiana Jones like moment.
I’m also starting a youtube channel called ‘The Existential Crisis’, debut September 2021, with videos sharing my writing advice, experiences, and general writing coaching. I’m prepping that now as its animation and voice-over. I figured it was time to be more active in using my experience to help others. I really like helping other authors and those self-publishing. I hope to do more of that.
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?
Something by Jack Kerouac, who I wanted to be in high school. Likely ‘The Dharma Bums,’ which being older I found far more interesting than ‘On The Road’.
The world history book ‘The Everlasting Man’ or the spy novel ‘The Man Who Was Thursday’, both by G.K. Chesterton. For me there’s nothing like either.
‘The Mummery Book’ by Adi Da Samraj, who is a spiritual teacher with this one novel to his name that fuses colors and words and scenes in such a way like no other book out there. Maybe Leonard Cohen’s early book ‘The Beautiful Losers’ might be a close comparison.
I like books that challenge me and get me thinking, so likely these.
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