Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I began writing at a very young age, thanks to my sister, who was writing quite a bit of Poetry and short stories around the time I was four years old. Being seven years older than I, my sister was able to teach me books and stories beyond my age group. It was the inspiration of seeing her write that got me started… At least that was one of the reasons.
The second reason was due to our Family’s lower-middle class salary. My father worked as a grain farmer, putting in fourteen hour days for minimum pay, while my Mother owned and operated a Cafe that spent more money than it made. Because of this, we were not gifted with the superficial luxuries other children my age were granted. Satellite television was far out of our reach, and so when the television show “Pokemon” started to get big around us, I was unable to keep up with the shows myself. Often I was left behind in the dark, unsure of what was really happening or what my friends were discussing in Kindergarten class.
Eventually, these strictures caused me to want to write my own Pokemon story. So at five years of age, I made a spoof novel called “Automon”. The book had the same basic premise of Pokemon, but I put my own story-line and ideas to it.
After completing it, I read it out to my grade 1 class, and got amazing reactions. The feeling of seeing an audience enjoy my work was unbelievable, and from that day forward I kept on writing.
Fast forward sixteen years later, and I am still writing. I have currently released four books for Amazon Kindle, and I plan to keep increasing that number as time goes on.
This collection includes two novelettes, and two novels. All of which are connected to the same world, which is now being called the “Spettra” series. They are in the genre of Psychological- thriller/Horr0r.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book was a sequel to the first full-length “Spettra” novel. The inspiration of which obviously would have come from the first, but the concept of the first came about generically.
I had originally planned on writing another novelette. The story’s premise was pretty simple. Here you have a psychiatrist, who works night shifts in a criminal institution for the terminally insane. The idea was to have his insomnia put him in a place that only the insane could see, and all the nightmares would unfold from there.
What it turned into, was Spettra. The idea that beyond the physical realm are many more that the norm cannot see. That inside the minds of those damaged and restricted, there is a strange compensation for their losses. They are allowed to see the realm of the dead, at least one of the many…
Spettra is the idea that there is no heaven nor hell, but realms. Places our energies travel too after we pass, and we relive a different life in a new world.
It just goes to show that it really is true. A writer is only the journalist, to a world of their own creation. They mark down points they see, after their characters begin to live and breathe on their own. The story changes out of the writer’s hands after that, and becomes something bigger than ones normal imagination could fathom, even of the one who wrote it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The only thing I feel that may be seen as unusual, is the constant drinking of coffee, or Coke, or whatever meets my fancy, while I am working. It seems I always need something beside me to ingest as I work, and especially when it comes to revisions.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King has to be the greatest influence I have in writing. His book “On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft” inspired me to keep on moving, and re-taught me all the basics and important tidbits I needed to take me to the next level. It got me into writing everyday again, and up to a certain high quota. I recommend that book to anybody starting out in writing. It will help you shape the mastery of the craft, much easier.
Dean Koontz is another I respect. His fast paced story-telling has always kept me moving page after page, and I have learned a lot from his particular style.
Another influence would be William Shakespeare’s writings. His deep concepts and powerful poetics have always kept me captivated. He was truly far beyond his time, and I think more people should appreciate his work for what it is.
There are many more, too many to mention and each one is worth talking about. However, that will be another time and another place.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on revising my old work on Amazon, and making new book covers for the ones I have already published.
I have also been working on marketing, which is almost a full-time job in itself.
Writing-wise, I have been working on deep thoughts, and poetry to post on my blog. Soon I will be writing a new novel, and once I begin, I am committed until it is complete. So I am savoring the last day or two I have before getting deep into work.
Yet at the same time, I still cannot wait to start.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning a lot of different things about marketing. I would say that using Facebook and Twitter has been the best for meeting new associates as well as other Authors. I have not gained a lot of readers from these sites, but there has been a few.
I’d say the best way to get out in the open, is to get your books on as many websites as possible. The more you are mentioned, the easier people will find your books. Then the more people find them, the more people buy them, the higher your Best-seller rank goes up (On Amazon, I’m not sure about other self-publishing sites) and the easier it becomes to market your books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write.
It’s about that simple. Write as much as you can and when you start a project, set yourself a quota to reach and make sure you hit it everyday. It will keep up momentum and you will find that reaching it will get easier and easier. Soon you will be able to keep upgrading that quota, and you will become a better writer the more you do it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stephen King’s quote “You need to read a lot, and you need to write a lot”
It is very simple. The more you write, the better you get. The better you get…well we’ve already discussed how that snowballs. Either way, writing as much as you can is the best way to keep yourself relevant and to get noticed. Publishers want to see a work ethic as well as talent. It does them no good if they just get one of two.
What are you reading now?
I am currently re-reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King.
I read it over a year ago, and decided to dive back into late last night.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I will be finishing the Spettra series on Amazon, and will also begin publishing a Teen Action novel on Nook.
I have a bigger project that is near completion, that I am waiting to get traditionally published. By the end of this year, I hope to have it sent out to literary agents for consideration.
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?
“11/22/63” Stephen King
From The Corner Of His Eye: Dean Koontz
The Association: Bentley Little
How to Survive and escape a Deserted Island- Author Unknown.
I imagine someone (or a hundred someones) has written that last one, and I feel it would be quite beneficial if I were to be stranded on a deserted island. The others, are just pure entertainment. 😉
Author Websites and Profiles
Adam Gainer Website
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