Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in Indiana, and I recently graduated from Purdue University with a double major in Linguistics and Asian Studies. During my time there, I worked as a financial aid counselor, which was a very interesting job to say the least. I’ve worked in the customer service industry for over ten years, but my passion has always been writing and story telling. I have just begun to pursue this passion as a self-published indie author, and my first book, “Duplicity: The Aurora Chronicles” has just been released on Amazon! I’m currently working on my second book, which will be the second book in the Aurora Chronicles series, and it is currently set for a late November to early December release date.
My current work is science fiction. I have a passion for science fiction and fantasy, which can be blamed on my father. He introduced me to Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and Stargate at a very early age, and it became a big way for him, my brother, and I to all bond. On the other hand, my mother is very anti science fiction and fantasy. Not because she hates them, but because she just doesn’t understand them. You can say the word, “Blaster” or “Starship” and just watch her eyes glaze over, so I was really dedicated to writing a novel inside my genre that even non-scifi lovers could enjoy.
I do this first by downplaying the science fiction elements in my book. For instance, you see a lot less science fiction terms in Star Wars then in Star Trek. They are still there, but they are just more hidden. The second thing I strive to do is to highlight elements that are common in other genres. This allows me to bring other elements into my book like: mystery, suspense, romance, thrillers, ect… The last thing I strive to do in my books is to create a compelling plot that will keep readers guessing. I love to take worn out narratives and turn them into a surprising adventure. Superhumans being persecuted by humans/the government, man eating creatures, unfair hierarchy enforced on the basis of blood/genes, and a race to capture a weapon of mass destruction, these are all plots that have been done to death, but it is how the author presents these elements to readers that makes them unique, and I can promise that I will present them in a surprising way that readers won’t see coming. I may only be getting started, but there is going to be way more to come.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest, and first book, is Duplicity, and it is the first book in the Aurora Chronicles series, which is currently planned to span two more books. My inspiration for this book really started with my love for Christopher Nolan movies. Christopher Nolan has a great way of presenting movies with plots that leave watchers shocked at the end. For instance, “The Prestige” and “Inception” both have plots that leave watchers screaming, “What?!” at the end. I love this feeling and want to give my readers the same shocked feeling that comes with a well layered plot.
So in my days of endless day dreaming, I came up with one of those “What?!” endings. Once I had the ending, I worked backwards to create a story that could support such a massive conclusion. I’ve already had several people contact me and react to the ending, and I can tell you, their reactions never disappoint!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t write without music. Music really inspires me and is a big part of my life. There’s been times when I’ve gone to write my novels in a public place and accidentally forgotten my headphones, so I can’t listen to music. It is like Chinese water torture. I can do it, but it is certainly not as enjoyable.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had really sensitive hearing, so music not only helps motivate me, but it helps me filter out the background noises and distractions. Sometimes, I’ll spend hours looking for good music and then realize that I’ve gotten nothing else done!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Books with compelling narratives and books that can stir a strong emotional response are what I admire. I’ve really enjoy Jane Austin, and “Pride and Prejudice” is one of my favorite books. I also really fell in love with Robin Hobb’s Farseer trilogy. That trilogy has a really unique world that you can really delve into and enjoy, and that’s something I wanted to create myself. I’ve also talked a lot about shock factor in my books. That has probably been influenced the most by Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. If you have never read his original novel, you should. It is a real classic. He has a great way of painting pictures and making you relate to the main characters, and the ending is phenomenal.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the second book in the Aurora Chronicles series, which is titled “Ground Zero”. It’s going to be a continuation of the first book, and will being just slightly after the end of the first book “Duplicity”. It will follow the same characters that were introduced in the first book with the addition of one or two new ones.
Beyond continuing the Aurora Chronicles series, I am also currently developing the plot of a standalone novel that I plan to call “The Tower”. The Tower will follow the steps of a young girl as she finds herself waking up in a tower where everything is determined by games. Residents of the tower can challenge other residents to a game. The winner of the game will get whatever they desire from the other player as long as it was agreed on beforehand. The only way to ascend from one level of the tower to the next is to win a game devised by the creatures known as the level guardians. The residents of the tower find that they cannot leave, and no one knows how they got there in the first place. It is rumored that if one reaches the top of the tower, they will be granted one wish. With no way out of the tower, the only way left is up.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
awesomegang.com of course! Actually, I’m really just getting started, so I’m still in the testing phase myself when it comes to marketing and promotion. There are a lot of options to choose some, but social media is definitely not something to forget when you are starting out as a new author.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
There are three main points I would recommend to new authors:
1. Don’t give up. It can be really hard to get publishers and agents to accept you, especially if you have never published before. Just because you can’t get an agent or companies attention doesn’t mean that you need to scrap your dreams. Self-publishing is becoming a force to reckon with in the literary world, and it is now easier than ever before.
2. Don’t underestimate good cover art. I about choked when I learned that a good quality cover could cost me anywhere from $300 to $600, but a cover is going to be your readers’ first interaction with your book. Good or bad, they are going to form an opinion about your book when they first see the cover, so don’t be fooled, everyone judges books by the cover. It is worth shelling out a little extra cash to get a cover you love and can be proud of.
3. Develop a good support network. Writing is really solitary work, and it can be easy to get discouraged. Fill your life with people, who you know will cheer you up and support you. It can be as simple as a friend you go get coffee with once a week. The point is to find people, who will remind you why you started writing in the first place.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I was getting really discouraged that every plot I seemed to come up with had already been done by someone else. It was at that time that I was told, “Anything that could have been written already has.” It may not seem like advice at first, but really delving into that statement has given me so much motivation and confidence. Anything that you could possibly think of has already been done by someone else. It’s inevitable, so you shouldn’t pressure yourself, believing that what you do has to be 100% unique. Somewhere along the line it won’t be. What will be unique is your take on it. You want to write a zombie novel? Great! Zombies have been done to death, but what makes your version unique? What twists can you add to make your story different and interesting? Knowing that I can still be unique, even if there are stories out there that share similar plots to mine, has been some of the best motivating words I’ve gotten as an author.
What are you reading now?
I’m finishing up the Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown. It is a really great series. I keep saying that it is the Hunger Games with more death and less annoying teen romance. Brown is a mastermind when it comes to catching readers off guard, and I can’t get enough of his work!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now its all about finishing up my next novel, but I am looking forward to participating in a number of book fairs in 2017. These fairs will be the first time a hard copy of my book is sold, so it’s going to be pretty special. Readers can subscribe to my website or Facebook to get updates on what fairs I’m going to and when.
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?
Definitely, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” to start with. It is a novel I could read over and over again. The same goes for “Pride and Prejudice”, so that one is definitely on the list as well. As for the last two books, I’d probably have to say “Watership Down”. That was one of my favorite books growing up, and it still holds a dear place in my heart. For the fourth book, “Bear Grylls World Adventure Survival Camp” would probably be a must.
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