Interview With Author Anthony Faust
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a husband and a father of 10- and 13-year-old girls. Like many, I was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. I was sent home from my job with my laptop on March 11, 2020, and have not been back into my company’s office space since. Like everyone reading this book, it was challenging to adapt to the new world COVID-19 pandemic brought with it. This inspired me to write my first book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of the book is Covid Chronicles: An Illustrated Guide to the Silly, Senseless, and Stupid Stuff we did during the Pandemic. It has 101 memories from the pandemic, and how we all handled it.
We did some amazing things during the pandemic response. I have fond memories of doing drive-by birthdays for my kid’s friends. I remember the exact spot I was on my jog when I found a hand-painted rock that read “We are in this together!” it was so genuinely touching. I had regular Zoom happy hours with a close group of friends. I will never forget that unique experience.
I got to spend so much quality time with my wife, kids, and family.
For all the good, there were also a lot of negatives. I helped my youngest daughter do her daily math homework during distance learning. I saw how frustrated she got when she was trying to finish a session on a terribly designed application on her iPad.
I saw both girls deal with wearing masks while playing sports. Face masks do not belong on young kids when they are running up and down the basketball court. Or skating on the ice. Or in school.
And I watched our leaders politicize COVID-19. Making and changing policies that didn’t seem founded in facts repeatedly. I watched small businesses permanently shut their doors. I watched the richest people in America accumulate insane amounts of wealth.
My intention with this book is to document some of the things we did, so we would remember them in the future. History repeats itself. The next time we encounter something like COVID-19, I hope some of the lessons we learned in this book help us make better decisions, and not repeat some of the mistakes.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write while on long car rides. My wife drives, and I sit in the passenger seat and bang away on the keyboard. There is something about the environment zipping past you, that helps me focus on the screen. And, I know that just hearing that makes some people carsick, but luckily for me, I don't get carsick from writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Chuck Klosterman's "The Nineties" and Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt's "Freakonomics" are two of my favorite books. I am a pop culture enthusiast and these books really speak to my love of everything that is pop culture, and the way we look at society.
What are you working on now?
My favorite basketball team is the Minnesota Timberwolves. I am working on a new book that documents their historically terrible run in the NBA.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I developed a website for my book: https://www.covidchronicles.cc
I am a web developer, so it was very intuitive for me to make a website to promote my book. I have to say, for a book like mine that is so visual, it can be difficult for readers to imagine what the inside pages will look like. Having a visual representation of my book has been immensely important. I have made sales because of the quality of my website.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don't get upset about what you can't control. It would be awesome to get your book in front of every potential reader, but it's really hard when you start out. There are always 20 thing I would like to be doing. Making a list, prioritizing items, and making sure you keep progress going every day is important.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Assume that nobody on the planet wants to read your book. Then, slowly convert everybody on the planet into a customer.
What are you reading now?
A lot of books about finances. "The Option Advisor" by Bernie Schaeffer
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on some ideas with my kids. I am encouraging my 10-year-old to write a series called Detective Horse, where the horse solves crimes, and my 13-year-old is working on some fan fiction stuff, and I am supporting that.
I am outlining that Minnesota Timberwolves book. Researching how best to license photos to use, and try to develop a marketing strategy before I publish the book.
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?
I have not read 1984 by George Orwell, and I hear about it all the time in the news. I loved the Game of Thrones series on HBO and every always says "The books are better!" so I would bring that. And, it's corny, but the Bible. If I am going to be stranded, what better time to read it? But I would need the version that is dumbed down for people like me 😉
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