Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written thirty-three books on a very wide range of topics. I guess I’m interested in almost everything. I’ve written science fiction, paranormal mysteries, and adventure novels as well as books on changing careers and going into a green industry, investing in 3D printers, approaches to toward first contact with extraterrestrials, etc. I’ve written books about Michael Connelly, the mystery writer, and Daniel Silva, the spy novelist. As far as technology, I love it. I’ve written twenty books on various technologies.
I have had twelve different careers –in fact my wife says she’s been married to twelve different men. Imagine, for example, an English professor, a software trainer, a network manager, a market research executive, a futurist, an autopsy and lab worker, a sales manager, a police department administrator, etc. all in one person.
One reason I enjoy writing science fiction is that I spent twenty years as a futurist –I focused on forecasting what new technologies would develop and how successful they would be. My clients included many of the world’s largest technology companies.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Alien Love is inspired by my interest in the concept of first contact with extraterrestrials. In fact, I wrote a non-fiction book on that topic. What if Earth was like Casablanca in the movie of the same name –a place where people (aliens in this case) with very different agendas mingled and plotted? What if a a human found himself attracted to a beautiful alien? How could he even understand her motivations? Those are some of the ideas in my head when I sat down to write this novel.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to work on a number of projects at the same time. I do a lot of research when writing my books. That means that I did due diligence on possible alien planets in Alien Love as well as various theories on why aliens might resemble humans physically. I did a lot of research on my paranormal mysteries when it comes to correct police procedures. Since I spent twenty years in research, it’s a fun thing for me to do.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Did I mention that one of my many careers was as an English professor? I do think the writers that have influenced me the most are Frank Herbert, Michael Connelly, and Kurt Vonnegut.
What are you working on now?
I just finished the edits on two books, a paranormal mystery sequel and a young adult adventure novel. Right now I’m working on a cozy mystery set in a retirement home.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I talk about my books on my Facebook page, but I also promote my books on Twitter and on websites like AwesomeGang.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best advice is to just start writing. It’s the editing part that really makes a difference. Once you no longer have blank page but have your story down it’s fun to edit and re-edit until you’ve made the book as good as it could be. My goal is to try to make every book I write a little better than the one that came before.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
About writing or about life? As far as writing goes, I suppose it’s the advice to start with a basic outline but then let the characters take over. It’s good to know where the book is going so you don’t write yourself into a blind corner, but it is also good to be flexible enough to go with any new inspiration that takes the book in slightly different directions.
As far as life goes, be true to yourself. That means that you should never do something just because other people expect you to do it or because you think it will make you popular or it will please people. If you follow your gut instinct, you’ll probably never look back. I’ve made several major life changing decisions in my life so far, and I went with my gut. I’ve never felt like second-guessing any of those decisions because I was true to myself.
What are you reading now?
I just finished Nelson DeMille’s Radiant Angel and Daniel Silva’s The English Spy. Sometimes I get excited about a writer and read everything he or she has written. I did that with both Michael Connelly and Daniel Silva and then decided I might as well write reader guides about both since I had put so much time into reading the twenty odd books by each.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I sometimes alternate between fiction and non-fiction. I want to finish the cozy mystery I started to write. I also have started a science fiction novel based on a quantum universe, and I’d like to finish that as well.
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?
Books I love to re-read again and again. That list would certainly include Dune, Shogun, Light in August and The Rembrandt Affair.
Author Websites and Profiles
Stan Schatt Website
Stan Schatt Amazon Profile
Stan Schatt’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.