Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was raised pretty much the same as everyone else… devoted mother, strict father and all the imaginary friends I could conjure. Not that I wasn’t friendly, I just wasn’t “people orientated”. Maybe I lived in my head way more than I should have, maybe not. I liked machines more than people, at least I did until I met my wife.
The first thing I can remember writing was for her. For the life of me I can’t remember what it was about… something about dust bunnies under the bed and monsters in my closet. It must have been pretty good because she married me shortly after that. I spent a good number of years after inventing games and prototypes for a variety of ideas before I got back to writing.
It wasn’t a deliberate conscious thought, it was more of a stepping stone. My wife and I had joined a dream interpret group and we were encouraged to write down our dreams as they occurred. “Be as detailed as you can,” we were told.
I was thrilled. If there is one thing I enjoy it’s making people believe me and I like to exaggerate. Not a big exaggeration or an out right lie mine you, just a little step out of sync, just enough so you couldn’t be sure if it were true or not. If I can make people think “it could happen,” even for a moment, then I have them. When I write, I always write with the effort of “it could happen” very much in mind and nothing, I guarantee you, nothing, makes me happier.
I have written8 novels and agood number of short stories !
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called My Grandfather’s Pants… it’s a Paranormal Fiction/Romance. Both my mother and my wife are very firm believers in hand-me-downs…. Waste – not – want – not. I was gifted a tan pair of trousers that belonged to my father that he got from his. I’m just glad I’m the oldest of three and I have no sisters.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, not really. I just need the time to sit down and be left alone for a little while… well that and a package of chocolate chip cookies… oh and I’m very fond of M&Ms… brownies are good as well ! Any one of them are good impression ! I usually have a story in mind… kind of beginning, middle and end sort of a thing about what I want to say or point out… quirky things as a rule. I have never plotted or wrote 3×5 cards or anything that organized. I like to be surprised as the story goes along and flexible enough to work it into what I’m writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Almost everyone has something to offer… anyone who writes SCi-Fi or Fantasy is always a great source for inspiration. If I had to put a name to it I would have to say E E ‘Doc’ Smith. He was a scientist in the 30’s. He wrote the Lensmen series in 1937 and was decades ahead of his time. Really great stuff.
What are you working on now?
At present I’m writing the 3rd book in my Eve Project Series called The Cordovan effect. It’s about the life of a man who has died and has been brought back as a sentient android. When I run out of ideas for it I work on the 2nd book in my Littlefield series called Black Moon. It’s set in a world with magic, horrible creatures, and a people that make the creatures look tame. People are always the real monsters.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is a really hard question… I try anything and everything. I have no one “magic bullet” answer for marketing or promoting. No one thing appeals to everyone so short of giving away a free copy of my books with every pizza purchase I have to try anything and everything. It’s really tough all the way around, not to mention it’s the hardest thing about writing.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what makes you happy… write only what you want to read. Nothing else will satisfy you!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Never buy a Beta-Max, a pinto or cowboy boots” As far as writing advice… I’ve read them all tried many of them and as it turns out the writing world is not a “One size fits all” kind of problem. You have to think about it alot and try what works for you.
What are you reading now?
I just finished 100 Thousand Kingdoms.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My book, My Grandfather’s pants was just released… I have another, the first in my Sci-Fi Series called Machines of the Little People comes out in April 2014. It’s about a quirky genius that thinks his home, car and life are filled with tiny creatures called Katoy. He sees them everywhere… right up until his second wife is murdered in their home and he disappears. In the search for him a conspiracy is uncovered casting doubt on his guilt.
Then in July, book 2 called The Wishing Stone is released. It’s a story of overcoming loss by any means possible and the sacrifices some will make to insure its success… turning flesh and memories into nuts and bolts… and beyond belief… a living machine.
Book 3 arrives in September and finishes the story arc with a book called The Cordovan Effect. It’s about the life of a man after he has died and now has been transformed into an android himself… his fears, and challenges in dealing with his new situation; fearful of being discovered… joyful in finding love that will last a life time… all 250 years of it.
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?
If I were to be deserted on an island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books I would have to say at least one of them would have to be “How to build a boat” Second would be “A hundred things to do with coconuts” and third would be “Sand is your friend”
Author Websites and Profiles
Tegon Maus Website
Tegon Maus Amazon Profile
Tegon Maus Author Profile on Smashwords
Tegon Maus’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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.