Interview With Author Bob Wayne
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have a BA in Technical Communication with a minor in Creative Writing. Ergo, my writing is all over the map. In addition to being an investing nerd (yes, I like money – I’m 68 and trust me, Social Security is a recipe for poverty), I’ve also written two memoirs, too much poetry, and I write fiction (mostly sci-fi) for fun. Additionally, since I don’t like tyrants, I have a blog called NoPoliticalWimps.com. And, of course, I have DividendCapturePro.com with a lot of content, mostly reviews of apps and sites for dividend investors.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Get 20% Returns with Dividend Capture: A Smarter, Safer Strategy for Consistent Cash Flow. I honestly had no intention of writing a book on dividend capture. I used to be the guy who chased every type of “get rich quick” investing style: Swing Trading, Options, Crypto, Penny Stocks; you name it, I tried it. And lost a lot of money. (Bless me poor long-sufferin’ wife for not leaving me.) Anyway, I decided to tone it down and try dividend capture. Seemed simple enough. And again, I lost money. But I was intrigued by the idea and after about two years of experimenting, I finally made it work. And I watched a lot of people getting screwed by Wall Street and financial scammers and it pissed me off. So I wrote the book hoping I’d save other people some grief. And now I’m trying to sell it. That’s a lot harder than using dividend capture. Another “learn as you go” gig.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I have ADHD, I’m on the autistic scale, and I’m taking a prescription I can’t even pronounce for anxiety and depression. So what the heck do I know about unusual? Pretty much everything I do is probably unusual just trying to adapt to such weird brain wiring.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ah, now that’s a fun question. I’d say Robert Aspirin, Arthur C. Clark, Earnest Hemmingway, Harry Harrison, John Myers Myers, Richard Bach, and David Gerrold of Star Trek fame. But the person who truly polished my writing style was Alison McGhee, author of Shadow Baby, who taught my Advanced Creative Writing course in college. I wouldn’t be half the writer I am today without her help.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the second book on Dividend Capture. I’ve found that with all the AI Agents and “no-code” app development tools lying about, I’m busy automating everything I can in my dividend capture methodology. And, of course, my wife said, “Don’t you think your readers would love that? If you’ve figured out how to let a machine handle the droll parts so you can sit back drinking gin and tonics and throwing things at our cats, don’t you think they would too?” I don’t think she meant my readers should throw things at our cats.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
When I figure that out, I’ll be sure to let you know. I only released the book two weeks ago and have been burning my keyboard trying everything I’ve ever read about for promoting books. I think I’ve spent the most on sites like this one trying to get reviews. I know for me, if I see a book on Amazon and it’s got two reviews or five 5-star reviews, I look pretty askance at it. I like to see 3,000 4 or 4.5 star reviews. So guess what I’m trying to get? I have a long way to go.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yeah, get a real job. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. My wife is a classical singer and nothing pisses her off quicker than someone saying, “You’re a singer? What’s your real job?” Hone your craft. I mean it. There are too many half-assed writers cranking out mediocre work. And nothing pisses me off more than someone telling me, “Oh, yeah, I’m a writer, too.” “What do you write?” “I’ve go this idea for a book…” And then when I ask them how they learned to write, they look at me like I’m stupid and start talking about their eighth grade English class.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“What makes people stupid is their certainty they have all the answers.” – Robert Greene
What are you reading now?
Okay, I’m one of those people who read 5 books at the same time (ADHD guy). But my favorite right now is The Skylark Of Space by E. E. “Doc” Smith, PhD, copyright 1928. The first book written about flying beyond the solar system in a spaceship. He IS the Father of Space Opera.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the second dividend capture book; getting my second memoir published – My Father’s Funeral: Tales From The Gravel Road. And re-publishing my first memoir under a new title, as the first title just confused people. And getting my new poetry collection published. And continuing to rip the Republicans’ a new asshole in my blog NoWimpsPolitics.com. What a great retirement! I love 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?
1) Illusions by Richard Bach; 2) Sliverlock by John Myers Myers; 3) Changes by Jim Butcher; 4) The Winged Seed by Li-Young Li; and 5) Contemporary American Poetry, Seventh Edition.
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