Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written three books under my real name and even though that was cool and all, I started getting people coming up to me that didn’t really know me and started talking to me all the time about my work. Some of these people were a little off, but they were fans and that scared me some. So after a guy from North Dakota, I live in Tennessee mind you, found out where I worked and approached me and talked to me about how good my book, my first one was, I got a little paranoid about writing under my real name. So, after some consideration on a good alt name, I went with Bowie Rockwell. Now people don’t know me and that makes things easier.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is, Into the Mystic. The inspiration of it was simply this: most of the problems we have in our lives are pretty much brought about by what we do. In other words, we create our demons. And I wanted to explore how this character in my book finally realizes that all the problems he has with his career, his family, are all his doing. We create, sometimes, the thing we dread the most.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do, too many to count. I listen to music while I write. Growing up in the 1980’s I listen to a lot of music from that era and I always pick a song that would fit into the scene that I’m writing at the time. Music, at least for me, seems to enhance the creativity and what you’re going for say for a particular scene in the book. I also pick out a cast of actors and actresses that I’d want to see in a film version of this book and I write with that in mind. So it’s kinda like I’m directing them in the book.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’d say Stephen King influenced me a lot. His book, The Shining, was a big influence not because of the scary parts, but because of the family dynamic that he had. It appealed to me at how close the family was but how far away from each other emotionally they were at times. It was a great character study of a nuclear family and I think there’s faint traces of that in my new novel.
What are you working on now?
I’ve got a 8 book series called, The Color Book Series, that I’m underway on. Into the Mystic is the first of these books. Each cover is a solid color and represents a theme that’s going on inside. Each book will be a different color. The next book that is coming up, which I had written under my real name some time back, American Masquerade Party, is a collection of shorts and one novella with a bonus story that wasn’t in the original run. It will be solid blue in color and the second of the Color Book Series.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m old school. I use word of mouth. I hate social media and I don’t use it. I do have a website that gets visited quite often and that where the bulk of my promotions come from. I know people my age (41) use social media all the time, and that’s not to say that one day that someone might represent me and my work on those platforms, but as far as me actually doing it, no. I write for the fans that I have and the pure enjoyment of the process. I’m in every sense of the word underground. And I like that. I think that if fans find me without any promotions then that is the ultimate compliment, especially if they stay with me. Discovering something that you didn’t know existed is pretty cool, don’t you think? Then it becomes sort of yours in a way.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing over time is becoming a lost art and most people that do it are trying to hit it big money wise or whatever. If you’re going to be a writer, then you have to enjoy it first off. It should never be about the money. It should be about the work.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always listen to the critics, especially if all of them are saying the same thing.
What are you reading now?
Nothing now, too busy on my own work! (Laughs) But I’ve got a pile of books waiting on me to read this summer when I take a break.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing. Writing. Writing. Maybe some blogging here and there on my blog. I don’t know. But def more work ahead.
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?
Def a book on how to survive being stranded on a desert island for sure, the bible and my first book that way I could read and remember and marvel at how young the writer’s voice used to be.
Author Websites and Profiles
Bowie Rockwell Website