Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written two books, Noise and Losing Found Things. I currently live in Palm Beach, FL, but I move once or twice a year, so by the time this comes out I’ll already be gone. Hope to finish my third book, Ren, before my time here is up, but the ocean always pulls me away.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Losing Found Things is a collection of short stories that have been published in literary magazines around the world. Noise is about a deaf character searching NYC for his lost sister and chasing everyone with a hammer (semi-serious there). I wrote Noise while I was living in Miami, which is a noisy, drunk, drug-ridden town where no one seems to work and everyone’s name is ‘Bro.’ So I stuck in my earplugs and sat by the bay every night to write, and I didn’t once pick up a hammer. But I wanted to.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing is very sporadic, with months-long breaks in between. Traveling helps, as does moving. What sucks most about that process is that sometimes I move to a new place and it turns out that I just can’t write well there. So I’ll find a reason to move again. I write on a Mac, but always edit on paper outdoors. I know there are lots of writers who develop very complex rules about their craft, but that is likely how they do everything else. I write the way I live, which is very simply.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Chuck Palahniuk, Jay McInerney, Andy Rooney, Andrew Vachss
What are you working on now?
Ren, a third-person adventure; a little terrorism, some military here and there, homeland security and one bad-ass, who is both the hunter and the hunted in the story. It all moves very quickly, and honestly makes me, the writer, a little dizzy.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Ha, that’s all very new to me. I’m constantly giving books away; to reviewers, bloggers, even strangers who seem like they might enjoy it. I think Goodreads is awesome…I’ve done two giveaways there so far. Kelsey McBride, of Book Publicity Services, is awesome, as is Beth Jusino, who’s advice and guidance is priceless.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a writer, make an honest assessment of yourself in terms of talent and skill. I’ve learned that I’m a talented writer, but not very skilled, which is something I need to consciously keep working on. It doesn’t matter too much where you are on that spectrum, but you need to know where to steer the car. Also, style vs substance; you can have both, but most likely you’ll fall more on one side, so you’ll know you need to work on the other. There are many successful writers who are solely one-track (riveting story, bland prose, etc.), but I don’t think that’s something to strive for.
Write and publish short stories first. This will help greatly when you have novels to promote later, but it will also help you find and develop your own unique voice. When you get to the point where all of your stories have a somewhat similar feel, even if the plots, characters, and tone are very different, then you’re achieved a milestone as a writer. If you want to develop a writing life, you’ll need to develop a platform; a brand. And to have a cohesive body of work is vital to that process.
Play at least one musical instrument. This is the easiest and most durable way to develop rhythm and pacing in your work.
Lastly, learn every thing you can about the publishing industry. Sooner or later, you’ll need that expertise.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Look only forward and never stop moving. I think introspection is a waste of time. Judging others is a waste of time. Nobody really gives a shit; they pretend to listen your droning just so they can spout theirs in turn. Pay attention to the world as it races by, but whatever you do keep moving. For every minute that you spend on social media or playing with your mobile, dedicate ten to walking along a beach, people watching in a foreign city, chopping wood, anything. Have relationships if you must, but end them when appropriate. Cultivate your career to afford you a measure of freedom in this complicated world. Move often. Own little. Drive fast. The more time you’ve spent with the wind in your hair, the more you have lived.
So yeah, the best advice I’ve ever heard is this: “Do something.”
What are you reading now?
Actually, nothing. I’m in a dry spell. Any recommendations?
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish my third book, Ren. I’m also working on a book about drug addiction with my sister, who is a very successful pain doctor and addiction specialist. I thought it would be dry and boring at first, but the interviews are amazing, and I get to see inside of people that I never would have otherwise.
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?
My grandmother’s dictionary, from the sixties, which is thousands of pages, a foot-and-a-half tall, and weighs a ton. The, biggest, most dense books I could find on vegetation and crafting (tools, shelter, whatever). Maybe one on boat-building and celestial navigation, because, after several years, I’d probably want to find a new island.
Author Websites and Profiles
Brett Garcia Rose Website
Brett Garcia Rose Amazon Profile
Brett Garcia Rose’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
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