Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve lived in the Boston area since 1979. When I first arrived, it was a rough transition for a young teen raised in the Midwest. That experience helped awaken my imagination and writing became an outlet. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I entered a writing contest and won second place.
Over the following years, writing became more of a hobby because I never had a lot of time to dedicate to it. I was much more interested in film directing and producing. I did some amateur film-shorts and dreamed of someday getting a call from Hollywood. That call never came (no surprise). Writing, on the other hand, was something I could always do without worrying about things like budgets, actors, or securing locations. There’s never any limit in my imagination. It’s like directing a movie with infinite resources.
My writing efforts intensified since I got laid-off from a company I worked at for over twenty years. While it’s been rough trying to find another job in this sour economy, I’ve had plenty of time to devote to writing. I’ve written and published three books so far: “Chasing Redemption,” “Dover Park,” & “The Juncture.” More are in the pipeline.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I released “The Juncture” in February 2013. The story is inspired by a couple of things. First, it’s loosely based on a high school I attended. My wife and I attended the same school, but not at the same time. She had already graduated by the time I transferred in as a junior. I’ve always wondered what it would’ve been like if we were in the same high school class together (let’s just say I’m quite happy we met years afterward instead).
Second, the notion of being able to travel back in time and change the future is something that has become a primary theme in many time travel stories/productions (particularly since “Back to the Future” in 1985). That’s one theme I wanted to explore with this book. Hint: My views run counter-culture.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sorry, but I’m probably a boring author when it comes to writing habits. Nothing unusual. All I need is my laptop and a cup of coffee.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I first got inspired to write a book after reading “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy.
There is also a quote from author CS Lewis that drives my writing: “The world does not need more Christian literature. What it needs is more Christians writing good literature.” As a Christian, I understand how heavy-handed and preachy Christian authors can get. I’m personally not out to beat people over the head with my beliefs, but I just strive to write good stories that have a wide appeal. I like to weave virtuous principles and themes into my stories, but not in a way that’s overly moralizing. Hopefully, just a bit thought-provoking.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a couple of projects. One is a new thriller book series. The other is a follow-up to “Chasing Redemption.”
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t rely on only one method or website. It’s always best to adopt several.
For instance, book promo sites are everywhere and it’s easy to go crazy signing up for as many as you can find. However, I’ve found that maintaining them on an ongoing basis can be cumbersome. So, I try to pick out the sites with the best reach. Goodreads, Bookgoodies, Awesome Gang have been good. I recently discovered another great new site called “Hunt to Read,” which offers reader analytics (among other things). I’m always on the lookout for more, but not too many so I don’t lose track of them.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
This might sound a bit contentious, but I’d advise new authors to be careful how much time you spend around other authors. There’s certainly things to learn from experienced authors, but I’ve come to find it can quickly bring on a “fire-hose” effect of too much information. In fact, all things considered, other authors aren’t part of my target audience anyway. I’d rather spend more time interacting with readers. They’re the one who buy books, so they’re the ones we authors need to get feedback from.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing and stay away from imitating what other authors are doing. Try to be the author everyone else wants to copy.
What are you reading now?
I suppose this is the point where I should dazzle everyone with an impressive list of books I’m supposedly reading. To be honest, I’ve been way too busy writing.
What’s next for you as a writer?
That’s up to readers. If I can continue to build an audience, I have a future as an author.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I don’t have a single favorite, or haven’t found it yet.
Author Websites and Profiles
Bruce Fottler Website
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Bruce Fottler Author Profile on Smashwords
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