Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
To say that I am a shy guy would be as accurate as any other description. I am a very private person, but at the same time, I try to be as open as I can about who I am as a person, without giving away every little dirty secret or tidbit about my quiet, yet blessed life. To be honest, I don’t like talking about myself unless someone asks me a specific question, and even then, I may politely refuse to answer if it is far too personal. Heck, talking about my work is even a chore for me… I don’t like to gloat or seem pushy (which is why I hate the marketing side of the business, but alas, it is a necessity, so I must grit my teeth and bear it).
What I can say is that I’m a good guy with two degrees in Creative Writing and Computer Graphic Design. I write as much as I can, when I can (and when I’m feeling it) and want to be able to do so as a profession… that’s not to say I care to be rich and/or famous, it simply means, if I can make a good living and pay the bills with my writing, that would be a dream come true (anything more would be icing on the cake!) Until then, I work diligently as a graphic designer.
I’ve written four novels, three of which are published (“Year of the Songbird”; “Jaxxa Rakala: The Search”; “In the Light of the Eclipse”) and one that I will be editing soon (after I finish my next book, the sequel to Jaxxa Rakala) for a release in late 2014. Aside from that, I have also written several screenplays (both short and feature length), some of which I have produced myself, still many others that continue to sit “on the shelf” (and still others that I need to go back in and re-edit).
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a young adult novel called, “In the Light of the Eclipse.” It was inspired by a conversation I had with a group of kids at the annual Christmas Eve party that my aunt throws for our family. One year, I was discussing books and how much these kids read (all of whom are listed in the acknowledgments of the book, and include my niece and nephew), and I mentioned that I was a writer. They didn’t believe me and started razzing me about it, so I challenged them to come up with a story that I would then write for them. They didn’t miss a beat—by the time I left that night, I had characters and some possible plot points. I wrote it all down, added my own two cents to make the story coherent and viola—”In the Light of the Eclipse” was born (though it did take several years to actually start writing!).
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess my most unusual would be that I like to write with the television on. I can write without it, but it doesn’t feel the same. I like the noise and the distraction of the television. At times it gives me inspiration, at others it slows my mind down (and still others, as I’m trying to come up with the next piece of dialogue, or where to take the characters next, it serves as a nice break). Other than that, you can check out a guest blog I did at Book Loving Hippo, where I discuss my full writing process. Is any of it odd? Maybe, but that’s my way in a nutshell.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest influences would be the works of Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe and Dean Koontz (with a little bit of Michael Crichton thrown in for good measure). On the film side, Christopher Columbus and Christopher Nolan have influenced my writing. They all have a unique voices and a way of spinning a yarn that captivates my brain. Any of their writings have seeped into my work (including “The Stand,” “The Mask”, “A Tell-Tale Heart” and “Jurassic Park”… not to mention “The Goonies!”), but other works, such as “How To Eat Fried Worms,” “The Princess Bride” and “The BFG” have all infused a bit of their styles and voices into my soul and were instrumental in sparking in me the desire to write and create new worlds and characters. Oh, and Shel Silverstein as well—brilliant!
What are you working on now?
Right now I am on a bit of a break (though there really isn’t such a thing in the world of writing, is there?), but as the new year breaks, I will begin work on the second book in the “Jaxxa Rakala” saga, “Memoirs of Keladrayia: Jaxxa Rakala,” which I will be publishing sometime next summer. I will also be working to raise funding for a screenplay I am looking to produce next year through a Kickstarter Campaign that will begin in late January or sometime in February.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s a tough one, since I haven’t had much luck promoting my books as of yet. I’m still feeling my way through this whole marketing thing (as I said before, I’m not good at it at all), but I am building a fan base on GoodReads and have been writing on and developing my blog, Chaos breeds Chaos (which is linked to my Facebook Author page). Right now, those are my two biggest promotion avenues (except for the publications official website, http://publications.divinetrinityfilms.com). I did have a blog tour for “In the Light of the Eclipse” and am always looking for new (and fresh) ways to find my audience. And then, of course, there is Awesome Gang, which I have my books listed on!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick to it, don’t give up and make sure you do everything you can to make sure the novel is at its absolute best (meaning, don’t rush) before publishing (or seeking a publisher). Also, don’t get so desperate to publish that you become susceptible to a possible scam. Always look over the fine print and do your research before accepting any contract or deal from anyone who claims they can sell your book. I found that out the hard way.
But whatever you do (and whatever happens), keep writing, no matter if it makes you a single dollar or a million of them, because if you are a writer, that’s what you do.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When I was going to film school (long story), I was in an editing class and the teacher said (and I’m paraphrasing), “If you’ve ever been watching a bad movie and you catch yourself reediting and watching for the editing style, then you are an editor.” He went on to say that it worked for cinematographers and other professionals in the business. And that’s when it hit me that I was a writer, since when I watch a movie and television show that’s just outright horrible, I always catch myself “reading” the script as I watch and making mental notes about what I would have done different. Hearing those words all but solidified what road I needed to be walking.
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Stephen King’s “Under the Dome.” I wanted to try and read it before the show started on CBS last summer, but I got busy with some other things; and then I wanted to read it in alongside the adaptation, but again, life got in the way. I’m halfway through it now… but it’s been a long while. I’m also beta reading a friends new novel and giving my notes on that.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Other than writing “Memoirs of Keladrayia: Jaxxa Rakala” and editing my other novel, I am looking to begin a series of young adult adventures (with a planned twenty books), doing some more short stories, and writing some additional screenplays. I am also planning another story that I can’t divulge right now, since it involves something that I don’t think anyone’s attempted (though it’s always possible it has)… we’ll see if that goes anywhere, and even if it doesn’t, it’ll be fun to try.
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?
I’d first demand to bring my dream girl with me, but if that turned out to be a waste of time, the books I would bring with me would be “Year of the Songbird,” “Jaxxa Rakala: The Search” and “In the Light of the Eclipse”… because if the world ended while I was on the island and someone came along to find me long after I was dead, at least then they would be some rare commodities.
If I was disallowed to bring my own work, then I would choose The Stand, The Princess Bride, Where the Sidewalk Ends and Peter Pan, as all of them embody, in some way, my personality, whether as an author or a person. I’ll leave it to you to figure out which parts of them are part of me!
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