Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi my name is C.J. Galaway and I have two books out thus far. My debut is a novel called Bite Marks and is about vampires and becoming one in today’s modern world. The second is Blood Ties and is the first of a four book series about werewolves and the family that leads the pack.
There isn’t much to say about me, really. I’m an avid reader who reads pretty much all genres. I love to cross stitch and I collect knives and swords. i will be starting graduate school to earn my MFA in creative writing. I would love to teach at the college level, even if it means doing time teaching nothing but freshman level classes. I would find it a challenge to turn people on to reading.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Blood Ties is my new book and it is part one of a four part series about werewolves, pack law, and family strife. It has an interesting story behind it. In the late eightes the metal band Queensryche released the album Operation Mindcrime, which my friend Becky and I would listen to non stop it seemed at times. One day she calls me out of the blue telling me about this dream where Geoff Tate the lead singer was a werewolf and was after he to give birth to his werewolf cubs. Apparently she was a human breeder, capable of giving birth to werewolf cubs. That dream sparked the basic idea and while none of it made it to the finished books, the character of Adam Blackwood was born and he told me the rest.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have quite a few that to me seem normal, but thats only because I use them all the time, lol. I will wirte first drafts longhand if I have an idea thats really flowing simply because I cant type worth a darn and I can write quickly enough to keep up with my thoughts. Then there is the lack of the internet to distract you when you get stuck. I like to create character profiles that seem alomost like a dossier, with their habits, hopes, dreams, and fears. Even if I dont use all that I write up, it helps make the characters real to me so that I can make them real for the readers.I also ask what if questions when I’m stuck about a storyline. It seems silly but they really do help.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
How much room do you have, lol? I am an avid reader who loves Mercedes Lackey, Tess Gerritsen, Stephen King, Nora Roberts and her J.D. Robb stuff, Celeste DeBlasis…I could go on and on. I love a good book with believable characters, a good plot, and action. I read for pleasure and to learn from various authors the difference in styles and voices used to tell the tale. I’ve learned the more varied what you read is, the more you can discover fromt the various genres and writing styles.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on Blood Lust it’s the second book in my werewolf series. Right now I have a very detailed outline and am also working on the third book, Blood Wars, at least as far as determining a timeline. This is my first attempt at a series, so I am doing extra things to make sure the timeline flows smoothly.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been using Facebook and Twitter a lot lately. Along with writing a blog, though I’m not quite sure yet as to how it helps but only time will tell. I’m in the process of learning how to do publicity for my author brand. It’s been an interesting journey and one I’m looking forward to what s yet to come.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stephen King said it best when he said The more you read, the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or word processor.
Read whatever you can get your hands on, both good and bad. Write whatever ideas you have down and keep them. My biggest regret is the things I’ve lost because I thought they were either stupid or didn’t make any sense so I threw them away.
So I would say read what you can get you hands on and write any and all ideas you have down. You never know what will come of them.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve heard is from two of my favorite writers Stephen King and Nora Roberts. They both advised to set up writing schedules and follow them. Nora Roberts writes daily, every day and I am striving to follow that example. Some days it may be posting a blog entry only and others its writing a lot more, but I’ve found it to be helpful to write daily even if I end up not using what I’ve written for that particular project. It will be saved and who knows what will become of it down the road.
What are you reading now?
Right now I am getting ready to read The Looking Glass Wars byFrank Beddor. It’s a three book series based on the popular Alice In Wonderland classic by Lewis Carrol. It seems to have been reimagined in various styles by a lot of different people, bu this one by Frank Beddor seems to be interesting thus far. I am also reading X by Sue Grafton I love her Kinsey Millhone series.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am curently working on book two of a four book werewolf series. Blood Lust is the title and I already have an outline for book three titled Blood Wars. I will be starting graduate school soon to earn my MFA in creative writing, so finding time to write while doing online school work should prove challenging. Then again the next great idea may be born. Who knows?
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 would so be in trouble, lol. Because I’d want to take them all with me. But if forced I’d snag Vows and Honor by Mercedes Lackey. I would also grab The Proud Breed by Celeste De Blasis. It’s an older book, but one I could get lost in again and again. Then I’d have to grab The Green Mile by Stephen King. the last is The Surrender of Julia by Tammy Dennings Maggy, an indie author whose works I’ve absolutely fallen in love with. I’d try to smuggle more, of course, but these would be the main four.
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