Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Q: How many books have you written?
I’ve written 8 (all in various stages of publication at this time) although I’ve only started publishing them for sale. I have another 4 that are partially written and a dozen or so that are in the concept stage.
Q: Why should someone buy your work?
Because it’s awesome. (laugh) I also donate a portion of the profit to charity.
Q: Why the name SeaMonkey Ink?
Why not? (grin) What’s not to love? I mean it’s Ink squirting out of a Seamonkey. I mean sure no one has ever witnessed such a phenomenon but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. (laugh)
Q: Seriously?
No. When I was in school (high school and beyond) I used to play pranks under various code names – one of which was Seamonkey. I also have always enjoyed writing and back when I started to do so, I used to write everything by hand (which requires either lead or Ink) even long after I got my first word processor and computer. After I finally started typing directly, it still took ink to print.
Hence SeaMonkey Ink.
Q: Have you ever actually owned Seamonkeys?
Actually I have and I’m pretty well convinced that there is a wanted poster with my name and likeness up somewhere in the SIA (Seamonkey Intelligence Agency) headquarters for mass genocide. (laugh) I try but I fail.
Q: Are any of your characters based on people you know/knew in real life?
Not really. Most are composites. However, I will say that more than a little of my own personality/thoughts/expressions pop up in my stories and among my characters.
For instance, in Rebellion Book I: Book of Quay, Phong Quay makes a statement that one day he is changing his name and not telling anyone what he changed it to. I’ve said that to people since I was like 5 – particularly when I get agitated at being disturbed.
So if any real life person is used as a template for some of my dialogue and character behaviors it would be myself.
Q: You write some historical novels. How accurate are they?
Accurate enough. (laugh) I always say I do just enough research to be dangerous.
I enjoy history and find some of the portraits of these figures, times and places to be fascinating. I actually do put in quite a nice chunk of time trying to make the story as historically accurate as possible though I would like to think my work is more character driven then driven by the time, places and figures that inspired it.
Q: Why don’t you include your photo?
Because I’m incredibly homely. (laugh)
Q: You don’t look homely to me.
For my personal safety. (laugh) I’m always raising someone’s hackles for some reason or another whether it’s intentional or not. I’m also very private person and I would prefer to gain readers/admirers based on my work rather than my appearance. My appearance is just a bonus. (wink)
Q: Is there anything you would like to add in closing?
Yes! Buy my books. (laugh)
By contributing to my income through a purchase, you make it possible for me to spend more time writing new novels for you to enjoy. As a portion of the profits of my sales do go to charity, you are also placing yourself 2 degrees of separation from being a philanthropist!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Rebellion Book I: Book of Quay. I used to love Kung Fu theatre – especially Alexander Fu Sheng – when I was a kid. (laugh) I also am a history buff and found Qing Dynasty interesting.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I don’t ever get writer’s block though I can be a TERRIBLE procrastinator.
What are you working on now?
One of my horror stories: Cabello. It’s a supernatural horror piece. It’s great fun for me to switch it up every now and again.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still working on that. I’m very guitly of not marketing. (laugh) This is the first year I’ve actually started putting any time, effort or money into the marketing aspect of self-publishing. Trust me, my sales tell the tale. (laugh)
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what works for you.
What are you reading now?
This screen. (laugh) Cabello. I’m in the editing stages…in theory. (laugh)
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m probably going to start work on M. This is another one of my horror books and then I’m going to start editing on Rebellion Book II. That’s if the people waiting on the Amarna Book II don’t kill me first. (laugh)
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 actually bring my own! I’m not being just being cheeky or arrogant in saying that either…ok, so maybe just a little. (wink)
Seriously, I’m one of those people who tinkers and tinkers and tinkers with their work over and over again. Not only would I have something to read if I brought my own work, I could occupy my mind with perfecting my work.
If for some reason I couldn’t bring my own books I would bring weird fact books. Strangely enough, I personally read more nonfiction than fiction. One of my favorite books of all time is An Underground Education by Richard Zacks.
Author Websites and Profiles
Grea Alexander Website
Grea Alexander Amazon Profile
Grea Alexander Author Profile on Smashwords
Grea Alexander’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile