Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have published 1 book of prose called Guide to the Underground and I’ve published 2 books of poetry that are part of a 9 book series. The other 7 books are finished and will be published shortly.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Weeping: Poems of Loss is my latest book. It was inspired by my own personal experiences of going through despair and depression. I lost my faith in God in 2007 and that had a ripple effect through my entire psyche that took 10 years to get over.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write while standing on my head. No not really. I just write poetry when I feel inspired to do so.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest poetic influence would be I Heard God Laughing by Hafiz. I think Daniel Ladinsky does a wonderful job of translating it. It is so comforting and happy. There are many other books that I can’t think of right now. Neitzsche had a huge influence on me. Harper Lee. Jack London. St. Augustine. Will Durant. Too many to list.
What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up my poetry series Darkness to Light and then I’m going to write a book about the Spirit of Adventure which will be about how as people grow older and get stagnant in their lives the lose their sense of adventure and that causes their relationships and their spirits to wither.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I list on a ton of free ebook websites, pay some sites to promote the book. I like ebookbooster.com and kdspy.com. I’m sure there are many more good ones out there.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just let your ego go. I didn’t publish for way too long because I was scared to put my thoughts and emotions out there for the world to see and criticize. It’s not nearly as scary as it seems once you do it. So don’t let your ego’s fear stop you from doing what you know your soul needs you to do.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have no clue. I’m sure I’ve heard lots of good advice but I’m of the option that no one else’s option is worth a damn. Most people’s advice comes out of fear and cowardliness. So I usually take the advice people give and do the exact opposite because then I know I’ll be doing something risky and adventurous and alive.
What are you reading now?
I like Carl Jung’s theories so I read a lot of books by Jungian analysts. My current book like that is The Kingdom Within by John Stanford. I’m reading Immortal Diamond by Richard Rohr. The Alchemist. Always reading Hafiz
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to write some prose books. Probably in the vein of self help/spirituality. I’m a pretty spiritual guy so I have a lot of ideas about that topic.
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 take all books that have a lot of depth to them so that I could keep reading the same books for a long time but not get sick of the because I’d always be discovering something new. Hafiz for sure. Probably some spiritual book like the Bible or the Bhagavad Gita. Thus Spake Zarathustra. Some book by Carl Jung, maybe Aion.
Author Websites and Profiles
J.Allen Eckert Amazon Profile