Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As of 2016 I am a new author with one fantasy book complete – The Witch’s Catalyst. It is the first book of two in the Risen Lands series.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m currently working on two fiction books, one is a companion novella for the Risen Lands series, and the other is the sequel to The Witch’s Catalyst. I’m about 80,000 words, or two-thirds complete with the first draft of the sequel which has a tentative title of ‘Wizard’s Resolve.’
I took a break from this to write the companion novella ‘Destiny’s Gem’ which details the upbringing of the main antagonist in The Witch’s Catalyst. I hope to have Destiny’s Gem available in July of 2016, and Wizard’s Resolve available in January 2017.
Destiny’s Gem was inspired by my wife, one day when I came home from work she had 1000 words or so written of a backstory for the main bad guy (girl, actually) and it was intriguing. It sat on a backburner for a while, and when I returned from a break from writing decided to pick this one up and finish it first. The best part is the ebook will be available for free when it is complete!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if I would call my writing habits unusual. I work fulltime during the day so like many others have to make time and squeeze it in when I can. I shoot for about 1,000 words per day but don’t always hit that mark, sometimes it’s more, sometimes less. I wake up at 4:30 am and try to write for an hour or so before work, then during the day I squeeze a few short sessions in on break times.
On the weekend I mix it up with two tactics depending on how I feel; either I’ll sit and write as long as I can concentrate for, or I’ll write for 15 minutes at the top of each hour, for as many hours as I can push myself.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I didn’t enjoy reading until I was twelve and read The Hobbit, not even realizing fantasy was a genre and there were thousands of books I could have enjoyed. In high school I read Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea series and liked that as well. After high school I found Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and then Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series. Eventually I was lead towards RA Salvatore as well and read each of his books a few times.
There’s something about Salvatore’s pacing I like, and I think that might reflect in how I write.
What are you working on now?
As mentioned above I’m currently working on the concluding sequel to The Risen Lands, as well as a companion novella for it, Destiny’s Gem. I have a few other ideas for companion novella’s to accompany The Witch’s Catalyst and Wizard’s Resolve. The companion books will all be able to be read as stand alone stories, but provide extra insights into the main two.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I think I’ve had the best luck with Twitter, next to actually going out and meeting people with copies of the paperbacks. Twitter simply allows you to meet a very large number of people quickly.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would say get a website up and running, and social media going as soon as possible. Try to have an established foothold as it will make life a little easier when you’re ready to market yourself. You don’t need to have a book complete to start in on this, that was a mistake I made.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t forget your toothbrush, and change your socks twice a day.
What are you reading now?
Currently I’m re-reading the last book of the Wheel of Time series finished up by Brandon Sanderson. I’d love to read his Mistborn series once I get my hands on a copy. Prior to that I read The Shining.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to get those next two books released and have been working hard each day towards that end. Offering Destiny’s Gem as a free book will hopefully appeal to readers and generate interest for the series. The next two years should be exciting! Beyond that I have another three or so stories in mind for the Risen Land series, and an entirely different series within the next 5 years.
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 bring James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, Terry Goodkind’s Faith of the Fallen, something by RA Salvatore (I’d probably just have to grab something randomly, unable to decide), and my beginning astronomy book whose name is escaping me at the moment. Maybe then I’d be able to build a boat and navigate home by starlight. 🙂
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