Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi Everyone,
Recently, I retired and my friends convinced me to start writing down my short stories. “The Last Master of Go and Other Strange Tales” is my first book of short stories for your reading entertainment. I must admit, I love playing with words and also have some paperback word search book series, so please do not freak out when you visit my web page. Thank you very much, and hope to see you soon, JB Wocoski
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I started writing Flash Fiction last year and I enter the Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. I had never entered a writing contest before. In January 2016 I entered the Little Tokyo Short Story Competition and to my surprise won it in April 2016. The short Story, “Last Master of Go” became the cornerstone for my first book of short stories, while the “Other Strange Stories” are the final edited versions of my weekly Flash Fiction tales and other stories I came up with in the last year.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a very visual and audio person so I use writing prompts mostly images or pictures to trigger my short story ideas. Sometimes while listening to various podcasts, I start thinking to myself and tell myself a story. which I work it around in my head for a while and then eventually write down or come back to it later when I least expect it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read for entertainment and I am a big fan of classic sci-fi and fantasy stories and tv. I grew up watching the series: “The Twilight Zone” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” as a result in my short stories you will find slightly twisted and often unexpected endings.
What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on my next short story book, expanding the stories into their final format and slowly building it. As I write my stories, I like to assemble them in book format as soon as I finish it, It gives me a good feeling to know when a story is done, has a home, and is ready for editing.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think having an author’s page on Amazon and linking your web page to it is very important. Being a newly published author it is difficult to say, about other promotional sites because they are not really new author friendly. Hopefully, Awesomegang.com along with indiesunlimited.com for a starter will give my books a boost.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Patience mostly and common sense when you write, publish and market your book. Come up with a simple inexpensive way to market your books. Learn to turn a phrase in all you write and please don’t take yourself to seriously that way you will enjoy writing. Just a reminder Amazon offers over 12,000,000 books in all to choose from, so find something in your writing that makes your books special to be read.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Heinlein’s Rules find them on line and stop taking yourself so seriously.
What are you reading now?
Harry Potter book 6 and Vonnegut’s Sirens of Titan and you may not believe this but I actually took some time yesterday to read my own book non-critically. I believe you need to read your final edited published book at least once for enjoyment and put yourself in your audience’s shoes in order to become a better writer. Ask yourself did I enjoy reading it? Remember, your part of your own audience and you need to enjoy reading your stories if others are to enjoy what you write.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue to write for my audience and enjoy a little bit of life while doing it.
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?
a good survival manual
The Lord of the Rings Anthology
A Pocket Bible
Author Websites and Profiles
JB Wocoski Website
JB Wocoski Amazon Profile
JB Wocoski’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile