Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name Is Jesse and like most writers (I suspect anyway), I am a bit of a nerd. Comics, monsters of all shapes, movies, and video games are all in my wheelhouse. Oh, and writing too, I suppose.
I live in South Dakota and have most of my life, but I’ve been all over the USA.
I have a Dog and a Cat. They get along most days.
How many books I’ve written? The answer that as of this interview is Twenty Four.
Ten are published with four scheduled to come out in the future, the rest still need to be edited.
The Delta Squad is a literal Epic series coming in at thirteen books so far, and easily over a million words when its said and done. Two books are published in this series with two more on the way.
The Kingdom Chronicles has four books in its series so far, all published.
Opticon and Nuclear Knights are published too, not a series but both involve giant monsters.
On the Savage Trail and Back on the Savage Trail are shorter books that are published as well. An experiment in the horror genre.
All of these books will likely have a sequel in the future, too.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Delta Squad: Flesh and Iron. This is the first mission where the Delta Squad uses their armor that is featured in the rest of the series.
I was inspired by the Zombie craze that everyone was on and tried my own spin on the idea.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I need music when I write. Usually stuff like Journey, The Eagles, Metallica. I owe a lot to music when it comes to writing.
I don’t know how unusual it is, but I can only seem to write stuff I’m fine with at night. Daytime just doesn’t work for me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first book I ever read that meant anything to me was The Lord of the Rings. My sixth grade teacher made us do a book journal, read a book then write about it. She chose the books. That was the one she picked for me. When I saw how big it was I was mad, but when I started reading it, I was hooked until the end. I think she was psychic and knew I’d like it.
H,P. Lovecraft. Cosmic horror, alien gods, things unknowable in the dark places of the earth, who could say no?
Stan Lee. Make mine Marvel.
Matthew Dennion. This guy inspired me to write my very own Kaiju book and get published for real, for the first time in my life. Credit where credit is due.
Stephen King. Okay, so it’s a bit blasphemous here but I like the movies more than the books, usually. The Dark Tower series is great.
Dean Koontz: Check out Odd Thomas, I liked it.
Marc Cerasini: He wrote some Godzilla novels that I still pick up and read to this day. (I’m a fan of Godzilla, can’t help it)
R.L. Stine: What writer my age hadn’t heard of Goosebumps and thought, I could do this too, how hard could it be?
I’m sure there are more.
What are you working on now?
I just finished editing the Delta Squad prequel. Next on the list is the fifth book in the Kingdom Chronicles series when I write for NaNoWriMo in November.
I try to write something new between Delta books so I don’t burn myself out on editing constantly.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Marketing is the side they never tell you about. Most writers think that writing the book is hard, and it is. However, no one ever talks about getting the word out. The search for good promotion sites is like a bird’s search for food. It never ends.
The best method I’ve found is to constantly try and see what worked for other people and check it out. Try everything, but never go in blind. Always check out other experiences, then go for it.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Advice. What can you say that hasn’t already been said? I guess the best advice would be to ditch the notebook idea. Writers keep notebooks to save ideas, but the best ideas will stick with you for months, usually.
If you keep everything written down you might get overwhelmed with all the projects you want to do and get nothing done at all.
The good ideas stick with you, don’t be worried about the ones you forget. If you forgot them, your reader likely will, too.
Also, get your work done before you get to work.
If you have dishes to do, get them done before writing. Anything minor you’ve been putting off, do it first. With all the busy work out of the way with a clear mind, writing is much easier, at least it is for me plus the mindless work gets your mind opened up.
The last piece of advice is bide you time. Writing requires sacrifice. Sure you got the book done but how much did you give up to do it.
I know new writers have the fire. They sometimes think “Everything else can wait, it’s going to be easy street when I’m done,” and they put everything off. People and things sometimes for the goal.
Take your time, write when you’re free. Never sacrifice things that can’t be redone for a work of fiction. You’ll never get your time back. Write when you can, live when you should.
I guess that’s what I wish someone would have told me the most. A writer’s delusion is a powerful thing, we think we’re always one book away from greatness, and you might be, but just remember to live, too.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard was just to never give up. It seems simple, I know, but that is what separates a dabbler from a professional.
Power through until you get to the end. The beginning can start like fire but that middle will slog you down every time. Just don’t quit.
Easy, right?
What are you reading now?
Right this second, an interview form.
In my free time, I picked up the full series of Conan the Barbarian. Robert E. Howard is another author who inspired me, too. Check him out.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to work on getting the entire Delta Squad series finished. Then work on sequels to books that clearly need them. It’s all about finding the time and energy to do it all.
I’ll work on some new stuff kicking around in my head, too I’m sure.
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?
Book one. A survival guide. I’d want to know what to do in any situation.
Book Two: Necronomicon. Surely there’d be a way to use it to get home. Besides, who wants to be sane on a desert island all alone anyway?
Book Three: Lord of the Rings.
Book Four: An empty notebook with lots of pages and several pens. Hopefully I’ll still be able to write something. Maybe someone will find it and know my story.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jesse Wilson Website