Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a software engineer and author. I have written two full length urban fantasy novels, a small short story collection, a children’s sci-fi/fantasy novel, and a non-fiction book about working in software development.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book was actually The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Coding, and it was a short guidebook to help people understand what it takes and what to expect starting a career in software development. I got inspired by the number of people in my field starting into their career with either no college or a coding bootcamp in their background. I wanted to give some insights on how to do that and what strategies work and help people to start that career path.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
They are constantly evolving. I started on an old laptop with Over a God’s Dead Body, then used an iPad for Another Dead Intern, Little Drummer Boy and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to Coding. On the iPad, I’ve ended up even using different programs too. I’ve just started work on the draft for Dead Ringer, a sequel to Over a God’s Dead Body, and that looks like I’ll make habit changes too.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always loved the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. In more recent years, I’ve enjoyed books by Christopher Moore and I’ve been really loving Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim series.
What are you working on now?
I just started working on the draft for Dead Ringer, it will be the follow up novel to Over a God’s Dead Body. I have the broad arcs for the story planned and some of the sub-arcs, most of the outline fleshed out. Now, I’m onto the fun part of getting it all pushed out of my brain and onto pages. The first novel took me about 18 months, then Another Dead Intern was about a 9-12 month process. I’m hoping for Dead Ringer to be a 6 month project and have a workable draft ready to get to editing by late fall or early winter.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still trying to figure that out, there’s all kinds of catches and psych things to consider with any advertising strategy. I have a current belief that it just gets easier and more organic as you get more content out.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going. Get that first book done, get an editor, and start heading to the next one. As with any trade, you just have to keep practicing and trying.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep it simple, stupid. Kind of self-explanatory
What are you reading now?
I just wrapped up Aloha From Hell, was going to pick up The Haunting of Hill House, maybe also Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel Jose Older.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing, I’ve got people eager to read the characters I’ve created in both Over a God’s Dead Body and Another Dead Intern, both are going to be the start of their own series. I’ve already got enough broad arcs figured out for them to keep me busy for at least a decade.
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?
Mort by Terry Pratchett, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Noir by Christopher Moore, still thinking over that fourth, I’d like to leave it open.
Author Websites and Profiles
Joel Spriggs Website
Joel Spriggs Amazon Profile
Joel Spriggs’s Social Media Links
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