Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
When I was young, I knew I either wanted to be an astronaut, an action movie star or a writer. It turns out writing is the most realistic of the three, which probably isn’t saying much. At 29, I’m still trying to find my way into the world. But whenever I find myself writing a new story, I’m in my happy place.
I’ve written somewhere around a hundred short stories, many of which can be found in my three collections on Amazon. I also have fifteen novels under my belt and a thriller novella, which can also be found on Amazon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
ONE STEP FROM EXTINCTION is a collection of the best stories I’ve written over the past three years. Sort of. There are other stories which I think are equally good but did not fit the overall feel I wanted for the book.
My stories are inspired mostly by the random journeys I take in my mind. Anything can trigger them. A sentence in a book, a line in a song, an image. I get to thinking “what if?” and, if I’m lucky, a story lands in my brain almost fully formed. I’m always surprised by it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t let anyone else even look at my writing until it’s completed. If someone is hanging out in the room behind me and I think they might be peeking, I simply can’t write. But this only applies to people I know. If I’m writing at a coffee shop or something, I don’t care.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As far as authors go, I can give you short a list: Clive Barker, Harlan Ellison, James Tiptree Jr. (AKA Alice Sheldon; she had an interesting life)
As for books: Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. I’m influenced by everything I read, but those two books are incredible. I haven’t read the other two in the series yet.
What are you working on now?
There are always new stories percolating in my head. But I have a novel I should probably be editing right now. It takes place in a wacky post-apocalyptic mega city and that’s all I’ll say about that for the time being.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like to use Reddit for a bit of promotion. I’m new to this whole thing, so I don’t have a great answer. The idea is to get the work to as many eyeballs as possible, which often involves running free book promotions.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Don’t bow to what you think the market wants or what readers are clamoring for. They might think they want the next cookie cutter hit from the same old authors, but what they really want, subconsciously, is the next big thing. That can be anything at all. No one can predict it. So, keep writing and stay genuine to yourself. If you enjoy what you’re writing, if you have fun, that will come across. If you try and sell out, you will no longer enjoy the process and whatever success you might find will feel empty and dull.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Basically what I’ve said above. Keep writing. Don’t give up. Failure only comes when you quit. You can make an argument that creativity and talent are the most important things for a writer to have, but I’m pretty sure stubbornness is more important.
What are you reading now?
Some more short stories by Harlan Ellison. Some of his stories are brilliant and breathtaking. Others are strangely weak and dull. That’s probably just a result of how prolific he was.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Ideally, a new chapter in which people actually read my stuff. I’ll never lose the love of writing, but it can be dispiriting to always work alone in the dark.
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?
Easy. The first two Hyperion books, and the two mammoth volumes of autobiography by Isaac Asimov.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jon Sauve Amazon Profile
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