Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A former firefighter, I sometimes feel as if I jumped from the fire into the frying pan when I took up writing as a means to fulfill my passion to create characters and worlds that I longed to inhabit or longed to avoid. I also play bass guitar, though not as frequently—something’s gotta give when you write.
I am a recipient of a State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship, my work has appeared in, among others, New Plains Review, The MacGuffin Magazine, The Chaffey Review, and the anthology Everything Is Broken. My first novel, Die Laughing, is a humorously dark sci-fi adventure set in the 1950s.
Besides numerous short stories and a few poems, I’ve completed four novels and am currently working my way through a fifth one. I tend to gravitate mostly to sci-fi/fantasy/horror, but not always. My forthcoming release is a contemporary women’s lit novel.
I have two grown children. I live in Miami Lakes, FL, with my wife and our terrier, KC. Contact me at my www.louisklowy.com , or on Facebook/Louis K Lowy or on twitter:@LouisKLowy I love to hear from fans.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first — and latest released book by IFWG Publishing — is a humorously dark sc-fi adventure set in the 1950s of flying saucers, communist paranoia and live television. It’s the story of Las Vegas comedian, Sam E. Lakeside, who is abducted by shape-shifting aliens and their leader, a power-hungry mobster and forced to participate in a plan to rob the earth of it’s oil. Sam recruits a black-listed comic book writer and the mobster’s ex-girlfriend to fight back. This leads them to New York City and the Steve Allen Show, where Sam is forced to choose what he wants most in the world — to be a star — or the planet’s survival.
My forthcoming novel, Pedal is set for release in spring, 2015 by Assent Publishing. It is the story of Joanne Brick a single, 49-year-old elementary school music teacher who is fired and struggles to reclaim her life back through bicycle racing.
I wanted to create a realistic, contemporary story with an everyday, middle-age heroine, and where the stakes take on a greater significance beyond itself. I also thought the theme of change and how ordinary people deal with it was an important issue worth writing about, particularly in these times of economic uncertainty.
Though I’ve never raced competitively, I own and have ridden bicycles nearly my entire life, most frequently in college, where it allowed me to spend time with my thoughts. The opportunity to contemplate that biking affords, along with the physicality of the sport, attracted me to use it in my story.
I hope Pedal will inspire women and men of all ages to overcome life’s turning points.
I also have a sci-fi book titled Anatomy Of A Humachine: Book 1 – To Dream set for release by IFWG Publising in March, 2016.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write a minimum of three hours per day Monday-Friday. I keep strict, written notes on it. For instance if I start at 11am, I’ll note the date and time in my notebook. If I get up to grab a cup of tea, I’ll mark the time it took to make the tea. Whatever that time is, say 5 minutes, I’ll mark a +5 to my 11am start time, which means I now have to write to at least 2:05p to make up my three hours. So, yea, I’m anal about not cheating on my three hour minimal time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Growing my I was a huge, hugh comic book fan – so I’d have to say Stan Lee from my childhood days. In highschool and college I loved (and still do) Stephen King, Charles Dickens, and Sinclair Lewis. Later on, I loved James Joyce, Cormac McCarthy, Ray Bradbury, Ernest Hemingway, Jane Austen and so, so many others.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a turn of the 19th century horror story. A good portion of it takes place in Florida, which is fun.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website is www.louisklowy. com – I’m also on Facebook/Louis K Lowy – and twitter @LouisKLowy. I also have a Pinterest sight – Louis K Lowy. Though I enjoy all the sites, I would have to say that grand central station is my website, especially now that I just started up a newsletter. I’m going to be having lots of giveaways and exclusives. You can sign up on the website.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Patience and tenacity — and discipline. Get your butt in the chair and write.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A writer writes. (Simple, but it says everything.)
What are you reading now?
William Gibson’s Neuromancer.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish the first draft of my fifth novel – first drafts for me are like hiking up a muddy mountain in army boots. The greatest writing joy for me is the polishing and re-writing.
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?
Dubliners – James Joyce. Salem’s Lot – Stephen King. The Art of the Short Story – Dana Gioia/R.S. Gwynn (this is a compilation of amazing short stories). The Road – Cormac McCarthy. (Of course I’m leaving out many, many, more marvelous books I’d like to take.)
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