Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Indie Author, and I have written two novels so far. So far, my novels are part of a triology called the Warden Series. My first book is called All In: The Globe Trot Shuffle. My second book is called Cash Me Out: Life and Death in Paradise. I’m pursuing the self publishing route.
I was born in southern California, but live on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. I am a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and I am also a veteran of the Invasion of Iraq in 2003. I used my GI Bill to get my Associates degree, and then my Bachelor’s degree.
Since then, I’ve gotten married, and we’ve had several children. I’ve worked overseas as a contractor to the Department of Defense in places such as Iraq, Oman, and Qatar. I’ve also held a bunch of other jobs before, and after the Marines or when I was a contractor.
Now I work during the day, and pursue my passion of writing novels at night. I do this as a labor of love. It’s my hobby, and something I love doing. I enjoy writing, and love telling stories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Cash Me Out: Life and Death in Paradise is my latest book. It is the 2nd book in a trilogy that I’m writing. I got the idea for the series, because it was something I’ve been thinking about for years. When I was in Iraq during the war in 2003, I heard about our military members finding gold or money in palaces. We all thought about how incredible that was. We talked about what we would do with the money, how we would get it home, and how we would spend it. Remember, we were 19? A lot of my fellow Marines including myself came from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and homes qualified for free or reduced lunch! The military was a way to escape our neighborhoods, and the idea of so much money just lying around was insane. Who wouldn’t have been tempted? We never did find anything in a palace, but if we had? I’m certain that we would have took some pictures of it, but then turned it in. This series is a look into that finding money concept, and living life afterwards.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I type fast. Home row, no looking down at the keyboard. I can type an incredible amount of words in an hour if I get on a hot streak. Writing 5,000 words a night isn’t a stretch for me. I usually write late at night when I should be sleeping. If I set a chapter or word count goal for the next day, but do it in the morning? I will write another chapter that night.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of Steven King, Tom Clancy, Kurt Vonnegut, and a few other authors. One book that always stuck out to me was Bernal Diaz Del Castillo’s personal account of the Spanish Conquest of New Spain. It’s fascinating. I know the reality of it for the Natives was horrible, but enjoy reading it anyways. It’s not the fact that they take over Central Mexico and Central America. It’s the fact that such few men faced such huge odds, and won. It’s an incredible story, and gives a great insight into what really happened during Cortez’s conquest of the Aztecs. Diaz told his story in such a way that still resonates today.
What are you working on now?
I’m at a crossroads. I just finished book two of my trilogy. I have several other projects lined up. I’m deciding in the next day or so to either write book three in the trilogy, write a novella or two about characters in the series, or to pursue another book not in the series. I feel like I should get an expanded body of work out there, and not just stand on a trilogy alone. My problem is I have so many ideas, but only so much time to write them out.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a hard time promoting. I’ve paid for some, and got no sales. I used free promotion ones, and got a few sales. I used other pay sites, and got some sales. I used other free promotion ones, and got no sales. I think it’s not the time to promote right now. I have two novels with no reviews or ratings. I’m an new Indie Author that people may not want to take a chance on. I have seen with my 2nd book being self published that I have generated sales in both books. Twitter is a hit or miss, and so are facebook groups. I don’t know if there’s a magic formula or special website I should use. I’ll let you know when I find it. Until I get a few more novels out, I’m going to promote on goodreads, twitter, wordpress, facebook, and a couple of free promotion newsletter sites for now. It’s more important for me to get books published than to pay to promote, but go weeks to months with no progress on other books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. When you think you’re done, write some more. Promote if you can, and try not to go broke while doing it. Just continue to write, and get a few works out there. If you’re only going to do a book or two, then you can promote after you’re done. Unless you are an author being paid an advance by a traditional publishing house, write. Get some novellas out. Write a series. People will buy one book in the series, and buy the rest to see how the story plays out.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The same as I said above. Focus on the writing. Your work will be out there, and you can always advertise later. It’s more important to get the ideas out of your head, and onto some paper.
What are you reading now?
I just self published a few days ago, so I’m reading my novel on my app. It’s a nice feeling to read what you wrote on a device! Seeing it in your hands, and knowing that you accomplished something…
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep my day job, and pursue my hobby. I want to put out so many novels that I can fill a shelf in my living room cabinet. It’s a big, long, empty shelf.
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?
The Stand, All In: The Globe Trot Shuffle, Cash Me Out: Life and Death in Paradise, and The True History of the Conquest of New Spain
Author Websites and Profiles
Paul Parker III Website
Paul Parker III Amazon Profile
Paul Parker III’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account