Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m actually a first-time writer. So far, I’ve managed to publish the first book in my series called The Immortal Grave. When I was a kid, my parents would often say that I have a huge imagination. At times, I would go out into the back yard and have a whole adventure by myself, or invent these little games that me and my siblings would play when we got bored. I suppose at some point, it should have been obvious that I was meant to write, but I spent most of my early adult life doing a little of every kind of job. I don’t regret any of it, but I was always lacking that thrill of doing what I love.
Eventually, I found myself in a position where I couldn’t work at all. Out of boredom, I started writing a few short stories, as well as SEO articles for some travel website. When that fell through, I started writing my first novel. At first, I had other ideas for books, but they remained unfinished; but I hope to finish them soon as well. One of my books was entered into the Next Best Fiction Author Contest, and that really gave me the drive to finish this book. Although I didn’t win, I did make it to the top ten finalists. That’s when I decided to try the self-publishing route.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Merlin’s Heir” was the start of a new concept to me. I first got the idea while working at Wafflehouse one day. I remembered seeing a commercial about a famous director who was taking a stroll around town, and as he passed by inanimate objects, they came to life and resembled the concepts of movies he had directed. I asked myself what I would be seeing if I was in that situation right now, and I began to imagine things like an angel and a demon sitting across from each other in a booth and having coffee together, or a customer with red irises. The kind of stuff you would see in a Keanu Reeves movie. I quickly grabbed a napkin and wrote the idea down, stuffed it in my pocket, then went back to work.
When creating the world in “Merlin’s Heir”, I had to think very hard about the specific setting that my character would have to go. Religion tells us that if a person is righteous in his life, he will go to a paradise and be eternally happy. It was then I thought to myself ‘how so?’ In what ways will I be happy in this paradise? Is it the same for everyone, or specific to each person? What will I be doing for the rest of eternity?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Strangely enough, I prefer to listen to serene music when I write. It helps to block out the rest of the world and allow me to focus on the world inside my head. Also, I like to imagine my story as a movie inside my head, playing as I write. A lot of people can watch a movie and predict what will be happening next, I do the same with my movie; just let the movie play and write what I see.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
It may seem kinda corny, but Harry Potter was a pretty big influence for me, and made me consider trying to write magical fantasy. Anne Rice was also a huge help in how to make a story emotional and compelling, and finding beauty in death.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m working on the sequels for the Immortal Grave series. The next book will be “The King of Bones” and will pick up the story exactly where “Merlin’s Heir” left off. Overall, I have a total of three books planned for the series with the possibility of a fourth, depending on how the story progresses.
I also have plans to write my first epic novel about tattoos that grow and expand as a man’s life experiences progress, acting as a sort of ‘map’ to his destiny. I know it’s a high bar to shoot for, but I’m shooting for this one to be up there with Tolkein’s “Lord of the Rings”. One can only try, right?
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I don’t think there is any marketing system better than word-of-mouth. All you really need to do is make sure as many of your friends and family, or even complete strangers, know about your book. If they really like it, you can be sure that they’re going to tell others about it. Soon, you find that you have this ripple effect that spreads to hundreds, and then thousands of fans. The same thing happened to many of the great writers we see today.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
One of the biggest that prevents new writers from getting their work out there is fear. They often hesitate because they feel their writing isn’t up to par with the authors of books that they love. What they need to understand is they are not that writer. You’re writing with your voice, not theirs, and this should represent you. If you truly enjoy the story you’ve written, others will too, and you should be proud of that.
Also, when you first start writing, don’t worry about how it sounds at first, just get it on paper. No one ever gets a story right the first time, that’s why they’re called first drafts. It’s in the revisions that you find those little gems, and sand away the rough edges. Get your story written first, then worry about how it sounds.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My first novel idea involved a vampire coping with his transformation. I told my neighbor all about it, and he just stopped me before I finished. He told me about how vampire stories were a dime a dozen, and it’s starting to get old. He gave me this whole speech about it, but in a nutshell, he told me:
“Don’t follow a trend, start one.”
What are you reading now?
Currently, I’m exploring The Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I definitely want to create stories that people will remember forever. The kind that superfans create websites and tabletop games about. Eventually, I’d like to see some of my stories on the silver screen as well.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Oh I have way too many to name to call any one of them my favorite.
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