Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tom Gondolfi, father of three, gamer and loving husband, claims to be a Renaissance man and certified flirt. Educated as an electrical engineer and working in high tech for over twenty years Tom has also worked as a cook, most phases of construction, and even as the personal caregiver to a quadriplegic. Tom enjoys games and most weekends can be found playing some role playing variation, board game and/or Texas hold-em.
I have four books in print as I write this, but I’m putting out at least one new novel each year.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I just got to press The Bleeding Edge – CorpGov Chronicles Book 3. The CorpGov Chronicles is a cyberpunk series where I wanted to tell the tale of how a small group could bring down a large group and how the dominos of that affect the power structure of humanity.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Is there such a thing as a usual writing habit? Every writer does it his/her own way. In fact I’ve never heard of two authors doing it the same way.
I’m somewhat different in that write a very good quality first draft. Most people will do 3 drafts before getting what they need. My first draft is often quite good. My second draft is enough to be “done” Then it is out to my pre-readers, a polish, and then the editor’s desk.
Another odd thing is that my characters tell me when I’m messing up. No, I don’t mean that in a “I hear voices” way. I mean once I have the characters alive and living their lives in the novel I’m writing, if I try to write one of them doing something she / he wouldn’t, it sounds a fake as a goat spouting Greek.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Heinlein, Turtledove, Anthony, McCaffrey, Bruce Graw, and every other author I’ve read. I believe Heinlein has had the biggest impact on my style and voice.
What are you working on now?
The sequel to Toy Wars, with the working title Toy Reservations. I love taking situations which are nominally wrapped up and seeing where they would go next. Just because one conflict is over, doesn’t mean another one can’t fill its place.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Face to face is by far my best marketing tool. As my wife says, I’m something of a flirt. No, not sexually, I want a date sort of way. I just like to make a connection with people and understand more of who they are.
To market books to people, you have to sell a bit of yourself. People want to know you before they delve into what you’ve created.
I’m a dynamic speaker and do seminars and panels whenever possible. I’m even working on a college level class “Intro to Indie Publishing” that I’m hoping to teach at my local community college in the near future.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Get independent critiques. Publish. Do it all again.
I know that sounds terse but I get this question from people all the time. No one listens.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be afraid to market your work. Telling people about what you’ve written isn’t scary. You must be enthusiastic about it or no one else will be.
What are you reading now?
As I do a regular review on scifimonkeys.com, I read quite a bit of independent fiction and usually have more than one book going at any one time: Huw the Bard, The Never Hero and more.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Having already reached a point where I’m profitable, there are three nexts for me. 1) signing additional GOOD, PROLIFIC writers to my press. I actually signed one last weekend and will be signing another within 2 more weeks. 2) to make my profitable writing / business pay the bills, 3) quite my day job and write 3-5 books a year instead of one. I have four additional series (beyond the two that I already have) that are just BEGGING for me to write them. Instead I have to keep my current fans happy (and myself, too) by keeping my current series alive and fresh.
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?
Dune, Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Dragonriders of Pern, Dragon’s Egg
Author Websites and Profiles
Thomas Gondolfi Website
Thomas Gondolfi Amazon Profile
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