Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
W.D. Kilpack III is an award-winning freelance writer published in two countries, with works appearing in print, online, radio and television, starting with his first publication credit at the age of nine, when he wrote an award-winning poem. As an adult, he received special recognition from L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest. He has been editor and/or publisher of nineteen news and literary publications, both online and in print, with circulations as high as 770,000. He is an accomplished cook and has two claims he thinks few can match: cooking nearly every type of food on a grill; and nearly being knocked flat when his grill exploded.
He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Westminster College of Salt Lake City. As an undergrad, he double-majored in communication and philosophy, while completing the Honors Program. As a graduate student, he earned a master of professional communication with a writing emphasis. He was also a high-performing athlete, qualifying for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling.
He is a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. He is happily married to his high-school sweetheart and is father to five children, as well as helping to raise five step-children. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he continues to live, coach and teach.
Crown Prince: Book One of New Blood is his first published novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Crown Prince: Book One of New Blood. I had a dream that stuck with me for weeks, just resurfacing over and over. I finally started working out a storyline around it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I read what I write to my wife at night. I call them her bedtime stories.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Homer is the father of the fantasy quest with the Iliad and the Odyssey. Tolkien, of course, took that example and developed it into more of the modern form. It remained fairly static for quite a while, but I think some more recent authors have changed the course of fantasy: David Eddings, Stephen R. Donaldson, Terry Brooks, Melanie Rawn, Tad Williams, Robert Jordan, and the modern-day Tolkien, George R.R. Martin.
What are you working on now?
A fantasy series with clansmen whose culture is embedded in Viking tradition.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http://www.Kilpack.net
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write. Every day, at least an hour. Get as many people to read your work as you can. Every piece of feedback, even if you disagree, has some value. Just write.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” ― Abraham Lincoln
What are you reading now?
Book 2 of the original Han Solo series.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing to promote Crown Prince in preparation for Book 2: Order of Light.
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 Hobbit by Tolkien, The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer.
Author Websites and Profiles
W.D. Kilpack III Website
W.D. Kilpack III Amazon Profile
W.D. Kilpack III’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile