Wallace Pustinjak

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Wyoming, I have lived here my whole life, and I would be content to do so until I die. Personal interests of mine include running (very slowly) when I don’t feel too lazy, baking all sorts of tasty treats, spending time in nature, and sampling all of the dark chocolate I can get my hands on. Reading, of course, has been my main hobby since a young age. Writing, on the other hand, is a passion that I have only discovered fairly recently. To date, I have written and published one book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest (and first) published book is titled Riddles From a Recluse. It is a collection of fifty original riddles written in a poetic style. These are riddles meant to be enjoyed not only as a challenge, but as beautifal creations worthy of one’s time whether or not they are actually solved right away. The riddles are more closely related to those of antiquity than they are to the simplistic “what gets wetter the more it dries” or knock-knock joke style riddles of today. As a sample, here is one of my personal favorites:

Inadequate reflections of each facet of the mind.

The essence of profundity once skillfully combined.

Great stairs within a tower granting never ending sight.

Or petals on a flower with no purpose save delight.

These jagged stones thrown wantonly in ignorance and hate,

Are only given substance through the change they may create.

The original inspiration for writing a book of riddles most likely came from reading The Hobbit as a child. I was fascinated by the erudite exchange between Bilbo and Gollum, and I have been captivated by riddles ever since. A few years ago, while discussing the book with some friends I boasted that if given time I could probably write similar riddles. They scoffed, but to prove them wrong I went home that night and wrote my first riddle. Since then, I have poured my soul into perfecting Riddles From a Recluse. Writing and re-writing each riddle, laboring for hours over a single word choice, learning how to properly format a book, and creating the cover where all part of the labor of love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As anyone who reads Riddles From a Recluse will be able to tell, a large part of my inspiration comes from nature, so I try to write outdoors whenever possible. Usually this entails heading out for a run, and refusing to go back home until I at least have a good idea for a new riddle. Since the weather in Wyoming is not exactly balmy year round, this has led to some interesting adventures. Suffice it to say that if any of the riddles in the book do not seem up to snuff with the rest, it can most likely be attributed to impaired mental capabilities resulting from the negative thirty degree weather.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
One of my favorite authors is J.R.R. Tolkien. The sheer amount of original thought needed to craft his world is astounding. Down to the smallest detail, the setting and characters of The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings are realized with the thoroughness of a historian paired with the creativity of a true artist. If I had even one hundreth of his ability as a writer, then I would consider myself a success. Another author, Hugh Howey, has given me inspiration in a different way. While I massively enjoyed his Silo Saga, what I find most impressive is his story of success. As a self-published author, his book Wool achieved massive success that earned him a place of high regard in the writing community. Afterwards, rather than abandon his self-published roots, he has become a figure-head in the movement for non-traditional publishing. I am proud to say that I agree whole heartedly with his policy that writing should be about the stories and the readers, not about the profits.

What are you working on now?
I am currently dedicating all my efforts to speeding the word about Riddles From a Recluse. It is a difficult process, and one that I am struggling with for the first time. That is why I need all the word of mouth support I can get from dedicated readers, wherever they may be.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, the site Good Reads has been invaluable. The site makes it easy for writers to connect with a community of thousands of readers. I have even found several new books myself to enjoy!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is to write about a topic that you truly find interesting. All too often I hear of fellow writers who are writing a book intended only to cash in on the latest craze (zombies, vampires, dystopia, young adult…). If nothing original is written, then nothing new will ever make its way to bookshelves. Society will become mired in the same overused scenarios, and readers will stop reading out of sheer boredom. So, my advice is to write the best book you can, without worrying about whether or not it will appeal to the largest current subset of the population.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard is that failure is a part of life, as hard as it can be to face. As humans, we constantly strive for perfection even though we know it is unattainable. There is nothing wrong with seeking self improvement, unless we become too harsh on ourselves. Failure is unavoidable, so the best course of action is to learn from it rather than spend too much time indulging in self pity.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Pure, by Andrew Miller. It is the story of Jean-Baptiste Baratte, an engineer tasked with removing an ancient cemetery and church from Paris in 1785. So far, I have enjoyed it greatly.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer, I usually have at least a few concepts swirling through my head at any one time. Though I would love to write another book of riddles, I am a bit burned out at the moment. Instead, I may try my hand at a science-fiction or fantasy novel.

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?
My choices would be The Lord of the Rings, A Canticle for Liebowitz, Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

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