Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Willie Stewart. First and foremost I am the best husband in the world and have been married for 24 years to the best wife in the world. I have been a critical care Registered Nurse for the last 14 years. I own an indie record label and publishing company and have had music used in cable tv shows.I’ve co-written a comic book and written a movie script based on the comic. I have also wr9itten a tv pilot based on my first novel taRNished which will be released March 1, 2014.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my latest (and first) book is taRNished. I started out with a title of prolific killer but since I am a Registered Nurse for the last 14 years I wanted to play on the initials RN. I love the show HawthoRNe with Jada Pinkett-Smith and that is where the concept came from.
My inspiration comes from a couple of sources. First and foremost, my wife of 24 years, Shannon Stewart inspires me and motivates me to write. I remember when she went blind (before her vision came back) I wrote my first song called “He took away her sight so I could see.” I had long before fancied myself an able writer but was never motivated to try to take it to the next level. My daughter Briana is an excellent writer but had that same lack of motivation so I wanted to try to motivate her by pushing forward with my own projects. Lastly, my grandson William Stewart motivates me. I have two other grand kids but William lives with me and got one of the worst starts in life a kid could have and the lord blessed us to be in a position to be able to step in and make a difference. He started out developmentally delayed through neglect but you can’t see that now for the most part. I am determined to make sure he has a great life because he was my first grandchild and he is my namesake.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have never written a first draft. For taRNished, I took three months to develop the two lead characters. I gave them mental health diagnoses and kept a diary of dialogue between me and the characters. Just regular everyday stuff that helped me flesh them out so they felt real. By the time I finished I had some story arcs already developed. It was an intense process keeping all that inside and trying to genuinely develop an internal dialogue with them. By doing that I think I can connect with regular everyday people a lot easier in my writing. I tested the theory on co-workers and let them read some character sheets (kind of like Dungeons and Dragons on steroids). I had some male coworkers who don’t like to read who couldn’t put them down and it was the same way with the chapters. So, when I started the chapters I only wrote when the urge hit me and then I started and didn’t stop until finished because the dialogue felt like it was always there. I would take breaks away from working on the novel and work on the tv pilot or the comic book or the movie script…..always keeping my mind fresh with something that stimulated this process, but I always moved forward and never looked back. Doing it this way I had to trust my editor to make sure I didn’t slip up on story elements or arcs and keeping things in the right voice etc. For the most part, I nailed it. It’s not a traditional way to write and who knows….I could have a best selling novel and then write a book about my strange method of writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins hands down are the only authors who ever influenced me to write. I don’t know many author names (JK Rowling) and never felt the need to know until I got that Left Behind Series. I struggled with my Christianity and these books and then the movies came along and I was hooked. However, I think the movies led me to the books and not the other way around?
What are you working on now?
Promotion Promotion Promotion. I am serious about this book being a success. It is the gateway to the other projects and me being able to create full time. I find time to develop characters and when the urge hits, i start writing. So, you can look forward to a tv pilot based on my novel taRNished. My comic book and movie based on the comic book and also development of the storyline surrounding taRNished 2. However, I am flexible and if Oprah Winfrey called I would drop all that and come talk about my Nurse Serial Killer Dale, RN and start the talk show circuit. A man can dream right?
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have a best website. I do have dogged determination and I promote everywhere they will let me. I talk to people in line at the store and develop dialogue and common interest and then suggest my book. There isn’t just one place to promote. You have to engage them where they are at and that changes constantly. I CLAIM TO BE THE VERY FIRST PERSON IN HISTORY TO DO TWO THINGS. 1. I INTEGRATED MY LEAD CHARACTER DALE, RN INTO ALL OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC INTERACTS WITH THE KILLER
2. I CREATED THE FIRST EVER RAP VIDEO FOR A BOOK – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FbkvQGQ9bU
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You have to back determination up with maximum effort and be satisfied with no result. If you can make yourself stomach that then you will love what you do and your efforts won’t be in vain. If you are looking for the golden ticket then stop. You suck the life out of your works and people see right through that and won’t support it. If your passion is on display then you will find support. Also, you have to be more than just a writer to succeed. You have to be a blogger, a promoter, a fan of others, a sponge so you can soak the world in and a megaphone so you can spit it back out. Being heard about other things will eventually get your writing heard by people who are listening who might not otherwise be listening specifically for your writing. In other words…..get in the relationship building game.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Boy, don’t dig in your nose in public cuz that’s nasty baby.” Ever since I stopped doing that, I got married to the most beautiful woman in the world and I can hold down a job without people giving me the stink eye. BEST ADVICE EVER!
What are you reading now?
The computer screen and really small letters making my eyes strain as I type an answer to the question what are you reading now.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Fame, Success, talk show appearances, maybe a couple of cameos in movies or tv shows….the whole world is about to open up for me.
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?
1. I would take my bible. It provides comfort and answers. Although I will start looking for the answer now to the pressing question “Lord why did you strand me on the desert island with only 3-4 books?”
2. The Marvel Encyclopedia. Man, there is so much drama and back story to every character in there that I could be dreaming and creating stories in m7 head till the end of time.
3. The Victoria Secrets catalog. QUITE OBVIOUSLY IF I WAS EVER RESCUED I WOULD WANT TO BE PREPARED TO BUY MY WIFE SOMETHING NICE. Don’t judge me!
4. The Ripleys Believe it or Not book. However long I was stuck on that island I would find something that allowed me to be a part of that book so I would need to study it and use it as a reference.
Author Websites and Profiles
Willie Stewart Website
Willie Stewart Amazon Profile
Willie Stewart Author Profile on Smashwords
Willie Stewart’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account