Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
About myself:
There’s a saying that “it’s always the quiet ones…” I’m that guy. From the outside, I look like the kind of person who would sit quietly behind a desk at your public library. So when people actually get to know me, they’re nearly always surprised at the bizarre situations I’ve managed to get myself into over the years. Some of that experience comes through in this book, although I am pleading the Fifth as to precisely what. But I am still very glad (and a little surprised) to still be alive.
How many books:
Ha! One! Go read it!
Actually, this is the second incarnation of a book I wrote six years earlier. I never published that book, as I wasn’t satisfied with the story’s depth or the characters’ voices. I loved the premise though, and one of the side characters stuck with me and stewed on the back-burners for those six years. By the time I was ready to take a second run at the book, everything clicked into place.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called “Death Ain’t But A Word: A Supernatural Hot Mess,” and it’s the story of a crackhead who sees ghosts.
My inspiration for the book was an actual crackhead I knew, although the protagonist in my book is much different in a number of key respects. But my experience with this individual and the stories he told me about his life as a homeless man served as the inspiration for the book.
There’s nothing funny or amusing about homelessness or addiction, of course. What struck me about the guy, though, was this: Even in the wretched circumstances he often found himself, he found ways to negotiate. He had no illusions about where his life was leading him, but even on the streets, he made connections with other people, looked out after other people, and had a clear sense of himself. He wasn’t a model citizen–far from it. But his own internal compass and his way of handling his circumstances was fascinating to me.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not a prolific writer. I’m a slow and fussy writer; it takes me forever to get the page the way I want it.
Ironically, the end result is a book that feels like a “fast read.” Several reviewers have said this about my book–that it’s a “fast read.”
It wasn’t a “fast write,” though. That “speed and ease” was a lot of work!
When I’m deep into a story, it tends to take over my entire life. Much of my “writing” occurred when I was behind the wheel, so I often had to pull over to the side of the road to jot things down.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Huckleberry Finn, hands down. Mark Twain proved for me once and for all that it was possible to tell a story that had depth, insight, and serious intent, and that it was possible to do so in a way that felt like “light” reading.
What are you working on now?
Stewing the spices and stirring the pot for the next book in my protagonist’s world. Still simmering, not yet cooking at full heat.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ll tell you when I’ve sold some books!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read. And don’t be polite about it.
Treat your local library like an all-you-can-eat buffet, elbow your way to the front of the line, and pig out. Stuff your face with all kinds of books. The other patrons will look at you funny, but it will make you a much better writer.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read. And don’t be polite about it.
What are you reading now?
I’m rereading A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. His ear for local voices was about the best I’ve ever encountered in the past century. Mark Twain (of course) wins for the century before that.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to see where my protagonist Wilkin Jones goes next. He grew a lot in the first book, but he still has plenty of challenges ahead of him. Can’t say more for fear of spoiling the first book.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Huck Finn. Natch.
Author Websites and Profiles
Zander Marks Website
Zander Marks Amazon Profile
Zander Marks’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile