Author Interview
What inspired you to write this
book?
I had
all of these characters stored up in my mind for years, and one day I just said
to myself, “I better write all of this down, so that I don’t forget any of it.”
Once I started I just had to prove to myself that I could finish.
Can you give us an interesting
fact about your book that isn't in the blurb?
There
is a lot of hidden symbolism in the story. I think The Shadows will be great for the readers who enjoy analyzing a
plot on multiple levels.
How did you choose your title?
The
title was something I struggled with during the entire writing process. I did
not come up with The Shadows until
after I finished the first draft. It was something that just came to me one day
and seemed to fit perfectly with the story.
Tell us about the cover and how
it came to be.
The
cover was something I envisioned when I neared the end of the writing process.
I knew that I wanted the protagonist of the story, Jay Alaker, to be looking
out into darkness. An amplified version of the cover is something I will
eventually be releasing. I am pleased with the cover currently, but I’ve
recently started working with an artist, Kyle Mjoen, whose style fits The Shadows perfectly.
Did you self-publish or publish
traditionally and why?
I
published the book through an online company called Outskirts Press. Outskirts
Press provided me with a way to utilize the resources I would need, but allowed
me to keep the rights to my work at the same time. I was very pleased with my
publishing experience through Outskirts.
What do you consider the most
important part of a good story?
There
has to be suspense. People like not knowing what’s going to happen next, and I’m no exception to this. I can’t
stand a predictable storyline. As I was writing this book, creating a plot that
keeps the reader guessing was one of my primary goals.
What is your writing process?
I
always outline something before I actually write it. This way I know the
characters and the setting before I write it into the story. I’ve found that
this helps me significantly with the quality of my work.
How long have you been writing?
The Shadows is my first book. I started
writing it in 2010 and finished it in 2013.
How did you get started writing?
Like
I mentioned before, I just made the decision one day to write a book.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a
plotter through and through. Everything in The
Shadows was written methodically.
What part of the writing process
is the hardest for you?
Definitely
Starting. Once I’ve actually started writing it’s easier for me to just keep
going, but I’ve gone months without writing because I struggle with beginning
every time.
What tips can you give on how to
get through writers block?
When
it comes to writers block, just keep writing, even if you think your work is
awful. It’s probably not as bad as you think it is, and if it is, you can
always go back and change it later.
What kind of music do you like to
listen to while you write?
I
listen to a lot of 70’s and 80’s music.
Who is your favorite author?
Either
C.S. Lewis or Philip K. Dick
Who is your favorite character
from a book?
Jay
Gatsby from The Great Gatsby
What is your favorite book?
Watchers by Dean Koontz or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
Read anything good lately?
Unfortunately
I have been so wrapped up in my own work lately that I have not had the
pleasure of reading much else.
What do you like to do when
you're not writing?
I
work fulltime at a bank, so that takes up a huge chunk of my time. If I’m not
using my free time for writing, I’m working out, drinking coffee, spending time
with friends, driving around aimlessly, watching movies, or sleeping.
What advice would you give an
author just starting out?
The
best piece of advice I can give to any aspiring author is to stay single. I
probably would have finished The Shadows much
faster if I had been single throughout the whole process.
Have you had anything else
published?
Not
yet.
What's your next project?
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