Title- Two Degrees Closer to Hell
By- David Fingerman
BLURB
Speculative fiction writer, David Fingerman, is back with a series of short stories guaranteed
to curl your toes and raise your hair. If you're looking for some quick thrills, let these stories
take you on a ride that will bring you two degrees closer to Hell.
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n=9781940202914
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to write this book?
I really don’t need much inspiration, just a spark of an idea
and I let my imagination take over. After “Edging Past Reality” (my first book
of short stories) was published, I got temporarily burned out on shorts and
decided to try writing a novel. After my third novel (about 3 years later) I
was totally burnt out on novels and ached to get back to short stories again.
This time I did it right. I’d write a short story or two, then work on one of
the two novels I’m presently playing with, then back to short stories. It takes
a lot longer, but it’s much more satisfying.
Can you give us an interesting fact about your book that isn't
in the blurb?
There is one short story called “Freak Accident” where if you
take away the supernatural ~ it’s autobiographical.
How did you choose your title?
I wanted the title to one of my short stories. I thought Two
Degrees Closer to Hell pretty much encompassed the theme. I liked the title
Night Shift but some guy named Stephen King already took it.
Tell us about the cover and how it came to be.
Fortunately for me (and all of their writers), Staccato
Publishing welcomes and wants the writer’s input. We were going back and forth
but nothing was really banging me upside the head. I wanted something eerie,
then I remembered a picture I took when I went to the cemetery to visit my
folks. I sent it in and Staccato turned it into a wonderful cover.
Did you selfpublish or publish traditionally and why?
Edging Past Reality was self published. I had this idea that if
I self published first that would get my name “out there” and of course
publishers would be banging on my door. Well, that didn’t happen but I did find
a wonderful publisher. I have nothing against self publishing (other than there
are too many lazy people doing it and keeping it from gaining the respect it
deserves) but there’s just something about having some total stranger who
thinks enough of my writing to want to turn it into a book that I find very
ego-lifting.
What do you consider the most important part of a good story?
The writing!!! You can
have the greatest, most highly original concept, but if the writing sucks, no
one will care enough to read it.
What is your writing process?
Three or four hours in the late morning/early afternoon, then
spend the rest of the day researching or marketing or brainstorming. Of course
on those occasions when the words are flowing and I’m in ‘the zone’ I can write
all day and into the night until my brain turns to mush.
How long have you been writing?
My first short story was published in ‘94, so I think I started
writing to get published about a year or so before that.
How did you get started writing?
College drained the creativity out of me. It took about 5 years
after graduating before I could even pick up a book and read for enjoyment. A
couple years after that I realized I missed writing. At that point I thought I
had some pretty fun stories and wanted to share them.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
With novels I usually have a beginning and an end plotted out
and am a pantser trying to connect the two. With short stories I’m a pantser
all the way.
What part of the writing process is the hardest for you?
Marketing is definitely the hardest part of the process. If you
mean the actual writing part of writing then to actually sit down and write
when I’m just not in the mood. I’m very good at procrastinating when the urge
isn’t there and that’s something I need to work on.
What tips can you give on how to get through writers block?
There’s a general rule that says finish one thing before you
start another or you’ll have a lot of beginnings but no endings. I’m the
exception to that rule. I’m working on two novels right now and have about 6 or
7 unfinished short stories. Whenever I get blocked or frustrated on one thing,
I’ll jump to another. For me it works.
What kind of music do you like to listen to while you write?
Sometimes punk, sometimes New Wave, sometimes rock, but mostly
laid back ~ Mazzy Star, Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, Tori Amos, early
Joni Mitchell, etc. I also love piano music and listen to a lot of Chick Corea
and Liz Story. Whatever my mood ~ I’ve got it covered.
Who is your favorite author?
It changes with my mood, but I think I still have to go with
Harlan Ellison.
Who is your favorite character from a book?
I’m biased but Spyder was just way too much fun to write not to
be my fave.
What is your favorite book?
Shatterday by Harlan Ellison. That’s the book that started me
back to reading for enjoyment again.
Read anything good lately?
Oh yeah. I recently finished Aphrodite’s War by Donna Milward,
Trap Line by Carl Hiaasen, The Shroud by David Moore, My Life with Bonnie and
Clyde by Blnche Caldwell Barrow, The Troubleshooter - New Haven Blues by Bard
Constantine to name a few.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I’m an avid reader, watch way too much TV and spend too much
time on the Internet, but when the weather is nice (temps in the 50s and 60s) I
do a lot of walking.
What advice would you give an author just starting out?
Write every day! Write for yourself, first. Join a writers’
group (there are plenty of online ones if there aren’t any physical ones in
your community). Develop a thick skin. There are always going to be some people
who think you suck. Let it roll off your back.
Have you had anything else published?
Edging Past Reality (a book of short stories)
Silent Kill (Louise Miller mystery #1)
Spyder
Playing the Hand She’s Dealt (Louise MIller mystery #2)
What's your next project?
Louise Miller mystery #3. But like I mentioned above, I’ve got
a lot of options whichever way my mind sways.
During the summer months when the sun is shining and birds are singing, David is perfectly
content to sit in his office, with blinds drawn, typing away at the computer. His favorite day of
the year is the first day toward the end of summer that’s cool enough to pull a flannel shirt from
the closet.
As a student at the University of Minnesota, David realized that if he switched his major from
journalism to speech, he could graduate that quarter. It was a no-brainer. After 24 years of
working in the court system, he walked away to write full time – another no-brainer.
Two Degrees Closer to Hell will be his second collection of short stories. He has also written
three other novels.
David is married and lives in Minneapolis.
Publisher-
Twitter- @davfin23
Giveaway Info- US ONLY (Rafflecopter to Come)-
2 paperbacks of Two Degrees Closer to Hell
5 magnets
7 bookmarks
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