Ask the Author: Joe Shephard
Answered Questions (6)
Joe Shephard
That's a tricky one. I don't see myself as a writer; more as an Airline Pilot who writes. Flying is my first passion and vocation. Truthfully, I felt so relieved to complete my first book. Finally, putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. Telling a story is an outlet, a way of making our voices heard and getting our ideas and creations out into the world. Even if no one reads my stories, ultimately, that's okay because I know I created something I felt I had to put out there. It was an itch I had to scratch, and now it's done. I can put my stamp on it and say, "I did that!"
Joe Shephard
You have to step away from it. Just walk away; in fact, go for a walk! That's what I did and still do. Get some fresh air, take in your surroundings, and try to think through the problem you're facing. It's always best to do it away from the screen/typewriter/notepad. I must admit, I like to plan my stories from start to finish; I already knew the first book's ending before I began writing. The trick is fleshing out the journey; how do you get from A to B? I would imagine scenes and conversations in my head, often for hours, just wondering what the characters would do in the story, how they would reach the endpoint, and what would've changed. That's the fun part and the most rewarding, but it's also the most difficult. Just keep at it and be patient...with yourself.
Joe Shephard
Keep at it! If you have an idea you feel would be worth sharing with the world, write it down. There's nothing worse than the feeling of an untold story trapped inside; believe me! I procrastinated for so long with my first book, yet it was all I could think about for years. You have to go for it. Put some ideas down, then share those with your friends and family to see what they think. Put pen to paper (or letters on a screen) and see where it goes; what's the harm? But trust me, if you don't turn it into something and feel it has real potential, it will haunt you. Once you've written it and edited/checked it etc., send it out to agencies. You never know; you may well be sitting on the next bestseller.
Joe Shephard
I've recently published my first novel, Heart of the Talisaar, on Amazon and am taking some time away from writing for now. However, I've had an idea for a short story set in a not-too-distant dystopian future, following the global COVID pandemic.
Joe Shephard
Most of my ideas have come from dreams. I guess it's my subconscious trying to tell me I've watched too much television or too many movies as a kid...and still do! I've always been a huge fan of science-fiction, whether it has been on the small or big screen or a book or comic book I've read in the past. My influences have come from everything I've been exposed to growing up, and all it takes is a slight nudge in the right direction (normally when I'm asleep) to come up with the idea that sticks.
Joe Shephard
When I was twelve years old, I had a dream about people from another world visiting Earth. In the dream, we were in danger, and they came to save us all. The idea of it plagued me for years; I thought it would make an interesting story. I wrote down my ideas over time and eventually began to draft Heart of the Talisaar. Since I was a child, it has evolved a great deal, but the version you see published now is the culmination of many years of planning.
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