Ask the Author: Van R. Mayhall Jr.
Answered Questions (5)
Van R. Mayhall Jr.
Stephen King's End of Watch; I also want to re-read portions of Acts for my up-coming novel, the Tentmaker. Best.
Van R. Mayhall Jr.
I'm currently working on the third book in the Cloe Lejeune series. The first was Judas the Apostle which debuted not quite two years ago. The second, The Last Sicarius has been out about six months. They all involve the same three principal characters, Cloe, J.E. and the Monsignor plus new and exciting characters in each book. The current work is tentatively entitled Suppose... and involves the Book of Revelation as its biblical/historical anchor. They are all thrillers with a historical/biblical twist. Suppose...takes place about 3 years in the future and involves a series of really bad national decisions that creates chaos across the world and allows the rise of evil. Can Cloe and her cohorts defeat this evil and, if so, how? The book should be out in 2015. As with the other books, nothing is necessarily what it seems so be prepared for a roller coaster ride of twists and turns. Best.
Van R. Mayhall Jr.
This is going to seem obvious but the best thing for aspiring writers is to WRITE, WRITE and WRITE. If you write enough your writing will improve. If you write enough, you will see improvement from article to article or, if you're writing novels, from the beginning to the end. There is no substitute for quality. I also think writers should read in the genre in which they write or want to write. Once you move away from reading purely for enjoyment, you'll learn something from everything you read. Finally, there are books and courses that can help.
Van R. Mayhall Jr.
There are so many good things, it's hard to pick a "best thing". I think if I had to say, it would be the joy of telling a good story(I write fictional thrillers). Polishing the story(I re-wrote my first book, Judas the Apostle twenty times) and knowing it's
getting better and that someone will enjoy and be entertained by it all factor in. Best.
getting better and that someone will enjoy and be entertained by it all factor in. Best.
Van R. Mayhall Jr.
I sit down at 9PM each night to write with rare exceptions. I usually write for an hour and then read awhile. Sometimes, I get in a couple of paragraphs and at other times, a chapter. I'm not in a hurry and have no deadlines. I've heard and read a lot about writer's block but I haven't yet experienced a situation where I just couldn't write for days or weeks at a time. The story is always bubbling in my head. What happens to me is that I get to what I think of as a "crossroads" where I might take the story, or it might take me, in several directions. I may not write for a couple or few days because I'm mulling over the right direction. You have to think down the road because in taking some paths you foreclose others. Also, you have to inventory your characters and opportunities periodically to strengthen the story and prevent inconsistencies. I don't consider these "mulling" periods to be blocks but others might. You do want to clear your mind at these times. Exercise, do something fun, take a weekend but let the problem go. Then come back at it, refreshed. The story will reveal itself to you. Best.
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