Ask the Author: Paul Hollis
Answered Questions (7)
Paul Hollis
I couldn't have done it without you!
Paul Hollis
Any book has a chance to sell over a wide range of readers. It depends on your "hook" (the element that first draws their interest), the content (the bit that keeps them interested), and your own special voice (how you tell your story - for example, humorous, tragic, poignant). It all has to be compelling for the reader and drawn from incidents / thoughts / etc. with which all readers can relate. Make them self-identify with your events / characters / thoughts to events / characters / thoughts in their own lives..
The locations (local, foreign, exotic) are secondary to your life's journey. It's the story that's important (the journey itself). Use your locations as background descriptions to emphasize the effect / impact they had on you and / or your life's story.
The locations (local, foreign, exotic) are secondary to your life's journey. It's the story that's important (the journey itself). Use your locations as background descriptions to emphasize the effect / impact they had on you and / or your life's story.
Paul Hollis
After retiring early from my day job, I used to sit with friends on the porch of my country home to reminisce. We spat tobacco juice into the yard as we took turns telling old stories. Okay, it was the local pub and none of us dipped or smoked. Curiously though, the group was always interested in my stories. One encouraged me to write a book about a few of my early exploits. She asked, “Do you have something better to do?” Apparently, I didn’t.
It was more fun than I imagined. The manuscript took a year to draft, rewrite several times, professionally edit, and publish. But I didn’t feel like a real author until I held a copy of the paperback in my hand.
It was more fun than I imagined. The manuscript took a year to draft, rewrite several times, professionally edit, and publish. But I didn’t feel like a real author until I held a copy of the paperback in my hand.
Paul Hollis
I have a deadline to finish my third novel by the end of August so my reading list for this summer mostly contains a very few novels other authors have asked me to review. Not very exciting I'm afraid.
Paul Hollis
My books are actually based on work I did as a young man so I can't get more real life than that. Thank you!
Paul Hollis
Aspiring authors may be overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting information that’s going to be flying at them. Try to tune the noise out and write. Write the story you need to write with your own style and voice, not the one you think agents, publishers, and readers want. Find the time to write on a schedule, every day and write until your story is drafted.
Proof it, edit it, stylize it, or whatever until you’re satisfied with the result. Then hire a professional editor. An editor will raise your work to the next level. You will hate her, disagree with her, and argue with her but listen to your editor and make the suggested changes. In the end your book will be much better for it.
During the writing process, join social media and make friends, not followers. Ask questions on your social networks and I guarantee we will answer from personal viewpoints of experience, knowledge, and strength. Avoid most of the Googled ‘how to’ articles which ask your same questions but never seen to get to the ‘how to’ part.
Proof it, edit it, stylize it, or whatever until you’re satisfied with the result. Then hire a professional editor. An editor will raise your work to the next level. You will hate her, disagree with her, and argue with her but listen to your editor and make the suggested changes. In the end your book will be much better for it.
During the writing process, join social media and make friends, not followers. Ask questions on your social networks and I guarantee we will answer from personal viewpoints of experience, knowledge, and strength. Avoid most of the Googled ‘how to’ articles which ask your same questions but never seen to get to the ‘how to’ part.
Paul Hollis
The Hollow Man is based on true events during the early 1970s, and traces some of my experiences as a young man traveling in Europe. At the time, terrorism was on the rise and I had been assigned to learn as much as I could about it. Most early acts of terrorism were specific to political and social leaders who represented offending ideologies. But terrorism was beginning to change its strategy to the familiar, senseless chaos we recognize today. The death of political figures no longer seemed to bother us as much as these new, random attacks against our children. Targets of innocence became preferable because they hit closer to our hearts and the fear inside us grew larger with each incident.
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