Ask the Author: Doug Romig
Answered Questions (11)
Doug Romig
Well, me sense of humor shows through in most of them. My creativity finds it's outlet in the Spiritscape's Tone. You can see how strange my minds works when Tone says things like: "They look scary enough to be ax-murderers and goat milkers.” Nazilaq gave him a questioning look. “I had a bad experience on a field trip to a farm once. A goat ate my underwear.”
The character who is the most like me overall is Jonas Lange from Shrink. He shares many of my values and a lot of my good-natured cockiness. Jonas is far more noble and in a lot better shape than I am. We both care about others more than we like them notice. Jonas has some of my emotional damage, but also shows much of my healing. He represents someone I strive to be more like.
The character who is the most like me overall is Jonas Lange from Shrink. He shares many of my values and a lot of my good-natured cockiness. Jonas is far more noble and in a lot better shape than I am. We both care about others more than we like them notice. Jonas has some of my emotional damage, but also shows much of my healing. He represents someone I strive to be more like.
Doug Romig
I believe that was you! LOL
Doug Romig
The simple answer is - I don't know. It just flowed out of the story.
The blending of the spirits of angels and humans in the Spiritscape Chronicles is a supernatural version of the sum being greater than the individual parts. When you take two amazing individuals and join them together in real life, they can be a great team. When I did it in the Spiritscape, the results are even more spectacular.
**MINOR SPOILER ALERT** When Zeke gets a little bit of Tone's essence toward the beginning of Angelcide, it made him a little better and a little worse all at the same time that is explored in New Fallen. Another combination happen later in Angelcide with similar results. The major combination that happens at the end of New Fallen changes everything for the angels.
The blending of the spirits of angels and humans in the Spiritscape Chronicles is a supernatural version of the sum being greater than the individual parts. When you take two amazing individuals and join them together in real life, they can be a great team. When I did it in the Spiritscape, the results are even more spectacular.
**MINOR SPOILER ALERT** When Zeke gets a little bit of Tone's essence toward the beginning of Angelcide, it made him a little better and a little worse all at the same time that is explored in New Fallen. Another combination happen later in Angelcide with similar results. The major combination that happens at the end of New Fallen changes everything for the angels.
Doug Romig
That's a tough question. Reading books along similar lines can be great inspiration. I find going hiking in the mountains or walking in a park can help get my creativity flowing. Good movies or TV shows that deal with related subjects can help get my head in the story.
I also have good friends and two amazing sons who keep me grounded in reality when I have to go into the dark places.
I also have good friends and two amazing sons who keep me grounded in reality when I have to go into the dark places.
Doug Romig
Very carefully. Each character has a little bit of me in them. Some - like Tone from The Spiritscape Chronicles - have more than a little bit. Tone sprang fully formed from my imagination. He is basically my sense of wonder without any filters. He says the things I would like to say, but I hold back unless I've had a few cocktails. Zeke - also from The Spiritscape Chronicles - has undergone the most changes of any character. He was actually created before Tone and was going to be an angel going on a walkabout. Then he became the warrior/hunter angel. When I finished Angelcide, he got a rewrite. He was just too nice so I made him into more of a bad-boy angel.
Once I have the character's personality and values established, they take on a life of their own when I'm writing. For example: Ian in the Cryptos Files will always act in his own best interests whereas Abby in Shrink will be moved by the losses she has experienced.
I really don't know what they are going to do until the situation happens. Then they act and react, glow and grow. Each one changes based on their experiences in the stories. You can see it the most in New Fallen as Zeke goes through some major changes.
Does that make sense?
Once I have the character's personality and values established, they take on a life of their own when I'm writing. For example: Ian in the Cryptos Files will always act in his own best interests whereas Abby in Shrink will be moved by the losses she has experienced.
I really don't know what they are going to do until the situation happens. Then they act and react, glow and grow. Each one changes based on their experiences in the stories. You can see it the most in New Fallen as Zeke goes through some major changes.
Does that make sense?
Doug Romig
I write because I have to. It is what I have always wanted to do. Seeing a book complete is a major rush. Having someone tell me they got something out of my writing is even better. When they discover something I never intended, that is the best thing. The writing then takes on a life of its own beyond anything my simple mind ever dreamed.
Doug Romig
I go somewhere. Anywhere. For me, hiking and exercise help me. People watching is even better. Their are some funky looking people where I live and just seeing them helps me create stories about them that get the creative flow rushing like class five rapids.
Doug Romig
Just write. Even if it is nothing that you will ever share, just write. You will develop your style and taste in time. I wrote for twenty years before I started working on my novel. Each day I learn something new. Also, I follow Stephen King's advice and write at least 2000 words a day. When I don't, I can feel the words building up inside me and it makes me cranky.
Doug Romig
My primary project is Reunion: An Abby Chilton Novel. It is the followup to Shrink and picks up a few months later. This time Abby is trying to get inside the mind of a female serial killer called The Old Maid.
When I'm not working on that, I also have Interpol: A Jonas Lange Adventure; and the third book of The Spiritscape Chronicles: Demonize.
When I'm not working on that, I also have Interpol: A Jonas Lange Adventure; and the third book of The Spiritscape Chronicles: Demonize.
Doug Romig
It's not just a matter of inspiration. Every event in my life - especially the changes in the last five years - has led me to the point that I have too many stories in my head. They have to go somewhere, so I write them out for you to enjoy.
Doug Romig
New Fallen was a natural flow from the events in Angelcide. This book answers some of the questions that were lingering. What was the hand coming out of the crevasse after the battle? What is happening to Zeke? Does Tone really eat that many chili dogs?
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