Shawn Hopkins's Blog - Posts Tagged "interview"
Author Christopher Starr Answers 15
The Road to Hell: The Book of Lucifer
Christopher Starr is the author of the novel The Road to Hell: The Book of Lucifer
Q1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
CS: A lil about me: I was born the son of a sharecropper…Seriously, I was born in East Orange, New Jersey but moved to Minnesota when I was five. I grew up in Saint Paul, MN (read your Doug Dorow interview — what's with the MN connection?) but never, ever did the Minnesota stuff: I don't like hockey, never learned to ice skate, don't cross country ski or ice fish. I've lived all over the country — Atlanta for college, moved to Cleveland with my college sweetheart, got divorced and moved to Colorado Springs and Denver, got remarried and now live in Seattle. I woke up yesterday and my wife told me she wants to move to Kentucky…we'll see what happens.
Beyond the basics (wife, two kids, dog, etc.), I love movies, candlelight dinners and walks on the beach. I have a sense of humor like a Gremlin: watching people fall is uniquely funny to me; I have a trash TV fetish and love Maury Povich and Jerry Springer; and telling stories is absolutely what I was meant to do.
Q2. When did you start writing? In which state?
CS: The cliché writer response is I've been writing as long as I can remember. I lived in Minnesota from the time I was five until I was twenty-two —my mother and sister still live there —and anything I've done as a writer started there. I had half-hearted attempts as long as I can remember — I used to try to rewrite the stories I saw or read, Star Wars and Transformers episodes. I wrote an essay that got me Michael Jackson tickets in high school but nothing really serious.
While in college, I'd gone to a Perkins in Minneapolis after the clubs let out — about 1 am. The lobby was packed in the restaurant; it was impossible to not bump into someone. One woman bumps into another, pushes and shoves ensue and then a gun comes out. Shots are fired and one woman is lying in a pool of blood. I couldn't understand what happened, how a human life can be so worthless that you can try to snuff it out over bumping into someone in a crowded restaurant. And they all looked like me! These were Black men and women…I couldn't get my mind around. So I wrote, I had to. It was the first time I used writing as a way to make sense of my world and get a handle of my emotions. I ended up writing an article and getting a publishing gig at a local newspaper as a result. That was really the beginning for me.
I took it seriously after that — started writing columns in my college newspaper, was a finalist in a creative writing contest, had one of my papers presented at a conference, almost got a English degree (got Sociology and Urban Studies instead).
Q3. Wow. That's pretty intense. With that background, how did you end up writing in your novel's genre?
CS: Good question.
Even though I write fiction, I can't turn off the honesty filter — I'm a fairly transparent writer, I think. I sincerely believe that that the best writing is the honest stuff, the real stuff. The stuff you have to say just to live with yourself. I don't believe in writer's block: I think writer's block is really the writer fighting against saying what really should be said. As soon as you give in to it, the block generally goes away.
Anyway, I initially wrote The Road to Hell in a particularly dark time in my life. I was going through a divorce and had lost my faith along the way. The book was a way of addressing questions I'd always had, it was freeing and it was fun. I was writing about Lucifer — I could say and do anything, right? Every character in that novel is either some facet of me or someone close to me. I was incredibly honest, bared my soul and, in the process, found my faith again. Some of the things you read in the book, some of the things the Father says, are conclusions I came to at the end of the process.
Q4. Ah! Sounds familiar! I often find that writing is extremely therapeutic. A burden that won't go away until exorcized at the keyboard. Unfortunately, I don't think non-writers understand that aspect of the craft, even the ones we're closest to. What about you? Do your family and friends "get" you and support your writing? Do they appreciate the need to write?
CS: I think I'm fortunate in this area: my immediate family (wife and kids) get it — kinda. I met my wife while I was writing so she's gotten used to me getting out of bed or staying up late to write something. It's almost like kryptonite: it's the only thing she absolutely gives me complete latitude to do.
My kids are a different story. They definitely don't understand the writing process but I work from home so they've learned that if I'm in my office, I'm usually busy so they leave me alone. They've seen diagrams on white boards or heard me muttering to myself but, until I had my book in hand and they could touch it, they thought I was just crazy.
Q5. That's great. Maybe you can have your wife talk to mine and straighten her out? So where did the story for The Road to Hell come from? What inspired it? I know you said your past experiences fueled the story and its topics, but was there any influence as far as genre goes? Any authors or other books help fan the flames of creativity?
CS: I was afraid you were gonna ask that: it's an old story. You can thank my high school social studies teacher, Mr. Robb, for starting it. He asked a question about the origin of evil and everyone got to the Devil as the start of evil on Earth. It didn't sit well with me — seemed like a copout. But I left it alone. For years.
But I had questions. If the Devil is the origin of evil and God made the Devil, isn't God actually the origin of evil? And if you know that someone is going to bring it all down, why make them at all? But the question that bothered me the most was the whole 1/3 thing. What kind of argument can you make that makes a third of the angels say, "You know, you're right!" and rebel against God? It made me think maybe Heaven wasn't so perfect.
Then I turned 30. The story honestly would bother me: it would wake me up, I would hear characters talking in my head, I would say their words out loud. I finally committed to writing it just so it would leave me alone.
As far as genre that influenced, I'm more of a product of movies than I am books. I saw this story as a movie and initially wrote it that way. It seemed cool and the idea of angels fighting in air, of their bodies turning into silver metal, of their weapons sprouting out of their hands. So you see images that were borne from the old Silverhawks cartoon or Venom from Spiderman comics or even the T-1000 from Terminator 2.
While I'm a big fan of Toni Morrison, Walter Mosley, and Stephen King, I took an M. Night Shymalan approach to my writing: I wanted to take a literary approach to traditionally non-literary material. I'm also pretty competitive and one of the biggest influencers to writing The Road to Hell was reading the novels by others who had tackled similar subject matter. I read Wendy Alec's The Fall of Lucifer, To Reign in Hell by Stephen Brust, The Exile of Lucifer by Brian Schaefer, Tosca Lee's Demon: A Memoir. They're all respectable novels in their own right but I felt like I could shed light on the personal struggle Lucifer faced with his fall.
Q6. Ah, yes... I'm familiar with that debate... And your book is the first thing I ever read that tries to examine how 1/3 of heaven could come to such a place of rebellion. Have you come to a personal solution through your writing that you may not plant your flag on but that at least lets you sleep at night? Progeny did that for me. I wouldn't be dogmatic about the gap theory, but it answered a lot of questions that I otherwise had no answers for, thus allowing me some peace.
CS: I did get some peace with the idea. I think that's why I kept reading so many of my contemporaries and ultimately wrote the story: no one addressed the "how" in a way that made sense. You wrote in your review that my novel wasn't a theological treatise —you're right. The goal was to present Lucifer's road to Hell in a way that was plausible.
I've wondered if people would mistake my book for something more than what it is: I see it as a pretty good story that offers a different look into an old legend. I often wonder if readers would take exception to its semi-sympathetic portrayal of Lucifer. It's made me a little hesitant to market to traditional Christian groups and bookstores. I question the best way to position it.
Q7. Who would you say your ideal reader is? Who would you say the book was written for?
CS: This is supposed to be the easy question, right?
Because I write in the gray — my antagonists are never wholly evil and my protagonists are never wholly good — I think the ideal reader is someone who has some preconceived notions about what happened in Heaven but has questions. Someone who's open to questions and is willing to imagine. I've wondered how to best present this to a more "traditional" Christian population. The Road to Hell certainly doesn't follow a doctrine and isn't a feel-good novel. I hope that it encourages people to ask questions and pursue their own answers.
Q8. So do you plan on making a series out of Road to Hell? If so, do you have a general idea of how it will end yet?
CS: It's intended to be a series: The Road to Hell is the first in the Heaven Falls. I've planned four books, each covering a different section of the Bible and God's relationship with man. Each one is told primarily from the perspective of one of the angels — Lucifer, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
The next one, Hell and Highwater, covers Genesis 1:1 to the Great Flood. It's Raphael's story and, believe it or not, it's a love story.
I do have an idea of how things will end for the series but when dealing with angels as unpredictable as Lucifer and temperamental as Michael, anything can happen.
Q9. Do you see yourself writing in another genre some day? Any specific setting or theme that intrigues you enough to write about?
CS: Absolutely! I'm working on a horror/thriller now called (tentatively) Rabid. My plan as an author is to write in every genre I can. I have thoughts and projects on the literary side, YA, historical fiction, more supernatural fiction, graphic novels…I have plenty.
I do like ancient civilizations — particularly during the age of empires with the Romans, the Greeks and Macedonians. My historical fiction is set in the time of Alexander the Great.
I'm open to themes and settings, I guess. I'm a lazy researcher so I generally stick to those settings that are familiar or give me latitude to make things up.
Q10. Nice. I'd look forward to reading those. What is your ideal setting for long writing binges?
CS: I like to write at night after everyone has gone to bed or early in the morning while they're still sleeping. A little jazz and I'm good... I'm not sure I've ever had my ideal setting. I love the idea of remote places to go: a cabin in the woods, the Overlook Hotel. I want to take a train ride across country and just write - I think that would be the most ideal setting of all.
Q11. Yeah, that sounds great. I've always wanted to take a long cruise while writing a story that takes place on one... What are some of your favorite books/authors?
CS: I'm a huge Toni Morrison fan - I've read all of her stuff, though I struggled with the last one, A Mercy. I like James Baldwin too. Both of these authors have such a lyrical style, such a way with weaving histories of people, of generations into the work at hand. At the same time, Michael Crichton is my hero — he owns the techno-thriller and I'm a fan of anyone who can make such a mark. But Stephen King is the only author to ever make me jump while reading.
Then there are simple books, pure ones like The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss, Beezus and Ramona or Shel Silverstein — books so potent they never, ever leave you. I should be so lucky, so blessed to write like any of them.
Q12. How about movies or TV shows? What are some of your favorites?
CS: I call myself child of the 80s because that decade got me from the 2nd grade through high school. I think this time was one of the most creative and prolific times for TV and movies. So does Seth MacFarlane. I feel like I watched everything: He-Man, Dukes of Hazzard, Thundercats, Hill Street Blues (let's be safe out there), The Incredible Hulk. But I was born in 1973, so at a very young age I was exposed to TV shows that addressed and highlighted racial, political, and economic issues: The Jeffersons, Good Times, All in the Family, MASH. You can't even get those shows on TV now.
More than anything, these shows, this time, made me feel like, artistically, you could do anything and the audience would respond. Have faith in them, in their intelligence and comfort and willingness to take a leap with you. The audience will reward you. I think TV was smarter then; I think it thought we were smarter. I often challenge my kids to find one show they watch that does not include a really dumb character. They can't. And don't get me started on SpongeBob. Hate that show.
Q13. Guess you weren't a big Saved By The Bell fan, huh? Ok, here's a question. If God handed you a blank book and charged you with filling it, telling you that this would be your life's work, what you would go down in history for, what would you write on? Oh, and the catch is that, fiction or non, it has to touch on an important issue that would impact countless readers and provoke some kind of change in the world, whether social, spiritual, cultural... Is there an issue that, given the power and ability, you would write about in order to change the world in some way?
CS: I watched Saved ByThe Bell — I wasn't a fan (but I knew that Mario Lopez would be the break out star…)- my sister would watch it on Saturday mornings. Along with Small Wonder.
I'm glad you started saving the easy questions for later in the interview…
When I was in college, I read Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol. Changed my life. His book was about the haves and have nots really told from the perspective of these kids just trying to get a decent education. I think I'd have to write something like that — something about the economic disparities in this world. We pay farmers in the country not to grow food but there are millions of people starving. We have the technology to convert salt water into fresh water but we let entire nations suffer through droughts. And it's all behind an arbitrary concept called money. Because there's nothing in it for us for helping other people. I'm just as guilty. But I think I'd have to write a book, more fiction than non, about the things that unite us as human beings. That focus on the worth of all people, not just the wealthy or opportunistic or the lucky. Being the type of writer I am, I'd probably have to present it as a "the alternative is worse" type of story, you know? Play on the horrible things that would happen if we didn't address our own humanity.
Q14. That would be a very interesting thing to read put forth in a story. So I guess I have to ask this, seems it's the one universal question authors get asked. When you write, do you outline and plot out the whole story, or do you just let the keyboard take you on a ride?
CS: Neither actually. I started out writing thinking I was writing movies. So I got Vicki King's How To Write A Movie In 21 Days. I like the pace movies flow in and dialogue has always been my weakest area so writing a rough draft as a screenplay works for me. It makes the entire process very clean, makes my plot very straightforward. When I write the first draft from the screenplay, I can weave in all the subplots, mannerisms, milieu without missing major plot points.
Plus screenplays are easier to change...
Q15. Okay, so now that we know a little more about you, how can people get in touch with you and buy your book?
CS: Let's see, folks can catch me at my blog: christophercstarr.net, on Facebook at Facebook.com/christophercstarr, or follow me on Twitter at @SuperStarr73.
The Road to Hell is available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0615442...) and Barnes and Noble (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-...).
Ebooks now 99 cents!
Thanks, Christopher! And best of luck!
Christopher Starr is the author of the novel The Road to Hell: The Book of Lucifer
Q1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
CS: A lil about me: I was born the son of a sharecropper…Seriously, I was born in East Orange, New Jersey but moved to Minnesota when I was five. I grew up in Saint Paul, MN (read your Doug Dorow interview — what's with the MN connection?) but never, ever did the Minnesota stuff: I don't like hockey, never learned to ice skate, don't cross country ski or ice fish. I've lived all over the country — Atlanta for college, moved to Cleveland with my college sweetheart, got divorced and moved to Colorado Springs and Denver, got remarried and now live in Seattle. I woke up yesterday and my wife told me she wants to move to Kentucky…we'll see what happens.
Beyond the basics (wife, two kids, dog, etc.), I love movies, candlelight dinners and walks on the beach. I have a sense of humor like a Gremlin: watching people fall is uniquely funny to me; I have a trash TV fetish and love Maury Povich and Jerry Springer; and telling stories is absolutely what I was meant to do.
Q2. When did you start writing? In which state?
CS: The cliché writer response is I've been writing as long as I can remember. I lived in Minnesota from the time I was five until I was twenty-two —my mother and sister still live there —and anything I've done as a writer started there. I had half-hearted attempts as long as I can remember — I used to try to rewrite the stories I saw or read, Star Wars and Transformers episodes. I wrote an essay that got me Michael Jackson tickets in high school but nothing really serious.
While in college, I'd gone to a Perkins in Minneapolis after the clubs let out — about 1 am. The lobby was packed in the restaurant; it was impossible to not bump into someone. One woman bumps into another, pushes and shoves ensue and then a gun comes out. Shots are fired and one woman is lying in a pool of blood. I couldn't understand what happened, how a human life can be so worthless that you can try to snuff it out over bumping into someone in a crowded restaurant. And they all looked like me! These were Black men and women…I couldn't get my mind around. So I wrote, I had to. It was the first time I used writing as a way to make sense of my world and get a handle of my emotions. I ended up writing an article and getting a publishing gig at a local newspaper as a result. That was really the beginning for me.
I took it seriously after that — started writing columns in my college newspaper, was a finalist in a creative writing contest, had one of my papers presented at a conference, almost got a English degree (got Sociology and Urban Studies instead).
Q3. Wow. That's pretty intense. With that background, how did you end up writing in your novel's genre?
CS: Good question.
Even though I write fiction, I can't turn off the honesty filter — I'm a fairly transparent writer, I think. I sincerely believe that that the best writing is the honest stuff, the real stuff. The stuff you have to say just to live with yourself. I don't believe in writer's block: I think writer's block is really the writer fighting against saying what really should be said. As soon as you give in to it, the block generally goes away.
Anyway, I initially wrote The Road to Hell in a particularly dark time in my life. I was going through a divorce and had lost my faith along the way. The book was a way of addressing questions I'd always had, it was freeing and it was fun. I was writing about Lucifer — I could say and do anything, right? Every character in that novel is either some facet of me or someone close to me. I was incredibly honest, bared my soul and, in the process, found my faith again. Some of the things you read in the book, some of the things the Father says, are conclusions I came to at the end of the process.
Q4. Ah! Sounds familiar! I often find that writing is extremely therapeutic. A burden that won't go away until exorcized at the keyboard. Unfortunately, I don't think non-writers understand that aspect of the craft, even the ones we're closest to. What about you? Do your family and friends "get" you and support your writing? Do they appreciate the need to write?
CS: I think I'm fortunate in this area: my immediate family (wife and kids) get it — kinda. I met my wife while I was writing so she's gotten used to me getting out of bed or staying up late to write something. It's almost like kryptonite: it's the only thing she absolutely gives me complete latitude to do.
My kids are a different story. They definitely don't understand the writing process but I work from home so they've learned that if I'm in my office, I'm usually busy so they leave me alone. They've seen diagrams on white boards or heard me muttering to myself but, until I had my book in hand and they could touch it, they thought I was just crazy.
Q5. That's great. Maybe you can have your wife talk to mine and straighten her out? So where did the story for The Road to Hell come from? What inspired it? I know you said your past experiences fueled the story and its topics, but was there any influence as far as genre goes? Any authors or other books help fan the flames of creativity?
CS: I was afraid you were gonna ask that: it's an old story. You can thank my high school social studies teacher, Mr. Robb, for starting it. He asked a question about the origin of evil and everyone got to the Devil as the start of evil on Earth. It didn't sit well with me — seemed like a copout. But I left it alone. For years.
But I had questions. If the Devil is the origin of evil and God made the Devil, isn't God actually the origin of evil? And if you know that someone is going to bring it all down, why make them at all? But the question that bothered me the most was the whole 1/3 thing. What kind of argument can you make that makes a third of the angels say, "You know, you're right!" and rebel against God? It made me think maybe Heaven wasn't so perfect.
Then I turned 30. The story honestly would bother me: it would wake me up, I would hear characters talking in my head, I would say their words out loud. I finally committed to writing it just so it would leave me alone.
As far as genre that influenced, I'm more of a product of movies than I am books. I saw this story as a movie and initially wrote it that way. It seemed cool and the idea of angels fighting in air, of their bodies turning into silver metal, of their weapons sprouting out of their hands. So you see images that were borne from the old Silverhawks cartoon or Venom from Spiderman comics or even the T-1000 from Terminator 2.
While I'm a big fan of Toni Morrison, Walter Mosley, and Stephen King, I took an M. Night Shymalan approach to my writing: I wanted to take a literary approach to traditionally non-literary material. I'm also pretty competitive and one of the biggest influencers to writing The Road to Hell was reading the novels by others who had tackled similar subject matter. I read Wendy Alec's The Fall of Lucifer, To Reign in Hell by Stephen Brust, The Exile of Lucifer by Brian Schaefer, Tosca Lee's Demon: A Memoir. They're all respectable novels in their own right but I felt like I could shed light on the personal struggle Lucifer faced with his fall.
Q6. Ah, yes... I'm familiar with that debate... And your book is the first thing I ever read that tries to examine how 1/3 of heaven could come to such a place of rebellion. Have you come to a personal solution through your writing that you may not plant your flag on but that at least lets you sleep at night? Progeny did that for me. I wouldn't be dogmatic about the gap theory, but it answered a lot of questions that I otherwise had no answers for, thus allowing me some peace.
CS: I did get some peace with the idea. I think that's why I kept reading so many of my contemporaries and ultimately wrote the story: no one addressed the "how" in a way that made sense. You wrote in your review that my novel wasn't a theological treatise —you're right. The goal was to present Lucifer's road to Hell in a way that was plausible.
I've wondered if people would mistake my book for something more than what it is: I see it as a pretty good story that offers a different look into an old legend. I often wonder if readers would take exception to its semi-sympathetic portrayal of Lucifer. It's made me a little hesitant to market to traditional Christian groups and bookstores. I question the best way to position it.
Q7. Who would you say your ideal reader is? Who would you say the book was written for?
CS: This is supposed to be the easy question, right?
Because I write in the gray — my antagonists are never wholly evil and my protagonists are never wholly good — I think the ideal reader is someone who has some preconceived notions about what happened in Heaven but has questions. Someone who's open to questions and is willing to imagine. I've wondered how to best present this to a more "traditional" Christian population. The Road to Hell certainly doesn't follow a doctrine and isn't a feel-good novel. I hope that it encourages people to ask questions and pursue their own answers.
Q8. So do you plan on making a series out of Road to Hell? If so, do you have a general idea of how it will end yet?
CS: It's intended to be a series: The Road to Hell is the first in the Heaven Falls. I've planned four books, each covering a different section of the Bible and God's relationship with man. Each one is told primarily from the perspective of one of the angels — Lucifer, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
The next one, Hell and Highwater, covers Genesis 1:1 to the Great Flood. It's Raphael's story and, believe it or not, it's a love story.
I do have an idea of how things will end for the series but when dealing with angels as unpredictable as Lucifer and temperamental as Michael, anything can happen.
Q9. Do you see yourself writing in another genre some day? Any specific setting or theme that intrigues you enough to write about?
CS: Absolutely! I'm working on a horror/thriller now called (tentatively) Rabid. My plan as an author is to write in every genre I can. I have thoughts and projects on the literary side, YA, historical fiction, more supernatural fiction, graphic novels…I have plenty.
I do like ancient civilizations — particularly during the age of empires with the Romans, the Greeks and Macedonians. My historical fiction is set in the time of Alexander the Great.
I'm open to themes and settings, I guess. I'm a lazy researcher so I generally stick to those settings that are familiar or give me latitude to make things up.
Q10. Nice. I'd look forward to reading those. What is your ideal setting for long writing binges?
CS: I like to write at night after everyone has gone to bed or early in the morning while they're still sleeping. A little jazz and I'm good... I'm not sure I've ever had my ideal setting. I love the idea of remote places to go: a cabin in the woods, the Overlook Hotel. I want to take a train ride across country and just write - I think that would be the most ideal setting of all.
Q11. Yeah, that sounds great. I've always wanted to take a long cruise while writing a story that takes place on one... What are some of your favorite books/authors?
CS: I'm a huge Toni Morrison fan - I've read all of her stuff, though I struggled with the last one, A Mercy. I like James Baldwin too. Both of these authors have such a lyrical style, such a way with weaving histories of people, of generations into the work at hand. At the same time, Michael Crichton is my hero — he owns the techno-thriller and I'm a fan of anyone who can make such a mark. But Stephen King is the only author to ever make me jump while reading.
Then there are simple books, pure ones like The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss, Beezus and Ramona or Shel Silverstein — books so potent they never, ever leave you. I should be so lucky, so blessed to write like any of them.
Q12. How about movies or TV shows? What are some of your favorites?
CS: I call myself child of the 80s because that decade got me from the 2nd grade through high school. I think this time was one of the most creative and prolific times for TV and movies. So does Seth MacFarlane. I feel like I watched everything: He-Man, Dukes of Hazzard, Thundercats, Hill Street Blues (let's be safe out there), The Incredible Hulk. But I was born in 1973, so at a very young age I was exposed to TV shows that addressed and highlighted racial, political, and economic issues: The Jeffersons, Good Times, All in the Family, MASH. You can't even get those shows on TV now.
More than anything, these shows, this time, made me feel like, artistically, you could do anything and the audience would respond. Have faith in them, in their intelligence and comfort and willingness to take a leap with you. The audience will reward you. I think TV was smarter then; I think it thought we were smarter. I often challenge my kids to find one show they watch that does not include a really dumb character. They can't. And don't get me started on SpongeBob. Hate that show.
Q13. Guess you weren't a big Saved By The Bell fan, huh? Ok, here's a question. If God handed you a blank book and charged you with filling it, telling you that this would be your life's work, what you would go down in history for, what would you write on? Oh, and the catch is that, fiction or non, it has to touch on an important issue that would impact countless readers and provoke some kind of change in the world, whether social, spiritual, cultural... Is there an issue that, given the power and ability, you would write about in order to change the world in some way?
CS: I watched Saved ByThe Bell — I wasn't a fan (but I knew that Mario Lopez would be the break out star…)- my sister would watch it on Saturday mornings. Along with Small Wonder.
I'm glad you started saving the easy questions for later in the interview…
When I was in college, I read Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol. Changed my life. His book was about the haves and have nots really told from the perspective of these kids just trying to get a decent education. I think I'd have to write something like that — something about the economic disparities in this world. We pay farmers in the country not to grow food but there are millions of people starving. We have the technology to convert salt water into fresh water but we let entire nations suffer through droughts. And it's all behind an arbitrary concept called money. Because there's nothing in it for us for helping other people. I'm just as guilty. But I think I'd have to write a book, more fiction than non, about the things that unite us as human beings. That focus on the worth of all people, not just the wealthy or opportunistic or the lucky. Being the type of writer I am, I'd probably have to present it as a "the alternative is worse" type of story, you know? Play on the horrible things that would happen if we didn't address our own humanity.
Q14. That would be a very interesting thing to read put forth in a story. So I guess I have to ask this, seems it's the one universal question authors get asked. When you write, do you outline and plot out the whole story, or do you just let the keyboard take you on a ride?
CS: Neither actually. I started out writing thinking I was writing movies. So I got Vicki King's How To Write A Movie In 21 Days. I like the pace movies flow in and dialogue has always been my weakest area so writing a rough draft as a screenplay works for me. It makes the entire process very clean, makes my plot very straightforward. When I write the first draft from the screenplay, I can weave in all the subplots, mannerisms, milieu without missing major plot points.
Plus screenplays are easier to change...
Q15. Okay, so now that we know a little more about you, how can people get in touch with you and buy your book?
CS: Let's see, folks can catch me at my blog: christophercstarr.net, on Facebook at Facebook.com/christophercstarr, or follow me on Twitter at @SuperStarr73.
The Road to Hell is available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0615442...) and Barnes and Noble (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-...).
Ebooks now 99 cents!
Thanks, Christopher! And best of luck!
A Conversation with Joyce T. Strand
Shawn: So give us the backstory. Who are you, where are you from, what made you start writing?
Joyce: Backstory: Born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania, I grew up with little organized entertainment. My parents didn't even get a TV until I was in college. I had no choice but to go on long bicycle hikes in the summer, ice skating in the winter -- and read lots of books. I especially became a mystery aficionado, and given my appreciation of Perry Mason, considered becoming a lawyer (until I looked at a law book). A small liberal arts college (Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA) taught me about the social sciences -- and the need for excellent writing -- and then I decided I needed a PhD. Technically, my first book was my doctoral dissertation. While finishing my degree at George Washington U. (Washington, D.C.), I met and married my husband within the same year. I do believe in "love at first sight." We are still married and have two children: one a music teacher (still employed) and the other a marketing analyst.
I sort of fell into my career of corporate communications -- in the beginning, marketing writing was the only job I could get given that a PhD in International Politics didn't help me enter the growing high-tech job market in California. I extended my writing skills to include press releases, tutorials, white papers, fact sheets, biographies, corporate presentations, SEC filing documents, by-lined articles for publication etc. After more than 25 years of serving as head of corporate communications at several high-tech and biotech companies in Silicon Valley, I found myself without employment. I was not happy. We needed to make house payments. My husband suggested I write a book. Seemed like a good idea. "What kind of book?" I asked. "Well, I'd suggest a mystery, since you like them so much." And that's how I became a writer of mysteries.
Shawn: Is your fiction tied into your work experience?
Joyce: My fiction is definitely tied into my work experience. ON MESSAGE is set in a small biotech company in the San Francisco Bay Area -- where I served as the head of corporate communications at several small biotechs. I drew on my experiences and knowledge of the industry to create the background and the characters -- especially Jillian Hillcrest. However, my characters, the company Harmonia Therapeutics, and the lupus product are all fictional. I hasten to add that I never encountered murder in my 25-year career. For that I turned to current events. Each of the Jillian Hillcrest books was inspired by a current case or cases in the news. ON MESSAGE grew out of a case in San Diego that involved the murder of an angel investor who was a former biotech executive. To assure credible police procedure descriptions, I consulted with several retired police detectives.
Shawn: Well, it sounds like I'm going to have to pick that up! Murder, intrigue, and conspiracy in the biotech world scares the crap out of me! I’m actually reading a book with a similar theme right now that is making me very uneasy... Anyway, to your writing process. What's your method? Do you outline? Do you know how the novel is going to end before you start? What do you already have in your bag of tricks when you go to type the first sentence?
Joyce: Describing my approach to writing as a "method" is a bit of a stretch. I tend to "just do it" with the attitude that I can always rewrite it.
However, admittedly when I do sit down to write, at least for the Jillian Hillcrest series, I have decided on: (1) a chosen case in the news on which to draw and how it relates to my protagonist; (2) an opening scene; (3) a list of characters and their traits -- this often expands as the book progresses; (4) a puzzle, its solution, and one or two red herrings. When I write the opening scene, I let the characters lead me to the next scene and frequently I don't know where that will be, but it must lead us to the puzzle and its solution. It helps that I spent my career performing the same functions as Jillian.
I like to write in large blocks of time, but I also like to write over a period of a few months because the characters like to grow and feel their way. As I'm writing each draft, I make a list of facts I need to check, such as, police procedures, nomenclature, and titles; psychological profiles; biotech products, and drive- time between locations. These are all important for a credible book, although I don't let the need for them slow down the writing process.
I do not let anyone see the book-in-progress. I wait until I have completed a first draft. I don't want anyone to influence the characters until they've had their say. When I complete the first draft of a book, I first ask my husband and a very helpful sister-in-law to read it and let me know what they like and don't like. Then I re-write to develop a second draft. I send the second draft to other members of my family and friends who won't be too cruel but who will give me constructive input. That leads to the third draft. This is the draft I send to the professional editor for the final rewrite.
Shawn: How do you feel about the re-writing process and editing? Is it a process you enjoy? How long does it typically take you and how much ends up being changed? I hate rewriting and editing!
Joyce: The rewriting and editing process takes me as long as writing an initial draft. I produce at least four drafts of a 90,000 word book -- and frequently I rewrite sections within each draft multiple times. Typically I don't change the core of the book, but often I add scenes and characters, and I definitely delete passages. In my first book I added 10,000 words; in my next book I deleted 5000 and then added a different 3000. I struggle mostly with endings and rewrite them the most.
There are parts of rewriting that I actually enjoy, especially because in most instances the rewrite makes the book better. That's probably more a reflection of my reviewers' skills than my editing ability. Expanding characterization to explain motivation, adding scenes to build suspense, or even cutting pages to assure momentum -- these are all creative rewrites, and can be as interesting as writing the initial prose.
However, I admit that there are tedious parts of editing and rewriting that are more mechanical than creative. To discover typos and grammatical errors, I read the final draft from beginning to end at least three times myself -- both on paper and on the screen. This reviewing is tedious and I frequently need to remind myself that I owe it to my readers to give them an error-free book (at least that's the goal). I also remind myself that if I wasn't editing my book, I'd be pulling weeds, cleaning toilets, or scrubbing the floors. That helps.
Shawn: Yeah, I've found that it saves me a lot of time to print out the manuscript and read it out loud, marking it with a pen. Otherwise, I tend to just glance over the mistakes, reading them a dozen times without picking up on them. And, though I hate rewriting, you are correct in that the end product is usually far superior as a result. My second novel was 193,000 words when I was submitting it to literary agents. The one I ended up working with wanted me to whittle it down to 120,000. I managed to get it to 173,000 and hated every deletion. However, I later decided to repackage the novel for a broader audience, and, not having been in the novel for a couple of years, I was detached enough to take it to task. I was able to get it to 123,000.
Anyway, when you write, I mean, when you settle down for one of those LONG writing binges. What is your ideal setting? What do you need to be drinking, chewing, wearing... What do your surroundings look like?
Joyce: For long writing binges I prefer sitting dressed in comfortable, baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants at my grandmother's antique desk in a spare bedroom I use as an office. Sitting at a desk says, "Time to work. Get to it!" I particularly like this setting because the desk is in front of a large window to the front yard of our house. A small gurgling fountain right by the window attracts all kinds of birds and bees. It's fun to watch the birds try to get a drink from the running water. Also roadrunners trot by frequently, one recently with a struggling gecko in its mouth. Occasionally a hawk descends. This outside activity is truly entertaining for purposes of procrastination.
Despite the entertaining distractions, I have found that I am most productive in this setting. In the morning, I accompany my efforts with coffee, which, like my protagonist Jillian, I prepare from freshly ground beans daily. In the afternoon, I drink water -- just regular filtered water. I confess that I take frequent breaks, and do little chores around the house -- as little as possible. However, I have written up to 5000 words a day in multiple consecutive days in this setting. So when I walk into the room and sit down at that desk -- I'm ready to go.
Shawn: 5,000 words a day? Can I borrow your desk and drink your coffee? Sheesh. Okay, I think I have a strange question for you. So you're a woman author... Being a woman, not only as a writer but as a reader, do you notice any kind of difference between male and female writers as it pertains to their fictional work? I guess most female authors would use a female POV, although I guess I've read plenty of male authors using a female as their main character, so maybe I'm just assuming that. I know I wouldn't use a female POV, because I feel like girls would be able to see through it and cry out, "A stupid man wrote this!" My aunt told me the other day that she doesn't read male authors, that she picks women authors over men. And I started to think that I tend to do the same. Granted, I tend to associate (wrongly) women authors with the romance genre, and that probably has something to do with it... Actually, I read a book called ANGELOLOGY that was written by a woman and I loved the lyrical quality it had. It was almost poetic. It had...shall I say a "softer" touch than most books I've read before. It made me want to read more female authors, because I wanted to try and capture some of that elegance to use in my own, more brutish writing. So set me straight, what are the ins and outs of writing fiction from a woman's perspective? Do you think it's different?
Joyce: As a writer, I tend to favor female characters because I do believe that I can describe them more realistically. As a woman, I comprehend the experiences encountered by women and can describe their reactions with more authority. Similarly, I favor writing about American over non-American; middle-class over wealthy or dirt-poor; Caucasian over non-Caucasian -- because that is my point of view. At some point in the future, I plan to depart from this approach and write from a different point-of-view, but I anticipate the need for additional research to make such endeavors credible.
However, when I choose books to read, I do not consider if the author is male or female. In the mystery genre, Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle both wrote intricate plots with interesting heroes and villains. Certainly Mary Higgins Clark does not back off from dark villains -- I still feel an adrenaline rush when I recall one of her heroines being locked in a coffin buried alive. Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell and Nora Roberts/JD Robb are examples of successful current female mystery writers who pen compelling, interesting well-written stories. I am equally enthusiastic about reading books by the male gender -- John Grisham, Mike Connelly, Rex Stout, and James Patterson -- because they are well-written with intriguing plots.
On the other hand, as a woman, I do not take offense at "male chauvinist" authors such as Raymond Chandler, if the writing is good and the mystery is solid -- and there is a semi-respectful undertone. Philip Marlowe basically respects his secretary, even though he might call her "doll".
Outside of the mystery genre, with which I'm most familiar, I tend to favor historical novels or biographies. My favorite all-time author is James Clavell and SHOGUN is my favorite novel. Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is still at the top of my list -- and if she chose Truman Capote as her editor--good job. My favorite historical biographies include Doris Goodwin's TEAM OF RIVALS and David McCullough's JOHN ADAMS -- again both well-written. I certainly could not detect that one is written by a man and the other by a woman.
Throughout my career I operated within the male-dominated corporate environment. I do believe that there is a Glass Ceiling that makes it difficult, although not impossible, for women to advance. Therefore, I do admit to a bias today towards new female authors -- sort of to help balance the playing field. However, bottom line, the gender of the author is not what determines a good book -- rather, it's the writing!
Shawn: I agree! Sometimes people can be ignorant about certain cultures or people groups, and their ignorance breeds intolerance and arrogance. I'd like someday to be able to write through diverse POVs, but like you, right now I don't think I could do an adequate job of properly representing the people I'd be writing on behalf of.
What about future works? Have any epics up your sleeve? Do you think that you've found your niche and will be settling in there for a while, or would you cross genres if an idea hit you?
Joyce: I have plans for several future works. My goal is to write three Jillian Hillcrest mysteries. I have published the first; the second is almost ready to go for copyrighting; and I have decided on the plot for the third. Once I finish the trio, I want to research and write a 1940s mystery with a judge as the central character -- a male judge. I'm also working with a colleague on a Management book. At some point, I may return to the Jillian Hillcrest series -- just have to see how plausible more murders are in the life of a pubic relations executive's life. I have many ideas, and am open to others. I want to make up for all those years of not writing my own novels! I really enjoy the art and practice of writing.
Shawn: That's sounds like a good read! Ok, author to author, how do you handle negative reviews? I just got my first, and it's bugging me. Of course I'm only assuming you've had one, not that you deserve one, but whether you're Stephen King or John Grisham, someone is going to put you down at some point. So, do they bother you like they bother me, or am I just a big baby?
Joyce: I am a recently published author so have not yet experienced the dreaded negative review. However, I will not handle it well. I have practiced somewhat with the informal criticism I've received from family and friends. I'm not talking about the input I solicited prior to publication -- I want that input. I'm talking about off-the-cuff remarks like, "I found the first 50 pages boring." When I get over my vetting, and try to engage my mind, I consider the criticism to try to improve my writing. First, however, I wait a few days before doing anything to try to objectify the point. Then I ask "Is the criticism legitimate?" Assuming that I can be objective, I do my best to evaluate it.
The second consideration is: Does the criticism fall within the criteria of my target reader? If a review says there is too much character development, or they really don't want to learn anything -- well, I have to somewhat ignore that because my target readers for the Jillian Hillcrest series do. They like puzzles, want to learn something, like character development, etc. As I try to find that group, I will need to forego those readers who don't like the type of book my target readers enjoy. I think this will be the most difficult objective to observe, but I believe it will pay off with a more devoted readership.
One peripheral point: given my 25 years of experience as a corporate communications practitioner, I am accustomed to receiving "help" writing press releases, white papers, by-lined articles, fact sheets, etc. So to some extent I have practiced receiving negative input. However, I hastily add, that it is different when the story is my own rather than a corporate one.
Shawn: Yeah, I had a couple reviews saying there was too much information in my book. Well, to me, a lot of information in a book makes the book worth having on your shelf. I include a bibliography because I want people to be stimulated by the information and start wondering about these things themselves. So the people that think there’s too much info obviously don't share the same fascination with the things I'm writing about -- which is fine, because as you said, they are not my target audience. However, it’s also a great feeling when someone who doesn’t initially care about the things in the story end up giving it a 5 star review! When you can convert someone to your genre, that’s a great accomplishment!
Because I haven't read your novel yet, this may be an insignificant question. Or maybe it could pertain to future works. Is there a line you draw when writing sex, language, and violence into your stories? To what degree are you comfortable including some more intense or steamy scenes?
Joyce: The line I draw for sex, language, violence or steamy scenes is determined again by the characteristics of my target reader group. For the Jillian Hillcrest series, my target readers want a hint of sex, but not graphic descriptions; they want language appropriate to the character -- so foul language is likely with some characters in certain situations, including my protagonist. They do not expect graphic violence -- even though these are murder mysteries. This series relies more on the puzzle, character development, suspense in solving the mystery, some romance, learning something, and a little humor. For other novels, that might change depending on the characteristics of those target readers.
I have pushed the line somewhat in the second Jillian Hillcrest mystery. So far my test readers like it and claim it is suspenseful. In addition, rather than decreasing the potentially offensive scene, my editor increased the intensity with the addition of some four-letter words to help reinforce my villain's reprehensibleness. My conclusion is that if I don't overuse violence or sex, and if it is part of the character's world, it will be an effective ploy to draw in the reader. I hasten to add that the scene I'm describing is minimal compared to many, but it's a stretch for the Jillian Hillcrest series.
Shawn: Sorry for the delay between questions here, had to mourn my New Orleans Saints loss yesterday... So where can people connect with you and pick up your book?
Joyce: Oh -- sorry about the Saints. I hesitate to tell you that I was on the other side. I lived in the Bay Area for many years, and I've been a 49er Faithful for more years than I care to count. I enjoyed the Montana/Young years and had almost given up on them in recent years. Regardless, Saturday's game was GREAT. Admittedly I was torn, because I've been routing for the Saints since Katrina. But old habits die hard.
First, people can connect with Jillian Hillcrest at her web-site (http://jillianhillcrest.com), blog (http://jillianhillcrest.com/blog) and Facebook page (http://tinyurl.com/8x9wdqc). She blogs about corporate intrigue at her company Harmonia, interesting dates with her ex-husband, Chad, and relevant news items such as how Steve Jobs changed the practice of PR, contributions by the media to expose corrupt governments, and recognition of the courage of reporters to bring us insight into world events, such as Mexico, where several have been killed to cover the drug cartels. On her Facebook page, readers can learn about the latest progress with the marketing of ON MESSAGE and her next books. She also offers clues to potential readers to solve a mystery to win free copies of ON MESSAGE (see "Jillian's Holiday Story").
To learn about Joyce T. Strand the author, or to purchase a book, go to my Webpage (http://joycestrand.com), which serves as a hub. You can learn more about the author, today's cases which inspired the Jillian Hillcrest mysteries, and a link to my blog "Strand's Simply Writing Tips" (http://joycestrand.com/joyceblog)
ON MESSAGE is available as an e-book at all the likely places, including for the Kindle, the Nook, I-book, mybookorders.com. Reviews are posted on Amazon.com. You can order a paperback version now at http://joycestrand.com and eventually at other retail outlets.
The next book in the Jillian Hillcrest mystery series, OPEN MEETINGS, should be available mid-2012. Jillian works with a local reporter concerned about his hometown police department.
Shawn: Well, thanks so much for spending the time here. It was very insightful to me, and I think people will enjoy what you had to share. Good luck!
NOTE: You can also view this interview on my website http://www.shawnhopkinsauthor.com You can also view my other interviews. If you are an author that is interested in being interviewed, go to my website and "contact" me:)
And please "like" this post if you in fact liked it:)
Joyce: Backstory: Born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania, I grew up with little organized entertainment. My parents didn't even get a TV until I was in college. I had no choice but to go on long bicycle hikes in the summer, ice skating in the winter -- and read lots of books. I especially became a mystery aficionado, and given my appreciation of Perry Mason, considered becoming a lawyer (until I looked at a law book). A small liberal arts college (Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA) taught me about the social sciences -- and the need for excellent writing -- and then I decided I needed a PhD. Technically, my first book was my doctoral dissertation. While finishing my degree at George Washington U. (Washington, D.C.), I met and married my husband within the same year. I do believe in "love at first sight." We are still married and have two children: one a music teacher (still employed) and the other a marketing analyst.
I sort of fell into my career of corporate communications -- in the beginning, marketing writing was the only job I could get given that a PhD in International Politics didn't help me enter the growing high-tech job market in California. I extended my writing skills to include press releases, tutorials, white papers, fact sheets, biographies, corporate presentations, SEC filing documents, by-lined articles for publication etc. After more than 25 years of serving as head of corporate communications at several high-tech and biotech companies in Silicon Valley, I found myself without employment. I was not happy. We needed to make house payments. My husband suggested I write a book. Seemed like a good idea. "What kind of book?" I asked. "Well, I'd suggest a mystery, since you like them so much." And that's how I became a writer of mysteries.
Shawn: Is your fiction tied into your work experience?
Joyce: My fiction is definitely tied into my work experience. ON MESSAGE is set in a small biotech company in the San Francisco Bay Area -- where I served as the head of corporate communications at several small biotechs. I drew on my experiences and knowledge of the industry to create the background and the characters -- especially Jillian Hillcrest. However, my characters, the company Harmonia Therapeutics, and the lupus product are all fictional. I hasten to add that I never encountered murder in my 25-year career. For that I turned to current events. Each of the Jillian Hillcrest books was inspired by a current case or cases in the news. ON MESSAGE grew out of a case in San Diego that involved the murder of an angel investor who was a former biotech executive. To assure credible police procedure descriptions, I consulted with several retired police detectives.
Shawn: Well, it sounds like I'm going to have to pick that up! Murder, intrigue, and conspiracy in the biotech world scares the crap out of me! I’m actually reading a book with a similar theme right now that is making me very uneasy... Anyway, to your writing process. What's your method? Do you outline? Do you know how the novel is going to end before you start? What do you already have in your bag of tricks when you go to type the first sentence?
Joyce: Describing my approach to writing as a "method" is a bit of a stretch. I tend to "just do it" with the attitude that I can always rewrite it.
However, admittedly when I do sit down to write, at least for the Jillian Hillcrest series, I have decided on: (1) a chosen case in the news on which to draw and how it relates to my protagonist; (2) an opening scene; (3) a list of characters and their traits -- this often expands as the book progresses; (4) a puzzle, its solution, and one or two red herrings. When I write the opening scene, I let the characters lead me to the next scene and frequently I don't know where that will be, but it must lead us to the puzzle and its solution. It helps that I spent my career performing the same functions as Jillian.
I like to write in large blocks of time, but I also like to write over a period of a few months because the characters like to grow and feel their way. As I'm writing each draft, I make a list of facts I need to check, such as, police procedures, nomenclature, and titles; psychological profiles; biotech products, and drive- time between locations. These are all important for a credible book, although I don't let the need for them slow down the writing process.
I do not let anyone see the book-in-progress. I wait until I have completed a first draft. I don't want anyone to influence the characters until they've had their say. When I complete the first draft of a book, I first ask my husband and a very helpful sister-in-law to read it and let me know what they like and don't like. Then I re-write to develop a second draft. I send the second draft to other members of my family and friends who won't be too cruel but who will give me constructive input. That leads to the third draft. This is the draft I send to the professional editor for the final rewrite.
Shawn: How do you feel about the re-writing process and editing? Is it a process you enjoy? How long does it typically take you and how much ends up being changed? I hate rewriting and editing!
Joyce: The rewriting and editing process takes me as long as writing an initial draft. I produce at least four drafts of a 90,000 word book -- and frequently I rewrite sections within each draft multiple times. Typically I don't change the core of the book, but often I add scenes and characters, and I definitely delete passages. In my first book I added 10,000 words; in my next book I deleted 5000 and then added a different 3000. I struggle mostly with endings and rewrite them the most.
There are parts of rewriting that I actually enjoy, especially because in most instances the rewrite makes the book better. That's probably more a reflection of my reviewers' skills than my editing ability. Expanding characterization to explain motivation, adding scenes to build suspense, or even cutting pages to assure momentum -- these are all creative rewrites, and can be as interesting as writing the initial prose.
However, I admit that there are tedious parts of editing and rewriting that are more mechanical than creative. To discover typos and grammatical errors, I read the final draft from beginning to end at least three times myself -- both on paper and on the screen. This reviewing is tedious and I frequently need to remind myself that I owe it to my readers to give them an error-free book (at least that's the goal). I also remind myself that if I wasn't editing my book, I'd be pulling weeds, cleaning toilets, or scrubbing the floors. That helps.
Shawn: Yeah, I've found that it saves me a lot of time to print out the manuscript and read it out loud, marking it with a pen. Otherwise, I tend to just glance over the mistakes, reading them a dozen times without picking up on them. And, though I hate rewriting, you are correct in that the end product is usually far superior as a result. My second novel was 193,000 words when I was submitting it to literary agents. The one I ended up working with wanted me to whittle it down to 120,000. I managed to get it to 173,000 and hated every deletion. However, I later decided to repackage the novel for a broader audience, and, not having been in the novel for a couple of years, I was detached enough to take it to task. I was able to get it to 123,000.
Anyway, when you write, I mean, when you settle down for one of those LONG writing binges. What is your ideal setting? What do you need to be drinking, chewing, wearing... What do your surroundings look like?
Joyce: For long writing binges I prefer sitting dressed in comfortable, baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants at my grandmother's antique desk in a spare bedroom I use as an office. Sitting at a desk says, "Time to work. Get to it!" I particularly like this setting because the desk is in front of a large window to the front yard of our house. A small gurgling fountain right by the window attracts all kinds of birds and bees. It's fun to watch the birds try to get a drink from the running water. Also roadrunners trot by frequently, one recently with a struggling gecko in its mouth. Occasionally a hawk descends. This outside activity is truly entertaining for purposes of procrastination.
Despite the entertaining distractions, I have found that I am most productive in this setting. In the morning, I accompany my efforts with coffee, which, like my protagonist Jillian, I prepare from freshly ground beans daily. In the afternoon, I drink water -- just regular filtered water. I confess that I take frequent breaks, and do little chores around the house -- as little as possible. However, I have written up to 5000 words a day in multiple consecutive days in this setting. So when I walk into the room and sit down at that desk -- I'm ready to go.
Shawn: 5,000 words a day? Can I borrow your desk and drink your coffee? Sheesh. Okay, I think I have a strange question for you. So you're a woman author... Being a woman, not only as a writer but as a reader, do you notice any kind of difference between male and female writers as it pertains to their fictional work? I guess most female authors would use a female POV, although I guess I've read plenty of male authors using a female as their main character, so maybe I'm just assuming that. I know I wouldn't use a female POV, because I feel like girls would be able to see through it and cry out, "A stupid man wrote this!" My aunt told me the other day that she doesn't read male authors, that she picks women authors over men. And I started to think that I tend to do the same. Granted, I tend to associate (wrongly) women authors with the romance genre, and that probably has something to do with it... Actually, I read a book called ANGELOLOGY that was written by a woman and I loved the lyrical quality it had. It was almost poetic. It had...shall I say a "softer" touch than most books I've read before. It made me want to read more female authors, because I wanted to try and capture some of that elegance to use in my own, more brutish writing. So set me straight, what are the ins and outs of writing fiction from a woman's perspective? Do you think it's different?
Joyce: As a writer, I tend to favor female characters because I do believe that I can describe them more realistically. As a woman, I comprehend the experiences encountered by women and can describe their reactions with more authority. Similarly, I favor writing about American over non-American; middle-class over wealthy or dirt-poor; Caucasian over non-Caucasian -- because that is my point of view. At some point in the future, I plan to depart from this approach and write from a different point-of-view, but I anticipate the need for additional research to make such endeavors credible.
However, when I choose books to read, I do not consider if the author is male or female. In the mystery genre, Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle both wrote intricate plots with interesting heroes and villains. Certainly Mary Higgins Clark does not back off from dark villains -- I still feel an adrenaline rush when I recall one of her heroines being locked in a coffin buried alive. Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell and Nora Roberts/JD Robb are examples of successful current female mystery writers who pen compelling, interesting well-written stories. I am equally enthusiastic about reading books by the male gender -- John Grisham, Mike Connelly, Rex Stout, and James Patterson -- because they are well-written with intriguing plots.
On the other hand, as a woman, I do not take offense at "male chauvinist" authors such as Raymond Chandler, if the writing is good and the mystery is solid -- and there is a semi-respectful undertone. Philip Marlowe basically respects his secretary, even though he might call her "doll".
Outside of the mystery genre, with which I'm most familiar, I tend to favor historical novels or biographies. My favorite all-time author is James Clavell and SHOGUN is my favorite novel. Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is still at the top of my list -- and if she chose Truman Capote as her editor--good job. My favorite historical biographies include Doris Goodwin's TEAM OF RIVALS and David McCullough's JOHN ADAMS -- again both well-written. I certainly could not detect that one is written by a man and the other by a woman.
Throughout my career I operated within the male-dominated corporate environment. I do believe that there is a Glass Ceiling that makes it difficult, although not impossible, for women to advance. Therefore, I do admit to a bias today towards new female authors -- sort of to help balance the playing field. However, bottom line, the gender of the author is not what determines a good book -- rather, it's the writing!
Shawn: I agree! Sometimes people can be ignorant about certain cultures or people groups, and their ignorance breeds intolerance and arrogance. I'd like someday to be able to write through diverse POVs, but like you, right now I don't think I could do an adequate job of properly representing the people I'd be writing on behalf of.
What about future works? Have any epics up your sleeve? Do you think that you've found your niche and will be settling in there for a while, or would you cross genres if an idea hit you?
Joyce: I have plans for several future works. My goal is to write three Jillian Hillcrest mysteries. I have published the first; the second is almost ready to go for copyrighting; and I have decided on the plot for the third. Once I finish the trio, I want to research and write a 1940s mystery with a judge as the central character -- a male judge. I'm also working with a colleague on a Management book. At some point, I may return to the Jillian Hillcrest series -- just have to see how plausible more murders are in the life of a pubic relations executive's life. I have many ideas, and am open to others. I want to make up for all those years of not writing my own novels! I really enjoy the art and practice of writing.
Shawn: That's sounds like a good read! Ok, author to author, how do you handle negative reviews? I just got my first, and it's bugging me. Of course I'm only assuming you've had one, not that you deserve one, but whether you're Stephen King or John Grisham, someone is going to put you down at some point. So, do they bother you like they bother me, or am I just a big baby?
Joyce: I am a recently published author so have not yet experienced the dreaded negative review. However, I will not handle it well. I have practiced somewhat with the informal criticism I've received from family and friends. I'm not talking about the input I solicited prior to publication -- I want that input. I'm talking about off-the-cuff remarks like, "I found the first 50 pages boring." When I get over my vetting, and try to engage my mind, I consider the criticism to try to improve my writing. First, however, I wait a few days before doing anything to try to objectify the point. Then I ask "Is the criticism legitimate?" Assuming that I can be objective, I do my best to evaluate it.
The second consideration is: Does the criticism fall within the criteria of my target reader? If a review says there is too much character development, or they really don't want to learn anything -- well, I have to somewhat ignore that because my target readers for the Jillian Hillcrest series do. They like puzzles, want to learn something, like character development, etc. As I try to find that group, I will need to forego those readers who don't like the type of book my target readers enjoy. I think this will be the most difficult objective to observe, but I believe it will pay off with a more devoted readership.
One peripheral point: given my 25 years of experience as a corporate communications practitioner, I am accustomed to receiving "help" writing press releases, white papers, by-lined articles, fact sheets, etc. So to some extent I have practiced receiving negative input. However, I hastily add, that it is different when the story is my own rather than a corporate one.
Shawn: Yeah, I had a couple reviews saying there was too much information in my book. Well, to me, a lot of information in a book makes the book worth having on your shelf. I include a bibliography because I want people to be stimulated by the information and start wondering about these things themselves. So the people that think there’s too much info obviously don't share the same fascination with the things I'm writing about -- which is fine, because as you said, they are not my target audience. However, it’s also a great feeling when someone who doesn’t initially care about the things in the story end up giving it a 5 star review! When you can convert someone to your genre, that’s a great accomplishment!
Because I haven't read your novel yet, this may be an insignificant question. Or maybe it could pertain to future works. Is there a line you draw when writing sex, language, and violence into your stories? To what degree are you comfortable including some more intense or steamy scenes?
Joyce: The line I draw for sex, language, violence or steamy scenes is determined again by the characteristics of my target reader group. For the Jillian Hillcrest series, my target readers want a hint of sex, but not graphic descriptions; they want language appropriate to the character -- so foul language is likely with some characters in certain situations, including my protagonist. They do not expect graphic violence -- even though these are murder mysteries. This series relies more on the puzzle, character development, suspense in solving the mystery, some romance, learning something, and a little humor. For other novels, that might change depending on the characteristics of those target readers.
I have pushed the line somewhat in the second Jillian Hillcrest mystery. So far my test readers like it and claim it is suspenseful. In addition, rather than decreasing the potentially offensive scene, my editor increased the intensity with the addition of some four-letter words to help reinforce my villain's reprehensibleness. My conclusion is that if I don't overuse violence or sex, and if it is part of the character's world, it will be an effective ploy to draw in the reader. I hasten to add that the scene I'm describing is minimal compared to many, but it's a stretch for the Jillian Hillcrest series.
Shawn: Sorry for the delay between questions here, had to mourn my New Orleans Saints loss yesterday... So where can people connect with you and pick up your book?
Joyce: Oh -- sorry about the Saints. I hesitate to tell you that I was on the other side. I lived in the Bay Area for many years, and I've been a 49er Faithful for more years than I care to count. I enjoyed the Montana/Young years and had almost given up on them in recent years. Regardless, Saturday's game was GREAT. Admittedly I was torn, because I've been routing for the Saints since Katrina. But old habits die hard.
First, people can connect with Jillian Hillcrest at her web-site (http://jillianhillcrest.com), blog (http://jillianhillcrest.com/blog) and Facebook page (http://tinyurl.com/8x9wdqc). She blogs about corporate intrigue at her company Harmonia, interesting dates with her ex-husband, Chad, and relevant news items such as how Steve Jobs changed the practice of PR, contributions by the media to expose corrupt governments, and recognition of the courage of reporters to bring us insight into world events, such as Mexico, where several have been killed to cover the drug cartels. On her Facebook page, readers can learn about the latest progress with the marketing of ON MESSAGE and her next books. She also offers clues to potential readers to solve a mystery to win free copies of ON MESSAGE (see "Jillian's Holiday Story").
To learn about Joyce T. Strand the author, or to purchase a book, go to my Webpage (http://joycestrand.com), which serves as a hub. You can learn more about the author, today's cases which inspired the Jillian Hillcrest mysteries, and a link to my blog "Strand's Simply Writing Tips" (http://joycestrand.com/joyceblog)
ON MESSAGE is available as an e-book at all the likely places, including for the Kindle, the Nook, I-book, mybookorders.com. Reviews are posted on Amazon.com. You can order a paperback version now at http://joycestrand.com and eventually at other retail outlets.
The next book in the Jillian Hillcrest mystery series, OPEN MEETINGS, should be available mid-2012. Jillian works with a local reporter concerned about his hometown police department.
Shawn: Well, thanks so much for spending the time here. It was very insightful to me, and I think people will enjoy what you had to share. Good luck!
NOTE: You can also view this interview on my website http://www.shawnhopkinsauthor.com You can also view my other interviews. If you are an author that is interested in being interviewed, go to my website and "contact" me:)
And please "like" this post if you in fact liked it:)
Author Interview with UK's Chris Thompson
Q1. Hi Chris! Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions! So we'll start with the basics. Who are you, where are you, and how did you start writing?
Chris: Here goes... My name is Chris Thompson and I work as a teacher in a comprehensive school near Bournemouth in England, UK. I've had a rich working life, being a heating engineer, prison inspector, even a BBC journalist for a time. But no matter what I did, I always had this desire to write. Notwithstanding this passion, and without seeming to make excuses, life always seemed to throw something at me which thwarted any serious attempts to knuckle down to write. I guess it's the same for most of us. So about six years ago, I thought “enough excuses, just get on with it,” and I did. It was a journey full of delusions and dead-ends. Many ideas didn't have legs and ended up a 'saved' file on my laptop. However, Flight of the Stone differed; it wouldn't go away. As a teacher there are some really busy times where you have to devout 110% of your time, and writing gets put on hold for months at a time. Yet still the story continued playing in my mind. I realize this sounds 'arty-farty' but it was as if the characters I created were alive and weren't going to rest idle because I was teaching — so I stuck at it until the story was completed. All in all, it was an amazing experience.
Q2. That's great that you stuck with it. It must have been an amazing experience to finally hold the finished product in your hands. What can you tell us about the story? You have me intrigued.
Chris: Flight of the Stone is essentially a story about a boy’s rite-of-passage. Elliot’s life changes when he throws a stone after being chased into a wooded copse by a pair of bullies. The flight of this stone sets off a chain of events; events which the reader can decide whether it was his destiny to fulfill or not. His subsequent adventures draw in his friends and attract the attention of some nasty creatures called Fuddles who are led by this vicious fellow called Larc. Though these characters are imaginary, most of the story is set around where I live, which is a beautiful part of England called Christchurch. I decided to do this in order to offset the fantasy aspect of the story, so it had an element of plausibility. This was because Elliot discovers he can use leylines to travel across vast distances of time and space, which does seem very far-fetched and fanciful. So when I was thinking about the story, I was able to visit many of the historical landmarks around Christchurch and imagine my characters facing their challenges in these places. For me, at least, it all became very real. Going back to my earlier point, I think this is what helped give the story legs so I could see it through to the end. Even the wood and the tree which the stone hits exists; as does the thorny hollow Elliot jumps into. I find the balance between fantasy and reality is narrowing, especially with the development of technology. Just look at the iPhone, 30 years ago such a device would have been pure fantasy, more Start Trek than reality.
Q3. Ley lines! I use them in my novel, too! Well, the story has caught my attention, and I'll be picking it up for sure. That's great that you were able to see the locations you were writing about. I was able to visit Bermuda a couple of times before I wrote about it in PROGENY. Of course, Google Earth and tourist maps still came in handy, but actually being there was invaluable. I think a dream of mine is to find a location for a future project and go spend a few months there during the writing process. That would be quite an adventure, and I'm jealous that you live in such a place:) Is there a process you follow as far as gathering information and inspiration? Do you carry a notepad and pen on your walks, or does it all come to you at the keyboard?
Chris: I don't tend to write anything down when the ideas are flooding through. Instead, I just let the ideas germinate in my mind. But like you say, what is useful is immersing yourself in the landscape you're writing about. So living where I do helps so much. But as Sam (one of my characters) reflects in the story, sometimes we fail to notice much of what's around us. Our lives are so hectic we often travel distances without realizing how we got there. For me, the writer stops to examine the mundane; to look at things from a fresh perspective and see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This is what I had to get Elliot and his two friends Miles and Abbi to do. That's why I chose to use leylines and historical buildings. They were a means through which my characters could explore the story's themes. Particularly their relationships between each other and the world around them. I also wanted them to look at the boundary between the past and the present as it's often more blurred than we realize. Hopefully I did all this while keeping the story readable and accessible.
Q4. I like to ask authors about their ideal writing conditions, probably because mine have yet to become a reality (ever try writing on a couch with a 1-year old trying to hit the keys, a 2-year old saying, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy..." and your wife talking on the phone next to you? Yeah, that's been my writing world.) So I’m giving you supernatural power over the weather — what are you programming for your writing? I’m also providing you with whatever you want to eat and drink — what is it? I can arrange for you to stay anywhere you need to — where is it? I’ve also supplied you with a wardrobe — what are you wearing from it? Also, from your location, you have all kinds of views — which are you choosing? You get the idea...
Chris: It's an interesting question, but one that I've never considered until now. The reason being, as a school teacher there are very few opportunities to plan any writing. This is mainly due to teaching at ALevel which means there's a constant flow of essays to mark and feedback on. This gets worse during the two exam periods. Therefore I'm constantly snatching at any opportunity to write with both hands. Having an iPhone has helped, especially at weekends if I'm out with the family. For example, it allows me to write while in the train or waiting around a shopping centre. The thought of setting aside any dedicated time is an alien one at the moment. Of course there are the holidays but, like you say, even then it's a balancing act particularly when you've children.
Q5. So you've never fantasized about being all alone somewhere for a long time? I dream of that every day! I'd love to rent a place at the beach during the winter. Maybe someday. Is there any impression you're hoping to leave on your readers, a message they may take from the story?
Chris: There's no specific message as such. I just hope if people get around to reading Flight of the Stone they will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. But then thinking about your question again, maybe I'd like my readers to take with them the sense of optimism which drives the story; especially for younger readers. Even when facing some tough challenges, Elliot and his friends never give up. It's a theme which will continue into the sequel even though they're sure to face some really demanding situations.
Q6. So you have a sequel in the works? Is it going to be a series? Given all your past attempts at writing and the way in which FLIGHT OF THE STONE grabbed you, do you see yourself eventually writing more novels in different genres?
Chris: Yes I've already started on the sequel because friends who'd read Flight of the Stone felt a sequel was a natural progression from where the story ended. Indeed some of them insisted!! Having said that, I think you're correct in assuming that one day I'd like to write a novel in another genre. I have a couple of ideas which seem to be getting their own momentum — always a good sign. But for the moment I'm going to continue working with Elliot and his friends, as they seem to have several formidable adventures coming their way. Particularly with those nauseating Fuddles growing in strength and Larc so desperate for those missing stones that he'll do anything.
Q7. So how has it been so far with the whole self promotion thing? Have you discovered any methods that seem to have worked for you?
Chris: It's still early days for me and I'm learning as I'm going. Naturally word-of-mouth got the ball rolling but as you can imagine this only takes you so far. Then Facebook 'friends' and a dedicated Facebook page picked up the ball. However, what really seems to work is IndieKindle and WoMen's Literary Café. They really put the effort in. Their Twitter and Facebook feeds help sustain a book’s profile. Plus I'm hoping they'll be able to review my book over the coming months. Then, last but by no means least, there's this interview with you. I just take the stance that everything helps — Rome wasn't built in a day. Little by little, piece by piece, ones creation finds its readership, it's niche if you like. What I like, like most authors I guess, is the feedback. It was the initial comments from friends which gave me the confidence to promote my work, as I'll admit that I'm not a natural self-publicist. So once one or two people said they were amazed at what I created, I became confident to push my work. The only frustration is some people don't like posting their comments on Amazon etc. I guess they too aren't natural publicists. But I understand where they're coming from.
Q8. Is there any period in history that fascinates you enough to one day set a story in it?
Chris: That's a fascinating question mainly because it is one of the themes in Flight of the Stone; the relationship between the past and the present. In the novel, Elliot's journeys blur the boundaries of time. He comes to realize that much of the past exists in the present, not just with historical landmarks but ideas and beliefs. I also use his capacity to travel in the way he does so I can locate his adventures in particular periods of the past which interest me. This idea is used even more in the sequel. It's not a new idea, I just want readers to consider how much of the past occupies our present, even in our own lives. Having said that, it's not a 'serious' story. It's driven by humor. Indeed, my copy-editor commented on how much warmth the humor gave to the characters, particularly Dylan, Elliot's chaperone. That was an interesting question!
Q9. That sounds like a great component to your story, and I'm excited to read it. When you're not working or writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Chris: When I'm not writing or working, I tend to take things as they come. Such as family activities, particularly walking. Living beside such a fantastic part of the UK means there are so many outside activities to get involved in. I guess it's all about finding the right balance between work, rest and play. Once you do that, everyone's happy and the imagination is free to roam.
Q10. That’s awesome! Again, I can’t wait to read it, and I wish you all the best as you continue in your writing adventures. Where can readers find FLIGHT OF THE STONE and get in touch with you?
Chris: My novel Flight of the Stone is available as an ebook on Amazon. If anyone would like to contact me they can at christhomp@aol.com. I can be followed on Twitter @TwySoc
Thanks, Chris! Good luck!
Chris: Here goes... My name is Chris Thompson and I work as a teacher in a comprehensive school near Bournemouth in England, UK. I've had a rich working life, being a heating engineer, prison inspector, even a BBC journalist for a time. But no matter what I did, I always had this desire to write. Notwithstanding this passion, and without seeming to make excuses, life always seemed to throw something at me which thwarted any serious attempts to knuckle down to write. I guess it's the same for most of us. So about six years ago, I thought “enough excuses, just get on with it,” and I did. It was a journey full of delusions and dead-ends. Many ideas didn't have legs and ended up a 'saved' file on my laptop. However, Flight of the Stone differed; it wouldn't go away. As a teacher there are some really busy times where you have to devout 110% of your time, and writing gets put on hold for months at a time. Yet still the story continued playing in my mind. I realize this sounds 'arty-farty' but it was as if the characters I created were alive and weren't going to rest idle because I was teaching — so I stuck at it until the story was completed. All in all, it was an amazing experience.
Q2. That's great that you stuck with it. It must have been an amazing experience to finally hold the finished product in your hands. What can you tell us about the story? You have me intrigued.
Chris: Flight of the Stone is essentially a story about a boy’s rite-of-passage. Elliot’s life changes when he throws a stone after being chased into a wooded copse by a pair of bullies. The flight of this stone sets off a chain of events; events which the reader can decide whether it was his destiny to fulfill or not. His subsequent adventures draw in his friends and attract the attention of some nasty creatures called Fuddles who are led by this vicious fellow called Larc. Though these characters are imaginary, most of the story is set around where I live, which is a beautiful part of England called Christchurch. I decided to do this in order to offset the fantasy aspect of the story, so it had an element of plausibility. This was because Elliot discovers he can use leylines to travel across vast distances of time and space, which does seem very far-fetched and fanciful. So when I was thinking about the story, I was able to visit many of the historical landmarks around Christchurch and imagine my characters facing their challenges in these places. For me, at least, it all became very real. Going back to my earlier point, I think this is what helped give the story legs so I could see it through to the end. Even the wood and the tree which the stone hits exists; as does the thorny hollow Elliot jumps into. I find the balance between fantasy and reality is narrowing, especially with the development of technology. Just look at the iPhone, 30 years ago such a device would have been pure fantasy, more Start Trek than reality.
Q3. Ley lines! I use them in my novel, too! Well, the story has caught my attention, and I'll be picking it up for sure. That's great that you were able to see the locations you were writing about. I was able to visit Bermuda a couple of times before I wrote about it in PROGENY. Of course, Google Earth and tourist maps still came in handy, but actually being there was invaluable. I think a dream of mine is to find a location for a future project and go spend a few months there during the writing process. That would be quite an adventure, and I'm jealous that you live in such a place:) Is there a process you follow as far as gathering information and inspiration? Do you carry a notepad and pen on your walks, or does it all come to you at the keyboard?
Chris: I don't tend to write anything down when the ideas are flooding through. Instead, I just let the ideas germinate in my mind. But like you say, what is useful is immersing yourself in the landscape you're writing about. So living where I do helps so much. But as Sam (one of my characters) reflects in the story, sometimes we fail to notice much of what's around us. Our lives are so hectic we often travel distances without realizing how we got there. For me, the writer stops to examine the mundane; to look at things from a fresh perspective and see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This is what I had to get Elliot and his two friends Miles and Abbi to do. That's why I chose to use leylines and historical buildings. They were a means through which my characters could explore the story's themes. Particularly their relationships between each other and the world around them. I also wanted them to look at the boundary between the past and the present as it's often more blurred than we realize. Hopefully I did all this while keeping the story readable and accessible.
Q4. I like to ask authors about their ideal writing conditions, probably because mine have yet to become a reality (ever try writing on a couch with a 1-year old trying to hit the keys, a 2-year old saying, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy..." and your wife talking on the phone next to you? Yeah, that's been my writing world.) So I’m giving you supernatural power over the weather — what are you programming for your writing? I’m also providing you with whatever you want to eat and drink — what is it? I can arrange for you to stay anywhere you need to — where is it? I’ve also supplied you with a wardrobe — what are you wearing from it? Also, from your location, you have all kinds of views — which are you choosing? You get the idea...
Chris: It's an interesting question, but one that I've never considered until now. The reason being, as a school teacher there are very few opportunities to plan any writing. This is mainly due to teaching at ALevel which means there's a constant flow of essays to mark and feedback on. This gets worse during the two exam periods. Therefore I'm constantly snatching at any opportunity to write with both hands. Having an iPhone has helped, especially at weekends if I'm out with the family. For example, it allows me to write while in the train or waiting around a shopping centre. The thought of setting aside any dedicated time is an alien one at the moment. Of course there are the holidays but, like you say, even then it's a balancing act particularly when you've children.
Q5. So you've never fantasized about being all alone somewhere for a long time? I dream of that every day! I'd love to rent a place at the beach during the winter. Maybe someday. Is there any impression you're hoping to leave on your readers, a message they may take from the story?
Chris: There's no specific message as such. I just hope if people get around to reading Flight of the Stone they will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. But then thinking about your question again, maybe I'd like my readers to take with them the sense of optimism which drives the story; especially for younger readers. Even when facing some tough challenges, Elliot and his friends never give up. It's a theme which will continue into the sequel even though they're sure to face some really demanding situations.
Q6. So you have a sequel in the works? Is it going to be a series? Given all your past attempts at writing and the way in which FLIGHT OF THE STONE grabbed you, do you see yourself eventually writing more novels in different genres?
Chris: Yes I've already started on the sequel because friends who'd read Flight of the Stone felt a sequel was a natural progression from where the story ended. Indeed some of them insisted!! Having said that, I think you're correct in assuming that one day I'd like to write a novel in another genre. I have a couple of ideas which seem to be getting their own momentum — always a good sign. But for the moment I'm going to continue working with Elliot and his friends, as they seem to have several formidable adventures coming their way. Particularly with those nauseating Fuddles growing in strength and Larc so desperate for those missing stones that he'll do anything.
Q7. So how has it been so far with the whole self promotion thing? Have you discovered any methods that seem to have worked for you?
Chris: It's still early days for me and I'm learning as I'm going. Naturally word-of-mouth got the ball rolling but as you can imagine this only takes you so far. Then Facebook 'friends' and a dedicated Facebook page picked up the ball. However, what really seems to work is IndieKindle and WoMen's Literary Café. They really put the effort in. Their Twitter and Facebook feeds help sustain a book’s profile. Plus I'm hoping they'll be able to review my book over the coming months. Then, last but by no means least, there's this interview with you. I just take the stance that everything helps — Rome wasn't built in a day. Little by little, piece by piece, ones creation finds its readership, it's niche if you like. What I like, like most authors I guess, is the feedback. It was the initial comments from friends which gave me the confidence to promote my work, as I'll admit that I'm not a natural self-publicist. So once one or two people said they were amazed at what I created, I became confident to push my work. The only frustration is some people don't like posting their comments on Amazon etc. I guess they too aren't natural publicists. But I understand where they're coming from.
Q8. Is there any period in history that fascinates you enough to one day set a story in it?
Chris: That's a fascinating question mainly because it is one of the themes in Flight of the Stone; the relationship between the past and the present. In the novel, Elliot's journeys blur the boundaries of time. He comes to realize that much of the past exists in the present, not just with historical landmarks but ideas and beliefs. I also use his capacity to travel in the way he does so I can locate his adventures in particular periods of the past which interest me. This idea is used even more in the sequel. It's not a new idea, I just want readers to consider how much of the past occupies our present, even in our own lives. Having said that, it's not a 'serious' story. It's driven by humor. Indeed, my copy-editor commented on how much warmth the humor gave to the characters, particularly Dylan, Elliot's chaperone. That was an interesting question!
Q9. That sounds like a great component to your story, and I'm excited to read it. When you're not working or writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Chris: When I'm not writing or working, I tend to take things as they come. Such as family activities, particularly walking. Living beside such a fantastic part of the UK means there are so many outside activities to get involved in. I guess it's all about finding the right balance between work, rest and play. Once you do that, everyone's happy and the imagination is free to roam.
Q10. That’s awesome! Again, I can’t wait to read it, and I wish you all the best as you continue in your writing adventures. Where can readers find FLIGHT OF THE STONE and get in touch with you?
Chris: My novel Flight of the Stone is available as an ebook on Amazon. If anyone would like to contact me they can at christhomp@aol.com. I can be followed on Twitter @TwySoc
Thanks, Chris! Good luck!
Heidi Ruby Miller stops by on her VBT!
First, I want to thank Heidi for stopping by and including my blog here in one of her tour stops. I'm very excited to be part of this event, and I hope you all enjoy it as well. So let's jump in and learn something about the author of Ambasadora and the newly released, Greenshift. And be sure to participate in the drawing (details following interview).
Shawn: So, Heidi, thank you for being here. I'm honored to have you! I guess we'll start out with the basics... Who are you, where do you come from, when and why did you start to write?
Heidi: I'm Heidi Ruby Miller, lover of SF, Chanel, and action movies. I started to write seriously in 2005 when I enrolled in Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction graduate program. It was a bit of a forced transition in my life, and considering I had dabbled in writing since elementary school, I decided to give it all I had. That changed my life, and I now feel I'm doing what I was always meant to do.
Shawn: Tell us about Ambasadora, where did the inspiration for it come from?
Heidi: Different aspects of Ambasadora were inspired by everything from an ex-boyfriend who hated the idea that I didn’t want children to my fixation on SF movies and TV shows, like The Fifth Element and Farscape. Mostly, I followed my dreams, both those at night and all through the day.
Shawn: The genre it's in, is it one that you plan to be in for a while, or do you have other cross-genre projects in the works?
Heidi: All of my stories are speculative in nature (SF, Fantasy, Horror, Magical Realism), but I have really found a happiness with SF Romance—not only the space opera style like the Ambasadora-verse books, but also contemporary Earth-based SFR like Atomic Zion, the start of another series which I'm hoping will be released next year. It has more of a thriller feel, though even in Ambasadora and Greenshift I tend to keep the story at a fast pace.
Shawn: If you could write about any period in human history, where would you take us? Any fascination with a particular time and its characteristics?
Heidi: The future for sure. I'm drawn to the alien-ness of it, even if we never make contact with actual aliens.
Shawn: How about a specific issue? If writing a non-fiction work that would go down in history as a world-changing book, what issue would you write on?
Heidi: I co-edited (with Michael A. Arnzen) the writing guide, Many Genres, One Craft, which is based on Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction graduate program, and though this hefty volume of 65 bestselling and award-winning contributors may not change the world, I hope it will give writers at any stage in their career that little something they need from time to time. It's coming out in an e-version this year.
Shawn: Any hobbies other than writing?
Heidi: I practice yoga and do cardio daily, and I rekindled my love of reading through my…Kindle! My husband and I also go to the movies regularly and hike as often as we can.
Shawn: What's a normal day in the life of Heidi Ruby Miller like?
Heidi: I get up at 5:30 or 6:00 AM, stretch out in a nice yoga routine, then get breakfast for my husband and me. Then I write before anything else. I adopted a new strategy this year to be more productive with my writing—WRITE FIRST. Sounds simple enough, but it was difficult not to immediately check email, FB, Twitter, and Goodreads. But since applying this new strategy, I had the most productive January of my life: 2 freelance magazine articles, a first draft of a Philip Jose Farmer short story, my Geek Girl Underground column for Inveterate Media Junkies (IMJ), 5,000 words on another book in the Ambasadora-verse, and an extra 20,000 words plus revisions on Greenshift to make it a novel instead of a novella. Plus a ton of interviews for Greenshift's launch. We'll see how long I can keep up that pace.
Shawn: What advice would you offer to authors just coming out of the gate with a published book in their hands but who may be confused as to what they should be doing next?
Heidi: I hate to parrot advice we've probably all heard a dozen times, but write the next book. The writing is the most important part, whether for career or strictly creative purposes. Yes, there's marketing to be done, but having more products available is the best marketing strategy out there. If you can split your time between marketing and writing, that's probably a good option.
Shawn: So what's your favorite movie?
Heidi: There are quite a few, but I always come back to The Fifth Element because it’s how I envision the future. It's not dirty and dystopic, but bright and shiny. That's probably why I made the Ambasadora-verse so shiny and pretty. Because I think it's always more shocking when bad things happen in a world full of beauty and smiles than in one where everyone is already wearing rags and drinking from acid rain puddles.Maybe I just like the fashion. ;)
Shawn: Do you read novels alongside writing your own? Why or why not?
Heidi: Yes! I'm an avid reader. It took a while for me to enjoy reading for the sake of reading again after grad school, but I'm back. I read in most genres, but particularly enjoy spec-fic and thrillers. Right now I'm finishing Grimspace by Ann Aguirre and Progeny by some guy named Shawn Hopkins. My husband and I also have a tradition where I read out loud to him in the car. We've read 20+ books this way. Right now we're in the middle of The Exile Kiss by George Alec Effinger.
Shawn. Are there any particular tactics you've used in promoting your writing that has worked rather effectively?
Heidi: I'm active on Twitter, FB, and Goodreads. I see spikes in my sales after I post snippets of my work and after one of my IMJ columns goes live, but nothing about this promotion stuff has been consistent. In fact, I'm slowly backing off the social media and concentrating on the writing right now.The most important thing that drives sales is a high rank on Amazon—because it's self-perpetuating as your book keeps showing up in recommendations. Trying to figure out how to maintain that high rank is really just hit or miss or pure luck. But many writers have proven that the more books you have available, the more readers are willing to give you a chance. With the way the industry is in constant flux, however, what works for one author will most likely not work exactly that way for another.
Shawn: If Hollywood wanted the rights to Ambasadora and your only stipulation was that you had a say in who starred as Sara, who would it be?
Heidi: I think Mila Kunis would make a great Sara. She can play tough and vulnerable, and she'd look even hotter with bio-lights pulsing up her arm.
Shawn: Do you write yourself into your characters, whether intentionally or subconsciously? How closely do you relate to them?
Heidi: All of my characters, whether hero or villain, are some aspect of me or some warped sense of me. I tried to pretend they weren't, especially some of the more vile antagonists, but they all came from my head. Not that I'm prone to their actions, but it's my personal schema that gave them life.
Shawn: What is the one idea or message that you hope your readers take from Ambasadora?
Heidi: All of my books have the theme of strength through a lover. Knowing there is one person in the entire universe that you are close to in so many ways, and it is that one person who would do anything to protect you, to make sure you're happy, to fight for you and love you. Add in a life and death situation and suddenly you're testing that strength—the emotion that comes out of that is like eating a whole box of candy and washing it down with chocolate milk.
Shawn: Anything you want to tell us that hasn't been hit on yet?
Heidi: If you'd like to get both Ambasadora and Greenshift at a discount, there is a bundle for $4.99. That's almost a $2.00 savings for 160,000 words!
Shawn: Well, I'm enjoying Ambasadora and certainly can't wait to see how it ends. Where can people get a copy of it and all your books?
Heidi: AMAZON –http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZR9WOY
And Greenshift can now be purchased from AMAZON, too. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00788320W
Shawn: And where can they find, follow, like, and touch base with you?
Heidi: BLOG – http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com
TWITTER – http://twitter.com/heidirubymiller
FACEBOOK – http://www.facebook.com/heidirubymill...
GOODREADS - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Shawn: Thanks so much, Heidi! It was a pleasure getting to chat with you. Good luck on the rest of your tour!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
To be in the drawing to win your choice of an e-bundle of Ambasadora/Greenshift or just Greenshift, please leave a comment letting us know what you're reading now or have read recently and if you'd like the single book or the bundle, along with your email address disguised something like this heidirubymiller AT gmail. The contest ends on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Winner will be notified on Friday, March 2, 2012.
you can also view this interview and others on my website http://www.shawnhopkinsauthor.com
My Twitter and Hootesuite Revelations
So, I have this website, right? Yeah, no one really knows about it, just like no one really knows about me. I mean, I have 200 Facebook fans, about 1450 followers on Twitter, 600 friends on Goodreads, etc. You get the idea... I'm getting there, but still near the bottom of the pack in terms of my numbers. So anyway, I've been hosting this event on my website that I'm calling The Magnificent 7 Interview Event. What it is is an author interview featuring 7 different authors all at once. And some pretty heavy rollers in the indie world as well as a couple in the traditional market as well. Two of these guys alone have a combined 30,000 followers on Twitter! I figured that it was a way to bring a lot of their fan base to my site as well as to get them supporting each other. I'm introducing Jeremy Robinson's fan base to Ryne Douglas Pearson, etc. As an incentive to get people involved, there are prizes! After the interview, there is a short quiz. Whoever sends in the answers automatically gets a copy of one of my novels and gets to include their own question for the authors that will be featured in the following week's interview (yes, it is an ongoing thing... part five is coming up soon). However, if the participants get all the questions right (it's easy, no one should get anything wrong if they actually take the time to read it) then they are entered into a drawing. The winner gets a copy of one of the author's books, mostly any one they want. But I digress, the point is, I've been hosting this event and have been trying to get the word out there.
Enter my Twitter and Hootesuite revelations.
In the beginning of certain days over the last three weeks, I've scheduled tweets to go out throughout the day. Usually one an hour. Doing this nets me about 500 hits on those days. When I haven't scheduled tweets to go out, I get about 30-50 hits per day. So Hootesuite definitely helped bring traffic to the event and to the site. However, yesterday I decided to try something a bit more extreme. I noticed that most of my views come after 4 o clock, so I didn't even start scheduling tweets until 1 pm. And this time I wrote out about five different tweets and had each one going out per hour. The result? 1200 hits between 1 pm and 11pm, obliterating my prior record. Of course, it might help that I had an exclusive interview posted, but still... So, no tweets- 30 views. 5 tweets per hour- 1200 views. I guess it does work!
Now check out the interviews and win books!
http://www.shawnhopkinsauthor.com
Enter my Twitter and Hootesuite revelations.
In the beginning of certain days over the last three weeks, I've scheduled tweets to go out throughout the day. Usually one an hour. Doing this nets me about 500 hits on those days. When I haven't scheduled tweets to go out, I get about 30-50 hits per day. So Hootesuite definitely helped bring traffic to the event and to the site. However, yesterday I decided to try something a bit more extreme. I noticed that most of my views come after 4 o clock, so I didn't even start scheduling tweets until 1 pm. And this time I wrote out about five different tweets and had each one going out per hour. The result? 1200 hits between 1 pm and 11pm, obliterating my prior record. Of course, it might help that I had an exclusive interview posted, but still... So, no tweets- 30 views. 5 tweets per hour- 1200 views. I guess it does work!
Now check out the interviews and win books!
http://www.shawnhopkinsauthor.com
An Interview With Yours Truly
So yeah, Kevin Rau interviews me here on his site. Check it out if you get a chance!
http://www.kevinrau.com/i/ShawnHopkin...
http://www.kevinrau.com/i/ShawnHopkin...
Interview with award-winning author Bill Myers
I met Bill at a writer's conference, shortly after realizing that I'd had my eye on some of his books for over a decade. He taught a workshop and one of the main meetings. After hearing him speak, I thought to myself, "I gotta' meet this guy." I did, and I can't say enough about his personality - his acceptance, warmth, humor, and lack of ill-qualities you might expect from a "big shot." Bill was nothing if not graceful and genuinely interested in my "small potatoes" world (he's won 60 awards and sold over 8 million books and films), and it was great talking with him. He was very encouraging and has even kept in touch with me via email. He's become a rather large blessing to me, and so it's with great pleasure that I get to introduce you to him (if you haven't yet met him). He is a Christian author and so his titles are faith-based. But I hope that doesn't discourage anyone from meeting him here or checking out his work. He has a lot to say, and it's all worth hearing...for the "religious" and "non-religious" alike. So, without further ado...here's the interview (link below).
http://www.shawnhopkinsauthor.com/bil...
http://www.shawnhopkinsauthor.com/bil...
