Ognian Georgiev's Blog, page 15
August 22, 2014
PATRICK MICHAEL MURPHY: MY DREAM IS TO LIVE UNENCUMBERED BY ECONOMICS
Our interviews continue with another extremely interesting author. Patrick Michael Murphy is a motion picture cameraman, who saw amazing things during his career in USA army. He won Emmy award for his works. As a writer Patrick is evaluated very high by Amazon readers. All his three books are with middle rating 4.7 stars or higher!
Going down into the lines of the interview I started to feel some chill in my body. I remembered how I dreamed to be adventurer as a kid. I am wondering if you will feel the same.
PATRICK MICHAEL MURPHY: MY DREAM IS TO LIVE UNENCUMBERED BY ECONOMICS
Going down into the lines of the interview I started to feel some chill in my body. I remembered how I dreamed to be adventurer as a kid. I am wondering if you will feel the same.
PATRICK MICHAEL MURPHY: MY DREAM IS TO LIVE UNENCUMBERED BY ECONOMICS
August 21, 2014
MICHAEL PARKER: I CALL MY WRITING PROCESS THE “SWEET CURSE”
Michael Parker is an author with big experience. He’s got two pages with books, that are published in Amazon. The British writer continues to release quality novels. Let’s hear something more about his next book and others interesting topics that we discussed in the interview!
"MICHAEL PARKER: I CALL MY WRITING PROCESS THE “SWEET CURSE”
"MICHAEL PARKER: I CALL MY WRITING PROCESS THE “SWEET CURSE”
August 20, 2014
DENYSÉ BRIDGER: IF MONEY IS YOUR SOLE REASON TO WRITE, YOU WON’T BE IN THE BUSINESS FOR LONG
Denysé Bridger is a master of short stories. She published seven since the start of the year. Her last one is 1-900-Surprise and is co-written with Terran McGahae. Look out for some very interesting info about this extremely specific genre.
DENYSÉ BRIDGER: IF MONEY IS YOUR SOLE REASON TO WRITE, YOU WON’T BE IN THE BUSINESS FOR LONG
DENYSÉ BRIDGER: IF MONEY IS YOUR SOLE REASON TO WRITE, YOU WON’T BE IN THE BUSINESS FOR LONG
August 19, 2014
HENRY MOSQUERA: I READ THE DIALOGUES IN MY BOOK OUT LOUD
Henry Mosquera’s second book Status Quo was published in 2014. The author already established himself with his first novel “Sleeper’s run”. Here is the interview with him for our blog.
HENRY MOSQUERA: I READ THE DIALOGUES IN MY BOOK OUT LOUD
HENRY MOSQUERA: I READ THE DIALOGUES IN MY BOOK OUT LOUD
August 6, 2014
CARMEN STEVENS: I CRAFTED THE MAIN CHARACTER FROM THE DARK SIDE OF MYSELF
August 5, 2014
ROY DIMOND: CO-WRITING IS A DEEPER, RICHER EXPERIENCE
My next interview of Q&A interviews with authors series is with Roy Dimond. Honestly, one of the reason for starting such a section in the blog is to meet some special people. The co-author of “Saving Our Pennys” is one of them. Why? The answers are below:
- What is your last book “Saving Our Pennys” about?
– First Ognian, please allow me to say thank you and tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. It is greatly appreciated. Saving Our Pennys, is a work of non-fiction that I co authored with my good friend Jeff Leitch. It is best described as focusing on Self-Help and Personal Transformation with some humor and insight into the human condition. It is the story about a person who happens to be a teacher and he feels that something is missing in his life. He feels unfulfilled. The main character goes on a journey from Shadow, to Substance, to Spirit, and learns how the choices we make affect our lives.
- How did you decide to write the story?
– Combined, Jeff and I have worked for over 70 years in the education system and one day, while hiking, we decided that we wanted to write something of substance. Hopefully we have written something that will help others find their joy and therefore help them reach their potential.
- What is the difference between being an author and a co-author?
– Excellent question. The difference is significant. Writing alone is such a solitary experience. You are the master of the story and control everything that happens. A wonderful experience. Writing as a co-author however means giving up much of that control. But writing with someone else also means the story often soars to places unseen. I think working on a story with another in many ways is a deeper, richer experience. To do this successfully you must have great trust in the person you are writing with. Fortunately, Jeff and I have had a long friendship so we knew where we were both coming from. We are both able to set our ego aside and make it all about the story.
- Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– Yes and no. The main character is a composite of both Jeff and me, but we also included many characteristics of the people we know. We placed the main character in a school. First, because it is an environment we know well and also because that setting is filled with so many heroes. In any school, anywhere, someone is always trying to help another and that makes it a perfect setting to tell a story about redemption. Our hero grows from being unfulfilled in his life, to understanding what makes a life filled with joy. He finds a mentor and is taught that he can tell how he is doing by the things he values. His life takes on meaning. So I think you can see that our main character can be anyone. Anyone on a journey to find oneself.
- What are your other two books The Rubicon Effect and “The Singing Bowl” about?
– The Rubicon Effect, is the story of an environmentalist who takes on American Right-Wing politicians. International corporations manipulate politicians who in turn manipulate the church into proclaiming the End of Days. While the world ignores Global Climate Change until it is too late, a leader of the right wing by the name of Michele Yakin comes up with a horrific plan to deal with global change.
The story asks two fundamental questions. Who are we? And what do we believe in? I am very proud to say that the Pope I describe in this novel was created before the new Pope was ordained. The similarities are quite startling, down to having my character born in Buenos Aires and becoming the first Pope from South America.
“The Singing Bowl” , Will forever be my opus. A grand tale about a monk who is displaced from Tibet when the communist Chinese invade. His monastery is destroyed and his teacher, The Tenzin, meaning, The Holder of the Teachings, sends him on a quest to find a book that has been lost to the world. He travels the world looking for clues that lead him on a journey to ultimately learn that all quests are internal.
- Who are you?
– No easy question. Like most people, I am many things. A writer, husband, friend, wanderer, and searcher. I was a Youth Worker for thirty years in the education system and tried to help those who were struggling. I travel the world with my wife and gather insight from all those around me.
To be honest, if I had to describe myself in one word, I would say that I am a… listener.
- What are your writing habits?
– The first thing I do each morning is write. I write till I have nothing else to give for that day. Then I usually go for a hike or sit on my deck enjoying my life. I live in a very beautiful area of the west coast of Canada in a place called Garden Bay. So contemplating the beauty around me inspires my writing.
All three of my novels were at sometime enriched by the natural beauty I see everyday. If I do get stuck on a character or scene I ask my wife to join me for a walk around the three lakes near our log home and she usually has some helpful advice. If not, sometimes the deer, or birds, or bears provide insight.
- Are you satisfied by the sales of the books and do you plan another one?
– I don’t know many writers who are satisfied with book sales. We write not only for profit, but so that others may read our thoughts and feelings. So no matter how many read our books all authors wish another would pick it up.
I am presently working on my first children’s book about a small child struggling with change. I have just signed a contract recommended by my agent, Malaga Baldi, for a book with the working title of Silence and Circumstance. It will be coming out from Untreed Reads this January. It is about the eleven days that Agatha Christie went missing and is told from the perspective of her governess. I have also just completed a manuscript called I, Bully a Young Adult novel revealing the seriousness of bullying from both the perspectives of the bully and the victim.
- What are you doing to promote the best possible way your books?
– Unfortunately I think the best and most underrated way of promoting books is word of mouth. It’s unfortunate, because we authors have little control over that. But the better book you write the more people will talk about it.
I do find LinkedIn helpful and Madi Preda, a marketer, has been a great help.
- You worked with at-risk children and their families. How important is it to help those kids in time and what percentage of them may be helped along their life road?
– One of the interesting things about working with at-risk families is you seldom really know who you help. Some are obvious and you see change, but others evolve over time and if you are lucky you find out years later that you bumped them, in a small way, towards a better life.
Helping someone as early as possible is fundamental not only to their happiness, but for the well being of society. It takes less time and has longer lasting results to intervene as early as possible. To break bad cycles now can save generations in the future.
As to what percentage is helped, I honestly believe that 100% of those who realize we care, are helped. It may not show immediately, but the next person that cares, or the next, or the next, may make a breakthrough because others before them cared. If we ignore those who struggle, I do not know if their life’s road is more difficult. And as a society that should be important to us.
- You traveled on four continents. Please make a top 3 destinations that you visit and why you selected them?
Tsumago in Japan… It is a small village of no more than a hundred people that is located in the Japanese Alps. It has been kept exactly as it was for hundreds of years.
Santorini in Greece… To watch the sun set from your cave home is an experience well worth having.
Machu Picchu in Peru… (the author’s picture is in front of the famous monument) From high in the sacred mountains, to look through a window carved in the stone, knowing that hundreds of years ago, another stood there looking down to the river thousands of feet below, transports you to another time and place.
If you want to take a look over Mr. Dimond’s books, check them out here:
“Saving Our Pennys”
The Rubicon Effect
“The Singing Bowl”
Roy is very interesting person. I recommend you to check his web space
- What is your last book “Saving Our Pennys” about?
– First Ognian, please allow me to say thank you and tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. It is greatly appreciated. Saving Our Pennys, is a work of non-fiction that I co authored with my good friend Jeff Leitch. It is best described as focusing on Self-Help and Personal Transformation with some humor and insight into the human condition. It is the story about a person who happens to be a teacher and he feels that something is missing in his life. He feels unfulfilled. The main character goes on a journey from Shadow, to Substance, to Spirit, and learns how the choices we make affect our lives.
- How did you decide to write the story?
– Combined, Jeff and I have worked for over 70 years in the education system and one day, while hiking, we decided that we wanted to write something of substance. Hopefully we have written something that will help others find their joy and therefore help them reach their potential.
- What is the difference between being an author and a co-author?
– Excellent question. The difference is significant. Writing alone is such a solitary experience. You are the master of the story and control everything that happens. A wonderful experience. Writing as a co-author however means giving up much of that control. But writing with someone else also means the story often soars to places unseen. I think working on a story with another in many ways is a deeper, richer experience. To do this successfully you must have great trust in the person you are writing with. Fortunately, Jeff and I have had a long friendship so we knew where we were both coming from. We are both able to set our ego aside and make it all about the story.
- Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– Yes and no. The main character is a composite of both Jeff and me, but we also included many characteristics of the people we know. We placed the main character in a school. First, because it is an environment we know well and also because that setting is filled with so many heroes. In any school, anywhere, someone is always trying to help another and that makes it a perfect setting to tell a story about redemption. Our hero grows from being unfulfilled in his life, to understanding what makes a life filled with joy. He finds a mentor and is taught that he can tell how he is doing by the things he values. His life takes on meaning. So I think you can see that our main character can be anyone. Anyone on a journey to find oneself.
- What are your other two books The Rubicon Effect and “The Singing Bowl” about?
– The Rubicon Effect, is the story of an environmentalist who takes on American Right-Wing politicians. International corporations manipulate politicians who in turn manipulate the church into proclaiming the End of Days. While the world ignores Global Climate Change until it is too late, a leader of the right wing by the name of Michele Yakin comes up with a horrific plan to deal with global change.
The story asks two fundamental questions. Who are we? And what do we believe in? I am very proud to say that the Pope I describe in this novel was created before the new Pope was ordained. The similarities are quite startling, down to having my character born in Buenos Aires and becoming the first Pope from South America.
“The Singing Bowl” , Will forever be my opus. A grand tale about a monk who is displaced from Tibet when the communist Chinese invade. His monastery is destroyed and his teacher, The Tenzin, meaning, The Holder of the Teachings, sends him on a quest to find a book that has been lost to the world. He travels the world looking for clues that lead him on a journey to ultimately learn that all quests are internal.
- Who are you?
– No easy question. Like most people, I am many things. A writer, husband, friend, wanderer, and searcher. I was a Youth Worker for thirty years in the education system and tried to help those who were struggling. I travel the world with my wife and gather insight from all those around me.
To be honest, if I had to describe myself in one word, I would say that I am a… listener.
- What are your writing habits?
– The first thing I do each morning is write. I write till I have nothing else to give for that day. Then I usually go for a hike or sit on my deck enjoying my life. I live in a very beautiful area of the west coast of Canada in a place called Garden Bay. So contemplating the beauty around me inspires my writing.
All three of my novels were at sometime enriched by the natural beauty I see everyday. If I do get stuck on a character or scene I ask my wife to join me for a walk around the three lakes near our log home and she usually has some helpful advice. If not, sometimes the deer, or birds, or bears provide insight.
- Are you satisfied by the sales of the books and do you plan another one?
– I don’t know many writers who are satisfied with book sales. We write not only for profit, but so that others may read our thoughts and feelings. So no matter how many read our books all authors wish another would pick it up.
I am presently working on my first children’s book about a small child struggling with change. I have just signed a contract recommended by my agent, Malaga Baldi, for a book with the working title of Silence and Circumstance. It will be coming out from Untreed Reads this January. It is about the eleven days that Agatha Christie went missing and is told from the perspective of her governess. I have also just completed a manuscript called I, Bully a Young Adult novel revealing the seriousness of bullying from both the perspectives of the bully and the victim.
- What are you doing to promote the best possible way your books?
– Unfortunately I think the best and most underrated way of promoting books is word of mouth. It’s unfortunate, because we authors have little control over that. But the better book you write the more people will talk about it.
I do find LinkedIn helpful and Madi Preda, a marketer, has been a great help.
- You worked with at-risk children and their families. How important is it to help those kids in time and what percentage of them may be helped along their life road?
– One of the interesting things about working with at-risk families is you seldom really know who you help. Some are obvious and you see change, but others evolve over time and if you are lucky you find out years later that you bumped them, in a small way, towards a better life.
Helping someone as early as possible is fundamental not only to their happiness, but for the well being of society. It takes less time and has longer lasting results to intervene as early as possible. To break bad cycles now can save generations in the future.
As to what percentage is helped, I honestly believe that 100% of those who realize we care, are helped. It may not show immediately, but the next person that cares, or the next, or the next, may make a breakthrough because others before them cared. If we ignore those who struggle, I do not know if their life’s road is more difficult. And as a society that should be important to us.
- You traveled on four continents. Please make a top 3 destinations that you visit and why you selected them?
Tsumago in Japan… It is a small village of no more than a hundred people that is located in the Japanese Alps. It has been kept exactly as it was for hundreds of years.
Santorini in Greece… To watch the sun set from your cave home is an experience well worth having.
Machu Picchu in Peru… (the author’s picture is in front of the famous monument) From high in the sacred mountains, to look through a window carved in the stone, knowing that hundreds of years ago, another stood there looking down to the river thousands of feet below, transports you to another time and place.
If you want to take a look over Mr. Dimond’s books, check them out here:
“Saving Our Pennys”
The Rubicon Effect
“The Singing Bowl”
Roy is very interesting person. I recommend you to check his web space
August 4, 2014
WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE DISABLED BY MEDIAS?
How tough is for blind people to do sports?
What is the difference for people with disabilities in two EU countries – Bulgaria and Spain?
How the government and municipality are taking care about people with disabilities who want to sport?
Why the newspapers and TVs do not take care about covering Paralympics sports?
How important is for people with disabilities to sport?
If you are interested of the answers check the joint research with my Spanish colleague Monica Garcia Sanchis “Disabled by medias”. The article was part of MEDIANE program for diversity inclusiveness.
July 31, 2014
MEGAN CYRULEWSKI: EMOTIONAL ABUSE IS A FORM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Megan Cyrulewski is the author of “Who Am I?”. It’s not a book. It’s a very personal adventure. Hats down to the author for the courage to share such a real life story. Here is very interesting talk with the author just two days before the official release of the book!
- Megan, What is your book about?
- My book, “Who I am? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again" is about my journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, stays in the psych ward, divorce, domestic violence, law school, how I managed to graduate from law school and a beautiful little girl who emerged from all of this chaos.
- How you decide to write the story?
- For two reasons: First, I want to address the negative stigma surrounding postpartum depression; and second, I want to let people know that emotional abuse is a form of domestic violence.
- What was the biggest challenge during the write up process
- Reliving everything that had happened.
- How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
- It took about 2 months to finish it. From the time I signed my contract to release date, about 9 months.
- Who are you?
- A mom, an attorney and an author.
- What are your writing habits?
- I have to tap a pen when I’m thinking. It’s weird, I know!
- Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
- My release date is August 2, but I’m happy about the pre-release sales.
- What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
- Radio interviews, Book Blast on my release date, blog tours and newspaper interviews.
- You start to write very early short stories. What was your first one about?
- The first short story I remember writing was for my 4th grade teacher, Mr. Klaver. I wrote about how I got a splinter in my foot. The title? “My Foot.” Very creative, I know.
- How important is for small kids to listen their parents read them books?
- VERY important. My daughter LOVES going to the library and picking out books.
You may order “Who I am?” here
For more info about Megan Cyrulewski, check here her personal web page
If you want to participate in Q&A interviews with authors, go here
- Megan, What is your book about?
- My book, “Who I am? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again" is about my journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, stays in the psych ward, divorce, domestic violence, law school, how I managed to graduate from law school and a beautiful little girl who emerged from all of this chaos.
- How you decide to write the story?
- For two reasons: First, I want to address the negative stigma surrounding postpartum depression; and second, I want to let people know that emotional abuse is a form of domestic violence.
- What was the biggest challenge during the write up process
- Reliving everything that had happened.
- How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
- It took about 2 months to finish it. From the time I signed my contract to release date, about 9 months.
- Who are you?
- A mom, an attorney and an author.
- What are your writing habits?
- I have to tap a pen when I’m thinking. It’s weird, I know!
- Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
- My release date is August 2, but I’m happy about the pre-release sales.
- What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
- Radio interviews, Book Blast on my release date, blog tours and newspaper interviews.
- You start to write very early short stories. What was your first one about?
- The first short story I remember writing was for my 4th grade teacher, Mr. Klaver. I wrote about how I got a splinter in my foot. The title? “My Foot.” Very creative, I know.
- How important is for small kids to listen their parents read them books?
- VERY important. My daughter LOVES going to the library and picking out books.
You may order “Who I am?” here
For more info about Megan Cyrulewski, check here her personal web page
If you want to participate in Q&A interviews with authors, go here
July 28, 2014
WORDPRESS BLOG IS BACK
As I wrote here Wordpress suspended my blog after I published the first Q&A with Scott Skipper. It was very strange, because I didn't do noting unusual. Just put some links to author webpage/blog and to his books.
Two days after the ban I receive the following mail
So now my WP blog is once again ON. I will give a second chance to them. The Q&A with authors will be posted here and on WP as well!
Two days after the ban I receive the following mail
Hi there,
Thank you for getting in touch. Your site was flagged by our automated anti-spam controls. We have reviewed your site and have removed the suspension notice.
Please be sure to clear your browser's cache and, if necessary, restart the browser.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/brows...
We greatly apologize for this error and any inconvenience it may have caused.
So now my WP blog is once again ON. I will give a second chance to them. The Q&A with authors will be posted here and on WP as well!
July 27, 2014
SCOTT SKIPPER: I MET MY MAIN CHARACTER IN A BAR
Our first guest in Q&A interviews with authors will be Mr. Scott Skipper. He recently published Golden State Blues, a novel about a governor of California. Here are our chat about his new book, which is highly recommended and received great positive feedback.
- Mr. Skipper, what is “Golden State Blues” about?
- Golden State Blues is about the sorry state of affairs in the United States today, and California in particular, and what two schemers did to improve it. A businessman who is sick and tired of the many and redundant branches of government having their hands in his pockets finds a right wing ringer in a bar, and gets him elected governor of California by posing him as a Democrat. That’s when the fun starts.
- How did you decide to write such a story?
- My four previous books are historical fiction, but I have seen my country and my state in a downward spiral for a great many years, and I guess I needed to vent. I have to say that I have never had so much fun writing a book before. The story just seemed to flow from me.
- What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
- As I mentioned above, the story almost wrote itself, but the biggest challenge was keeping it real. The concept is so unlikely that I had to dig deep for ways that Governor Jim West’s stunts could have plausibly happened. I spent quite a lot of time reading the California Constitution, which was a challenge in itself.
- Tell us something more about your main character, who seems to be very interesting? Is it close to someone from your real life?
- Governor Jim’s appearance and mannerisms are based on someone I met in a bar—the same bar depicted in the story—and who shall remain anonymous. His actions, however, are totally fictitious. The other main character, Adam Peyton, is pretty much my own alter ego from an earlier time in my life.
- How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
- When I refreshed my memory to answer this question I was surprised to find that I began my research in January of 2014 and published it on April 11, of the same year. Well, it is relatively short, only 72,000 words, but still, that was pretty quick. I guess I had a lot of motivation.
-Who are you?
- I am Scott Skipper and that’s my real name—over the years a lot of people have had trouble believing it. I was born a long time ago in Akron, Ohio, which I left as soon as I was able. I spent most of my life running a metal fabrication company in Southern California. That experience gave me a first-hand look at many of the issues addressed in Golden State Blues. In 2007 a fortuitous opportunity fell from the sky that allowed me to retire at relatively early age. Since then my wife, Hurricane Sandy, and I have done some travelling and I’ve written five books.
- It’s a good volume, tell us what are your writing habits?
- I write with a laptop computer while seated in a swivel chair before a picture window where I have a view of a rose garden in the foreground, a canyon in the middle ground and mountains in the background. Often I am distracted by wildlife passing. If you look at my website, on the Bio Page under the More tab there is a link to a slide show of some of the critters that pass through our property. Just click on the bear’s eye.
- Wow, sounds very inspirational! Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
- If I had to survive on book sales I’d be mighty lean but I am very gratified by the amount of sales even if I wish they were better. Golden State Blues has only been released for a few months but the feedback I’ve received leads me to think it may do well. Face of the Angel, my fourth, is starting to get some attention, and yes, I do plan to write more if for no other reason than it gives me satisfaction.
- What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
- Well, obviously I haven’t found the best possible way to promote books. For one thing I just don’t get Facebook and Twitter so don’t look for me there. I participate at LinkedIn and Goodreads, naturally I have a website and keep a blog that I dedicate mainly to reviewing books by self-published authors. One thing that I did after publishing my first book was to offer for free a couple of short works that contain links to my books that are for sale. I have no way of knowing how many sales that scheme has generated, but those free stories sure get a lot of downloads. People are such skinflints.
- What is your version of Malaysia airline plane crash in Ukraine?
- This is an intriguing question for an author interview but I’m glad you asked. I think the downing of MH17 was the irresponsible and murderous act of a rabble of instigators who are working directly for Vladimir Putin with the sole aim of annexing Ukraine to Russia, and that the United States, in its diminished condition, hasn’t got the backbone to do anything, and that the European Union is too disorganized and self-serving to do anything about it. Furthermore, I am not usually a conspiracy theorist, but I suspect that the first Malaysian airliner to vanish was hijacked and may not be on the bottom of the ocean. There were, after all, two Iranians on board travelling on stolen passports.
- You met the prototype of your main character in a bar. So the last one will be - beer, wine, whiskey or just water?
- This is my favorite question. I’m a gin drinker myself, and to prove it, I’m going to provide you with the last line of Golden State Blues. “On the London Stock Exchange, Diageo, the maker of Tanqueray, saw their share price plummet twenty percent.” Thank you, it is now the cocktail hour in California and there is a bottle of Tanqueray waiting on the bar with my name on it. Salud!
You may reach Mr. Scott Skipper here:
http://www.scottskipper.com/
http://www.scottskipper.blogspot.com/
To order Golden State Blues click here
Scott Skipper is also author of
A Death in Carolina
Family Traits
Face of the Angel
The Hundred Years Farce
Pain Below the Equator
In the Blood
The Stainless Steel Coffin
If you want to participate in my interviews with authors please check my blog post here
- Mr. Skipper, what is “Golden State Blues” about?
- Golden State Blues is about the sorry state of affairs in the United States today, and California in particular, and what two schemers did to improve it. A businessman who is sick and tired of the many and redundant branches of government having their hands in his pockets finds a right wing ringer in a bar, and gets him elected governor of California by posing him as a Democrat. That’s when the fun starts.
- How did you decide to write such a story?
- My four previous books are historical fiction, but I have seen my country and my state in a downward spiral for a great many years, and I guess I needed to vent. I have to say that I have never had so much fun writing a book before. The story just seemed to flow from me.
- What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
- As I mentioned above, the story almost wrote itself, but the biggest challenge was keeping it real. The concept is so unlikely that I had to dig deep for ways that Governor Jim West’s stunts could have plausibly happened. I spent quite a lot of time reading the California Constitution, which was a challenge in itself.
- Tell us something more about your main character, who seems to be very interesting? Is it close to someone from your real life?
- Governor Jim’s appearance and mannerisms are based on someone I met in a bar—the same bar depicted in the story—and who shall remain anonymous. His actions, however, are totally fictitious. The other main character, Adam Peyton, is pretty much my own alter ego from an earlier time in my life.
- How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
- When I refreshed my memory to answer this question I was surprised to find that I began my research in January of 2014 and published it on April 11, of the same year. Well, it is relatively short, only 72,000 words, but still, that was pretty quick. I guess I had a lot of motivation.
-Who are you?
- I am Scott Skipper and that’s my real name—over the years a lot of people have had trouble believing it. I was born a long time ago in Akron, Ohio, which I left as soon as I was able. I spent most of my life running a metal fabrication company in Southern California. That experience gave me a first-hand look at many of the issues addressed in Golden State Blues. In 2007 a fortuitous opportunity fell from the sky that allowed me to retire at relatively early age. Since then my wife, Hurricane Sandy, and I have done some travelling and I’ve written five books.
- It’s a good volume, tell us what are your writing habits?
- I write with a laptop computer while seated in a swivel chair before a picture window where I have a view of a rose garden in the foreground, a canyon in the middle ground and mountains in the background. Often I am distracted by wildlife passing. If you look at my website, on the Bio Page under the More tab there is a link to a slide show of some of the critters that pass through our property. Just click on the bear’s eye.
- Wow, sounds very inspirational! Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
- If I had to survive on book sales I’d be mighty lean but I am very gratified by the amount of sales even if I wish they were better. Golden State Blues has only been released for a few months but the feedback I’ve received leads me to think it may do well. Face of the Angel, my fourth, is starting to get some attention, and yes, I do plan to write more if for no other reason than it gives me satisfaction.
- What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
- Well, obviously I haven’t found the best possible way to promote books. For one thing I just don’t get Facebook and Twitter so don’t look for me there. I participate at LinkedIn and Goodreads, naturally I have a website and keep a blog that I dedicate mainly to reviewing books by self-published authors. One thing that I did after publishing my first book was to offer for free a couple of short works that contain links to my books that are for sale. I have no way of knowing how many sales that scheme has generated, but those free stories sure get a lot of downloads. People are such skinflints.
- What is your version of Malaysia airline plane crash in Ukraine?
- This is an intriguing question for an author interview but I’m glad you asked. I think the downing of MH17 was the irresponsible and murderous act of a rabble of instigators who are working directly for Vladimir Putin with the sole aim of annexing Ukraine to Russia, and that the United States, in its diminished condition, hasn’t got the backbone to do anything, and that the European Union is too disorganized and self-serving to do anything about it. Furthermore, I am not usually a conspiracy theorist, but I suspect that the first Malaysian airliner to vanish was hijacked and may not be on the bottom of the ocean. There were, after all, two Iranians on board travelling on stolen passports.
- You met the prototype of your main character in a bar. So the last one will be - beer, wine, whiskey or just water?
- This is my favorite question. I’m a gin drinker myself, and to prove it, I’m going to provide you with the last line of Golden State Blues. “On the London Stock Exchange, Diageo, the maker of Tanqueray, saw their share price plummet twenty percent.” Thank you, it is now the cocktail hour in California and there is a bottle of Tanqueray waiting on the bar with my name on it. Salud!
You may reach Mr. Scott Skipper here:
http://www.scottskipper.com/
http://www.scottskipper.blogspot.com/
To order Golden State Blues click here
Scott Skipper is also author of
A Death in Carolina
Family Traits
Face of the Angel
The Hundred Years Farce
Pain Below the Equator
In the Blood
The Stainless Steel Coffin
If you want to participate in my interviews with authors please check my blog post here
