How Do I Do It? And Other Secrets Revealed…

The following interview will appear in the back of my newest upcoming release, Dark Obsession.

An Interview with the Author

James Cormier is the author of the critically acclaimed young adult novel Exile: The Book of Ever, which is available for purchase worldwide online and in stores.  He’s also my husband, and we thought that, in celebration of my publishing my eleventh novel, we’d do an interview wherein we sat down together and he asked me all the questions that you, my readers, have sent in.  And to my readers, I can’t begin to describe how grateful I am for all of those questions, and for your continued love and loyalty.  I couldn’t spend every day doing what I love most without your support.  It means the world!  I hope I do your questions justice.  Thank you all, again, so much.  And of course…happy reading!

What were you like at school?

Terrible.  I got good grades, because I absolutely slaved away at my work and not because of any natural talent on my part.  One thing I did learn from that, though, is that talent without hard work is meaningless—and that hard work, in turn, can make up for a lack of talent.  And even create talent, where there previously was none, on a long enough timeline.  Socially, though, I always felt like a failure.  I was an outcast, with very few friends.  My background, too—poor, with very little in the way of clothes or anything like that—singled me out for teasing.  I used to wear hand me downs that the school’s gym gave out, because I didn’t have any clothes of my own.  I wasn’t always the friendliest person, either, because there was so much pressure from my mother not to talk about my home life.  The drugs, the beatings, etc.  I didn’t handle it well.

Were you good at English?

It wasn’t until I got to university that I discovered I was good at English.  My teachers had mostly made fun of my “outrageous” stories, or criticized my essays and things for being too long and too detailed.  And of course, my own family told me my stories were too boring to read and that I was “selfish” to expect anyone to take an interest—selfish and rude.  So I kept that part of myself bottled up, for the most part.  But then, my alma mater, Boston University, required—and I hope still does require—a year long writing course.  Which I loved.  That was the first time I had people tell me, you know, you’re really good at this.  Your voice matters.  It was a sentiment echoed by my husband, when I met him.  Without his support, and that of my English professors at BU, I would never have started really writing.  I would never have had the courage to.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

To write, and to be able to keep writing.  As many of my readers know, I’m active on Wattpad as well as published more traditionally.  Wattpad is a website for writers and readers that’s diverse, dynamic, and entirely free.  And one of the things that’s most incredible about it, apart from the amazing community it fosters, is its initiative to help independent writers—of all ages and stages and backgrounds—support themselves.  This is why my, and some other peoples’, stories have ads there.  When you click on them, we get paid.  Which is great because my ultimate, ultimate ambition is to be able to write, and to be able to keep writing, offering my books for publication as well as for free.  There simply isn’t, to me, a better place to hang out as a writer.

Which writers inspire you?

Literarily, I owe my biggest debts to Richard Laymon, Stephen King, and James Joyce.

So, what have you written?

I’m the author of eleven novels and two nonfiction works, as well as numerous short stories.  None of them have won an award yet, but I’m hoping!

Where can we buy or see them?

You can buy all of my books on Amazon, as well as in numerous bookstores worldwide.  One chain that carries me is Barnes & Noble.  Another is Tower Books.  If you don’t see the title you’re looking for at your particular store, whether chain or independent, please visit the customer service desk and ask them to order it!  That way, my books will come to the shelves!  Hopefully, in time, for other people to find as well.  And don’t forget to leave a review, too, on Amazon or elsewhere, if you do like a book—mine or anyone else’s.  Building a following is challenging for an author; most of all, we rely on word of mouth from satisfied readers.

Give us an insight into Charlotte.  What does she do, in Dark Obsession, that’s so special?

I think Charlotte’s superpower is being herself.  Which is everyone’s superpower, ultimately.  A lot of book critics joke, I think unfairly, about romantic heroines being “Mary Jane” types.  In other words, dull, uninteresting nobodies with whom the dashing hero is inexplicably fascinated.  Which completely ignores the issue of the unreliable narrator: in our hearts, and in our minds, we’re all a Mary Jane.  No one, except the most confirmed narcissist, looks in the mirror and thinks “I’m awesome.”  It takes love, it takes someone else seeing in us what we don’t see in ourselves, to show us what we truly are.  For good and for ill.  Love, not self-regard, is what makes us beautiful.  Which is, of course, why one man’s “Mary Jane” is another man’s princess.

What about Thorn?

Thorn and Charlotte, despite having grown up very differently, face many of the same challenges.  Where Charlotte’s approached them one way, Thorn’s approached them another.  He’s a good and decent man, on the inside, but he doesn’t know that about himself.  Charlotte might see herself as nothing special, but Thorn is convinced that he’s—not good but evil.  In Charlotte, he sees what he’s been lacking, what he’s denied himself.  She inspires him to be more.

What are you working on at the moment?

Now that I’ve finished with Dark Obsession, I’m starting to take notes for my next novel.  And, of course, I’m painting!  You can see my art on my art-specific Facebook page (please follow me!), as well as support me, and get cool exclusive content, on Patreon.  Painting, like writing, is something I’ve been passionate about my entire life.  Sometimes I combine the two, and paint my characters.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pjfoxart/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pjfox

What genre are your books?

They span different genres, I suppose.  The Demon of Darkling Reach has strong fantasy elements, and The Prince’s Slave is a straight up erotic thriller and, of course, modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  A great many people found both books disturbing, too disturbing to finish.  If I’d classify myself as anything, though, I’d classify myself as a horror writer: because horror, to some extent, is the one element that spans all of my books.  Whether they’re romantic, or straight up gore fests.  They all look at a difficult, and dark, part of human nature.  I try to tell a good story, in all my books, and I think to some extent that different books will appeal to different people, but I can’t keep out that subversive—and scary—element.  I’m not a person who likes, or even accepts, easy answers.

What draws you to this genre?

It’s tough to say.  Sometimes, when I sit down to write, even I’m surprised by what comes out.  My stories, like I think all stories, at some point take on a life of their own.  This is a common problem that authors have.  Or, at least, the authors I know.  I think horror, in a way, is the “realest” of the genres because it doesn’t sugarcoat things.  And because it’s so, so much about the internal dialogue of the characters.  Which, I don’t think people always think of horror as cerebral, but it is.

Which actor, or actress would you like to see playing Thorn and Charlotte?

Honestly, this is the first time with a book that I can honestly say I have no idea.  But I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts!  And should Dark Obsession be optioned as a film, I’m sure whatever studio ends up with it will do a fantastic job.  There are so many incredibly talented actors and actresses working today.

How much research do you do?

A lot.  A lot.  For The Demon of Darkling Reach, I got a degree in medieval history.  Well, not for the book.  But because I loved, and still do love, the subject.  The idea of writing a series set in a fantasy reimagining of the (mostly historically accurate) middle ages was born out of that same love.  For my other books, I haven’t gotten any additional degrees but…I usually at least read a few books.  For Book of Shadows, for example, I spent about six months reading and researching the British Raj, a subject I was already somewhat familiar with.  Details matter; they’re what make the story real.  Conversely, one false note can take the reader out of the story completely and then it becomes one of those—to quote the song—paper moons.

You set a lot of books near where you live; why?

Which brings up another question: are Dark Obsession and Book of Shadows set in the same world?  To which my answer is, that one’s up to your imagination!  There’s no real reason they couldn’t be.  But to answer your question, I’m a firm believer in write what you know.  I couldn’t convincingly describe, say, Texas, because I’ve never lived there.  But everything in Dark Obsession, about what it’s really like to live on the ocean…I really do live on the ocean.  The stories, the sailing terminology, everything, that all comes straight from my own personal experience.

So Magnolia is a real place?

Yes.  Magnolia is a real place.  As is Hamilton.  As, of course, is Gloucester; which is home, as some of my readers might know, to another famous seafood seller.  To whom I draw absolutely no comparison.  Dark Obsession is entirely a work of fiction.  Likewise, my characters are fictional and I’ve tweaked certain places—and added certain places—to accommodate that.  There are a number of fine estates along the coast; but is there a Wrest Park?  No.  Wrest Park is gathered from a number of inspirations but, ultimately, exists only in my imagination.  If you want to shop for mermaids at bookstores, though…there are several different places to visit, all up and down the coast!

Have you written any other novels in collaboration with other writers?

Not yet, but I’m open to the idea.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I’d dreamed of being a writer since I was old enough to dream of being anything.  I didn’t decide, actively decide, to pursue that goal though until after I finished school.  It was my husband who encouraged me to start; and after completing my first novel, which was The Price of Desire, I never looked back.  That novel was critically panned and sold abysmally, but I loved then and I love it now.  I’ve written one sequel, out of a planned total of five books total.  I hope to finish the series one day.  In the meantime, I just have so many other ideas I need to get down.

Why do you write?

Because I can’t stop.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

That feeling of absolutely having to; like, if I didn’t, I’d explode.  Literally.  I get depressed if I go too long without writing.  I’m not the most talkative person, in person; most of what I have to say, on pretty much every topic, winds up being expressed in some way in my writing.  It’s not a one to one comparison; I don’t wait for things to happen and then literally go home and write about them.  But as the years pass, and I gain new perspective on old experience, that perspective works its way in.

Do you write full-time or part-time?

Full time.

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

I write while my son’s at school.

Do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when?

I write 7 days a week.  I also paint, and I also do graphic design.  Writing is something that, I find, like anything else you have to commit to fully to really get a result.  You can treat it like a hobby, and that’s fine, but it if you do it won’t ever be more than a hobby.  I started treating this as my full time job long before I made a single nickel doing it.  And these days…well, sometimes I have two nickels and I rub them together.  But the dream has to come before the reality.  I might never see everything I want come to pass, but I definitely won’t if I give up now.

Do you aim for a set amount of words, or pages per day?

My goal is a minimum of 2,000 words per day.  Although I often write more.  It depends on what else is going on, usually, with my family and with other projects.  Like if I’m really excited about finishing a painting or if I have a graphic design project to finish up for a client.  I will say that if it weren’t for my husband, I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything.  He’s my biggest support system, most enthusiastic cheerleader, and best friend.  Each successful writing session, each one of my books, is as much his achievement as mine.  Which, yes, I take pride in my own accomplishments but at the same time I think it’s very important to acknowledge that success is ultimately a group effort.

Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?

I use a MacBook Pro 15”.

Where do your ideas come from?

I honestly have no idea.  They just come.  But one thing I’ve learned, writing, is not to treat any idea, however silly it might seem to you, as silly.  All ideas are legitimate.  Some of my silliest (to me) sounding ideas have led, in the end, to my best work.  Have the courage of your convictions, and just start writing!  Your ideas will develop over time, as you do—and often surprise you.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

Some people are convinced that authors fall into two distinct categories: outliners and free writers.  But most of the authors I know, including myself, are a mixture of both.  I don’t outline per se, but I do take down notes.  Often, those notes evolve as my story does—or simply become irrelevant.  I like to have some structure, but too much structure is limiting as it doesn’t allow for the inspiration that comes while writing.  Which, I learned, when I was first starting to write, is the most important kind.  Don’t ever toss out an idea you’re having now, that feels right, right now, for an idea you had a month ago.  Trust your imagination, trust what it’s trying to tell you, and go with now.

I’d like to know more about how you develop your characters. Do you just come up with them as you go, or do you have a rough outline or idea of what your characters will be like?  You’ve said that plot-wise, you prefer to let the story evolve, but does that go for your characters too?

Yes.  Some of my most major characters—and no, I’m not revealing which ones!—were surprises when they appeared.  They’d been nowhere, literally nowhere, in my original notes.  But then, boom!  They were suddenly part of the story.  And pretty much fully formed, like Athena from the head of Zeus.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

I think my writing’s getting more readable.  A big criticism of my earlier work was that they moved too slowly; the plot got bogged down in description.  Which…you have to be a very specific type of reader to like that.  And, thank God, I’ve found those readers.  But most of them have hung around, from my early days, and most of them like my newer projects as well or better.  Which says to me that I’m getting better, at least I hope I’m getting better, at balancing description and dialogue.  I’m also censoring myself much less, when it comes to adding dialogue; I used to worry that I was adding too much!  I hadn’t realized, back then, how vital dialogue is to advancing the plot.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

Dealing with rejection.  It comes in lots of forms: book sales, reviews.  From both critics and the reading public.  You pour your heart and soul into something and it’s like…this person, who doesn’t even know you, has just come along and stomped on it.  I had to, for that reason, stop reading reviews.  They were just too depressing!  Focusing on the writing itself, though, helps me to remember why I’m writing and who I’m writing for: myself, yes, but also the people who do like what I have to say.  When someone messages me, or emails me, or comments on Wattpad to tell me that one of my stories meant something to them, it’s just about the best feeling in the world.

Did anything in your own life inspire this particular story?

No.  I was driving up the coast one day, and looking at the ocean, and it just came to me.

Is anything in it based, in any way, on one or more of your own real life experiences?

No.  Other than, Charlotte’s an orphan and I’m an orphan and I tend to end up giving my protagonists backstories I can relate to.  Not really even intentionally.  It just sort of always ends up that way.  Probably because I am such a big proponent of write what you know.  Certain things would be off limits, because they wouldn’t feel real to me.  I’m not sure it would even occur to me to write about them.  A perfect childhood?  That I can’t relate to.  But feeling like you don’t fit in?  That I can.  And maybe, you know, someone else is going to read this and think, “wow, I’m not alone.”

What was the hardest thing about writing Dark Obsession?

Translating my vision, in my mind, to the page.  I wanted my readers to see what I was seeing, in my head; to feel what I was feeling.  And that’s what editing is, to me: refining that process, of conforming word to imagination.  My characters, their struggles, they’re completely real to me.  I know, pretty much instantaneously, as I’m writing, whether I’m getting it “right.”

What is the easiest thing about writing?

I’m not sure there’s anything easy about it.  I don’t really think about it in terms of easy or hard, though.  I’m not conscious of all the hard work I’m doing, because I love writing so much.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Richard Laymon was asked, once, how long it took to write a book.  I loved his answer.  He said, “twenty-five years and six months.  Six months to write the book, and twenty-five years to learn how to write.”

Do you ever get writer’s block?

No.  I don’t really believe in it.  If everyone only went to work on the days when they felt like it, well…nothing would ever get done.  When I hit an obstacle, in terms of creativity, I just bust through it.  Now granted, some days are more productive than others…but you don’t learn by dwelling.  And certainly not by ignoring the problem.  You learn by doing.

Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block, for those who do get it?

Ignore it.

Will Dark Obsession be part of a series?

No.  Dark Obsession is a stand alone novel.

What are your thoughts on writing a series?

Both of the series I’ve completed have turned into series because my ideas for each simply didn’t fit into one book.  I don’t think you can really set about to artificially create a series; there’s a certain amount of story, or there isn’t.  And, particularly when you’re first writing, it can be tough to tell, really until you’ve finished writing, how much of a story you have.  I thought The Demon of Darkling Reach, originally, would be a stand alone book—and then I ended up having to split the final volume into two parts, or risk asking shoppers at Barnes & Noble to tote around a thousand-page doorstop.

Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

I read all the time.  In addition to the writers I mentioned earlier, I love several nonfiction authors.  Particularly Tim Butcher, who’s written extensively about the troubles in central Africa.  Much of the reading I tend to do, particularly in the middle of the night as I’m something of an insomniac, is research for my own books.  I have an entire bookcase, now, full of books on various aspects of the history of India and I’m pretty proud of that achievement.  But, really, there are very few things I don’t enjoy reading—and learning—about.

For your own reading, do you prefer e-books or traditional books?

E-books, because they’re better for the environment.  We need more books and more trees.  I don’t, I have to confess, really understand the purists on this issue.  Aesthetically, a traditional book might be more appealing, but is the reading experience different?  What makes a reading experience good or bad isn’t the looks of the book but the story it contains.  A good book should completely transport you, to the point where you forget that you’re reading entirely.  You’re simply there.

Do you proofread and edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

I definitely get someone to do all that for me.  Which would be my husband!  He’s an incredible writer, himself, so I trust his judgment.  And while he’s not always as brutal of an editor as I’d like, he’s a good one.  No one, though, is as hard on me when it comes to my writing as I am!

Do you let the book stew—leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit?

 

Maybe not for a month, but at least for a few weeks.  I find that it helps me come back to the story with fresh eyes.  And also catch typos!  Because while it is important to have someone else edit and proofread, as an author you can never pass the buck.  You, at the end of the day, are responsible for your book’s success and you have to own that.  However many helpers you have, at the end of the day, it’s your book.  Which is another reason I don’t really understand some authors’ objection to indie publishing on the grounds that it’s “too much work.”  If you’re not that invested in your book, then why are you trying to publish it?  I’m not perfect, and I’ve certainly made some mistakes, in writing and otherwise, but each book represents—for the time it was published—my best effort.

Who designs your book covers?

I do, along with my husband.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Only if the cover is really bad.  I’ve had a few cover missteps, with my own books, where what the cover promised, or what readers felt like it was promising, didn’t match the actual content of the book and that was bad.  It’s a fine art, book covers; you can’t wrap your book in a brown paper bag, although sometimes you wish you could.  You have to, to some extent, anticipate your readers’ thoughts.  I worry all the time that my covers aren’t sending the right message.  I do wish, for that reason, that this was something writers got more feedback on.  Very rarely do reviewers, whether they be professionals or simply Amazon customers, tell you “this cover really matched with my expectations.”  Or, indeed, the reverse.

What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?

I’m absolutely 1,000% in favor of self-publishing.  For anyone who wants to know why, I strongly recommend reading my book Indie Success.  Which is available both for purchase and on Wattpad.  The Wattpad version is also the updated third edition; the edition available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble right now is the second edition.  Which, while still good, is…less updated!  But for those who don’t want to read an extra book, here’s the short answer: it’s your intellectual property, don’t give it away.

How do you market your books?

I don’t, really.  I kind of hope I connect with my fans, and that it all works out.

Why did you choose this route?

Because, quite honestly, I couldn’t sell air conditioners to Hell.  They’d hear my sales pitch and decide to buy radiators.  I’m just…some people have the gift of salesmanship and I am not one of those people.

Would you or do you use a PR agency?

I don’t.  And I don’t think I would.  Mostly, they seem to involve paying people to do something you can do yourself: which is get out there on Facebook, and Twitter, and tell the world about yourself.  Most of them, too, seem to mainly make a business of preaching to the converted: other indie authors.  I’ve met a number of authors who’ve used PR agencies, but not a single reader—just reader—who’s ever even heard of one of them.  Which tells me, at least, something about their effectiveness.

 

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

That, honestly, the best marketing is a good book.  And when people approach you, be friendly.  I find that Wattpad, for example, has been great marketing for me as it’s allowed me to really connect with people—authors and readers—in a very immediate way.  You’re never going to get anywhere pleading, or demanding, that people read your book or anything like that; but a good book is going to find its way, as will a decent and hardworking human who’s humble and likeable.

What part of your writing time do you devote to marketing your book?

I think 100% of any person’s writing time should be devoted to writing.

What do you do to get book reviews?

I hope and pray.  That’s all you can do.  At least, that’s honest.

How successful has your quest for reviews been so far?

I’d love to have hundreds, or even thousands, of five star reviews!  Who wouldn’t?  But unless you’re willing to violate Amazon’s review policy by engaging in questionably ethical practices like review swapping, this just isn’t something anyone can control.  People are either motivated to leave reviews, or they’re not.  When I publish a book, and it doesn’t get a lot of reviews, I think, well, clearly I need to go back to the drawing board.  And, next time, write something so compelling that people just have to review it.

Do you have a strategy for finding reviewers?

I (politely) offer to send the critics I like a free book, and hope for the best.

What are your thoughts on good and bad reviews?

That they happen, and the best thing you can do is ignore them.

What’s your view on social media for marketing?

I’m a millennial; I don’t know how to communicate with people off social media!

Which social network has worked best for you?

Facebook.  It’s the most genuine.

Any tips on what to do and what not to do?

Be yourself.  And do not, do not, spam people with pleas to buy your book.  They will or they won’t.  But no one in the history of book buying ever thought, “wow, this person’s repetitive pleas, demands, etc. etc. etc. are so compelling, I just have to see what they’re like in print.”  Rather, the interactions that work are the real ones.  The ones where your own writing style shines.  Posts, or tweets, that make a person laugh out loud?  They’ll sell books.  So I guess…the bottom line is this: think about what works for you, as a book buyer, not just as a book seller.  And do that.

How do you relax?

I paint.

What’s your favorite motivational phrase?

An old Japanese proverb: fall down seven times, stand up eight.

What’s your favorite piece of advice?

That you should never take advice from anyone you don’t want to be more like.

What is your favorite book and why?

The Shining, because it’s a profoundly at both cutting and sensitive portrait of mental illness.

What is your favorite film and why?

Fight Club, because it’s about what it means to really be alive.  Which is a question that more of us should be asking ourselves.  The acquisition of things doesn’t make life meaningful; it’s just another form of competing with your neighbor.  When who we should be competing with is ourselves.

Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

I hope, doing exactly what I’m doing today.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

To hang in there, because it gets better.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

To never, ever, ever give up.  Ever.  When someone tells you not to write, write more.  Your voice matters.  And the more unusual that voice is, the more it matters.  There is only one you and there is only ever going to be one you.  Not everyone, though, is going to appreciate that and you know what?  That’s fine.  Someone else’s opinion doesn’t affect your worth as a human being, or the importance of what you have to say.  Even if they want you to think it does.  And whatever’s going on in your life right now…whatever’s gone on in the past, embrace it.  Take your pain, and translate it into words.  Trust me, I speak from personal experience when I say that this is the ultimate form of empowerment.  Because what you own, what you really own, on your own terms, no one can take from you.

Find P.J. Online:

Website: https://pjfoxwrites.com

Facebook (writing): https://www.facebook.com/pjfoxwrites/

Facebook (art): https://www.facebook.com/pjfoxart/

Instagram: @pjfoxart

Twitter: @pjfoxwrites