Author Interview: Steven W. Johnson author of Not Much of a Crime
Steven W. Johnson is a three-tour veteran of Viet Nam. Among others he has worked as a mailroom clerk, teletype operator, computer programmer, as well as a magazine editor and publisher. Reading has always been a part of his life and he finds it strange that he should be a writer when the nuns who taught him in grade school couldn't get him to do his written homework.
Author Name: Steven W. Johnson
Name of Book: Not Much of a Crime
Description of Book:
Allison King finds herself embroiled in a fight for her life when she decides to run for a vacant seat on the town council of Charleston, Nevada. Does she have what it takes to overcome the political corruption, intrigue, and murder that permeates the town and still save the adult video empire she has created in Los Angeles?
Where to Find:
Steven Johnson's Website
Self Publisher Store
Amazon Kindle
Author's Website: http://www.stevenwjohnson.com
And now for the in depth questions :)
RJ Palmer
Is there a work of your own of which you are particularly fond? Why?
Steven W. Johnson
I am most fond, a the moment, of The Curious Misadventures of Tubby Wexler, Private Investigator. Tubby believes he is the personification of the pulp magazine detectives of the 30s, 40s, and 50s. He has all the trappings, a two room office in a dilapidated downtown office building, a faithful, if untrained, canine, a beautiful voluptuous Cajun secretary, and a host of bizzare clients. The only thing Tubby doesn't have - is a clue!
I am most fond of Tubby because it is difficult to write a character who cannot do anything of any social significance. Even though he is a private detective, he cannot solve a murder, find a kidnap victim, or win the heart of the lust of his life, Julia Pettigrew, his private secretary.
RJ Palmer
What is your favorite part of the writing process? Your least favorite?
Steven W. Johnson
My favorite part of the writing process is listening to the voices in my head. While the Ancient Greeks believed in a Muse for each aspect of the creative process, I firmly believe they are still alive and fighting among themselves to be heard. It is a regular slug fest at times as each of them tries to dominate the scene I am writing.
What I hate the most is the idea of outlining a story. I would much rather have the characters talk to me and tell me their story rather than attempt to force them into a scenario I want them to participate in. I have found that if I try to force the characters into any form, the stop talking to me and it may take months for them to get over their huff.
RJ Palmer
Describe in your own words (for there can be no other way) what direction it is to which you aspire when it comes to your work. Where do you want your work to take you?
Steven W. Johnson
While I have never taken a creative writing course (I seriously think they stifle creativity as the instructors try to mold the wannabe authors into their own mold) I devise new "assignments" of my own to improve my writing skills. One of these tasks was to write a complete 3 act story line with no speaking attributions (no he said/she said). Another I just finished was to eliminate the word "was" from an entire story. Both short stories are available in my forthcoming book Long Tales & Short Shorts that will come out before Christmas. I am waiting on the cover artwork.
I am now learning the ins and outs of screenplays. Another assignment I am forcing upon myself as we all know the "big money" is in Hollywood.
RJ Palmer
Most writers have a favorite genre when it comes to reading that is not necessarily the genre in which they write, do you write in your favorite genre? If so, why? If not, why not?
Steven W. Johnson
While I write mysteries, farces, and short stories of all genre, I love to read mysteries, westerns, and non-fiction history books. I recently finished a book that dealt with the Werwolf, the attempted Nazi guerrilla efforts from 1944 through 1946. Most people don't realize that even though the European Theater war ended in May of 1944, the die-hard Nazis fought on until 1946 and in some isolated instances within Russian held territory into 1948 before they were fully crushed.
RJ Palmer
Do you have a favorite quote from a writer that you use for inspiration? What is it and why?
Steven W. Johnson
My favorite quote comes from Thomas B. Sawyer in his book Fiction Writing Demystified. And it is "Face it - We're Entertainers." His point is that if you cannot entertain your readers you are in the wrong profession. [For those of you unfamiliar with Tom, he was the head writer and showrunner for Murder She Wrote and 15 other TV shows during his career.]
Of course I also like the quote from Alfred Hitchcock: "Drama is real life with the boring parts removed."
RJ Palmer
Some writers tend to have a unique step in their writing process that has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual writing but has everything to do with inspiration or balance. Most people would call it a little bit OCD. Do you have such a step? Would you care to share what it is?
Steven W. Johnson
I keep the computer close to my bed so when the Muses start bickering I can lay down and let them sort it out. At times, I also do a load of laundry and hang it on the line to dry. But I much prefer the lie down on the bed routine, although it does tend to irritate my wife at times. She thinks I am taking a nap...
I would like to thank Steven for participating and encourage readers and viewers alike to please check Steven out, his story may be just what you were looking for.
Related articlesNew York Serves as Testbed for Online Publishing Ideas (nyconvergence.com)
Superstar Internet Marketer Steven Johnson Prepares to Share Traffic Secrets (prweb.com)
What Everybody Needs to Know About Emergence (creatingreciprocity.wordpress.com)
Snippets - Emergence (steven johnson) p160-1 (johntropea.tumblr.com)
A thrilling historical account of the worst cholera outbreak in Victorian London - and a brilliant exploration of how Dr. John Snow's solution revolutionized the way we think about disease, cities, science, and the modern world. (oldsaltbooks.wordpress.com)
Students suggest Tennessee Valley Fair emphasize music, partnerships (knoxnews.com)
Yahoo! Returns for Second Year as Presenting Sponsor of Internet Week New York With the Yahoo! Provoke Summit, Keynoted by Best-Selling Author Steven Johnson. (prweb.com)
Slowing Down Time (neilperkin.typepad.com)
outside.in Raises $1.5 Million, Preps Site Revamp (nyconvergence.com)
Networked Knowledge and Combinatorial Creativity (brainpickings.org)
Pics From 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' (screenphiles.com)
It's time for Tubby bye bye (thesun.co.uk)
Tubby Smith: Basketball Coach Tubby Smith Says That He Is Cancer Free (bleacherreport.com)
At Oki-Ni: Mr. Hare King Tubby in Salmon, Flag Shirt (stylecrave.com)
Am I in Need of a Butler? (manbehindthecurtain.ie)
Rockbrat Wonders: Whatever Happened To Jed Starr ? (rockbrat.wordpress.com)
Tubby Smith Treated For Prostate Cancer, Says He's Now Cancer-Free (sbnation.com)
Veteran Worsley let go by England (news.bbc.co.uk)
Tubby Messi Impersonator Dribbles Past Old Women, Sheep To Reenact Goal Against Real Madrid [Video] (deadspin.com)
Home Sweet Home (allthingsjennifer.wordpress.com)
The New Yorker Has Sold 20,000 Annual iPad Subscriptions (macstories.net)
Meet Chef Ludo Lefebvre, The Pop-Up King (huffingtonpost.com)
The Morning Fix: 'Smurfs' up! Funny Girls. Greenblatt speaks. (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
Launch'em At Patriots Point (cv10navalaviator.wordpress.com)
Welcoming three new priests to the Diocese of Charleston! (furmanccm.wordpress.com)
Cooking with Callie's Charleston Biscuits (shopify.com)
Nevada's Restricted LLC and LP Law (lawprofessors.typepad.com)
Tarboro Town Council considers new policy - Source: The Daily Southerner (curmilus.wordpress.com)
Stephen Mackey (@Notaviva) Interviews Sam Brown (@CrookdRunOrchrd); Purcellville Town Council Fails to Show #vawine (cellarblog.org)
Madoff's Computer Programmers Arrested (nyconvergence.com)
When Was the Last Time You Were Badly Sunburned? (fitsugar.com)
The Charge (stevenspielbergpleasereadthis.com)
Grade School Girls Out To Raise $371,000 - Save Teachers (prweb.com)
Grades in school should be eliminated (circleh.wordpress.com)
Car-racing game on a thermal printer (boingboing.net)
Can You Scale the Food Pyramid? (fitsugar.com)
The History of the "@" Symbol (Part 1) (shadycharacters.co.uk)
Being Google's Philosopher (pinkbananaworld.com)
Author Name: Steven W. Johnson
Name of Book: Not Much of a Crime
Description of Book:
Allison King finds herself embroiled in a fight for her life when she decides to run for a vacant seat on the town council of Charleston, Nevada. Does she have what it takes to overcome the political corruption, intrigue, and murder that permeates the town and still save the adult video empire she has created in Los Angeles?
Where to Find:
Steven Johnson's Website
Self Publisher Store
Amazon Kindle
Author's Website: http://www.stevenwjohnson.com
And now for the in depth questions :)
RJ Palmer
Is there a work of your own of which you are particularly fond? Why?
Steven W. Johnson
I am most fond, a the moment, of The Curious Misadventures of Tubby Wexler, Private Investigator. Tubby believes he is the personification of the pulp magazine detectives of the 30s, 40s, and 50s. He has all the trappings, a two room office in a dilapidated downtown office building, a faithful, if untrained, canine, a beautiful voluptuous Cajun secretary, and a host of bizzare clients. The only thing Tubby doesn't have - is a clue!
I am most fond of Tubby because it is difficult to write a character who cannot do anything of any social significance. Even though he is a private detective, he cannot solve a murder, find a kidnap victim, or win the heart of the lust of his life, Julia Pettigrew, his private secretary.
RJ Palmer
What is your favorite part of the writing process? Your least favorite?
Steven W. Johnson
My favorite part of the writing process is listening to the voices in my head. While the Ancient Greeks believed in a Muse for each aspect of the creative process, I firmly believe they are still alive and fighting among themselves to be heard. It is a regular slug fest at times as each of them tries to dominate the scene I am writing.
What I hate the most is the idea of outlining a story. I would much rather have the characters talk to me and tell me their story rather than attempt to force them into a scenario I want them to participate in. I have found that if I try to force the characters into any form, the stop talking to me and it may take months for them to get over their huff.
RJ Palmer
Describe in your own words (for there can be no other way) what direction it is to which you aspire when it comes to your work. Where do you want your work to take you?
Steven W. Johnson
While I have never taken a creative writing course (I seriously think they stifle creativity as the instructors try to mold the wannabe authors into their own mold) I devise new "assignments" of my own to improve my writing skills. One of these tasks was to write a complete 3 act story line with no speaking attributions (no he said/she said). Another I just finished was to eliminate the word "was" from an entire story. Both short stories are available in my forthcoming book Long Tales & Short Shorts that will come out before Christmas. I am waiting on the cover artwork.
I am now learning the ins and outs of screenplays. Another assignment I am forcing upon myself as we all know the "big money" is in Hollywood.
RJ Palmer
Most writers have a favorite genre when it comes to reading that is not necessarily the genre in which they write, do you write in your favorite genre? If so, why? If not, why not?
Steven W. Johnson
While I write mysteries, farces, and short stories of all genre, I love to read mysteries, westerns, and non-fiction history books. I recently finished a book that dealt with the Werwolf, the attempted Nazi guerrilla efforts from 1944 through 1946. Most people don't realize that even though the European Theater war ended in May of 1944, the die-hard Nazis fought on until 1946 and in some isolated instances within Russian held territory into 1948 before they were fully crushed.
RJ Palmer
Do you have a favorite quote from a writer that you use for inspiration? What is it and why?
Steven W. Johnson
My favorite quote comes from Thomas B. Sawyer in his book Fiction Writing Demystified. And it is "Face it - We're Entertainers." His point is that if you cannot entertain your readers you are in the wrong profession. [For those of you unfamiliar with Tom, he was the head writer and showrunner for Murder She Wrote and 15 other TV shows during his career.]
Of course I also like the quote from Alfred Hitchcock: "Drama is real life with the boring parts removed."
RJ Palmer
Some writers tend to have a unique step in their writing process that has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual writing but has everything to do with inspiration or balance. Most people would call it a little bit OCD. Do you have such a step? Would you care to share what it is?
Steven W. Johnson
I keep the computer close to my bed so when the Muses start bickering I can lay down and let them sort it out. At times, I also do a load of laundry and hang it on the line to dry. But I much prefer the lie down on the bed routine, although it does tend to irritate my wife at times. She thinks I am taking a nap...
I would like to thank Steven for participating and encourage readers and viewers alike to please check Steven out, his story may be just what you were looking for.
Related articlesNew York Serves as Testbed for Online Publishing Ideas (nyconvergence.com)
Superstar Internet Marketer Steven Johnson Prepares to Share Traffic Secrets (prweb.com)
What Everybody Needs to Know About Emergence (creatingreciprocity.wordpress.com)
Snippets - Emergence (steven johnson) p160-1 (johntropea.tumblr.com)
A thrilling historical account of the worst cholera outbreak in Victorian London - and a brilliant exploration of how Dr. John Snow's solution revolutionized the way we think about disease, cities, science, and the modern world. (oldsaltbooks.wordpress.com)
Students suggest Tennessee Valley Fair emphasize music, partnerships (knoxnews.com)
Yahoo! Returns for Second Year as Presenting Sponsor of Internet Week New York With the Yahoo! Provoke Summit, Keynoted by Best-Selling Author Steven Johnson. (prweb.com)
Slowing Down Time (neilperkin.typepad.com)
outside.in Raises $1.5 Million, Preps Site Revamp (nyconvergence.com)
Networked Knowledge and Combinatorial Creativity (brainpickings.org)
Pics From 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' (screenphiles.com)
It's time for Tubby bye bye (thesun.co.uk)
Tubby Smith: Basketball Coach Tubby Smith Says That He Is Cancer Free (bleacherreport.com)
At Oki-Ni: Mr. Hare King Tubby in Salmon, Flag Shirt (stylecrave.com)
Am I in Need of a Butler? (manbehindthecurtain.ie)
Rockbrat Wonders: Whatever Happened To Jed Starr ? (rockbrat.wordpress.com)
Tubby Smith Treated For Prostate Cancer, Says He's Now Cancer-Free (sbnation.com)
Veteran Worsley let go by England (news.bbc.co.uk)
Tubby Messi Impersonator Dribbles Past Old Women, Sheep To Reenact Goal Against Real Madrid [Video] (deadspin.com)
Home Sweet Home (allthingsjennifer.wordpress.com)
The New Yorker Has Sold 20,000 Annual iPad Subscriptions (macstories.net)
Meet Chef Ludo Lefebvre, The Pop-Up King (huffingtonpost.com)
The Morning Fix: 'Smurfs' up! Funny Girls. Greenblatt speaks. (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
Launch'em At Patriots Point (cv10navalaviator.wordpress.com)
Welcoming three new priests to the Diocese of Charleston! (furmanccm.wordpress.com)
Cooking with Callie's Charleston Biscuits (shopify.com)
Nevada's Restricted LLC and LP Law (lawprofessors.typepad.com)
Tarboro Town Council considers new policy - Source: The Daily Southerner (curmilus.wordpress.com)
Stephen Mackey (@Notaviva) Interviews Sam Brown (@CrookdRunOrchrd); Purcellville Town Council Fails to Show #vawine (cellarblog.org)
Madoff's Computer Programmers Arrested (nyconvergence.com)
When Was the Last Time You Were Badly Sunburned? (fitsugar.com)
The Charge (stevenspielbergpleasereadthis.com)
Grade School Girls Out To Raise $371,000 - Save Teachers (prweb.com)
Grades in school should be eliminated (circleh.wordpress.com)
Car-racing game on a thermal printer (boingboing.net)
Can You Scale the Food Pyramid? (fitsugar.com)
The History of the "@" Symbol (Part 1) (shadycharacters.co.uk)
Being Google's Philosopher (pinkbananaworld.com)
No comments have been added yet.
