Interview Yourself #4: Shoutouts for Pam

Hi, folks! Today, I’m continuing with a new, unique series of posts. In the coming weeks, I’m going to be interviewing myself using pre-written questions from other blog sites, starting with these from Lawrence Wray.

It’s going to be a lot of fun, and a great way for me to reveal a little bit more about myself, my writing and my habits. Are you ready? Good – let’s get started.

 

 

Do you ever get writer’s block?

Luckily, I work on so many different projects at once that I never get writer’s block. I can just switch to a different activity.

 

Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

If it is writer’s block, start a new project so that you can work on that if you get stuck on your other piece. Just don’t forget to go back to it! If you’re just tired, get coffee.

 

If this book is part of a series, tell us a little about it?

I’m currently working on Netflix & Kill, which is the second book in the Leipfold detective series. It follows private detective James Leipfold and his assistant, Maile O’Hara, as they try to solve crimes while making a profit – or breaking even at the very least.

 

What are your thoughts on writing a book series.

It’s never something that I’d really thought of until a year or so ago. I always thought that people wrote a series because they didn’t have any new ideas, but I guess that’s not the case. Leipfold and Maile still have plenty of adventures left in them – and plenty of backstory to explore while they’re at it – and so I think I’ll be doing that for a while to come. But in the meantime, I do like writing standalones, and so I’m planning a few of those to work on while the Leipfold books are in editing.

 

Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors.

I’m like Bob Dylan’s Mr. Jones – “very well read, it’s well known”. I run a book blog called SocialBookshelves.com and have reviewed over a thousand books. Some of my favourite authors include Charles Bukowski, Graham Greene and Terry Pratchett.

 

Dane Cobain

 

For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

I only read physical books. I collect them after I read them.

 

What book/s are you reading at present?

At the time of writing, I’m around 850 pages into The Stand by Stephen King. 500 pages to go.

 

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

I work with Pam Elise Harris, my editor and partner-in-crime, and we usually make two or three passes over the book for rewrites, copyediting and the like. Then I have a final pass of my own to pick up any lingering errors.

 

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

I usually have to because I need to schedule it in with Pam. I also make my own initial pass after writing before sending it over to go into edits. No Rest for the Wicked lay around for five years or so before it was published.

 

Who edited your book and how did you select him/her?

Pam Harris – brap brap! Pam actually approached me back in the Booktrope day – before my old publisher went bust and I had to go back to being an indie author – because she wanted to work with me on Former.ly. I was so impressed with her work that I kept her on after Booktrope, and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Dane Cobain – Come On Up to the House

 

So there we have it – that’s the latest instalment of Interview Yourself over and done with! Thanks, as always, for reading, and be sure to keep your browser pointed to DaneCobain.com. You can also sign up to my mailing list, follow me on Facebook and Twitter or check out my books for further info. I’ll see you soon!