The Author Interviews, Round 2: #3: Alexander M Zoltai
My Author Interviews series continues withAlexander M Zoltai, who very kindly featured me on his website. He has also agreed to exchange interviews with me, so be sure to check out his blog for that... coming soon!
What made you want to become a writer?I wish I could remember exactly what led me to writing. I know I was an obsessive reader and I'm sure that influenced me heavily. I know I wrote my first poem at 13 - it came from "nowhere" and supremely surprised me.All I know, clearly, is that, when I finally dedicated myself to writing, it came so easily that I knew I was born to do it. Thing is, I didn't dedicate myself to writing till I was in my mid-50s...
What do you think about the ebook revolution?I think it's the modern equivalent of Mr. Gutenberg inventing the printing press - even the poorest kids in Africa and other developing countries are reading e-books, mostly on their phones.
Do you set a goal of a certain number of words a week or just when inspiration strikes?I've never set a certain number of words as my goal in writing and inspiration appears as soon as I sit down to write.I do have a current initiative that demands I write a short tale every week; but, there is no set number of words---some are short stories, some flash fiction, some microfiction...
What do you love most about the writing process?I love sitting down, most times not quite sure what I'll write; and, suddenly, I'm writing like I knew all along just what I needed to put down.I love, just as much, the feeling when I'm done that doubts I'd actually written what I see before me...
Which of your books do you like the best?It's clearly the short novel,Notes from An Alien, even though my co-author disagrees in the Prologue; and, even though my co-author is a character in the book...
Where can we find you online?My major presence is my blog, called Notes from An Alien (yes, same as the novel)---it's the Hub that branches out into other spaces...
You are living in one of the worlds from your latest novel. Where are you? What is it like?I'm on the Silver Beach on the west coast of the territory, Avur, on the satellite world of Belli-Palos, Angla-Palli - immersed up to my neck, slowly sipping water, quickly making connection with the entity, Anglana - letting her see through my eyes and speak through my mouth...It's like nothing else in the Universe - ingesting a microscopic amount of a world-sized entity and becoming an avatar for their wishes...
What is your opinion on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?First, I hope it stops being an "argument"---there are other ways to think about a disruptive trend in publishing.
The way the world seems to be headed, large corporations will soon be having huge dissolutions---breaking apart into smaller, nimbler organizations.The Indie authors and their publishing-aid cohorts will have already learned how to do what all those new, mini publishing businesses will learn...What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Seriously, write "something" every day; but, also read a lot of "something" every day. If that's impossible, make particular days of the week Writing Days and the rest of the week Reading Days.
Do you consider yourself to be a successful writer? If so, why? If not, what would make you successful?
I'm a successful writer and I'm not a successful writer.I'm not successful in the sense of making money from writing - very few authors, in spite of what all the "writing gurus" say, make enough cash to live on - I have books for sale but always keep the option for readers to have them free...I'm a successful writer because I know what my "Voices" are - my writing personae - and, I can finish, to my Muse's satisfaction, whatever I begin.I also think that maintaining a blog about Reading, Writing, and Publishing for the last six years makes me a successful writer.After all, "success" comes from roots that mean "result", "outcome", "a good result", "happy outcome"; and, I have, reliably, good and happy outcomes from my writing :-)Many thanks to Alexander for this interview.Please consider visiting his site and taking a free a copy of Alex's Novel.
What made you want to become a writer?I wish I could remember exactly what led me to writing. I know I was an obsessive reader and I'm sure that influenced me heavily. I know I wrote my first poem at 13 - it came from "nowhere" and supremely surprised me.All I know, clearly, is that, when I finally dedicated myself to writing, it came so easily that I knew I was born to do it. Thing is, I didn't dedicate myself to writing till I was in my mid-50s...
What do you think about the ebook revolution?I think it's the modern equivalent of Mr. Gutenberg inventing the printing press - even the poorest kids in Africa and other developing countries are reading e-books, mostly on their phones.
Do you set a goal of a certain number of words a week or just when inspiration strikes?I've never set a certain number of words as my goal in writing and inspiration appears as soon as I sit down to write.I do have a current initiative that demands I write a short tale every week; but, there is no set number of words---some are short stories, some flash fiction, some microfiction...
What do you love most about the writing process?I love sitting down, most times not quite sure what I'll write; and, suddenly, I'm writing like I knew all along just what I needed to put down.I love, just as much, the feeling when I'm done that doubts I'd actually written what I see before me...
Which of your books do you like the best?It's clearly the short novel,Notes from An Alien, even though my co-author disagrees in the Prologue; and, even though my co-author is a character in the book...
Where can we find you online?My major presence is my blog, called Notes from An Alien (yes, same as the novel)---it's the Hub that branches out into other spaces...
You are living in one of the worlds from your latest novel. Where are you? What is it like?I'm on the Silver Beach on the west coast of the territory, Avur, on the satellite world of Belli-Palos, Angla-Palli - immersed up to my neck, slowly sipping water, quickly making connection with the entity, Anglana - letting her see through my eyes and speak through my mouth...It's like nothing else in the Universe - ingesting a microscopic amount of a world-sized entity and becoming an avatar for their wishes...
What is your opinion on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?First, I hope it stops being an "argument"---there are other ways to think about a disruptive trend in publishing.
The way the world seems to be headed, large corporations will soon be having huge dissolutions---breaking apart into smaller, nimbler organizations.The Indie authors and their publishing-aid cohorts will have already learned how to do what all those new, mini publishing businesses will learn...What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Seriously, write "something" every day; but, also read a lot of "something" every day. If that's impossible, make particular days of the week Writing Days and the rest of the week Reading Days.
Do you consider yourself to be a successful writer? If so, why? If not, what would make you successful?
I'm a successful writer and I'm not a successful writer.I'm not successful in the sense of making money from writing - very few authors, in spite of what all the "writing gurus" say, make enough cash to live on - I have books for sale but always keep the option for readers to have them free...I'm a successful writer because I know what my "Voices" are - my writing personae - and, I can finish, to my Muse's satisfaction, whatever I begin.I also think that maintaining a blog about Reading, Writing, and Publishing for the last six years makes me a successful writer.After all, "success" comes from roots that mean "result", "outcome", "a good result", "happy outcome"; and, I have, reliably, good and happy outcomes from my writing :-)Many thanks to Alexander for this interview.Please consider visiting his site and taking a free a copy of Alex's Novel.
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