Just for Fun Friday: Another Self-interview

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Just for Fun Friday: Another Self-interview

Coming off my 6th best month for book sales ($50) since I started writing in 2019, I thought I’d dust off another interview I did in 2023. I was working on the first book of my Orion Arm Alliance series at the time.

It’s what you have been waiting for, right? Another self interview? In my 5th installment, Leon Stevens talks about science fiction, poetry, and other stuff.

I’m here with mediocre selling author, Leon Stevens. How are you doing today?

Fine, thank you.

So, what makes you consider your writing mediocre?

Oh, I think you have it wrong. My sales are mediocre, not my writing.

I apologize. But you have to admit there might be some correlation between book sales and the quality of writing.

Of course, that will factor in, but as an indie author, part of the challenge is becoming known to readers. There are popular books that I consider poorly written, but because there’s a publicity machine behind it, the sales are higher.

So, how do you describe your writing?

Well, I like it.

Obviously.

Most of the reviews and feedback have been positive, but there have been a few negative ones. I must be doing something right if my books average 4 ½ stars.

But they don’t sell?

Oh, they sell, but I can’t quit my day job.

Would you?

Of course.

What is your main goal as an author?

Would I like make scads of money? Sure. But every sale means some reader was interested enough to give one of my books a try, and every positive review means I have succeeded in entertaining them. I guess my primary goal is to entertain.

How many books have you published?

I have two poetry books, a short story science fiction collection, and my sci-fi trilogy.

[silence]

Six. I have six.

Which book sells the most?

Book one of my trilogy, The View from Here. There hasn’t been as many read-throughs as I hoped of the next two, but everyone who buys book two, buys book three.

Why do you think that is?

Book one was originally written as a stand alone, so when I decided to continue it, I probably lost readers when the next one was released 8 months after. That book ended on a cliffhanger, and the final book was released 8 months after that.

Was that an oversight on your part?

Not oversight, since I wasn’t planning a trilogy, but maybe a rookie mistake. It would have been hard to sit on book one for a year and a half for the entire trilogy to be complete, so even if I planned it, I think would have released them separately. I would have also indicated that The View from Here was book one, though.

It is now.

Yes. I did change the subtitle on Amazon.

So, is that series done?

I think so. I don’t know if there is anything left for the characters to do.

Any feedback for the bonus content?

Only from my beta-readers. I had hoped more would have checked out the video and character interview, but I had fun making it.

Are you working on anything else?

Yes.

Care to elaborate?

No.

OK … Want to talk about your poetry?

Sure. I haven’t written much, but I try to write a couple each week.

Most of what I read lately is leaning toward the humorous. Is this a conscience choice?

Sometimes. I think many readers don’t think they like poetry because it has a reputation of being deep and difficult to understand, so since I’m not deep or difficult to understand, so goes my poetry. I try to approach it as entertainment.

Not all of your poetry is like this, thought, your first book delves into more personal topics and observations.

True. Poetry serves its purpose at the time it is written and then it is out there for others to discover when it is needed in their lives.

How would you describe your poetry?

Erratic?

Explain.

I don’t concern myself with traditional forms or worry about rhyme. Sometimes I feel that a rhyme is necessary to give focus to a certain Idea, and it doesn’t always have to be at the end of the line.

What’s your oddest rhyme scheme?

Probably A, B, C, A, A, C, D, B, E, E, C, F, C, G, G, G, B—

[sarcastically] Really?

[rudely] Pfft. I don’t know.

Well then. This looks like a good place to wrap it up.

Sounds about right.

Check out Leon’s books here: Leon’s Amazon page

Read Leon’s other self interviews: linesbyleon.com/the-interviews/

Back to the present: I now have the complete trilogy in paperback!

Euphrates Vanished (Kindle/KU)A Matter of Sabotage (Kindle/KU)

Don’t feel like buying the book? How about reviewing for free?

Sci-fi not your thing?

Try my two poetry collections: Lines by Leon and A Wonder of Words

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.

My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/