Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming a writer/published author? Looking back at your childhood were there any early signs you would become an author?
I started writing the first book of the two which comprise my novel not long after graduating from college. Ironically, I had taken a creative writing course the spring semester of my senior year, had found the weekly writing assignment difficult, and not gotten a good grade in the class. Yet, I felt I could write, if I made up my mind to start. As for early signs from my boyhood I would become an author, well, spelling was among my strong suits, but I don’t believe this could be regarded as a hint of things to come. Moreover, I did not enjoy reading, and to this day have not read books boys have traditionally read during their school years, like Tom Sawyer and Treasure Island. This would point in the opposite direction to my becoming a writer, since writers are readers.
You started this book 40 years ago, but didn't finish until you retired from your career. Why did you put it away all those years ago instead of continuing to work on it? And when you retired, what drew you to pick it up again?
I had larger concerns than my book, like earning a living. I may also have vaguely known it was time to put the manuscript away, acquire some “life experience,” then return to it someday. This turned out to be a good strategy, since after I retired, I had that “life experience” behind me, and was in a position to resume the story and realize its potential.
I’ve made fairness a beacon in my life. Human beings can, and do, disagree about everything, yet I think we all have a keen sense of what is and isn’t fair.
I started writing the first book of the two which comprise my novel not long after graduating from college. Ironically, I had taken a creative writing course the spring semester of my senior year, had found the weekly writing assignment difficult, and not gotten a good grade in the class. Yet, I felt I could write, if I made up my mind to start. As for early signs from my boyhood I would become an author, well, spelling was among my strong suits, but I don’t believe this could be regarded as a hint of things to come. Moreover, I did not enjoy reading, and to this day have not read books boys have traditionally read during their school years, like Tom Sawyer and Treasure Island. This would point in the opposite direction to my becoming a writer, since writers are readers.
You started this book 40 years ago, but didn't finish until you retired from your career. Why did you put it away all those years ago instead of continuing to work on it? And when you retired, what drew you to pick it up again?
You separated the story into 2 clearly delineated section within the book. I could instead see these as 2 separate books written as a part of a series. What was the deciding factor that lead you to offer the 2 stories together in one book instead of as separate books?
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Seems to me I once read, or heard, having a two-book deal is advantageous, but in recent years, those to whom I proposed a two-volume novel were not enthusiastic. Good thing, because I didn’t want to do this, either.
Where do you find inspiration for your storylines? For the characters you create? What kind of research do you do to help with the details?
Whenever I hear the word “inspiration” I am reminded of the writer who said writing is mostly perspiration. I think he gave it a percentage, like 5% inspiration versus 95% perspiration. Regardless, I agree. What works for me is doing the writing. Every serious writer knows this. You just have to sit down and write, and avenues you cannot anticipate as long as the book is still in your head, open up.
Where do you find inspiration for your storylines? For the characters you create? What kind of research do you do to help with the details?
Whenever I hear the word “inspiration” I am reminded of the writer who said writing is mostly perspiration. I think he gave it a percentage, like 5% inspiration versus 95% perspiration. Regardless, I agree. What works for me is doing the writing. Every serious writer knows this. You just have to sit down and write, and avenues you cannot anticipate as long as the book is still in your head, open up.
How does the writing process work for you? Do you schedule a time every day, work madly when inspiration hits or ?
Scheduling a time every day is the way to get a book written, in my opinion, and at my best, I was managing four hours a day. I can’t recall now exactly what hours, 8-10:30 and 2:30-4, or something like that.
As an author - what do you enjoy most about writing process? What feels like a chore?
Getting a passage just the way I want it is always rewarding, but, of course, the chore is getting there. I suppose this is the reverse of the saying, “It’s the journey, not the destination.”
What's next for you as an author? Do you have any new books in the planning or writing stage?
I’ve made a start on a memoir, but it’s half-hearted. It isn’t my way to make a fuss about myself, so how exactly to square this with writing a memoir I haven’t figured out. In any case, my focus right now is on promoting Stefan’s Promise.
What would you most like readers to know about you?
Scheduling a time every day is the way to get a book written, in my opinion, and at my best, I was managing four hours a day. I can’t recall now exactly what hours, 8-10:30 and 2:30-4, or something like that.
As an author - what do you enjoy most about writing process? What feels like a chore?
Getting a passage just the way I want it is always rewarding, but, of course, the chore is getting there. I suppose this is the reverse of the saying, “It’s the journey, not the destination.”
What's next for you as an author? Do you have any new books in the planning or writing stage?
I’ve made a start on a memoir, but it’s half-hearted. It isn’t my way to make a fuss about myself, so how exactly to square this with writing a memoir I haven’t figured out. In any case, my focus right now is on promoting Stefan’s Promise.
What would you most like readers to know about you?
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