For each writer their genre is the one they’re comfortable with. Why did you begin writing within yours? First, my primary genre is a hybrid between suspense and romance. There’s two reasons that a big alpha male would even try to do anything with romance: First, I think in modern society love and relationships have been maligned by the media. You see signs everywhere, especially in youth that treat relationships as a throw away commodity. Why not do something to convey that there is a reason God made men and women bonded at their heart. It’s how I feel on the inside, its what I believe in. Second reason, I’m a Wussy when it comes to love, always have been, always will. No, I don’t write pure romance, rather I create stories that deal with how the bond between a Man and woman can give them the strength to overcome adversary. In other words, I write about relationships from the male POV. Why add suspense? Because I have so many images and scenes of an intriguing nature floating around in my warped mind, why not write about ‘em.
What was your initial reaction when you got that first contract? Have you had anything else contracted and if so what was your reactions? Did you have the same emotions? After two years of climbing that steep mountain, I finally got my first novel (TAINTED HERO) published in 2007. Hard journey, but there's something special about seeing your story released by a publisher and appearing on amazon and BN.com. Then the real work begins. Writing the second (FORGOTTEN CHILDREN), and the third (BLIND CONSENT), and the fourth (VEIL OF DECEPTION), etc. I’m now working on my sixth novel. Here’s what is the same across all of ‘em: The thrill of seeing the book covers the artist comes up with, the high of holding the first copy of the paperback in your hand for each release, the excitement each time I get a five star review. What’s different? My energy level is decreasing. I find I have to force myself to sit down for the first 3 or 4 chapters. Yet, once my muse starts stroking me in just that right way, I’m good to go for 90000 words. The promotional effort consumes so much more time than I ever imagined and wears on my creativity more and more.
Do you have to do a lot of research to write the books you do or do you write within the fields you know? I do a lot of research on places, environment, and the way things work. If there’s any science involved, I make sure it’s realistic. When I reference objects, houses, tress, animals, everything that exists in the world, I try to make sure I describe it with words and imagery that makes the story real to the reader. There’s a happy balance between too much and too little detail and I use my wife as my barometer (she reads about a book every two days). I’ve gone so far as to take a trip to a new area just to absorb the environment of the story. Fort example, my seventh novel will be a romantic thriller partially based in the Outer Banks of NC.
What would be your one piece of advice for anyone interested in getting a book published? I post the lessons I’ve learned about what works and what doesn’t with 24 other authors at TheWritersVineyard.com, and also post a series of articles every 3 months in the Brass Spectacle magazine. In terms of the best advice I can give to someone aspiring to write, here are a few of the axioms I’ve learned across almost four years struggling to become a published author and trying to improve my skills with each story:
a. Find someone, hopefully two or three, that will read your scripts and be brutally honest, I mean brutal. Then listen to their comments with an open mine, and don't make excuses why they aren't reading it right. Be prepared to learn and grow with each story. Listen to all pre-reviewers, editors, and the publisher. You'll learn a lot.
b. The big five and agents are interested in established commodities where their risk is minimal. A newbie doesn't fit that category, unless you're a politician, actor, or have major connections. The small publishing houses are more open and can provide a higher probability entrance into the field, but it is still hard.
c. The query letter and synopsis really means the difference between success and failure. One small house said they received 23000 submissions a year. How are you going to float to the surface of that queue if you don't grab them on the query letter before they even get to the manuscript?
d. Get accustom to rejection. I received over one hundred rejection letters before I got my first contract. And from what I’ve read at the writer’s forums, I was lucky
How did you family/friends react to your decision to become a writer? My wife is unbelievable. Never complains about the time I spend in the backroom. My two sons (both who write fiction) have contributed so many great insights. I have about half a dozen friends/family that bug me about my next script so they can read it and help catch typos and offer ideas.
Places that I contribute/post articles about writing – TheWritersVineyard.com, RomancesSuspesneNovels.com, Brass Spectacle magazine
My website – Davisstories.com
Five star reviews – See the review page of my website
Excerpts – See the excerpt page of my website.
Book trailers – I have two videos that discuss the origin behind where the stories come from and their connection to me on a personal level. You can find both on my website.
What was your initial reaction when you got that first contract? Have you had anything else contracted and if so what was your reactions? Did you have the same emotions? After two years of climbing that steep mountain, I finally got my first novel (TAINTED HERO) published in 2007. Hard journey, but there's something special about seeing your story released by a publisher and appearing on amazon and BN.com. Then the real work begins. Writing the second (FORGOTTEN CHILDREN), and the third (BLIND CONSENT), and the fourth (VEIL OF DECEPTION), etc. I’m now working on my sixth novel. Here’s what is the same across all of ‘em: The thrill of seeing the book covers the artist comes up with, the high of holding the first copy of the paperback in your hand for each release, the excitement each time I get a five star review. What’s different? My energy level is decreasing. I find I have to force myself to sit down for the first 3 or 4 chapters. Yet, once my muse starts stroking me in just that right way, I’m good to go for 90000 words. The promotional effort consumes so much more time than I ever imagined and wears on my creativity more and more.
Do you have to do a lot of research to write the books you do or do you write within the fields you know? I do a lot of research on places, environment, and the way things work. If there’s any science involved, I make sure it’s realistic. When I reference objects, houses, tress, animals, everything that exists in the world, I try to make sure I describe it with words and imagery that makes the story real to the reader. There’s a happy balance between too much and too little detail and I use my wife as my barometer (she reads about a book every two days). I’ve gone so far as to take a trip to a new area just to absorb the environment of the story. Fort example, my seventh novel will be a romantic thriller partially based in the Outer Banks of NC.
What would be your one piece of advice for anyone interested in getting a book published? I post the lessons I’ve learned about what works and what doesn’t with 24 other authors at TheWritersVineyard.com, and also post a series of articles every 3 months in the Brass Spectacle magazine. In terms of the best advice I can give to someone aspiring to write, here are a few of the axioms I’ve learned across almost four years struggling to become a published author and trying to improve my skills with each story:
a. Find someone, hopefully two or three, that will read your scripts and be brutally honest, I mean brutal. Then listen to their comments with an open mine, and don't make excuses why they aren't reading it right. Be prepared to learn and grow with each story. Listen to all pre-reviewers, editors, and the publisher. You'll learn a lot.
b. The big five and agents are interested in established commodities where their risk is minimal. A newbie doesn't fit that category, unless you're a politician, actor, or have major connections. The small publishing houses are more open and can provide a higher probability entrance into the field, but it is still hard.
c. The query letter and synopsis really means the difference between success and failure. One small house said they received 23000 submissions a year. How are you going to float to the surface of that queue if you don't grab them on the query letter before they even get to the manuscript?
d. Get accustom to rejection. I received over one hundred rejection letters before I got my first contract. And from what I’ve read at the writer’s forums, I was lucky
How did you family/friends react to your decision to become a writer? My wife is unbelievable. Never complains about the time I spend in the backroom. My two sons (both who write fiction) have contributed so many great insights. I have about half a dozen friends/family that bug me about my next script so they can read it and help catch typos and offer ideas.
Places that I contribute/post articles about writing – TheWritersVineyard.com, RomancesSuspesneNovels.com, Brass Spectacle magazine
My website – Davisstories.com
Five star reviews – See the review page of my website
Excerpts – See the excerpt page of my website.
Book trailers – I have two videos that discuss the origin behind where the stories come from and their connection to me on a personal level. You can find both on my website.
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