Such an Honor!

Such an Honor!  Blog Hop

After writing and posting to my blog daily for nearly a year, I can honestly say how much I love it and don’t know how I got along not doing it before.

On another note – two of my four purchased stories are, finally, set to be published this week!  I am very excited.  They are expected out in actual print!

I set out to fulfill a lifetime goal of getting published this past spring.  I have written with the idea of being published for many years, decades, but have always been so busy working and just living that I have not given it the time it deserves.

After I had my life-changing stroke in May 2010, I had to settle down more and, by February 2011, I had been forced to stop teaching (another life goal) and adjust into a more home-oriented lifestyle.

I took up blogging and decided to become dedicated to that as a way to spend my time writing and learning and connecting with others.

I have really outdone myself in that I have met such a wonderful group of fellow bloggers.  I am following over 125 now and find myself, often, a bit overwhelmed with trying to catch up on reading posts and doing my daily one and finding time to both write short stories and live my life.  It is exciting!

I do write and have found that, since my stroke, I am better with short stories.  My attention span and fatigue levels seem to work well around something that is from about 3-10 pages long (1500-4000 words).  Looking at publishing, I have decided that online works best for me and the arena of high suspense and horror fiction seems to be something I can excel in.

I also work with the Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.  This is a group of bloggers who use a photo prompt to deliver a writing exercise of around 100 words (I use 100 exactly) to be shared with whoever decides to write and/or read the post on Friday.  This keeps me writing and allows me to test out different delivery methods and styles of writing.  It also has me reading around 20 other writers each week.

As for publishing a book, it seems to me that, perhaps, an anthology of my short stories and poems might be in order in a year or two.  Reprinted stories and a few new ones would comprise the manuscript with my poetry added in for extra measure.  I might even decide that another section with essays and thoughts would be good to add.

Arianna is the person who put me into this mix of writers.  She has added me to the list of people she wanted to have interviewed.   I appreciate her very much.  She is a wonderful human being and delightful individual who is beginning her new career of helping others and has a book coming out February 1st of this year.  I encourage you to read/follow her blog and purchase her book.

I have also included several other (after the questions) writers who have inspired and taught me.

Now comes the time to answer the 10 questions posed.

What is the working title for your book?

As stated earlier, I have not written a book.  Currently, I have four stories that have been purchased and all four are supposed to be in either online format or in print by March 1st.  Those four stories are:

1) A Word of Advice

2) Sirens of the Undead

3) The Way It is

4) Tiger, Demon Burning Bright

Where did the idea come from for the book?

All of the stories originated from prompts or topics the publishers gave.  One publisher, http://cruentuslibri.wordpress.com/ , found here on WordPress, has purchased 3 of the 4 stories.  They have a new topic about one time each month.  They are a British Publishing Firm.

What genre does your book fall under?

Horror Fiction

Which actor would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Oh, that would be so very cool!  I would love it if Stephen King played a bit part in one.  And, if some of the people who played in “Masters of Horror” series would be in it.  Wow!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Each story is different, but my general idea is:  A story composed of flawed characters faced with horrible choices in a plot that twists several times before its, hopefully, unforeseen conclusion.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

So, far 2 publishing firms (one for books and the other a new magazine).

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Except for one very inspired story, most of the ones I have written have taken between 4-6 hours to write and, perhaps, another 1 hour to polish.

What other books would compare this (work) to within your genre?

Any collection (anthology) of short (7-12) page horror stories.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I have loved horror stories and movies since I was little (perhaps, too little).  While I am a very loving, caring, nonviolent individual, I do have this quirky imagination that I can turn on (and, usually, turn off) when I choose to work on a story or idea.  I am certain that there are stories and movies I have read and watched over the years that have influenced my ideas; however, I try to take the usual and twist it until it is a surprise to my readers.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

My stories are all unique and varied.  I try to jump around in my subject matter and not stick to the same old recipe.

The writers I tagged are: 

Robin Coyle

JMMcDowell

Zoe

Madison Woods

August McLaughlin

Joeccombs2nd

Check out their sites and their works.  Each of them has added to my life in one way or another.  They are all great people and have something to offer you.

Namaste,

Scott