Month: April 2023

April 28, 2023

An Interview with Author T.A. Cruz

Raised in a small California farming town, T.A. Cruz spent his childhood honing an imagination as vast as the wheat fields stretching around him for miles. With 6 years of military service, and passport stamps from around the world, part of him will always be in that little town with a single stoplight and a population of 1500. A lifelong lover of horror, and things that go bump in the night, T.A. Cruz decided it was time to take that passion to the page to shock and terrify others for a change. He is an active member of the International Thriller Writers and is on the hunt for more groups to expand and connect with other authors that share his passion. When not diving face-first into another project, Cruz enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, two dogs, and axolotl. 

  • Where are you from?

I grew up in a small farming town in the pacific northwest, a town quite similar to the fictional town of Fulton. This is the setting for my thriller, Have You Seen Sarah Baker? The town had (it’s grown quite a bit since I left) a population of less than two thousand, a single stoplight, and a graduating class of eighty or so students. This place was extremely fun to revisit, albeit fictionally, while writing Fulton. Everyone knows everyone. The rumors, the gossip. To toss a murder and missing teacher into the mix, it made writing this story a treat.

  • Why do you write?

This is a tough one to answer. Why would I do something that I love while simultaneously hate at times? Maybe it’s because the stories constantly swim in my head and unless I get them on the page. Maybe it’s the thrill of it. To take a reader to a cabin in the remote wilderness watching a teacher fight for her life. To have someone completely engrossed in a story I created from nothing. It’s a drug, and it’s fucking addicting.

  • What do you write about? 

I tend to write what I enjoy or find interesting. As a horror fan, sometimes my writing teeters on the side of dark and twisted. Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, after all, so where’s the fun in reading or watching that? Bring on the blood, the death, the times where you utter “holy shit” out loud! I write stuff that keeps me up at night because I know it’ll keep others up too!

  • Do you have a specific writing style?

Writing is such a wonderful thing, because you take what story is floating around your head and get it on the page in a similar fashion to your favorite author. Not a carbon or comma for comma copy, but if you consistently read a specific author’s work, you will end up emulating them in one way or another. While writing Have You Seen Sarah Baker? I turned to the thriller/horror master himself, Stephen King, and burned through enough of his books to fill a shelf. His prose is some of the best I’ve read and definitely an inspiration to my writing.

  • What are obstacles that come in the way of writing?

Life. Plain and simple. Life will always get in the way of writing. Right now? Promoting the release of Have You Seen Sarah Baker? is eating up all of my free time. One more week until the book launches, and part of me knows this is only the beginning. There aren’t enough hours in the day.  

  • What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

I think I’ve received more WTF’s than anything. HA. Luckily enough, it was the response I was hoping for. The moment where everything the reader had in their head is flipped upside down becomes something even darker and more sinister than they imagined. Horror fan remember? Oh, my stories won’t be easy to swallow. You’ve been warned.

  • How long have you been writing?

I started writing my first novel in 2016. It shall forever be a book locked in a drawer, never allowed to see the light of day again. A good first attempt, sure, but I didn’t have to the right tools to put the furniture together, so to speak. It took years of research to finally get to a point where I don’t feel completely incompetent when it comes to writing. The most wonderful part about it is I’m still learning more and more each day. You will never stop learning with this craft.

  •  When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

When I was halfway through my aforementioned novel, I enjoyed cranking out chapters and sending them out to my small group of readers. Hearing their feedback—whether good or bad—I was hooked! You’re telling me I can get people excited or upset just with my words? Oh, that was when I knew I found something I truly love.

  • What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

Get the words in whenever I can. Whether on a break during the day job or late-night thoughts I have to put in my notes app before bed. When I am all in on a book, I’ll find a way.

  • What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I think I’m a huge stickler for overused words. This quirk comes courtesy of the first editor I worked with on my debut novel. All I remember is just a horde of red highlighted words. It was traumatizing. I think at that point it really stuck out how often I use a certain word or phrase. Repetition. Wow. I learned a lot with that book.

  • How long does it take to write a book?

It depends. My first two books took a matter of months while my newest release, Have You Seen Sarah Baker? came to fruition after years of beta readers and rewrites until it was picked up by Tule Publishing (minus the breaks between writing it, of course). If I’m completely invested in the story, and I can manage to block out the background noise, I’d say a book can take anywhere from two to three months to finish, but that is best case scenario. 

  • Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?

Read. You have to read and read a lot if you want to be able to write and write well. You’ll pick up on so much reading things you normally wouldn’t. Prose. Sentence structure. Character development. Reading is just as important, if not more so than writing.

  • What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?

The biggest challenge for me lately, especially when I have the story mapped out in my head, is finding the to sit down and get it on paper. Writing can be very time consuming, and since I’ve been putting the majority of my energy into marketing my latest release, writing fell to the wayside.

  • What do you think makes a good story?

A good story is something fulfilling in my opinion. Doesn’t matter if ends on a cliffhanger, or every character you love perishes in some gruesome, climactic battle. As long as the reader can walk away feeling good, like the time they invested into a story was worth it in the end, that’s the finish I strive for with all of my novels.

  • What does your family think of your writing?

I have an amazing family that has gone above and beyond to support my writing endeavors. I’m so grateful for them.  

  • Do you see writing as a career?

I would love to write full time. All I’m waiting for is that one contract that’ll make my dream a reality. You’re telling me I can use words to transport readers into a different world and make a living doing it? SIGN ME UP!

  • Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?

If you’re picking up one of my books, namely my most recent release, nothing is what you expect. I’m going to do everything on my end to keep you guessing until you’re grasping at straws and skipping ahead in the book to find out. I won’t make it easy for you, but I promise you, the shock and how everything ties together in the end will be worth it!

  • When did you first consider yourself a writer?

There was a point in my first book when I glanced down at the word document and saw I had typed a hundred pages. My first hundred. I knew there was still so much story to tell, and I wasn’t going to be satisfied until I finished it. That was when I knew I found something I truly loved doing. That was when I knew I was a writer.

https://www.tacruz.com/about

My thriller, Have You Seen Sarah Baker? releases May 4th with Tule Publishing, available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all major retailers with an audiobook coming soon!

Tulepublishing.com

Amazon:

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/have-you-seen-sarah-baker-ta-cruz/1142803887?ean=9781959988274

Target:

https://www.target.com/p/have-you-seen-sarah-baker-by-t-a-cruz-paperback/-/A-88710988#lnk=sametab

April 28, 2023

Author Interview with Trinity Zook

Trinity Zook was raised in deep, dark, East Texas. Like all great American authors, Trinity passionately avoided the outdoors and amused himself with a childhood squandered watching horror, science fiction, cartoons, and Britcoms—living proof that too much television will rot your brain like so much zombie-enticing pâté.

Trinity has crafted over a dozen scary stories including DUST BUNNIES FROM OUTER SPACE, ATTACK OF THE KILLER CARTS, ABSTINENCE ANDY, and THE WRONG WAY MAN. Trinity’s audio play, “THE WIDOW LAKE MONSTER VS KILLCO,” was produced by the Pandemic Collective of Colorado.

When he’s not creating horrifying and bizarre tales of fiction, or assuring people that yes, Trinity is totally a guy’s name (he’s checked), he is the owner and producer of The Super Absurdist horror narration channel on YouTube. He currently thrives in The Lone Star State with his dogs, Jake and Levi, and is still cultivating that oh-so-delightful TV brain rot.

  • Where are you from?

Deep, dark, East Texas.

  • Why do you write?

I have over 40 years’ worth of stories I want to tell, and I fear my head will explode if I don’t.

  • What do you write about?

Characters who find themselves in absurd or outlandish situations.

  • Do you have a specific writing style?

I like to toss different elements and genres into a blender and hit puree.

  • How do you work through self-doubts and fear?

I dive right into them. Self-doubt and fear have a way of keeping me motivated.

  • What are obstacles that come in the way of writing?

Finding the time to write. Stealing the odd minute or two to jot down an idea to return to later when I’ve secured enough time to actually get some writing done.

  • What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

It was from my editor on Grandma the Barbarian, that he really loved reading it while he was editing it.

  • How long have you been writing?

All my life. It wasn’t until recently that I’ve been serious about making it a reality.

  • When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

The first time I filled a notebook with crazy story ideas, I knew I wanted to be a writer.

  • What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

Hectic.

  • What books did you love growing up?

It was mostly comic books. My mother raised me on a steady diet of Swamp Thing and House of Secrets, reading them to me as bedtime stories.

  • What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I do my best writing in my sleep. There have been so many times I’ve woken up in the middle of the night to quickly write out a scene or dialog I was just dreaming about.

  • What writing are you most proud of?

A short horror story I did called Abstinence Andy. It was about a murderous mascot using extreme measures to promote abstinence.

  • How long does it take to write a book?

Between the first and second drafts, beta readers, rewrites, editors, more rewrites, and formatting, it can take about 3 months to complete a book.

  • Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?

Read, read, and read some more.

  • What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?

Creating characters that the reader wants to follow on their journey.

  • What do you think makes a good story?

Compelling characters, stimulating situations, and lovely locations.

  • What does your family think of your writing?

They still think I’m just playing around on the computer.

  • Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely! I would love to make writing my full-time career.

  • How much sleep do you need to be your best?

I will let you know if I ever achieve that level of sleep.

  • What other jobs have you had in your life?

I’ve done a little bit of everything from digging ditches to tech support.

  • What else do you do, other than write?

I run The Super Absurdist horror narration channel on YouTube.

  • Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?

Buy books. Recommend them. Leave reviews.

  • Tell us about your new book.

Grandma the Barbarian is a hard-boiled bizarro fiction novella. The day a young boy had been dreading all year has finally arrived—the day his 10-foot tall, bikini-clad, battle-axe-wielding badass barbarian grandmother came for a visit. It’s a coming-of-age story with an urban fantasy setting.

My Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/author/trinityzook
Ko-fi – https://ko-fi.com/thesuperabsurdist

April 12, 2023

Love Marriage versus Arranged Marriage: Author Interview with Ujwal Shankar

Mr Ujwal Shankar is a Working Professional from India, with over fourteen years of demonstrated service industry experience. Skilled in People Management with a bachelor’s degree from Symbiosis Law School Pune and a master’s degree from the Institute of Rural Management Anand ( IRMA Anand). He is currently Pursuing Doctoral Studies in Human Resources Area from Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur.

  • Where are you from?

I belong to the state of Jharkhand in India.

  • Why do you write? 

Writing for me is a plunge into creativity. I also feel good, productive and engaged when I write.

  • What do you write about? 

I mainly write about my insights drawn from my observations of world around. Many of my writings involve the concepts of attitude, values and beliefs, while relating it with other psychological constructs including wellbeing.

  • Do you have a specific writing style?

When I write, I tend to go by the impact of words and their placements , rather than rules of grammar ; so there is always a struggle between being creative , or being grammatically correct.

  • What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

I tend to be perfectionist ; and end up discarding what I write for most of my time.

  • Whats the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

A reader messaged that felt that she fell in love with me when she read my book ; knowing that I am married, she wished I had written the book earlier

  • How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since a decade, but my work never got published, and never  saw light of the day as I always ended up in discarding what I wrote for lack of perfection.

  •  When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

Around 14 years back, my lady boss at that time, commented that instead of being banker ( I was working in Private Bank in India) , I should have been a scriptwriter, as I had a fascinating way to narrate events. This was when I became conscious that all my narrations used to be more lucid, mainly because of my keen observations of surroundings and people involved in an event.

  • What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

In my case, when I start to write, I tend to do it continuously for 4-5 days, and then I take a break of 10-15 days to focus on my other works. When I start to write, I forget everything else, and time just stops. Sleep is the only break which forces me to stop momentarily. However, I am more productive for 5-6 hours till after I wake up.

  • What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I loathe to follow set rules when it comes to expressing myself through writing. Many a times I am misunderstood for wrongly constructing sentences, but , instead, I just omit to follow the rules to make the words more impactful at right places.

  • How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non)

My experience has been, that when one writes from ones experiences, than many years of observations are needed before someone can write a book based on that. For my current book, I spent years observing and studying people and situations. However, once I decided to write, I wrote 20% in 4 months, and then rest 80% in 2 months.

  • Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?

Writing is an expression of how we look at world. A good writer has to develop both skills, i.e. – how they perceive the world more minutely than others, and how they are able to put it into words.

  • What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?

In the beginning, all ideas look great, after one day, all ideas appear rubbish.

  • What do you think makes a good story?

A good story is one which can inspire people, and to which people can relate to.

  • What does your family think of your writing? 

They have been telling me for years that I should write!

  • Do you see writing as a career?

Definitely, but it’s more like a hobby for me than work.

  • Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?

My experiences do not come from success, they come from failure. Same gets reflected in my writing, I write for people who face obstacles, but  want to overcome it. I write, because I want my experience from failures, to help other succeed, by not committing the mistakes I committed.

  • When did you first consider yourself a writer?

To be true, I wrote my autobiography as a part of submission in a course titled “Managerial Competency and Career Development” during my second year PhD. Credit goes to Prof Premrajan, who in a way forced me to write my own autobiography in days, which my lazy self would have taken years. Since it was an academic submission, unlike my other works, I could not just throw it in garbage for being not perfect. It was when I submitted it, I realized that maybe I need to move further with my writing.

https://managementofthoughts.my.canva.site/

https://managementofthoughts.wordpress.com/