The Basics
– James Boyle
– Genre(s): Dark Fantasy
– Publisher(s): iUniverse
To Other Authors
– What are the three MOST important pieces of advice you would give to a brand new author?
- 1. Never give up. This is a difficult set of skills to learn (I’m still learning myself). It may take 20-30 years to become an overnight success.
- 2. Read everything you can get your hands on. Don’t read only for entertainment, read to watch how the author writes. How does he/she handle a particular situation? How do they put their story together? How do they create living dialogue?
- 3. Write something everyday—even if it’s simply a line saying “I have triple pneumonia and am too sick to write.”–write it down. Make writing a habit.
– What’s your favorite way to advertise?
- I like to hang flyers on bulletin boards around the towns and cities I am in. It’s relatively low cost, (I can design and print them on my pc) and can bring my novel and its cover immediate exposure to a wide audience. I particularly like senior centers, colleges, and supermarkets. (Renee note: I need to try this. I’ve tacked up some business cards at my post office but need to do some more stuff in more places.)
– What hard-knock lesson did the publishing world teach you (can be your own experience or someone else’s that you learned from)?
- That in a country where more than 200,000 books are published every year, it is a difficult challenge to get anyone to shell out their hard-earned money for your book. Particularly if they have no connection to you. Why should they?
For the Readers
– What are you reading, if anything, at the moment?
- I am kind of all over the place. I am re-reading John Barth’s “Sabbatical” just to wallow in admiration for his skill. He nearly has three narrators in the same paragraph and pulls it off! I have also just begun Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vampire series and find her narrative voice very entertaining.
– Do you prefer ebooks or print for your reading pleasure?
- Definitely print. Ebooks don’t have the “new book” smell. (Renee note: Ah ha! I knew there was a reason I loved visiting the book store. That’s it!)
– Name three of your all-time-favorite, read-them-over-and-over books.
- It by Stephen King—I love his depiction of the culture of school-age children, separate, but just as valid and dynamic as that of the adults around them.
- Ghost Story by Peter Straub—just a very good horror tale.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald—it’s a classic for a reason.
Idle Curiosity Compels Me to Ask
– What inspired you to be a writer?
- When I was young I read Treasure Island and was fascinated with the romance of the swashbuckling pirate and wanted to read everything I could get my hands on, which wasn’t much. It occurred to me then, that if I wanted to read another pirate story, I would have to write it myself. Nevertheless, I still have only written one pirate story, which wasn’t very good.
– What do you do immediately after finishing a manuscript?
- Usually try to catch up on things I’d neglected while finishing the work, like cleaning the house. It’s hard to explain sometimes. It’s like I’ve just broken up after a long relationship; there’s a hole in my consciousness. I kind of wander around for a while until I’m able to refocus on something else. (Renee Note: I usually clean my house but no hole to fill just needs doing and my reason for avoiding it just got finished. :P)
– Do you talk to your characters or your muse or both?
- I don’t talk to them as much as become them—all my characters, good, bad and minor.
Promo Section
~ Most Recent Release ~ |
Ni’il: The Awakening iUniverse ISBN: 987-1-4401-0867-9 Blurb: The Police Chief of an isolated town on the Oregon coast battles a supernatural force determined to destroy him and his community. It will take all his wits and some new-found power for him to defeat the Ni’il. |
~ Coming Soon ~ |
| Ni’il: The War Within
iUniverse Blurb: Dan Connor and Stephanie return from their battle with the Ni’il, only to find a new person of power in their town. He claims to be a Catholic priest named Fr. Gregoire and says he can bring the power of the Church into the fight against the pagan force. As their town becomes increasingly divided between believers and non-believers, Dan and Stephanie realize they now have two enemies to face. Fr. Gregoire and the Ni’il. Because the Ni’il is still out there, waiting. |
Learn More
Website – http://www.jamesboylewrites.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#profile.php?id=15011817668&ref=profile
Polkadot Banner – http://www.polkadotbanner.com/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=339&Itemid=33
Yahoo Group – IWOFA
Thanks, James!
Join me next week for an interview with Alisha Rai.