Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book. I felt like it was important that if I was going to write a book at some point in my life, I get on with it. Since the age of about 20 years old, back when I was a journalism student, I had always just assumed I’d get around to writing a book. I guess the older I got the more not writing a book bothered me.
Fortunately, a few years ago, I became unemployed for about eight months. I say fortunately because that’s when the book started taking shape. I was drawing unemployment after a publication I worked for went belly up. I’m a journalist so unemployment happens now and then, but I’ve been pretty lucky on that count.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Songs From Richmond Avenue is the name I decided on. I was looking for work online in the morning and when that got boring, which happened pretty quickly most days, I started writing a couple of short stories based loosely on some funny things I’d witnessed riding metro buses or walking through my neighborhood. One morning I stuck a couple of these short stories together and decided to have them come from the voice of a single, first-person narrator. Then I decided to have the narrator go to a bar. That is the essence of the book. While it didn’t take a long time to actually write, there was fairly long span of time between when I started and completed it, because I set it aside when I got another job. Maybe there’s a lesson in that, but I hope not.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I wish I did; most people seem to, and that makes for a better story. Basically, I try to work three hours on Wednesday night and maybe a few other hours throughout the week. That’s not really a heavy schedule, but working with words all day is not conducive to writing all evening, every night.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of them. To name a few: everything by John Irving and John Steinbeck, Catcher in the Rye, Confederacy of Dunces, all Hunter S. Thompson. My writing has also been influenced by movies, lyrically heavy rock music (Dylan, Springsteen) and comedians, especially George Carlin.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on another book. I’m about halfway through a story that bears some similarities to Songs From Richmond Avenue – hapless characters, drunken debauchery, bad company, worse decisions. The setting will be far less urban, but what isn’t less urban than Houston? There won’t be a first-person narration this time either. It’s had a couple of working titles, both of which are terrible, so I won’t mention them.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s hard to say. I’m not the greatest promotion person in the world. A group called Rave Reviews Book Club has been very supportive, especially on Twitter. I think GoodReads has been helpful as well.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Have fun with it. Write down whatever you like with the knowledge that you don’t have to share it with anyone if you choose not to. Also, when you have an idea jot it down. You may tell yourself you’ll remember but that’s often not the case. That’s pretty easy with cellphones.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As far as writing fiction goes, tell the truth and respect your characters.
What are you reading now?
I just finished “Until I Find You,” by John Irving and am starting “Tabloid City,” by Pete Hamill
What’s next for you as a writer?
Aside from the second book I mentioned, I’ve got a few short stories I’d like to group together as a book. The other day I looked at one I thought was maudlin rubbish and realized it was quite good. Anyway, I have to write few more stories before that takes any type of shape.
I have an idea for a third novel as well.
What is your favorite book of all time?
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” by Robert Pirsig. Talk about honest.
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