Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Ohio but only lived there for two weeks following my birth. Growing up, I lived in over thirty states, but it was not due to having a military family. Let’s just say that my childhood was… interesting. As of today, my home is in California.
Some of my childhood was spent on an old-fashioned farm. So, I have a love for animals that is fairly strong. This leaves me missing the trees and wilderness living in California. Since living here, I have penned 8 novels and built a backlist for my releasing strategy but did not start releasing until December of 2022. My intent is to release a novel every two or three months for the next 3 years.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first release was in December of 2022 with The Tower. While Binary and WolfStar: The Uncharted Horizon’s Serial, and others are following closely behind it, it is The Tower that is out now; and its narrative is… different.
A good summary of The Tower:
Archer Kemp is tired of his life. Past wars, a cheating ex-wife, and a son he barely sees have made him empty inside; but things get worse when he awakens behind bars in a government facility called The Tower with an ensemble of others.
The group soon finds themselves in a grim world where they’re starved and experimented on for the sake of military research. To further complicate the situation, his estranged brother shows up in the cell next to him before they’re mentally broken and bullyragged into descending the tower’s treacherous levels.
The moments that follow force Archer into his old wartime mentality–no man left behind–to try and keep them alive during a series of monstrous trials no human is meant to survive. And he must do it while fighting newly forming urges growing inside him blacker than the demons of his past.
Violent, fast-paced, creepy, and full of dread, The Tower pushes you down a dark slope of nightmarish moments mixed with one man’s broken realities.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in 15 to 30min sprints and stop for about the same amount of time to be nice to my tendons, but I do have crazy writing moments. For example, I wrote The Tower in two weeks… and once penned an entire trilogy in 3 weeks.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
You know, that is an interesting question. I mainly read nonfiction. In that genre, I like books by people like Richard Preston. The Hot Zone was a favorite of mine. I also enjoyed Brain on fire by Susannah Cahalan. Both are real world nightmare fuel.
What are you working on now?
My current project is a psychological survival thriller called, The 8th year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am going to be using a stacked promotion method that should pair well with the fact that I will be releasing a novel every few months for a few years. I think constantly getting you name out there is the best way for anyone to go. the more you write, the more you are seen.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Throw your “plan-B” in the trash:
It’s a moderately daunting idea to think about going into something without a backup plan, but that’s what I’m here to talk about.
Having a plan-B can be good for some things in life, don’t get me wrong, but when it comes to succeeding in the entertainment industry—I believe it pays not to have a backup plan. There are too many people out there chasing the same dream with half-hearted efforts to climb high upon the ladder’s rungs. The competition’s too saturated; and something must set you apart to succeed. Often, that vein of separation lies within work ethic.
Of course, you need some talent mixed in there somewhere. No matter how much you work at something, if you’re not good at it and don’t find ways to improve your weaknesses. . .you’ll never reach apex status.
I don’t have a Plan B, and I don’t want one. For me, this safety net would give something to fall back on creating less drive knowing that, “If I fail, there are other avenues in life I could take.” Without a safety net, one is forced to push themselves to, through and beyond the boundaries of all expectations. It creates a sense of urgency and desperation. You’ll never fight harder in your life than you do the moment you feel there are no other options.
I’m not suggesting everyone throw out their exit strategies or Plan-B alternatives. I’m simply saying those things are not right for me. I need a reason to push, and when I push—I like to push hard. No 80, 90, or 95% efforts will satisfy me. I’m all in for the struggle. I love it. Challenges, naysayers, doubters, and haters that come with it shove me internally to overcome any and all obstacles or perceptions.
It’s not about reaching a destination in life. It’s about the journey, and I don’t think I’d enjoy a journey that wasn’t an essential part of my survival. I’m fueled by subconscious voices singing sonnets of failure with no safety net for me to collapse upon.
I wouldn’t advice anyone lacking this mentality to quit their day jobs until something big happens for them. What I mean is, not until you make it somewhere high on the totem pole and things begin falling into place on their own without all the extra effort.
If, however, you do have this mentality and a little bit of non-diluted talent to go along with it: I say do what you must to stay afloat and push hard 24hrs a waking day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and let that obsession conquer you.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ignore your inner critic and hire professional story, developmental, and line editors if you doubt yourself.
What are you reading now?
Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchiakovsky.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, The Tower has been picked up to be a feature film along with The 8th year and a few other stories I have written. I am most likely going to press forward with ferocity until I am dead.
What is your favorite book of all time?
There no way I can give a single answer to that, but The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins made me think about a lot.
Author Websites and Profiles
C. R. BUCHANAN Website
C. R. BUCHANAN Amazon Profile
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