Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an information technology professional with a specialization in digital forensics. I have published 14 book in the field of computer science, but only have two novels to my credit. Pandora’s Shadow is my third. I also published two books of short stories with Lachesis Publishing and LBF.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pandora’s Shadow was basically the story I dreamed about in my head as a teenager while throwing papers for the Arizona Republic. I always swore I would someday write that story, and in college, I even wrote my bachelor’s thesis in Ecology on “The Environmental Impact of Thermonuclear War”. My faculty advisor hated it. He wanted something about birds, bees or wolverines.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to have classical music playing softly in the background. Jazz won’t do because I keep getting caught up in the music. Rock doesn’t cut it because the lyrics wind up in the story. Surely you see the dangers in that! My favorite composer for composing is Shostakovitch.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Naturally, everybody in the sci-fi/fantasy world reads Stephen King. But he’s not my favorite. My favorite author is Lee Child. How can you not like a character like Jack Reacher? But that’s not the kind of stuff I like to write.
What are you working on now?
I’m just finishing up a story about a private detective who is hired by the governor to find out who bombed a gay pride parade. It seems the issue was too sensitive to trust to Constitutionally limited law enforcement officials.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Until now, I never had to promote myself. But my agent died and now I’m on my own. So let’s all learn how to do this together.
Promote…not die.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t do it for the money, and don’t bet on the horses.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
What are you reading now?
Razor Girl, by Carl Hiaasen
What’s next for you as a writer?
How would I know? I make this up as I go! Although my last publisher is nagging at me to do a 2nd edition of my digital forensics book. That would probably be a good idea.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.
Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Graves Website
Michael Graves Amazon Profile