Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first novel. I have had a short story recently published, and a while back, I won a flash fiction and haiku contest, and had two poems published. I have also a couple of screenplays, none of which have been accepted to date.
I’ve been the creative type my entire life, mostly with art, and then music, and in 2012, I switched over to writing, became obsessed with it, reading all kinds of books about the craft, joining writing groups, and taking college level courses.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Suicidals Are the True Believers. This book originally started from an exercise in one of my writing groups. I was encouraged to continue with it. and over the years, it turned into this novel. I don’t recall what the exercise was, or what else inspired the story. Could be any number of psychological factors at play.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. I have a hard time sitting down for long periods of time, so I am often getting up and pacing around the house while I think things out. Or, if I really need to brainstorm, I’ll lie face-down on my bed and close my eyes, see if I can visualize what comes next. I’m not a religious person, but sometimes I perform symbolic rituals, such as lighting incense around the house to dispel negative energy, or lighting a religious candle to represent writing power. Does it work? Meh. I think it might help prepare my mind to focus, as a psychological tool.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read a lot of Stephen King, but he’s hit or miss. Like some Dean Koontz. Dig Philip K Dick. I love horror, dark humor, and tension. I try to read a variety of things. As I read a collection of short stories by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, something clicked in my mind, a mysterious moment where I thought I had learned something internally. But I did not enjoy The Ox Bow Incident, and am not sure if his writing directly influenced me. I’ve read a lot of crime noir, and I like Christa Faust, but not sure I’ve adopted anything from her style. When I was a boy, my parents had me read Black Like Me, and the Autobiography of Malcolm X, and I believe that may have established certain attitudes about social injustice. My father had me read Tarthang Tulku’s Openness Mind, and that may have implanted Buddhist philosophies to some degree.
What are you working on now?
Next up is the first novella of a series, a one-man post-apocalyptic survival, with no zombies – I’m really tired of the whole zombie exploitation, and the badass survivalist who has to go find a family member. None of that in this book. This is adapted from the very first thing I got involved in writing in 2012, a draft for a novel, which I later turned into a pilot episode script. I plan on releasing that in March, 2018. It focuses on the insanity of being the only survivor in a world of corpses.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I’m so new to this, I don’t have any perspective to offer you.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Well, there’s tons of advice out there, so hopefully, they’ve already looked at a bunch of it. I strongly recommend taking classes and joining writing groups that give you honest feedback and constructive criticism. I realized early on, if I want my writing to be read and enjoyed by other people, I need to get some perspective from others, and learn how to listen to and evaluate criticism. Keep writing, persisting, and doing more. You are not likely to get “discovered,” but you need to put in the time and do the work yourself, especially in this time of independent authorship and opportunity. Stay true to the story within you. There will always be people who do not like your work.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Huh. Perhaps from my creative writing teacher, Daniel Mueller. I bought a copy of his book of short stories, had him sign it for me, and he wrote, “Never lose your fearlessness!”
What are you reading now?
My current bedtime reading is- Paycheck and Other Classic Stories by Philip K Dick. I’ve been trying to finish Donald E Westlake’s – Somebody Owes Me Money, but it’s kind of dragging.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting Suicidals, finalizing the first series novella and having it ready for release, and writing the second novella.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Stephen King’s Wizard and Glass, The Dark Tower IV. And by that, I mean the novel within the novel, the deep backstory of Roland – Riddles, Susan, and Come Reap. There are so many wonderful elements in there – suspense, romance, tragedy, villains, deceit, conspiracy, tested friendships, alternative post-apocalyptic western , and such great characterizations, and that witch. I’ve read this probably four times, and I’m not one who usually rereads things. And there’s something different about his writing in this story, that doesn’t feel like many of his other books.
I refuse to watch the latest movie version of the Dark Tower series. The trailer looks like a Hollywood smush, destroy, and ruin the breadth and complexity, but that’s generally what Hollywood does. I will probably dare myself to try and watch it, at some point.
Hey, Stephen King – You should have me direct Wizard and Glass, despite the fact that I have no major directorial experience. Call me.
Author Websites and Profiles
Sean Hall Website
Sean Hall Amazon Profile
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