Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Blog Tour: Questions of Perspective by Daniel Maunz #blogtour #interview #giveaway #contemporary #fiction #speculative #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours @MaunzDaniel



Contemporary fiction with a speculative element
Date Published: May 14, 2020
Publisher:  Black Rose Writing

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No one knew it at the time, but April 19, 2011, was the most important day in the history of the world.

After his only friend and colleague, John Manta, disappears without a word, Dave Randall further entrenches himself in the humdrum life of an unenthusiastic lawyer. But once he begins to understand what happened, he embarks on a journey to uncover the deeper meanings and implications of John's fate.

Accompanied by Peaches the cat, Dave uproots his life and reinvents himself in the midst of his search. Along the way, he is haunted by his piecemeal understanding of John's fate and what it means for his existence. Little does Dave know, his journey of self-discovery will have ramifications that extend far beyond the borders of his own little life.




Interview

Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?

The main theme I wanted to tackle in this book was simply the power of empathy, which is reflected in the title - Questions of Perspective. The notion that other people are struggling with their own issues on a daily basis is not groundbreaking, but it just seems so easy to forget as we live our daily lives (as is demonstrated if you dive into the comments section of just about anything on the internet!)

Another big theme this novel addresses is simply the question of the meaning of life. I’ve been guilty of living my life on autopilot, taking the path of least resistance, without ever stopping to ask why I was on that particular path. I don’t know if there is a nice clean answer to ‘what is the meaning of life?’, but I believe there is much to be gained from simply reflecting on that question. That is a struggle that the narrator of this novel undertakes fairly early on in the story.


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

There were two things that were a bit challenging in writing this book.

First, I wanted to write a story about “God” that was not religious in nature. I did not want to use the story to denigrate any particular religion, and I wanted a story that even atheists could jump into. That was a very fine line to walk, but I think I ultimately managed to pull that off.

Second, there are parts of the story that explore what it means to be “God.” I did not want to portray a watered down version of God - I wanted God to be an all-knowing, all-powerful being existing outside of our definition of “time.” That was not an easy state to capture in writing, and I spent a long time fine-tuning those sections of the novel.


How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

Questions of Perspective is my first, so of course it is my favorite! Given that this book was largely autobiographical (and quite therapeutic in that regard), it might easily remain my favorite even after I get a few other books out there.


If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?

This is tough. A fair amount of the “action” in this book takes place in the head of the main character, Dave, as he works through his existential crisis. I would need an actor who could convey the turning of those gears. Lin Manuel Miranda would be a strong choice - I always find him engaging to watch, even when he’s just silently ruminating on something. I tend to associate Lin Manuel with “loud” characters, and Dave is a bit of a “still waters run deep” kind of guy, so it would be a different kind of role for him - but I’m confident he could pull it off.


When did you begin writing?

I started writing “for fun” in high school - silly little scripts I would work on with a friend. I had also written a few children’s stories for my wife, just to gift her on her birthday or a holiday. It wasn’t until mid-2015 that I started writing this story with the intention of throwing it out into the world for strangers to (hopefully) enjoy.

How long did it take to complete your first book?

As I said, I started this story in mid-2015. Something very close to a finished product was ready nearly two years later. In fact, my first son was born in December 2017, and I knew that I would not have much time to write once he was born. So I got a great deal of writing accomplished in the months leading to his birth, knowing it might be my last chance to do so for some time. After that, a fair amount of time was spent querying this story to various publishers and agents. I signed with Black Rose Writing in mid-2019, which led to another intense round of revisions, fine-tuning, etc.  Long story short: although it was a five year journey from writing the first words to the publication date, there were only about two years of intensive writing.

Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?

Pat Conroy was a huge influence (to the point where my son Patrick was named, at least in part, after him). I love his ability to tell stories that will have you laughing out loud one chapter, and then punch you in the stomach with something heartbreaking in the next, only to ultimately end on a hopeful note. I feel that stories should largely reflect life: sometimes life is a comedy, other times it is a tragedy. Questions of Perspective has a few distinct tonal shifts, which were all a direct influence of growing up on Pat Conroy’s books.


What is your favorite part of the writing process?

When I am in the midst of writing, or working on something creative, my mental health just seems to be in a much better place. If I’m stuck in traffic, for example, my mind will wander to the story I’m working on: When should I introduce this character? How would this character react to finding out they were betrayed? And so forth. Absent a creative outlet like that, my thought process in downtimes goes much darker: it tends to find things that will drive me to be anxious or depressed. I guess you could say that writing for me isn’t just about getting words on paper; it is a practice that allows me to elevate my entire thought process into something positive. 


Describe your latest book in 4 words.

A brush with Godhood.


Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?

I am currently working on a screenplay with an old friend of mine (who will eventually be directing the movie as well), which is a murder mystery/comedy. I think we will have a script ready within the next few months, although I have no idea when filming will start in light of the pandemic.

I am also at work on my second novel, which focuses on the concept of family. Questions of Perspective was more introspective in nature with one narrator; this next one features a variety of different characters, with one primary female protagonist. It’s been a joy to write so far, and it’s been a rewarding challenge trying to write from the perspective of characters with substantially different backgrounds than my own. Like Questions of Perspective, this next book will deal with some relatively heavy themes via a narrative infused with humor. I can’t imagine ever writing a story that doesn’t at least try to be funny at times.  



About the Author

When he is not writing, Daniel Maunz works as in-house counsel for a major insurance company. He currently lives in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, with his wife Lynne, their son Patrick, and their two cats: Admiral Meowy McWhiskers and Captain Cutie (or "Admiral" and "Captain" for short). Questions of Perspective is his first novel.


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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for hosting!

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