Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
Although First Second Coming is primarily intended
as entertainment, the book’s message is about intolerance. Hopefully readers will
pick that up. There are two sets of intolerant religious groups in this story.
One demonstrates intolerance of other views in an aggressive manner. The other
group exercises passive resistance. Examples of tolerance abound within the
novel, but these two intolerant groups put mankind’s future at risk.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Because I came to
writing fiction from a long career as a trial attorney, I often find my writing
style lapse into the stiffer, more formal style that’s normal for writing such boring
things as legal briefs, client reports and trial documents. When editing I’m on
alert to this tendency, and fix the verbiage whenever I find it unless the
character – such as God in First Second Coming – actually has a formal manner
of speech.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
First Second Coming is
my debut novel, so by default it’s my favorite.
If you had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?
That’s a very
interesting question! On a whim a few years ago, I searched the internet to try
to find actors bearing a resemblance to the two main characters in First Second
Coming. I was unsuccessful in finding anyone close to my visualization of Ram
Forrester. However, a British actress of half Norwegian, half Nigerian descent
turned out to look so much like how I pictured Brendali Santamaria, who is
Latina, that it was eerie. The actress, Hannah John-Kamen, has been in British
TV shows, notable American ones such as Game
of Thrones (as Omela), and films including Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Ready
Player One and Tomb Raider. She has enough experience to at least audition for
the lead role as Brendali. She’s the right age, and although she isn’t Latina she
looks it. If she’s not interested or fails her audition, I would want a Latina
actress in the role.
When did you begin writing?
I never pictured myself
as a fiction writer until roughly 2014. That’s when I began to consider what I’d
do with my time once I retired. The idea of trying my hand at fiction made
sense. An avid reader, I always enjoyed the writing aspect of litigation, which
is very writing-intensive. Of course, I had to learn the ropes of fiction,
develop a suitable writing style and practice. First Second Coming took eight
drafts, the first few rather amateurish, but that’s a phase we all have to go
though. Fortunately, I improved.
How long did it take to complete your first book?
It’s hard for me to
answer this question. I wrote part-time from 2015 to 2019. Trials are all
consuming, and I had several of them in this time period – four in 2018 alone.
Each trial prevented me from writing any fiction for several weeks at a time.
Occasional family obligations also took precedent over writing from time to
time. So I can’t even estimate what the answer might be in terms of days or
hours, but five years did pass while I worked at it.
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
No, but I am inspired to
improve enough to become as good a writer as any of my favorites – David
Mitchell (The Bone Clocks); Iain Pears (Arcadia); Haruki Murakami (1Q84); or
Daniel Silva (The English Girl).
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Editing. I liken the writing process to sculpture.
Michelangelo began the Pietà with a huge chunk of Carrara marble. He chiseled
away at it until what was left became arguably the most impressive piece of
sculpture that’s ever been carved. Writers start with a concept, nothing more.
The first draft, equivalent to Michelangelo’s block of marble, is what we chip
away at it until we’re left with our humble version of the Pietà, however
distant that may be from a sculpted masterpiece. I enjoy hammering my story
until it becomes as true, and as fully rendered, as I envisioned it in my
imagined plotline.
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Suspense, romance, fantasy
– blended.
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the
future for your writing?
I’m working on two novels
concurrently. One is the sequel to First Second Coming, which has a working
title of Earth’s Peril. A spin-off, which is currently called The Recycling
Center, is the second book. I intend to focus my writing on the New God Series
for the foreseeable future, with the occasional spin-off if or when they pop
up.
About the Author
2 comments:
Thank you for hosting!
Thank you, Momma G, for participating in the RABT tour and for posting all the information above about First Second Coming.
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