An Interview with Joseph Amiel, author of Stalking the Sky

Readers! Hi! We were taking a little bit of a break for our crazy train of author interviews (I had to officiate a wedding), but we're now back. Along with this blog, my own novel took a back seat for a little while, but I'm hoping to pick it back up again before we get too deep into the summer. 

I just had the chance to speak with someone who's published five novels, all currently available for your eyes on Amazon. Most recently, international bestselling author Joseph Amiel has written Stalking the Sky. He is also the author of Deeds, A Question of Proof, Star Time, and Birthright.

- Thank you so much for deciding to sit down with us today. You have published five novels on Amazon, your latest being Stalkingthe Sky. Have you always been an author?

JOSEPH: My first fiction was in 4th grade, and I've been writing ever since.  Law school was an interlude, but I soon sold my first book to a publisher, and, magically, I was an author.

-Where did the idea for Stalking the Sky first come from?

JOSEPH: I began writing Stalking the Sky when I learned about a unique reason for wanting to sabotage a jetliner.  Finding and tracking down the killer obviously became the heart of the plot.

-Do your books stand alone or are the all connected?

JOSEPH:  My books stand alone, although nearly all have some mystery element and often how that mystery affects a family.  The heroine of Birthright comes from a banking family like the Rothschilds.  Deeds deals with the stories of three generations of men in New York real estate.  A Question of Proof is set among a wealthy newspaper-publishing family.

-This is a blog for new authors who are just starting out in this publishing world. Can you talk a little to us about your process for starting a new book. Any tricks/helpful tips?

JOSEPH: Someone once told that he had a book in him if he could just come up with a perfect first line.  I told him to start with the second line, he'd probably end up rewriting both.  That shook him because it took away the obstacle to starting a book he had conveniently placed in his path.  It was some of the best advice I've ever given.  Some writers start with a character who grabs them and then invents plot.  I've always found it easier to get an interesting idea for a book and then build the characters who be involved.

- Would you say that you’ve taken inspiration from any authors/books that you’ve read in your lifetime?

JOSEPH: I think every writer takes inspiration or at least instruction, knowingly or not, from every writer they've ever read.  I'm a storyteller and, in the end, the way I tell my story is very much my own.

-What kind of reader, in particular, do you write for?

JOSEPH: I don't think the main reason for story-telling has changed much since Homer's day.  I write with invisible listeners in mind, as if they were gathered in my living room, and I'm trying to tell my story so they are moved and entertained.  Obviously, that changes with every story.  

-How much of a hand do you have in the cover design for your novels? Can you share a little about that process? Believe it or not, this is a question that our readers often ask.

JOSEPH: Because my novels had never been published as eBooks, I could create new covers.  Working with a gifted designer, we try to come up with an image that most effectively conveys what the book is about, but also the book's genre.  With my five novels being reissued for Amazon in print and online, I could also use for all five a distinctive font and color progression that would brand my books in a unique way.  So, the cover designs are similar in style, but the image and text for each endeavors to grab the potential reader in the most effective way for that particular story and genre.  For example, Stalking the Sky's cover shows a soaring 747 in the colors of my fictional airline.  A Question of Proof, about the trial of a woman accused of murdering a newspaper publisher, shows a newspaper front page and a bloody gavel.

 
-Anything else at all that you’d like our readers to know about your books? Why should we pick one of these up?

JOSEPH: I've said I'm a story teller.  My aim is to entertain the reader with a great story told as effectively as possible.  The research alone for Stalking the Sky took six months and twice as long to write and rewrite until I and my editor believed it was as good as could be.

-Brief teaser for Stalking the Sky:

JOSEPH: How about this?  Can they catch the ruthless killer who downed the 747 before he bombs another?

-Where can we buy Stalking the Sky and your other four novels?

JOSEPH: All my books are available at Amazon for Kindle and in print.  You can learn about all of them and click through to the appropriate Amazon sales page by going to my web site: JosephAmiel.com.

Fantastic interview, Joseph! Your books sound fantastic. I myself, am excited to get to my hands on your novels. I hope my readers are feeling the same way.

The interviews are going to start coming fast again, so please keep checking back for more.

Find us on Twitter @BookTalkGuy and @RimerTom

The Great Adventures of Peter the Fish, by Glenn Thorpe

Attention readers! I have a new children's book for you all to check out. The reviews are fantastic and it's definitely one you should try and pick up soon. The book of the day is The Great Adventures of Peter the Fish, by Glenn Thorpe:

Meet Peter: he is the most outgoing, loving, and brave little fish in a little pond that sits in the middle of a charming and bright enchanted emerald forest. Dreaming of a beautiful and magical lake, Peter sets out on an adventure to find it. Along the way, Peter encounters many surprises--he meets friends of all shapes and sizes and learns what it really means to set out on an adventure, take risks, trust others, and make dreams come true.

Peter The Fish is about friendship, and about learning to love and accept others for who they really are. Through the obstacles he faces and the friends he meets, Peter shows us all what it means to have a good heart and a positive attitude.

Will Peter find the large, beautiful lake of his dreams? How do Peter and his friends triumph over the obstacles that are presented to them every step of the way? What is true friendship really about? These are all answers that you’ll find from reading Peter The Fish.

The Great Adventures of Peter the Fish is now available on Amazon.com. I know a lot of you who peruse this blog are writing children's book of your own, so I encourage to check out this unique tale. Glenn Thorpe has brought us this beautiful story, which reviewers have called "heartwarming", "awesome", "engaging" and "inspirational".

Here's what the author, Glenn Thorpe, had to say about his book:
I created the story many years ago when I was having trouble getting my two daughters to go to bed on time. Everyday I would come up with a new scene of the story to tell them when I got home. Which made it a bedtime cliffhanger story. Each day before I got home the kids were waiting to find out what was going to happen to Peter the Fish. This went on for weeks. It worked like a charm, they went right to be on time. I believe your kids will also love this story as mine did, while teaching great morals. This is a must read story to any child. I think reading Peter the fish may bring a little inspiration to all of us that have dreams. With persistance,courage and determination I feel we can all make our dreams come true,like Peter.

So, check out The Great Adventures of Peter the Fish today... the perfect bedtime story for your little one.

And, as always, check back here at Holy Cow... I'm Writing a Book?! for many more author interviews and new book suggestions, coming soon!

Find as @BookTalkGuy and @RimerTom

An Interview with Dyal Bailey, author of The Artisan: An Artistic Assassin Thriller

Are you ready for one of our most complete and insightful interviews yet? Buckle your seat-belts, all you aspiring writers out there. I can say that I, personally, have already learned quite a lot from our next author interview. I plan on incorporating some of her suggestions into my own writing process, particularly the helpful advice she gives regarding her use of Fiverr.com. I never before thought of using the site in that way, but I realize now how beneficial it could be for my own work. Please pay close attention to the words of this next author. Today, we are speaking with Dyal Bailey, author of The Artisan: An Artistic Assassin Thriller.

-Thanks for joining us today, Dyal. We’re all extremely excited to hear about your book, The Artisan: An Artistic Assassin Thriller. What can you tell us about this book?

DYAL: First off, it’s fun. Most readers read for amusement and diversion, so I really worked hard to take the reader on an enjoyable ride.

Secondly, it’s a fast read. I’ve formatted this book very specifically for rapid eye movement on and across the page. I frequently separate a single sentence out for emphasis. Most paragraphs are fairly short, except for the one-sided and very humorous phone conversations between Antonio and Gunter.

Third, there are no cardboard characters. Everyone to me is interesting and I like creating very unique, quirky characters that stand out. I want readers to remember all my characters long after they finish the book.

-It this your debut novel?

DYAL: This is my debut novel that I’ve published. I wrote and tossed a mystery called Murder-on-the- Half-Shell (very wretched, very therapeutic) and I’ve written four screenplays.

This book actually started as a novel, was converted to a screenplay—keeping only about 30% and that was mostly just the Gunter scenes—then I converted the screenplay back to this novel.   

-Now, this blog is dedicated to new authors, many of which are still trying to make it in the publishing world. If you could speak directly to them, what advice would you give them in terms of what they’ll need to do end up a published author?

DYAL: Write. The way to become a professional writer is to become proficient and to become proficient you need to practice. They say it takes ten thousand hours to become an expert at anything. But I think you can become a good writer much faster than this, because we use our language every day. You are essentially composing every time you open your mouth. 

But at some point, you must actually write, so start with baby steps. Write to your mom or your friends, just 20 to 2000 words worth in an email every day. Type your thoughts about your most trying moments of the day into your iPhone. Get on Facebook and leave very “honest and detailed” responses to pictures of puppies and babies and kids winning trophies.  

Stop comparing yourself with others. Stop kicking yourself for not being like some 18-year-old you heard about that wrote their bestselling vampire book in three days while riding the school bus. 

Don’t let people say you are too old. Someone once said, “No one has anything worth saying until they’re fifty.” 

Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too young. What you lack in wisdom, you can make up for in freshness and individuality.

And go ahead and start that book - NOW! 

Don’t try to be perfect and don’t over think it. Allow yourself to write a “sloppy, horrible” first draft. And write quickly. With rapidity is honesty.  

When I’m feeling stuck, I pop on my microphone headset and use my (only $50.00) Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation software. This really speeds up the process and keeps me from stopping and editing too much.

When you’re done with your “beautiful monster” of a draft, spend a few days (or maximum a week) going over it and editing it yourself. . And don’t worry if your very thin book manuscript is topping out at 60 pages, it will fill out in time.

DO NOT give it to friends or relatives to read or correct. This is a fabulous waste of time.

Instead, buy multiple proofreading and editing gigs on “fiverr.com” and send it through a minimum of “three or four” editors at once. The reason you should buy “multiple editing gigs” at the same time is because you always, always want to get a consensus. Much of editing is opinion, but if two or three people tell you to make changes, then you most likely need to adjust something. And by doing it this way, you kind of soften the blow. Having anyone critique “your baby” (even when it is a barely-formed youngling) is going to hurt. By having multiple editors, it will help you to realize that making changes is just a process—a very necessary process. And fiverr.com is great for this, because most of the editors are also writers.

Then as the cliché goes, rinse and repeat. Go through the editing suggestions, update your manuscript (I use an extra video monitor attached to my laptop so that I have two editors notes on one screen and my original manuscript  on the other screen), and make the changes to your plot or grammar or characters. Then play with is for a couple of days and send it through another three or four “totally new” fiverr.com editors. I do reuse the same editors over and over again, but only after I’ve let them skip two rounds.  I want their brains and their outlook to be fresh.

-How do you think readers will react to your heroine, Dr. Rafaela Ramos? How did you originally envision her and did she evolve from that initial idea as you wrote the book?

DYAL: My readers really dig Rafaela, probably because she’s hot, smart, and sexy, but she’s also deadly. Guys want her and women want to be her. Your second question made me laugh, because Rafaela started as a man. She was Nicolas Carteret and his love interest was a bartender named Rachel. But it just wasn’t working for me. Then I saw how they had converted the screenplay “Salt”, meant for Tom Cruise into one for a Angelina Jolie, and I realized that my hero needed to be a heroine. Things that are incredibly bad-ass for a female character for some reason don’t come off as well for a male. As soon as I made those changes, the plot really started to flow.

-Talk to us about Gunter. How is he different from the killers that we’ve seen in movies and other books? How does he stand out when compared to Hannibal Lector, Dexter, and the rest who came before him?

DYAL: Gunter, my metrosexual serial-killer-like assassin is very, very lovable, but just when you fall head-over-heels, he’s terrifying. In the past, I have joked and called him Hannibal Lector wearing a mauve leotard. But Gunter doesn’t eat his victims. Instead, he uses them as the stars of his performance arts videos. The finale, of course, is their rather bloody deaths. People ask how in the world I created such an unusual character as Gunter and all I can tell them is that he (like most of my characters) kind of popped out fully formed.

Having said that–it didn't take me long to realize that my subconscious mind had created a kind of caricature of my father.

Daddy was a surgeon, but beyond that he grew up hunting and fishing on the Satilla River - so he was truly amazing with a knife. He could fillet a fish in seconds, it was beautiful to watch.

My father was slightly effeminate, but he was a very heterosexual, metrosexual. And just as Gunter prefers blondes, all of my father’s wives were blonde. He was such a mess. He used to answer the front door wearing nothing but his underwear. It really never occurred to him to not do exactly as he pleased.

He had served in World War II and afterwards fell in love with German and French culture. He spoke both languages with great fluency. Languages are something that seems to come easily to our family.

 
-I hate it when I read a book and the author seems to have no idea what he/she is writing about. With your book, that certainly isn’t the case. You seemed to be as knowledgeable about the science behind the crimes as Dr. Ramos, herself. Do you have a background/experience in a similar field? I’d be shocked if you didn’t.

DYAL: I confess. I am such a nerd. I do a lot of in-depth studies on a variety of subjects. These have taken me anywhere from 20 and 200 books until my curiosity is satisfied. 

When I first started studying biotechnology, the only books available cost anywhere from $500 to $1000 dollars and the really good magazines were free, but reserved for only people in the field. So I did kind of a naughty, naughty. I pretended that my restaurant was a bio-lab, subscribed to Genetic and Engineering News and other magazines, and had them all delivered to Rhinehart’s Laboratories. Those periodicals were amazing and everything in them was cutting edge. Now, you can even buy Biotechnology for Dummies, but when I started my study, up-to-date information was a lot harder to find. With the Werther Algorithm, I kind of cheated. The last time I’d done an algorithm or a flow chart, I was programming in Basic on a TRS-80 (like thirty years ago). So when my main editor Judy in New York asked me to expand the algorithm arc, I wanted to send her nasty, anonymous emails.

But, I relented, and got on YouTube. After going through several video lectures from a multitude of sources, I found this awesome course on Beginning Algorithms taught at MIT by two rotating professors. I immediately fell in love with Dr. Devadas who is such a love kitten of a teacher (he throws out a free stadium cushion to anyone who answers a tough question). And Erik Demaine (who looks about 15-years-old) was so fabulous and accessible. When I got to (I think it was) Lecture 24 (the one with the Fibonacci Numbers), I found the algorithm I was looking for. So I created a sort of etched-in algorithm for Werther with a plethora of memoized equations, then the flow chart, and had my brother (who’s a mathematician and programmer) check my math. He said I was good, but he was appalled at my use of passé math lingo (like reoccurring when I should say recursive). At his insistence, I listened to the lectures all over again until I could “speck modern math” well enough to stop him from cringing.

-Does this story continue? Will there be a sequel? Without giving anything away, I was, personally, surprised about Gunter’s final scene.

DYAL: Yes, I have four more books outlined (and I’m toying with an outline to insert a fifth).

I’m 25% of the way through with the second book in the series, called The Nicodemas Project. You can see the finished cover on dyalbaily.com and in June I’m uploading an excerpt.

The series (at this point) goes like this: The Artisan, The Nicodemas Project, The Nephilim, the Municher, and The Joshua Algorithm.

-Anything else at all that you’d like our readers to know about The Artisan: An Artistic Assassin Thriller?

DYAL: Please download a free sample. If you read the first few pages, you’ll want to read more. And the pace of the book only quickens from there. I’m planning to put the first chapter (or a bit more) on my website: dyalbailey.com later today.

-Brief teaser for The Artisan: An Artistic Assassin Thriller:

DYAL: She’s beautiful. She’s the CIA’s biochemical assassin. She thinks she’s untouchable.

-Where can we buy The Artisan: An Artistic Assassin Thriller?

DYAL: Amazon.com— it’s on both the kindle and in paperback. 

Ok, so... I don't need to state the obvious here, but I'm going to. Not only was this interview a fascinating and educational read, but you've got a great little book on your hands here, Dyal. I read it myself and I want to urge all you readers out there to pick it up today. I promise you will not be disappointed.

I'm so serious about this that I plan on having Dyal back very soon to speak to us in even more depth about her experience in writing this novel.  Thanks, Dyal!

As always, find us and our interviews @BookTalkGuy and @RimerTom