This
is Part 3 (of 3) of the of the interview done with me by the bloggers at ADVENTURES
WITH RAVINA.
Part I of the interview is here: http://ericjguignard.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-me-by-adventures.html
Part
II of the interview is here: http://ericjguignard.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-me-by-adventures_7.html
Part III of the full length of interview questions is below!
*****
Last
books you purchased? Tell us about it.
= “EDGE OF DARK WATER” by Joe R. Lansdale. “THE TERROR” by Dan Simmons.
NEVERWHERE” by Neil Gaimon. “DEADFALL HOTEL” by Steve Rasnic Tem. “REDSHIRTS”
by John Scalzi. “THE CORN MAIDEN AND OTHER NIGHTMARES” by Joyce Carol Oates.
All six of these books are recent purchases and highly recommended. With the
exception of “REDSHIRTS” (which is science fiction) these are all horror and
dark fiction works; all are by amazing authors who have built a career on
bestselling works that are applauded within the literary community.
Do
you find the time to read?
= Every day; I try to read at least 30 minutes.
When
and why did you begin writing?
= I’ve been writing and drawing stories ever since I was a child. However I
stopped in college, in order to pursue business and serious-minded life
necessities... which, of course, I now regret. I don’t regret the pursuit of
those things, but having given up writing for so many years. I only jumped into
as a potential career two-and-a-half years ago after the realization struck me
that I was missing out on something I was passionate about.
How
long have you been writing?
= I’ve been writing fiction with the goal of publication since February, 2011.
What
genre are you most comfortable writing?
= Dark fiction, speculative fiction, horror, humor, and children’s stories
Who designed
the cover?
= I designed the cover myself, although the artwork was created by Kevin Scott
Sutay. Kevin is a United States veteran who is currently and illegally held by
Columbian rebels as a prisoner on false charges of espionage. Hopefully by the
time this interview sees print, the US government will have negotiated his
release.
Who
is your publisher?
= Dark Moon Books, an imprint of Stony Meadow Publishing, which is a wonderful
indie publisher in Florida of quality fiction (mostly horror) and non-fiction. www.darkmoonbooks.com
How
much of the book is realistic?
None of it is particularly realistic. “AFTER DEATH...” is anthology of all
stories which are pure speculation on the part of the authors. Everyone’s
opinion of what may happen after we die is different, and these stories explore
a myriad of possibilities.
Have
you ever considered anyone as a mentor?
= Weston Ochse @ http://weston-ochse.blogspot.com/
and Lisa Morton @ http://cinriter.livejournal.com/
What
are your current writing projects now?
= I’m beginning a dark fantasy novel set in the hobo camps of the 1930s
depression. Also, as a short story writer, I’m constantly working on smaller
projects, both in the creation of stories, but also in the promotion of presses
I work with.
Are
there any new authors that have sparked your interest and why?
= Edward M Erdelac; I appreciate his crisp technical skills and love of mixing
genres, primarily history and horror into compelling reading. http://emerdelac.wordpress.com/
Peter Giglio; As a writer, editor, and publisher, Pete creates and promotes some
of the best horror and dark fiction in the indie presses. http://www.petergiglio.com
Jamie Lackey; Primarily an author of short stories, Jamie is exceptionally
prolific with her work which spans fantasy, science fiction, and horror. She’s
able to meld very emotionally-resonant characters into powerful storylines. http://www.jamielackey.com
Do you have any advice for writers?
= Keep writing, and remember that every rejection is an opportunity for
improvement.
*****
All for now! Be sure to follow this Blog and connect with me via Twitter and
other fine social media sites.
Go Back to: Author Interview with Me Part 1
Go Back to: Author Interview with Me Part 2
This is Part II of the of the interview done with me by the bloggers at ADVENTURES
WITH RAVINA.
Part I of the interview is here: http://ericjguignard.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-me-by-adventures.html
Part II of the full length of interview questions is below!
*****
How much sleep do you
need to be your best?
= Solid eight hours, though with family and work, that’s a rarity.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and
thank for their support?
= My family, of course!
Every writer has their own idea of what a
successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
= Either finding personal satisfaction or achieving financial goals. The
greatest success is accomplishing both!
Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and
why did you write it?
= This current book is an anthology I edited of short stories written by
different authors, entitled “AFTER DEATH...” The subject matter considers what
happens to us after we die. These fiction stories range from horror to science
fiction to humor to inspirational. The book includes 34 tales, each
illustrated, and explores perspectives from various cultures, philosophies,
hopes, or fears. Within these pages, follow the ghost of an Australian cowboy.
Discover what the “white light” really means to the recently departed. Consider
the impact of modern, or future, technology on the dead. Follow the karmic path
of reincarnation. Visit the realms of Greek Hades, Viking Valhalla, or Chinese
Fengdu, and travel from the cruelest levels of Hell’s torments to the celestial
realms of eternal paradise. For more information on this anthology, visit: http://ericjguignard.com/after_death.html
When you are not writing, how do you like to
relax?
= I hike and study entomology (insects); spend time with my family; woodwork in
my garage; and read, read, read.
How often do you write? And when do you write?
= I try to write every day, even if it’s only a dozen words. My personal goal
is 1,000 words a day, though most writers I know strive for more, between 1,500
– 2,000.
How do you feel about social media websites such
as Facebook and Twitter? Are they a good thing?
= They’re a terrible time-suck if you let them take over your day. However, if
used responsibly, they’re a wonderful tool. I use most popular social media and
have had great success in promoting my projects, as well as the projects of
others, networking, and have been offered writing opportunities I otherwise
would not have received. I regularly check in on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads,
and LinkedIn, in addition to several forums specifically geared toward the
writing genres I follow.
What’s your next project?
= Besides my recent anthology that I’m promoting, “AFTER DEATH...”, I’ve also
just released a novella entitled, “BAGGAGE OF ETERNAL NIGHT”. This is packaged
with a second novella, “SMOG” by Lisa Morton under the tradition of DoubleDown
Books (Two novellas in one) by JournalStone Publishing. The story takes place
in 1963 Detroit, and follows two men who bid in the hotel baggage auctions. One
of them wins an old suitcase, but the antique gramophone it holds inside opens
a cursed portal to a frozen realm of eternity. Reader age range is 16+ to
adults. For more information, visit: http://journal-store.com/fiction/smog-baggage-of-eternal-night/
When you get free time on the internet or you go
to the library – what do you want to read about?
= Horror, science fiction, literary, or historic works.
What would you love to produce in your life?
= Something that changes a person’s life for the better. And a New York Times
Bestseller.
As
part of a Book Promotions Tour, I was recently interviewed by a Blogger at ADVENTURES
WITH RAVINA. I was asked a series of questions, though only a partial selection
of those were ultimately posted.
I thought it would be fun to post the entire interview, though due to its
length, I’ll break it up into three parts.
The final posted Interview is here: http://www.ravinaandreakurian.com/2013/10/author-interview-eric-j-guignard.html
Part I of the full length of interview questions is below!
*****
Tell us a bit about your family.
= I’m married to my beautiful childhood sweetheart. We have a five year old
son, and my wife is pregnant with our second (a girl) due March, 2014.
What makes you happiest?
= Writing the words, “The End”
What books did you love growing up?
= Horror (Stephen King, Dean Koontz), Boys Adventure (Jack London, Hardy Boys),
Literary Classics (Mark Twain, John Steinbeck), anthologies or collections of
short stories (Thomas Monteleone, Stephen King ((again)), O. Henry), and lots
and lots of comics (Marvel, D.C., and Dark Horse universes)
Who are your favorite authors?
= Cormac McCarthy, George Orwell, Stephen King, John Steinbeck, Joe R. Lansdale,
Clive Barker, Hunter S. Thompson, Jack Kerouac, Ernest Hemmingway, Robert
McCammon, Mark Bowden, O. Henry, James Ellroy, and many others.
What book should everybody read at least
once?
= “Boys Life” by Robert McCammon, “Big Fish” by Daniel Wallace, “The Divine
Comedy” by Dante, “Burmese Days” by James Orwell, or any volume of “The Year’s
Best Dark Fantasy & Horror.”
Location and life experiences can really
influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
= I was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I’ve travelled
extensively through the United States and the world, but southern California
has always been home.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
= Dreams (both night and day), news, conversations with people, personal
observations of the world, and playing the “What If?” game.
Do you plan to
publish more books?
= Absolutely. I have a stack ideas I want to put to paper.
What else do you do to make money, other than
write? It is rare today for writers to be full time…
= I used to work in business and outside sales. I then tried to start my own
custom furniture design and manufacturing business which flopped. Now I
contract write and edit, including working in the financial industry as a technical
writer.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
= Geez, just about everything! Retail, Waiter, Security, Roofing,
Manufacturing, Professional Sales (Inside and Outside), Loan Officer, Graphic
Designer, Freight Loader at U.P.S., Furniture Designer, Project Manager, and
more. I’ve kept a running log of dates for every single job I’ve ever worked.
I’ve been employed for 19 years (since 1994) and have worked 28 jobs. Many of
those overlapped, including part-time, weekend, or temporary work. The expression,
“Jack of all trades, master of none,” definitely comes to mind; I’ve jumped
around a lot.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed,
at a desk?
= I used to write with pen in spiral notebooks and then type it up later on a
word processor. Now, I write exclusively on my desktop computer. Actually, to
be honest, I write in my head first, word by word, then run to my computer and
try to type it all out as I imagined it.
Where do you get support from? Do you have
friends in the industry?
= I’ve made friends in the industry recently, but starting out (only two and a
half years ago), I knew nobody or nothing about the world of publishing
fiction. But I threw myself into it, studied the craft, networked, and learned
through experiences. Of course, still being a “newbie,” I realize I have a
great deal more to learn.
*****
Continue Author Interview with Me, Part 2, HERE: Author Interview with Me, Part 2
