You're not Alone Anthology
So here is the next interview with one of the authors. I think I'm up on the 3rd of June. Probably will have to wear dark glasses after that and seek counselling about how to cope with fame:)
Interview with Author D. Avraham, contributor to charitable anthology “You’re Not Alone”
26
Tuesday
May 2015
Today
I’m welcoming Author D. Avraham whom I’ve met through our work for
“You’re Not Alone”, an anthology in aid of MacMillan Cancer Care.Twenty-seven writers from around the world, including myself have entered an assortment of short stories for your pleasure, show your support by liking the new page on Facebook and expressing an interest in buying the book.
You’ll find the book on your Amazon for per-order via these links:
http://smarturl.it/YoureNotAloneAnth
http://bookshow.me/B00Y5RCOOE
You’ll find the Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/yourenotalone2015
And here is the fund, in loving memory of Pamela Mary Winton
https://macmillan.tributefunds.com/pamela-mary-winton
Welcome to my blog. Tell us, how did you come to writing?
The first time I decided to write, I was six or seven. I wrote and illustrated a children’s book (obviously) called “Zero and the Case of the Missing Vase.” I still have it. My Mom saved everything. I’ve been writing since.
That said, I took a break from trying to sell my stuff for about fifteen years. After I served in the army, I wrote my first novel, Off Wire. That was in the age when you wrote on a typewriter, remember those days? Anyway, I actually travelled to New York and went to every publishing house I could find, but there weren’t any takers. That was also at the time of the first big publishing crunch, and no one gave me the time of day. There was no such thing as Indie publishing, only what was called Vanity publishing, and that was way out of my price range. So, I put the manuscript away. I kept writing, and sold the occasional short story or poem, but I never really went into it full force, until I wrote Foundation Stone. That’s when I started relearning about the industry, and started putting more of an effort in to get published.
Did anyone influence you / encourage you to become a writer?
Yes. I’ve already mentioned my Mom. She was always a big supporter. As far as influence, I’ve been influenced by everything I’ve read – good and bad. I always loved the way stories could effect me, and there was also a counter-need to express what was effecting me.
When did you decide to write in your chosen genre(s)?
I didn’t. And still don’t. The stories and the genre’s choose me
Tell us about the concept behind your books. How did you get the idea?
Well, the Shepherd King Series grew out of stories I would tell my kids. I would take the Biblical stories about King David, and try and make them accessible to them. At some point I decided to try and do that on a wider scale. Other stories come from some “Other Source,”
You have created great characters. Which one is your favourite?
I love all my characters – even the bad guys. They all have something redeeming about them. Right now, my current favourite is Queen, the detective from the Dystopia. In part, because he’s in my head the most now. But, he’s this hard boiled cynic that wants to not care, but you know he really does. Those are the type of characters I like the most. Uriyah in the Foundation Stone is a lot like him, as is the hooker in “A Special Evening,” the story for the Charity Anthology.
Are you like any of the characters (and how so)?
the characters all have pieces of me, or more accurately they reflect some aspect of who I am, even if I’m not so aware of it. It’s the same thing with reading other people’s works. The good stories are the ones where you discover some dimension about yourself that you didn’t know was there.
What is your main reason for writing?
Because I have to.
What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?
The best is the first writing, the discovery of the story. Even rewriting and drafting can be exciting and fun. The worst aspect is the business end. I have to push myself to do all the marketing and promoting, and selling and social media stuff.
How do you balance marketing one book and writing the next?
Balance? Hahahaha. Who said I was balanced?
What do you do when you don’t write?
Actually, I’m writing even when I’m not writing. I even have a notepad by my bed if I get an idea or something. I have a lot of note pads around the house. My life is very full. I home school my kids, so a lot of my time is spent with them. We have a small farm, nothing special, but it takes some work. We raise sheep and chickens. I teach, read, learn.
What makes you laugh?
Life … Well, I suppose it depends what you mean. I find the world a little ridiculous sometimes, but as far as laughing from share joy – my kids. I’m really blessed with a lot of good in my life.
Who would you like to invite for dinner?
Everyone. You’re all invited. Seriously, we actually have a pretty open door policy at my house. We get a lot of guest. Once, we even had a guy recovering from a nasty divorce stay with us for a few months.
What song would you pick to go with your book?
It would have to be an original score.
What are you working on now?
About a dozen things. I’m just finishing up a Science Fiction short story for an anthology about a physicist that tries to find the parallel universe where the girl said “yes,” and warp that into his reality; trying to finish the sequel to Foundation Stone; I’m finishing up a Fantasy novel called Blight Crossing, and a few companion short stories that fit into that world; trying to sell my satirical novella, All About Me. I started another Sci-Fi Dystopia where the main character, a eighty-four year old detective seems to be the last thinking human alive; oh and about a half a dozen other short stories and dozens of poems.
Who are your editors and how do you quality control your books?
I belong to several critiquing circles that help get the rough stuff up to snuff.
How have you found the experience of self-publishing? What were your highs and lows?
It’s a lot of work, but then so is trying to get your work published the traditional way. The best part is that you know your work will get out there. The hard part is making sure that it’s edited and polished to a professional quality.
What is your advice to new writers?
Write. That’s it. Write – and read, and then write some more. And then find people that will tear your work apart, so that you can make it better. Throw out your ego, unless you only wantto show your work to your mom.
What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?
I just finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman. It was a fantastic book. I read it on Scribd. I also reread Slaughterhouse Five, and Cat’s Craddle by Kurt Vonnegut. I haven’t decided what I’m readin next yet.
How do you handle criticism of your work?
I love it. They’re usually right
Bio:
Avraham writes fiction and poetry, from children stories and adult humor; from spy thrillers to science fiction and fantasy.
He started his writing career as a freelance writer for the Daily News Herald, The Cleveland Jewish News, and several other local publications. He was also a weekly columnist for New York’s Jewish Press.
Avraham is the author of the fantasy novel, The Shepherd King Chronicles: Foundation Stone (Beith David Publishing, 2010). The second novel in the series is due out soon. He is also the author of the spy thriller, Off-Wire (Lulu 2014), and the author/illustrator of the children book, Squared (beith David Publishing 2013). D. has written numerous short stories and poems. Some of his work can be found on his blog at davraham.com.
Avraham currently lives with his family in the Hebron Hills of Israel, where, aside from writing, he teaches at the Jerusalem College of Technology, raises sheep and chickens, home schools his own kids, and tries to stay out of trouble. Sometimes he’s successful.
Links:
www.davraham.com
https://www.facebook.com/Author.D.Avraham
https://twitter.com/DAvraham818
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/DAvraham
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00RNY8E04
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