It is
always a pleasure for me to get to know other writers and to learn about their
journeys. I am fascinated by their tales, both on and off the paper. I am thrilled
to introduce you to my readers today, Ken – thank you for joining us!
1.
I always kick off my interviews
with the same question. Therefore, please tell us how you’d describe yourself? I usually don’t give any indicators into this
question, but I read that you consider yourself ‘a driven existentialist’,
which made me curious. Can you explain what
that mean to you in more detail, as well, please?
An
exact definition of existentialism is difficult to pin down. Kierkegaard proposed
that each individual is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living
it passionately and sincerely, or authentically. Sartre, on the other
hand, suggested that life was absurd.
I tend to lean more toward Kierkegaard. For me,
life is not absurd, so existentialism is the desire to find meaning and purpose
in life through living and gaining as many diverse experiences as possible. This
has led me through many career changes and hobbies. One of my friends, a fellow
writer, has accused me of trying to gain every skill possible before I die.
(Her accusation is not without merit.)
For
hobbies, I would list photography, stained glass, tropical fish, beekeeping, and
building chain mail, to name a few. The driven component is that I develop a
mania about a topic, learn everything possible about it, master the skills
required, then move on to the next thing that catches my interest.
Career-wise,
I have been a woodworker, log builder, heavy equipment operator, welder,
teacher, a car salesman (a tough gig for an introvert), and lately a funeral
assistant.
2.
You grew up on an isolated farm
without a television. You were far from everything, including a library, yet
you have said books ‘magically’ arrived by mail on a monthly basis, which connected
you to the world at large and influenced you greatly. I’d like to focus the first
set of questions towards that aspect of your life, if I may. 😊
·
How
did you receive the books – were they part of a literary club or an outreach
program from your local library or school?
o
My mother, who had been a schoolteacher at one point, enrolled our family in an extension program
from the library in our provincial capital. They had an incredible selection of
children’s titles as well as other printed materials
·
Did
your family read together or what drove your interest in these magical
treasures? What brought you to discover their presence and the stories they
held?
o
Mother read to us until I was old enough to read for myself. I
think I was about 4 years old by then. My father had no interest in reading,
and my younger brother also didn’t read much if I recollect correctly.
Ø Did you discuss the material you read, or did
you enjoy thinking or writing about the topics you encountered?
§
I cannot remember discussing what we read. I got Mom to order books
from the library catalog that interested me or caught my imagination. I read the
Tom
Swift and Hardy
Boys series, anything by Edgar
Rice Burroughs or H.
Rider Haggard, but not all of it was fantasy or mystery. Encyclopedias also
figured large, as did books on nature in other countries and continents. I
thought about what I had read and created worlds and cultures in my head, often
based on “what if” scenarios.
v If no, do you feel this would have enriched the
stories for you – why, and how? Would you have preferred to discuss them?
§
I do not think it would have made any difference. I was hooked
on reading by then. I read through books as fast as they came. With all the
farm work involved, Mom never had the time to discuss what I was reading
because I burned through the books so fast.
Ø Was oral storytelling ever a part of your
family’s traditions, and if so, did you retell existing stories or invent new
ones?
§
On my mother’s side of the family, storytelling was more evident.
My maternal grandfather loved to tell stories about his life in Poland and
Siberia. I always told stories I made up (I didn’t have enough life experience
to have anything worth telling.)
·
What
motivated you to go from reading an adventure to writing one?
o
I have trouble reading social cues, which made relating to real people
difficult, so books let me relate to the world in ways I was unable to do in
real life. Since what I read had such a powerful influence on my life and
imagination, I wanted to participate by writing my own.
Ø Did you share your tales with your family and
friends?
§
My father and brother never really wanted to hear the stuff I
wrote, but Mom was quite supportive.
Ø Had you aspired from an early age to have your
work published?
§
This is odd because although I wanted to make an impact on people’s
lives with what I wrote, I never seriously considered publishing my work. I
thought more along the lines of something to entertain my children and
grandchildren. Thinking about it now, the lack of desire to publish probably
stemmed from my history of listening to my grandfather’s stories. I subconsciously
assumed storytelling was a family thing.
3.
I know the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
has been had a huge impact on you, as has poetry. Having recently watched the
movie, Tolkien, and recalling my own school
days with his books (particularly The Hobbit), I can relate. Therefore, the
following questions will be influenced by these, as well.
Ø It’s tough for me
to pick a favorite author. I love the broad sweeping tale and incredible world
that Tolkien created, but there are many other authors who I love as much.
·
Which
authors have influenced you the most as both a reader and a writer? And, why do
you feel so connected to them – is it their language, style, or material that
speaks to you most?
Ø
I love Neil
Gaiman for his imagination and his incredible use of language to paint
vivid and occasionally hilarious word pictures. I recently reread Foundation
by Isaac Asimov. His writing is so elegant in its precision. Never a wasted
word.
Ø
Scalzi’s
“Old Man’s War” is hilarious and beautifully crafted with poignant and
brilliant images, as well as a high level of irony.
Ø
I also read quite a few Indie authors to see what other people
are doing. I can learn from anyone. I read, alert to what works as well as what
does not, and try not to commit the same mistakes.
·
J.R.R. Tolkien was not considered fanciful, yet
he was poetic. As it is for me, literature was art to him. You were quoted as
saying, ‘I love the sound of words strung together.’ So, what do you see – or hear – in the
artistry of literature?
o
I also have spent a significant amount of time involved singing both
as an amateur and a professional (professional means I got paid not famous) so
the cadence and rhythm of words are important to me.
Ø How do you define art, and how can words fit
into that category, in your opinion?
§
Can anybody truly define art? Words can convey images, and
emotions, and transform people’s hearts and minds, or at least entertain them.
Perhaps that is what art is for, but a definition of it escapes me.
v Why is writing your choice medium? Why not paint or
play an instrument?
§
I smirked as I read the question.
§
I sing, or hum, constantly. (Drives my wife crazy.) There is a
soundtrack of my own musical inventions running through my head on most days,
but I have never been taught to read music or play an instrument (A source of
great sorrow for me). I have jammed vocally with some incredibly talented
musicians and sang, as the frontman, in a touring rock band, until I had
children.
§
I have taken up painting landscapes in oil, and people tell me
they are quite good (perhaps they don’t want to hurt my feelings).
§
I never had the opportunity to bond with other art forms early
in my life because of finances and isolation. So writing is my first love. All
you need to write is a pencil and some paper. (So accessible.) It is the
logical progression from nomadic hunters sitting around the campfire swapping
yarns.
v What makes words sound beautiful to you?
§
Alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhythm, and cadence. There is music
in a well-crafted sentence or paragraph. I always read what I’ve written aloud
to eliminate awkward phrases or tongue-twisters. I speak bits and pieces of
other languages, but English is so broad and expressive with all the words
borrowed from different cultures that I feel is perfect for poetry. Many people
from other language groups try to write in English, either because of its broad
adoption internationally or because of its expressive capability (I’m not sure
which figures more prominently.) and often fail in the execution. It is not
easy to write in English, even for native speakers.
Ø As a fellow author, I love how one word can
express the same as many. For example: sultry… depleted… torn. These are simple
words, yet sexy and powerful. Do you feel there is a place in modern literature
for more descriptive vocabulary or should writers go with the ‘keep it simple’
ideology? Why, or why not?
§
I think we need to strike a balance between simplicity and
artistry. Readers should not need to keep a dictionary beside them while
reading, but we can, and should, elevate people’s vocabulary if the “perfect”
word makes the story sing. In eBooks, highlighting the word gives you an
instant definition with minimal effort. The only caveat is that it disrupts the
flow of the story. I like using descriptive beats to eliminate dialogue tags
wherever possible to add emotional depth. (It’s a learning process.)
·
Do
you think there’s a place in today’s world for poetry or is that a dying art?
o
There is always a place for poetry, that said, I cannot relate
to much of the “poetry” I have encountered lately, and some I find hard to even
call poetic. There is a sort of snobbery attached to poetry that I find
offensive, and I think in some cases, the emperor walks naked while everyone
fawns over the beauty of his garments. Poetry should be both beautiful and
accessible.
·
J.R.R. Tolkien and his fellowship of friends
believed that, with God’s help, they could change the world for the better
through the beauty of art. What do you think of this concept?
o
As Psalm
19 says: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work
of his hands. Having spent the better part of my life searching for meaning and
purpose, I would agree. There is something in beauty, whether it is natural or
manmade, that draws us upward toward the divine.
4.
Your
book series sounds fascinating and has J.R.R. Tolkien’s
spirit to it from what I can tell. Let’s
discuss your stories and characters in this section!
·
Where
does your story begin and, briefly, what adventure will the book series take us
on?
o
The story is a voyage of discovery for the main characters who
are all from the three competing sentient species which populate Aarda. Various
personal calamities set them on a path to self-discovery. Along the way, they meet
and form a family of sorts. On the journey, they discover they have a part to
play in a larger cosmic conflict of good versus evil.
·
What
made you want to write this story, and why is it important to you?
o
I thought it would be interesting to put the struggles into a
fantasy novel with three sentient species sharing a common world but having
opposing goals, philosophies, and religions.
o
The main characters of the series are from the different species
but are outcasts from their respective peoples. They must fight their way
through their prejudices and find common ground to save their world from
destruction, instead of either fighting each other or hiding from the conflict.
o
Having worked cross-culturally for three years, I know that I
only recognized my cultural prejudices once I became isolated from my culture.
I gained a perspective impossible while immersed in my own society.
Ø J.R.R. Tolkien said, ‘Fantasy is escapist, and
that is its glory.’ Is this escapist
fantasy, or what genre are your books under?
§
I think it is escapist but also allegorical. I do
not believe we can isolate what we write, from who we are, and our cultural
setting. Tolkien’s life from childhood to his war service figures in his
writing. He pits the quasi-industrial world of Mordor and its orc’s and goblins
with the Shire’s hobbits, the ents, the elves, etc. all intricately linked and
in harmony with the natural world.
Ø Is there a moral to the story?
§
Absolutely. Heroism comes in many forms, often from unexpected
individuals. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things, primarily when they
work together. Each of the books has an overarching theme. The theme of Prelude
is the innate desire to form personal relationships. Overture, the second book
(almost ready for release), is the search for a place to belong. The theme of
Nocturne, the third in the series, is about the importance of choices. And the
fourth book’s theme is the nature of courage.
v Is there something specific you want readers to know
about one or all of the novels?
§
There is at least one character that every age group from a teen
to a senior citizen should be able to identify with. Each of the dozen or so
main characters has a unique history and character arc, with some becoming
heroes and others becoming villains (or perhaps villains becoming heroes, but
no spoilers as to which is which). I wanted to make their lives as real as
possible. We are all faced with daily choices which lead us either to heroic
deeds or villainy.
v Can the books be read as standalones or are they meant
to be read sequentially?
§
The books are meant to be read sequentially. Prelude and
Overture started out as a single volume. Some of the characters needed a fuller
treatment of their lives and histories, so I split book one into two separate
volumes. I fell in love with my characters, so the story arc/s with them
working their way through the issues wasn’t going to fit in one, two, or even
three books.
5.
Each of us has such a unique
way of approaching our craft. So, I’d like to discuss your writing style. In addition, I’d like to address your journey
to becoming published. We have so many options available to us nowadays!
·
Do
you use an outline and note cards when you write, or do you prefer to ‘wing it’?
Do you write in chronological order, or do you skip around the story as you’re
inspired?
o
I have been a pantser but am transitioning to plotting because
pantsing involves too much work in the second and third drafts. The first book
just happened out of a series of descriptive writing exercises. Suddenly
characters and a plot emerged out of the chaos. Then it was a huge challenge to
piece all the bits together into a coherent narrative. I am finding it easier
going now that I have a vague outline put together.
Ø Are you traditionally published, with a small
press, self-published, or a hybrid?
§
I never intended to publish at all. I did not think what I wrote
was good enough (a common thread, or is it dread, of writers I’ve met), but
when people outside my immediate circle of friends and family suggested I
should, I took the plunge and went self-published.
v What made you decide to go this route for publishing your
books?
§
I tried querying agents, to universal disinterest. (They were
right to reject what I had written up to that point.) I discovered Amazon/KDP
and launched a single volume into what must have been a black hole. (Zero
sales)
§
After that metaphoric slap in the face, I hired someone to do a
proper cover, an editor to polish my writing, and I worked on my craft. I consulted
a successful author about marketing, split the book in two, and rewrote the
whole thing (again). In short, I grew up and got realistic.
v What do you think is the hardest thing about being a
published author?
§
Without a doubt, marketing. I have no experience in marketing,
and I am not social, so marketing is the worst.
v What’s the coolest thing?
§
So many things. I love when the words and ideas just flow, the
eureka moment of discovering a cool plot twist.
§
I may be a little weird, but editing is fantastic, especially
since working with Christie Stratos,
who does my developmental edits for me. I have learned a lot about the craft of
writing from her and I see a definite progression in quality from book to book.
(I hope she can say the same.) Polishing each sentence and paragraph to get
just the right flow and feel is hard work, but when you succeed, the joy and
pride are profound.
6.
What can we expect to see from
you over the coming year?
Book
two, Overture, is almost ready for launch, and book three, Nocturne, is nearly
ready to edit.
·
Are
you working on any WIPs?
o
Yes. Book four of the Aarda series is about 60% complete, and
book Five is being outlined. I also have an outline for another story called
“The Holiday” outside the ‘Aardaverse’. (Thailand)
·
Will
you be attending any conferences or doing any appearances?
o No. not in the
foreseeable future. I am not good with crowds. I find the noise and chaos overwhelming
(sensory overload). I cannot think with noise around me. (I never listen to
music if I need to concentrate.)
o Thanks again for sharing your
time and talents. I wish you great success, my friend!
