What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?
I have mentioned my favorite authors above. I would like to
say that as time goes on, it is my intention to read more and more from authors
that I have not yet explored. My ten favorite books are, in order of
precedence:
·
Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown.
·
The Einstein Enigma, by Jose Rodrigues Dos
Santos.
·
Signe de Vie (French), by Jose Rodrigues Dos
Santos.
·
Atlantis Found, by Clive Cussler.
·
The shack, by Paul William Young
·
The Sanctus Trilogy, by Simon Toyne
·
Secrets of the Lost Mode of Prayer, by Gregg
Braden
·
The Great Zoo of China, by Matthew Reilly
·
La danse du Mal (French), by Michel Benoit
·
Furie Divine (French), by Jose Rodrigues Dos
Santos
What book do you think everyone should read?
My top remains ‘The Einstein Enigma’.
How long have you been writing?
It’s
been ten years, although the first five years were very slow. I was not only
learning the process of writing novels, without a guide or course, but also
learning about some of the traps of the publishing industry.
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do
some of them come to you as you write?
Some
definitely come through the writing itself. In general, I have a very good idea
of the main characters prior to starting the writing process.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a
book?
Once
an idea has materialized as a possible storyline, I will ask myself how much I
know about the topic itself, or the topic in relation to the type of story I
want to write. Once I have answered these questions, I will take a look at my
shelf of reference books and see what base information I can find. Then, it is
a full blown internet search as well as various discussions with my entourage,
mainly my wife to start with.
Do you see writing as a career?
I would like to say that I see it more as a main activity
once I’ve retired. Writing as a career would have been an ideal situation if I
had started thirty years ago and had hit the bestseller’s list way back.
What do you think about the current publishing market?
It
has certainly changed a lot even in the ten years I’ve been writing. I find
that it can be convoluted and that it is easy, especially for new or aspiring
authors, to get lured into multiple initiatives that aim only at getting the
author’s own money with no real prospect of return on investment. If an author
gets lucky, like I have with Mirador Publishing and Éditions Saint-Honoré,
stick to these institutions and your contacts. Do not get easily caught in ‘The
grass is always greener next door’. Matters are even more complex now with
Amazon publishing. I read extreme contradictory information on this facet of
the industry. It is also fair for me to say that in my view, the market seems
saturated. As such, I wish all the best to aspiring writers and urge them not
to give up.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite
genre?
Yes, I read a lot. I enjoy edge-of-the-seat adventures as
much as some good analysis of a spiritual belief or esoteric topic through pure
academic approach or even better, through an adventure where the study is
combined with action, laughter, sadness and other human emotions.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
In my
daily engineering job, I’ve had no choice but to develop an ability to write
amidst noise, sometimes excessive noise of various people on the phone, others
holding loud discussion in the next cubicle etcetera. One might argue that it’s
Ok since it does not require the same concentration as writing a book, but
technical writing can be just as, if not sometimes more demanding. Thus, for my
books, I like the peace and quiet of the sanctuary I call home. Once we have
done the house chores, had a good exchange about our daily lives, had a great
supper, I find my backyard to be an awe-inspiring space in summer. Of course
the Canadian autumns and winters force indoor activities, but the same approach
applies in a quiet corner of the house. Calming music in the background is fine
with me, but not essential.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several
going at a time?
I write one book at a time, although I can be conflicted with
ideas for other books that sometimes pop out of nowhere.
If you could have been the author of any book ever
written, which book would you choose?
‘Angels and Demons’ and ‘The Einstein Enigma’.
Pen or type writer or computer?
Definitely computer.
Tell us about a favorite character from a book.
Professor
Robert Langdon in Angels and Demons… He is the icon of a true professor with
the uncanny ability to see past the veil of deceit.
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it
was the right decision?
From
a young age, I enjoyed reading so much that I thought to myself that writing
must be an enjoyable experience. In general, authors have something to say or
something they truly want to share. I certainly feel the same way whenever the
urge to write surfaces. Writing eliminates the potential for endless
discussions and even if readers do not agree with what is on paper, it is up to
them to decide what they do with the information provided. Personally, I make
no claims whatsoever that what I write has real value on human life. I simply
wish to share ideas and thoughts for hopefully a better world for our children
and all our loved ones who will be left behind when we depart from this world.
A day in the life of the author?
Not
much to say here other than a pretty simple and ordinary life... About writing,
consistency combined with determination is a ritual that I try to practice on a
daily basis. I also draw and this helps me clear my mind and generate new ideas
for the next adventure.
Advice they would give new authors?
You
might get lucky with your first novel and make it big. In the meantime, it is
worth remembering some golden rules: Hard work pays off and it is worth doing
your homework properly before sending your manuscript to publishers; however
tedious it may appear, edit your manuscript a minimum of three times before
sending to the publisher. In addition, most important of all, ask yourself the
same question repeatedly. Is writing something you really want to do, or is it
something that is appealing impulsively? If your honest answer is that this is
something that you wish to do, then, ensure the following three words are
forever engraved in your mind, heart and soul: Never give up!
Describe your writing style.
I try
to keep baiting the reader just enough for him to want to continue to read.
From reading many books from various authors, I have adapted my style to ensure
the reader has as much information as he needs from footnotes or references to
have a good view of what is going on. I have unfortunately been frustrated at
times from a few other authors who assume that the reader is completely fluent
in jargon or acronyms or even locations and cultures.
What makes a good story?
A
clear idea first, a clear and good message as the outcome, and plenty of
mystery, challenge, action, puzzles and fun in between. In addition, lovable
characters must be clearly lovable while despicable characters must be truly
despicable. Of course, there have to be twists and turns so that the
personalities push the reader to keep digging.
What are you currently reading?
I’m
not reading right now as I am busy working on promotion material for the
Miracle Ladies as well as the release of the French version of Fantasy Man.
Once this is done, I will likely tackle ‘The Wisdom Codes’ by Gregg Braden.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an
outline first? Do you do the chapters first? What are common traps for aspiring
writers?
I try
to write half a page as an outline but find that it does not work very well for
me. I would have to write at least two pages to have a meaningful outline. As a
result, once I have the main idea for the storyline, I start with the first two
chapters and pretty much follow the flow of inspiration from there. Aspiring
writers need to ensure self-discipline if they wish to progress and succeed.
But because we are all different in character, endurance and life experiences,
it is important for aspiring writers to first evaluate and establish their own
weaknesses and determine how they will tackle these weaknesses. In my personal
view, this is one good way to put as many aces up your sleeve as you can.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Time
is my number one Kryptonite. Others are my own interest in reading,
documentaries and movies, which push me to self-impose a strict calendar for
myself. And there, there are always the curved balls that life throws at us…
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers
what they want?
I
definitely try to be more original.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what
would it be?
Do
your homework and do not be impatient. There is a natural order to writing and
you need to listen to the voice from the silence within.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters
from the opposite sex?
This
is a great question. It is the hardest thing about writing, i.e. to understand
enough of the opposite sex to remain credible in one’s writing. Again, I
consider myself blessed and lucky to have my wife as first critic. Many other
readers are also of the opposite sex and they always provide great feedback
that helps me in the next venture.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
‘The Storyteller’s Nights’ took two years.
‘Fantasy Man’ took nine months.
‘Revanche’ took seven months.
‘The Miracle Ladies’ took seven months.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
I
have experienced it with ‘The Storyteller’s Nights’. Since, I have not and I
believe it is because I have learnt to listen and read the signs. As I
mentioned answering a previous question, as soon as the writing is not flowing,
I step away and do something else. Inspiration comes back quickly enough. So,
to give a clear answer, yes I believe in writer’s block, but I also believe
that it’s a matter of how an author manages his approach.
Thank you very much Gwendolyn. Credit for the cover goes to Sarah at Mirador Publishing. She is a wonderful person and publisher. I will make sure she gets this feedback. Best Regards, JM.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Gwendolyn. Credit for the cover goes to Sarah at Mirador Publishing. She is a wonderful person and publisher. I will make sure she gets this feedback. Best Regards, JM.
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