| Author Interview Form |
Tell us your name and where you’re from.:
|
K. Thomas Olsen, from Bountiful, Utah |
What led to your decision to become an author?:
|
I have always had an imaginative mind and I would often
develop stories. Originally I wanted to work in film and, being
arrogant at the time, ignored advice from people who came to my
college course and advised against it. Eventually it became too
complex and the stories I wanted to tell would never come to fruition the screen.
And so, I decided to take my stories to paper. Discovering I could do
so much more I made it a point to write my dream projects in story
format. It is so much easier and gives so much more freedom. While I
may never get multimillion dollar titles, it is still my ambition to
share with the world. |
Tell us about what you’re currently working on, and
what you’ve written in the past.: |
I am currently working on Dinoworld, a series nearly twenty
years in the making. The stories have matured as I have grown older
and my skill level is now what I believe to be sufficient for writing
my dream novels.
In the past I have not published anything beyond a school writing
contest so this is still new for me. |
What are some of your strongest points as a writer,
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
|
My strong points as a writer would probably be my ability to
describe in words how I see a particular scene play out in my head. I
love visualizing my characters, often sketching the key players and
developing who they are before putting it on paper.
My weakness? I would have to say stubbornness with some scenes. I
listen to music and play out certain scenes as if they were in a movie
but when it comes to writing I often get so set that the story flow is
altered from what I imagine. As much as I want to describe it just
as I imagine for the sake of the story it must change. |
Are you self published, traditionally published or
both? Why did you choose to go that route?: |
I am a self published author. I chose this over traditional
publishing due to budget mostly. Every single publishing company I
have looked at is either new and my stories will not fit or the
stories have to be sent through a professional editor, which will cost
hundreds of dollars. Then, due to the nature of my stories, clip art
would not do so I would have to pay hundreds more for a cover. In
short, it was just more efficient to do it all myself. |
What format are your books available in? Which of
these formats do you prefer and why?: |
My books are availabl3 in all sorts of digital format. I do
not have much experience with all of them but .mobi format is great
from my experience and for those without a tablet the .pdf is great
for reading on the computer. |
How do you go about marketing your books?:
|
Generally I go through word of mouth and through Facebook.
Not much luck so far but it is still early. |
Have you ever had to deal with harsh criticism in a
review, and how do you handle it?: |
I have yet to receive harsh criticism in a book review but
several have come from my YouTube videos. But I have yet to find one
harsh review that would not be considered spam. Reviews should be
viewed as learning experiences for authors, letting them know what the
public at large thinks and how they can improve. |
What are your favorite genres to both read and
write?: |
I love creature stories and action/adventure, both to read
and write. I also can never seem to resist a good ocean faring story
despite only visiting the ocean once in my lifetime. |
What authors have influenced or inspired you?:
|
Michael Crichton was a big inspiration, not the least of
which being he wrote Jurassic Park. I have also been inspired by
Michael Stackapole, James Gurney, RL Stine and Marc Cerasini. All of
these have added to or created worlds that I enjoyed as a child and
set my imagination forward. |
What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re
not writing?: |
In my down time I enjoy hiking and being outdoors. I have a
fondness for prehistoric creatures which is made evident by my
writing. I also love to sit back with a good book or turn the lights
low and watch a movie. |
What software do you use for your writing? Did you
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
|
I use Microsoft Word for publishing. The features are great
and easy for me to figure out. Others have been simpler or more
complex, but I like to feel I have control over my documents. |
What is it that you like about the software you’re
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
|
I love being able to see what it will look like as I write
it, using the various font features and the styles I see fit. |
What’s the best advice you could possibly give to
your fellow authors?: |
Never stop writing. I have had people, even my own parents,
tell me to just go about it as a hobby and to focus on more productive
developments. Do it because you want to and don’t let anyone, even
yourself, stand in your way. |
Where can people find out more about you and your
books?: |
http://www.facebook.com/keitholsendinoworld
http://dinoworld.freeforums.net |
K. Thomas Olsen
develop stories. Originally I wanted to work in film and, being
arrogant at the time, ignored advice from people who came to my
college course and advised against it. Eventually it became too
complex and the stories I wanted to tell would never come to fruition the screen.
And so, I decided to take my stories to paper. Discovering I could do
so much more I made it a point to write my dream projects in story
format. It is so much easier and gives so much more freedom. While I
may never get multimillion dollar titles, it is still my ambition to
share with the world.
what you’ve written in the past.:
years in the making. The stories have matured as I have grown older
and my skill level is now what I believe to be sufficient for writing
my dream novels.
In the past I have not published anything beyond a school writing
contest so this is still new for me.
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
describe in words how I see a particular scene play out in my head. I
love visualizing my characters, often sketching the key players and
developing who they are before putting it on paper.
My weakness? I would have to say stubbornness with some scenes. I
listen to music and play out certain scenes as if they were in a movie
but when it comes to writing I often get so set that the story flow is
altered from what I imagine. As much as I want to describe it just
as I imagine for the sake of the story it must change.
both? Why did you choose to go that route?:
publishing due to budget mostly. Every single publishing company I
have looked at is either new and my stories will not fit or the
stories have to be sent through a professional editor, which will cost
hundreds of dollars. Then, due to the nature of my stories, clip art
would not do so I would have to pay hundreds more for a cover. In
short, it was just more efficient to do it all myself.
these formats do you prefer and why?:
not have much experience with all of them but .mobi format is great
from my experience and for those without a tablet the .pdf is great
for reading on the computer.
Not much luck so far but it is still early.
review, and how do you handle it?:
several have come from my YouTube videos. But I have yet to find one
harsh review that would not be considered spam. Reviews should be
viewed as learning experiences for authors, letting them know what the
public at large thinks and how they can improve.
write?:
and write. I also can never seem to resist a good ocean faring story
despite only visiting the ocean once in my lifetime.
which being he wrote Jurassic Park. I have also been inspired by
Michael Stackapole, James Gurney, RL Stine and Marc Cerasini. All of
these have added to or created worlds that I enjoyed as a child and
set my imagination forward.
not writing?:
fondness for prehistoric creatures which is made evident by my
writing. I also love to sit back with a good book or turn the lights
low and watch a movie.
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
and easy for me to figure out. Others have been simpler or more
complex, but I like to feel I have control over my documents.
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
it, using the various font features and the styles I see fit.
your fellow authors?:
tell me to just go about it as a hobby and to focus on more productive
developments. Do it because you want to and don’t let anyone, even
yourself, stand in your way.
books?:
http://dinoworld.freeforums.net
By Duane • Guest Author Interviews 0