J. Alton Mast
| Author Interview Form | |
| Tell us your name and where you’re from.: |
J. Alton Mast from Bethlehem, PA. |
| What led to your decision to become an author?: |
I’ve always been fascinated and obsessed with writing a novel from the time I was young (about 11 years old) and as embarrassed as I am to admit it, I was an avid fan fiction writer. So when I turned 18 I decided that I was done writing stories about worlds other people had invented and I created my own. That, and my chosen major in college was English. |
| Tell us about what you’re currently working on, and what you’ve written in the past.: |
I’ve recently published ‘Daemon Theory’ in April, a science-fiction, horror series with a strong Dystopian theme. It had been my major work in progress until its publication. Since ‘Daemon Theory’ is a series I am currently working on the second, along with a Psychological Horror story called ‘The Bone Garden’ |
| What are some of your strongest points as a writer, and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?: |
I have a knack for storytelling, creating people and worlds that people visualize easily. I’ve also been told that my writing makes people think. However, I will admit that I have a nasty habit of switching points of view from chapter to chapter, so that is something I’m striving to fix. |
| Are you self published, traditionally published or both? Why did you choose to go that route?: |
I am traditionally published. I decided to go that route simply because I don’t trust the self-publishing scene. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I didn’t want something I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into for two years to float around in the depths of cyberspace for the rest of forever. Not to mention with all the vanity publishers out there, I just didn’t want to take the risk. So instead I took the heartbreak of seemingly endless rejection letters, but the comfort of knowing that if I ever received a ‘yes’ my book would be in more capable hands then myself. |
| What format are your books available in? Which of these formats do you prefer and why?: |
Paperback and Ebook. I prefer paperback. Call me old fashioned but I like the look and feel of books. On the kindle, nook, or Ipad it just doesn’t feel right. |
| How do you go about marketing your books?: |
Through Facebook campaigns, Twitter, and I’m hoping to make a trailer soon to post on YouTube. Essentially I just use social media. |
| Have you ever had to deal with harsh criticism in a review, and how do you handle it?: |
I go into a drunken stupor and I cry over my associates degree as I question my choices in life. I’m kidding, of course. When I see a negative or unfavorable review, I brush it off of my shoulder. Whoever wrote it is entitled to their opinion and if every little negative criticism brings you down then you shouldn’t be an author, or in any entertainment medium for that matter. No matter where you go and what you do, there’s always going to be someone trying to put you down. I choose not to take it personally and keep moving forward. Unless the negative/harsh criticism makes a valid point about my writing style, I just forget it. But if it does, I take the critique, and use the advice to better my skills. |
| What are your favorite genres to both read and write?: |
I really enjoy Horror. I like being scared and on edge, but I’ve always felt that media as of late hasn’t been able to do that job, so I like to try to scare myself. As weird as it sounds, I like to go into that darker part of my head just to see what I happen to pull out of it. |
| What authors have influenced or inspired you?: |
I wouldn’t say a specific author inspired me. It’s more like works by certain authors inspired me. For example: the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I wouldn’t call Stephen King an inspiration to me, but one of his series did inspire me to write. |
| What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?: |
Running. It really helps me clear my head and de-stress. That and I’m an artist as a hobby (I’m okay…not really good, but not horrible either). |
| What software do you use for your writing? Did you try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?: |
I’m lame. I use Microsoft word 2010, mostly because it’s been familiar to me since I was young. |
| What is it that you like about the software you’re currently using that makes it the best solution for you?: |
Like I said before, it’s familiar and it’s simple. Plus I’m an old curmudgeon who’s stuck in her ways. |
| What’s the best advice you could possibly give to your fellow authors?: |
This is going to sound really lame, but the best piece of advice I could give new/young/fellow authors is this: For any reason, do not give up on your work. Don’t quit writing |
| Where can people find out more about you and your books?: |
My publisher’s website, ink-smith.com, or the Daemon Theory Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DaemonTheory. |
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Savannah Parker
co-writer. We are from Stillmore Georgia.
children. We would pretend that we were going on adventures like
sailing with pirates or fighting space battles. One day we just
decided that we should share our adventures with other people. Since
we were both shy and never liked talking a lot to other people we
decided that the best way to share our stories was to write them down
and let other people read them.
what you’ve written in the past.:
Billy Scarlet. The sequel, whose release date is still up in the air
at the moment, is called The Curse of Laquendor. Billy Scarlet came
out on September 5th 2013. We have another story, The Secret of
Nautilus Island that’s coming out in July. Though we have these books
out and coming out we are always working on something simply because
we love writing.
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
beginning of a story. When I write the beginning I’m just fired up and
I know what I want to say and how I want the story to go. My weakness
is that I get ahead of myself as the story goes along. I start to rush
the story. I’m trying to get better at slowing things down. I have to
remember that not everyone sees what I see in my mind when I’m writing
a story. Zeke is great with plot twists and story lines. He can write
one line that can set and entire scene and you can feel everything
that is happening. He’s always trying to improve himself with deeper
detail. He’s great at coming up with details, but he’s always working
to get even better with it.
both? Why did you choose to go that route?:
went this route because we wanted to see if we could get published
traditionally. Don’t get us wrong, we know plenty of people who have
done awesome with being self published, but we wanted to take another
route. We may self publish some in the future, but right now we are
sticking with traditional.
these formats do you prefer and why?:
Personally, we prefer hard copies. Ebooks are good on the go, but
there’s nothing like being able to flip the pages of a book to find an
adventure.
of our marketing is done through social media and blogging.
review, and how do you handle it?:
review, but we have taken some from agents and publishers who rejected
us. We were told that there was no flow to the story, that we did not
seem passionate enough about our work, and some just said they
straight up did not like the story. We find that the best way to deal
with this kind of criticism is that a lot of it is just based on one
person’s opinion. Not everyone will share the same opinion as that
person. You just have to keep pushing forward and find your
audience.
write?:
adventure. I (Savannah) will read just about anything though. Zeke
enjoys Star Wars books and authors like John Flanagan.
Green, C.S. Lewis, P. Bosch. I could go on for a while about authors
that inspire me. Zeke has some other authors who inspire him. Among
his favorites are John Flanagan, Timothy Zahn, and Kevin J. Anderson
to name a few.
not writing?:
of which I actually played four different characters in. Both of us
enjoy film making. We live on a farm, so we are always working with
our animals as well.
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
of like the off brand, but we liked it better. We still use Word
sometimes, but general we just use what we have. We used to use word
pad, but that was too simply a format and things started to get
deleted by accident and no writer wants that.
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
way that we want it. It’s not hard to use, it has spelling and grammar
check which is a big help when you get in a big hurry and start to
mess things up.
your fellow authors?:
get your work published. If people tell you that just smile and keep
doing what you’re doing. The only way to make it is to get yourself
out there so people can see what you have to offer.
books?:
http://ink-smith.com/our-authors/savannah-and-zeke-parker
There are links
to where you can buy the book and where you can get news about
upcoming stories and you can check out all the other writers from Ink
Smith as well.
By Duane • Guest Author Interviews 0