Interview with Alexander Eckley, Author of:  Bestia

Tell us about yourself:

My name is Alexander Eckley, author of the science fiction novel, Bestia, which was recently published by Black Rose Writing. I’m married, and have five kids (two of which are grown and gone from the nest and one that seems to have one foot in the door and one foot out). I’m also “grandpa” to a beautiful 3-year-old grand daughter.

I love spending what little free time I have with my family. Whenever I can, I love to fish, play golf, go camping and, of course, write.

Did you always know you were a writer?

No, not really. As a kid, I loved to read and watch sci-fi type stories, shows & movies. I would find myself imagining my own stories, but never thought about writing them down. As an adult, I noticed that my careers always seemed to lead me in the direction of writing for the companies I worked for. The more I had to write for them, the more I thought about writing for myself or for the entertainment of others. Those thoughts grew stronger and stronger as time passed.

What inspires you to write?

I’m inspired by the thought that something I “created” may actually entertain someone who likes to read. Maybe what I’ve written will move a person to think outside the box. Someone coined the phrase “the what if factor” and I like to think that what I write has a little of that. When you finish reading one of my books for entertainment purposes, maybe you’ll be moved to think…hmm, what if it did or could happen that way?

What challenges do you face when writing and what do you do to overcome them?

My biggest challenge is my day job. I run a small business and have some control over my hours but the work needs to get done. I try to do the things that need to get done every day, no matter what, as early as possible. I also try to forecast and guesstimate the workload for the week. That way, I can schedule days and times that I can safely set aside for writing, knowing that interruptions will be minimal.

Do personal experiences affect your writing? Any examples?

Yes, most definitely. When I’m creating characters for a story, they usually take on the characteristics of friends, family, colleagues, or acquaintances that I actually know in my life. I think it helps me make the character more realistic and true to life.

What advice would you give to people who “run out of creativity” when writing?

I recommend taking a break from writing. Let the story “simmer” for a while and do something else. Taking yourself out of the picture for a while and doing other things that you like to do can sometimes get the creative juices flowing again.

What advice do you have for new aspiring writers?

As soon as you detect that this is really something you want to pursue, start getting educated in the art of writing. Take classes in writing and all that goes along with it. I didn’t and I paid by learning as I went. I’m still learning. I’m willing to bet that if I had gone to school to learn to write, I would have finished my first novel a lot sooner. Don’t get me wrong; I did go to college but I never took classes that had anything to do with writing, other than the required English classes.

If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

There are so many good science fiction and fantasy writers out there that it would be hard to pick. I suppose if I had to pick one, I’d have to go “old school” and work with Rod Serling. He had such simple stories that were entertaining and that would leave you puzzled and scratching your head. Many of his stories also had that “what if factor,” I mentioned earlier. Stephen King, of course, is another one I would love working with. I think he’s the modern day version of Rod Serling.

Tell us about your recent book (or what you are working on now) and what gave you the idea to start it?

My new novel, Bestia, was actually inspired by a dream I had as a teenager. It was one of those movie-like dreams that seem to go on forever; the kind of dream that if you happen to wake up in the middle of it, you go back to the dream again, once you fall back to sleep. I remembered it vividly when I awoke and I remember telling friends and relatives about it for a long time. Many who heard the dream would make the comment that I should actually write a story about it. I finally did.

Who is your target audience for your recent book and what do you want your readers to take away from the experience?

I don’t really have an age specific target audience as much as I have a target audience for those who love sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. If you like all of that and/or you like stories about UFO’s, you are my target audience, regardless of your age. If you like stories about the apocalypse, you’re my target audience. I know the characters in the book would appeal to young adult, but I think the overall story would appeal to any age group that likes the aforementioned.

Where can fans find your (book/blog/site)?

The name of my new novel is, Bestia. You can find it on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Black Rose Writing.com. My website is: www.alexandereckley.com and you can follow me on twitter as: scribester52 or on facebook as Alexander Eckley.

Tell us about yourself:

Besides researching and reading history, I turn to writing to address issues that I feel need attention. I believe fiction is the best way to address social issues because people connect easily to a well-told story.

Did you always know you were a writer?

No. I was always a reader. I have been connected to books since my elementary school years. I used to dig through the same book over and over, and every time I would find something new that I didn’t notice before.  When I was a child, I used to create plots and made my friends play the characters. Maybe, it all began somewhere then.

What inspires you to write?

Ordinary people inspire me.

What challenges do you face when writing and what do you do to overcome them?

Not being able to set aside enough time to write is the biggest challenge I face but then I turn to reading to make the best use of available time, it works out great because reading is an important aspect of writing.

Do personal experiences affect your writing? Any examples?

Definitely. The best writings have evolved from personal experiences. That’s where the depth and meaning come from.  My novel, Legal Thermopylae couldn’t have been possible if I haven’t had the opportunity to work at the Ontario family courts for ten years. It enabled me to see the hardships ordinary people go through in Canadian family courts.

What advice would you give to people who “run out of creativity” when writing?

Reading and researching is also part of the writing process.  Writing doesn’t mean you should always be writing.  Read when you don’t feel like writing. You must feed the writer in you if you want it to grow. Also, it keeps the flame of creativity burning in you.

What advice do you have for new aspiring writers?

Don’t let writing become a mechanical and mindless operation. Invest in the writer in you by reading and researching your subject matter. Even if you end up using just a scrap of it in your writing, the rest is knowledge you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Tell us about your recent book (or what you are working on now) and what gave you the idea to start it?

I am currently working on the sequel to a historical fiction, Sakora. It is an exploration of events in post-independence India, especially the conspiracy of Indian Congress behind the controversial death of people’s beloved leader, Subhash Chandra Bose and the secret correspondence between Congress leader, Nehru and Stalin—leading the story to Stalin’s gulags where Bose was kept, tortured, and murdered.

Who is your target audience for your recent book and what do you want your readers to take away from the experience?

The recent book is Legal Thermopylae and the target audiences are people all over the world whose voices don’t get heard in the Court of Justice. I want them to know that written laws could be changed as no law is carved in stone, but there are ways to bring that change, and killing innocent people is not one of them. Every problem has the solution hidden in it and the key is to focus on the solution, not the problem.

Where can fans find your (book/blog/site)?

www.wikilaws.ca

http://blog.wikilaws.ca

INTERVIEW WITH REYNOLD CONGER

What are you working on now?

I have a blog that highlights my writing and the things that inspire me.  As part of that blog, I have written a serial: Life on the Left Side of the Fast Lane.  I have posted the first installment for this action/adventure story.  I plan to post another installment every 3 to 4 weeks.

http://rjcsite.Wordpress.com

Tell us about yourself

I was trained as a chemist and an engineer.  I worked in the pulp and paper industry for 30 years on assignments ranging from applied research to environmental management to technical supervision.  Near the end of my career I served the industry as a consultant.  While consulting, I traveled around the world.

My wife got me interested in flying.  I hold a private pilots license and flew my own plane for several years.  I used it to service some of my domestic consulting clients

The consulting company I worked for closed their doors, and I became self employed.   Though I was initially successful, my business suffered along with the decaying world economy.   Thus in 2001, I began teaching school.  For eight years, I taught science and math at the high school level, retiring in 2009.

My wife and I live in rural New Mexico with our dogs and cat.  We enjoy writing, gardening, and hiking.  I must confess to being a physical fitness nut that has run a marathon.  Our two children have careers of their own.

Did you always know you were a writer?

No, I was actually “turned off” by language arts in school, but I always have been able to spin a good yarn.  While I was traveling overseas, I began writing fiction to entertain myself.  I found it fun.

What inspires you to write?

My scientific training taught me to be observant.  Thus my attention is drawn to unusual behavior and unusual events.  My imagination is overactive, so when I see something unusual, I immediately think, “What a great concept for a plot.”  Frequently, my wife will say, “There’s a story for you.”, and thus stimulating my creative juices.

I am also motivated to write stories that display a Christian world view.  I look at the setting of my story and make sure the proportion of Christians in my story is about the same as the proportion of Christians in that population.  Then I make sure that those characters who are Christian display Christian characteristics.  They attend church.  They pray.  Some of the stronger characters may even witness their faith.

What challenges do you face when writing and what do you do to overcome them?

I am mildly dyslexic.  Thus letters are frequently moving around in words.  This contributes to the fact that I am terrible at spelling.  Even words spelled correctly often look wrong.  Thank God for spell-check and a good proofreader.

Do personal experiences affect your writing? Any examples?

The best plots come from real life.  Of course, fiction departs from fact, but the real life experiences stimulate creativity, enabling us to write something even more exciting than real life.  For example, I have made many trips to countries that drive on the left side of the road.  Having been trained to drive on the right, my reflexes expect oncoming traffic to be on my left.  I was terrified, while riding in a car, to see a vehicle approaching on the right.  Over the years, my brain has adjusted to this, but left hand driving still makes me nervous.  Thus I was inspired to write a story about an American thrust into a world of left hand driving while he is in Pakistan.  That story is the serial currently running on my blog.

What advice would you give to people who “run out of creativity” when writing?

Look around.  Look for something unusual to write about, or look for an unusual twist that can be applied to something common.  Think like O’Henry.

What advice do you have for new aspiring writers?

Do not write for fame or fortune.  I am not sure a person should even write as an occupation where the writing is the primary job, unless the writer gets something out of it, such as enjoyment, experience, or pay.   Just like any other occupation, you have to look at the compensation you get for your time and effort.  Beginning writers seldom are compensated with money.  Thus do not write unless you get something non-tangible out of it.  It would be nice to be paid, but I write for fun.

If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

One of my favorite authors is the late Dick Frances.  We both love animals.  We both have imaginations that enable us to introduce something unusual in a plot and use it as a lever to twist the plot into a different direction.  I like the way Dick uses hooks at the ends of chapters.

Tell us about your recent book and what gave you the idea to start it?

My wife and I spent a month in Australia to celebrate our 40th anniversary.  Australia is so spectacularly different from North America that my creative juices were stimulated.  One evening we were driving back from Port Douglas to Cains on the Captain Cook Highway.  This highway winds along the cliffs next to the ocean.  Of course, I was driving on the left side of the road, the wrong side from my perspective.  There was no moon and the recently repaved road had no markings.  The black pavement just faded into the darkness ahead.  Headlights would appear above me or below me to the right or to the left.  Usually they appeared to be on a collision course with me, until the vehicle would flash past on my right.  The entire time, I was negotiating a curving section of the road that resembled a snake.  I suffered from worse vertigo than when I had flown a plane through turbulence while on instruments.  I commented to my wife that I was glad I was not involved in a high speed car chase at the moment.  That started us speculating who might be chasing Americans on a road such as this and why?  The plot for a thriller was born.

Chased Across Australia is a thriller about an American couple who find themselves being chased across Australia by terrorists.  Unknown to them, computer files intended for a terrorist were accidentally downloaded onto their laptop.  The terrorist organization desperately needs these files for their bomb plot.  Attempt burglary, armed robbery with gunfire, attempted seduction, blackmail, an ambush, and a high speed car chase with gunfire all fail.

The action takes place at all of the locations we visited.  Thus all locations are real, but somehow there was no excitement during our anniversary visit.  We enjoyed Australia, but my characters lead more exciting lives than we do.

Who is your target audience for your recent book and what do you want your readers to take away from the experience?

My target audience is adult readers, particularly those middle aged and older as the main characters are middle aged and very active.   My primary objective was to provide clean entertainment free of gratuitous sex, but I hope the reader will pay attention to the main characters.  They are strong Christians who live lives that include church attendance, prayer, and witnessing.

For example, when our hero and heroine take the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb, they are not aware they are being followed by a terrorist.  When the terrorist freezes with fear, it is the hero who holds the terrorist secure and comforts him with talk about how Jesus can assure everlasting life while the heroine is calling the guide to assist the scarred terrorist down from the bridge.

When the terrorist chases the hero and heroine into a church, the terrorist finds himself in spiritual danger.

While this is not a Christian book per se, it is written from a Christian perspective with characters who are Christian.  Thus it should also sell well in Christian book stores.

Where can your fans get your new book?

Alas, until I obtain an agent and a publisher, the book is only available to those friends who I have asked to give me comments on the manuscript.

Why Can’t We Say No?

No. It’s one of the shortest words in the English vocabulary, so why is it so hard for some of us to say? I know I’m guilty of it. We are busy, stressed, and overwhelmed, yet we still find it difficult. A client, and now also good friend of mine, Jerri Palumbo, brought this to my attention during one of our conversations. She mentioned that I don’t say NO enough, thus losing valuable time for myself and increasing my stress level. Every time I tried to say why I wasn’t, she interrupted me: “No Jess”, “No Jess”; very annoying but effective. It got me to thinking of how many of us take on things that are not beneficial and not necessary. Many times, when I first talk with clients, they tell me they are not working on what they want to, they don’t feel focused, and they are distracted by unnecessary things. What if they said NO? I found this concept to be an eye-opening experience for myself, and since I can see the benefits of this in my personal and business life, I couldn’t wait to share this with my clients. It’s time to learn how to beg off time commitments without the guilt. It’s time to set limits. It’s time to lower stress level and save our sanity! In my quest to find out more about this subject, I found an intriguing study by William Ury, PhD, co-founder of Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation. This can benefit everyone in their personal or business life. He developed: “The 5 Steps To No” and shows how you can actually train yourself to stop saying yes when you want to say no – and do it respectfully and thoughtfully. Step 1: Figure out what you really want. If you’re unclear about how you feel or if someone catches you off guard, give yourself time to think it over before answering. Tell the other person you’ll get back to them at a certain time, and then ask yourself if the request feels right. I think this is the most common problem with me; when asked something, I didn’t think it through. I didn’t feel that it was appropriate to delay, but now I see it’s perfectly acceptable to take the time to think decisions through and not feel guilty about saying NO. Step 2: Find the yes. Most of the time, when you want to say no, it’s because you need to say yes to something else, such as guarding your money, sanity or time. Look at a given situation and decide where your yes lies. Example: Your sister asks you to cosign a loan. You feel guilty not helping her out. But you aren’t saying no to her – you’re saying yes to protecting your children’s college funds. Step 3: Don’t babble. You don’t need excuses- just a kind, apologetic, polite attitude. Lengthy explanations leave the matter open to debate and discussion. If you lie, you’ll get in trouble, and if you give too many details, you give the other person wiggle room. Step 4: Offer what you can. State what could make the no become a yes. Be honest about what you can accomplish: “ I can be on the committee but I really can’t chair it”. Step 5: Move on. No dwelling, fretting or second-guessing. Enough said.

Comments on this article:

It is even more important to say, “No.” when one is retired. Most people think a retired person has lots of time on their hands and thus is available to do. . . . Though the typical retiree is following their own priorities rather than the world’s priorities related to working for a living, most retirees are busier now than when they were working.

Reynold Conger

Jaymes Ian Woode

Tell us about your recent book and what gave you the idea to start it.

My recent book : 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about His Woman! was created because I noticed a hole in relationship books.  That hole was encouraging men to read about relationship growth.  I had counseled many couples over the years and found that traditional counseling wasn’t a good fit for relationship issues.  So, I stepped out-of-bounds and tried something different.  Instead of focusing on right and wrong, or whose fault it was, I cracked jokes, often in a silly manner.  The jokes were not insulting; they were merely to lighten the tension in the room and to make the couple laugh.  When I did this, I found that the guy in the relationship, once he saw his beautiful woman laughing, was more willing to back down from his fighting stance and embrace her; it was amazing.  So, I wrote this book with those experiences in mind to help men learn to back down from arguing with their lover and be the man she needs him to be.  My book also helps woman understand how their man should treat them and pay attention to their needs.  Over time, my book has grown into something that couples can read and laugh through together, hopefully opening up the communication lines and lessening the tension.  I embrace the idea that when someone, whether him or her, in the relationship doesn’t understand what is happening, that the two of them can become closer thus adding depth to their love for each other.

Tell us about Jaymes Ian Woode.

I have lived in 26 states within the U.S.  I have always loved outdoor activities and worked as a Professional Adventure Therapist, working with youth, families, and couples for about 15 years.  I hold a M.Ed. in Counselor Education and a B.A. in Counseling.  For me, life has always been about making each day as enjoyable as possible.  Growing up, I enjoyed surfing and skateboarding which led to further adventures such as backpacking, rock-climbing, snowboarding, mountaineering, ocean expeditions, and so much more.   I love meeting people, experiencing new places, foods, and cultures.  My greatest achievement is adding a smile to someone’s day (I know it sounds corny but its true).  I strongly believe in romance and the power of love.  Oh, and I love helping people and playing a role that helps them take the next step on their path towards a healthy and happy life!

Did you always know you were a writer?

Yes.  I’ve been writing since I was a kid.  At a young age, I would read a book or watch a movie about a great author and then dress in similar apparel, hike into the woods, and write for hours on end.  Something about wearing the right clothes made me feel like a great author then.  I’ve been dreaming about it ever since.  However, my first career was as a Mental Health Therapist.  I also always wanted to help people but my passion for writing never left me.  Now, all I do is write.  I write in different genres, some of which allows me to still help people and use my experiences in counseling.

What inspires you to write?

It’s funny but I am inspired by just about anything.  My brain seems to be able to make an entire story or step-by-step guide around any circumstance that I encounter.  It happens even when I am not trying to make it happen.   I usually carry a note pad around with me to write story lines that come to mind.  I am a big fan of poetry and find that it is the toughest but the most rewarding form for me, almost like creating a seed that grows into a beautiful flower.  Have you ever tried to create a seed?

What challenges do you face when writing and what do you do to overcome them?

My greatest challenge is my confidence in conveying the message or story that I am trying to get across to my audience.  I will write a chapter, short story, poem, or whatever and then hide it away for a few weeks or even years.  Then, an alarm goes off in my brain and reminds me to pull it back out and read it.  So I do.  If I read it and I still like it, my confidence goes up.  If I read it and don’t like it, I’ll do a rewrite and start the process over again until I am confident about it.

Do personal experiences affect your writing?

Everything that I write involves personal experiences somehow.  Whether it is a novel, guide book, short story, or anything else, it all stems from some kind of personal experience.  Because I am inspired by so many different things, and have been involved in just as many, I cannot help but write from experiences.  For example, my book 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about His Woman! was created out of my counseling experiences with couples and my past relationships.  I interviewed many women to confirm my thoughts about the behaviors that I chose for the book and sure enough, my experiences were similar.  My thriller novel, which I am currently marketing to agents, has many actual happenings in my life though I made them a bit more dramatic, but not too much, for the purpose of the book.

What advice would you give to people who “run out of creativity” when writing?

I would say to these wonderful people, try something you are not used to; a different genre perhaps.  I believe in challenging ourselves.  I did this with my fantasy book for kids ages 10-14.  I had never written a fantasy story of any kind and found it fascinating to write.  It was definitely a challenge and I probably had more hand written notes in my pad about that book than any other.  I would also say that a writer never truly runs out of creativity.  Typically, it is merely the brain that grows weary and doesn’t appreciate the writing process.  When this happens, take some time off and don’t stress about it.  Stressing about ‘block’ makes it even worse.  Instead, roam around and enjoy life.  Find something fun to do that increases the endorphins and causes you to dream or fantasize.   Too often, writers are so worried about writing that they forget to live life outside of writing.  Remember, you are a writer and you do have stories to tell.  Whatever you do, don’t stop writing though.  Find something to write about each day, whether a blog, a poem, a letter for example.  I use one of my blogs to write poetry and travel ideas.  I use another blog to write about how I feel and what goes through my mind during the writing process.  Even if it’s one paragraph, I have created something.  I just want to encourage writers to continue to believe in their abilities and to remember that they write because they know that’s what they desire to do.

What advice do you have for new aspiring writers?

This is a tough one.  As a new aspiring writer, I would say to make sure that you learn and appreciate, first and foremost, the writing process.  So many people believe they can write a book and get it right the first time.  My first book was a 400 page novel and has been rewritten twice now and is still unpublished.  Since that time, I have written eight more books and with each book the writing gets better.  I had to learn about the editing process, marketing process, publishing process, and so much more.  I am still learning new things each day.  As with any job, it is important to keep learning.  Though writing is my passion, therefore it doesn’t feel like a job, it is a process that has a beginning and an end.  Much like a project manager, the writer needs to be willing to stick with their book and oversee all facets of the development of their book, from beginning to end.  This is coming from someone who is really a ‘no-name’ in the industry (I’m not a movie star or have a television show) and who doesn’t have a large platform which always makes publishing easier.  I’ve had hundreds of rejection letters and received tidbits along the way, from agents, to help me.  Soak up as much information as possible and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, because you can.

If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

Another “wow.”  There are so many great authors.  However, I know that I would certainly choose to work with an author that was truly passionate about their writing.  Unfortunately today, many authors are not passionate about their work.  They simply write a book to check one more thing off of their ‘to-do’ list.  For me, writing is a form of expression that is deep within the author and they are driven to write.  So, I would want to work with Ernest Hemingway or E.E. Cummings.  These two great authors were among the best in crafting each word and each sentence.   They wrote with a paintbrush upon canvas and brought to life a richness of meaning.  Both focused on their personal experiences and created masterpieces by so eloquently detailing their message, often stepping across boundaries and writing in styles all their own.  I believe in writers that don’t necessarily stick to what’s accepted but write how they believe they need to in order for their message to get across.  There is nothing more important than being true to self and both of these authors were exactly that!

Who is your target audience for your recent book and what do you want your readers to take away from the experience?

My target audience for 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about His Woman! is young couples (those just starting off or who have been together for a few years) and single young adult men and women.  My book describes some of the behaviors that women may display during several phases of the relationship, from dating, pms, meeting her friends and family, to marriage and bedroom behaviors, and more.  Though, I have had much interest from couples who have been together for more than 10 years.  I have learned a lot through my career as a counselor and from my own past relationships and just want to help lighten the mood for any relationship.  There is a lot of fun in there and I am sure that many couples, or single men and women, will be able to relate and enjoy it!

Where can your fans get your new book?

My full release date is February 14, 2011 (Valentine’s Day, which seems appropriate).  It will be available through several different vendors (Amazon, B&N, Borders, etc.).  Fans can purchase a copy right now, directly through the publisher at http://www.publishamerica.net/product37924.html or they can visit my blog: www.writethroughthestorm.blogspot.com and click on the book cover which will take them directly to the publisher’s page to order the book.  Either way, fans won’t have to maneuver through a bunch of pages to find it; the links will take you directly there!  If you buy it now, you can use the code: Discount20 to save 20% on the purchase.  I don’t mind as I would rather save people money and use it towards buying their lover a cup of coffee or something.