This week I would like to welcome another author, D. A. Adams to our blog. I've had some time to ask him a few questions so we can get to know more about him.
1. Please tell the readers a bit more about you.
I’m a walking paradox. I’m equal parts responsible father and
mischievous rascal. I’m equally happy
sitting on a panel at a con as digging in the dirt on the farm. I’m stubborn and prideful but compassionate
and humble. Life has toughened me up,
but I’m still sensitive enough to cry.
I’ve faced a lot of adversity and been knocked down more times than I
can count, but somehow I always get back on my feet and keep fighting for what
I believe in. I’m a simple man with
simple tastes who loves to write stories.
In 1989, I had a traumatic head injury from a
freak accident during track practice. Until that point, most of my focus had been on
athletics, and my goal was to become an officer in the United States Marine
Corps. The accident ended those dreams
and forced me to focus more on my intellectual development. Fortunately, I didn’t suffer any serious
long-term effects from the injury, and through the process of working through
my grief, I discovered writing as an outlet for my emotions. I also realized that I had always enjoyed
creating stories, so I made the decision to become a writer and have been
working in this industry, on some level, for 22 years.
2. What types of books do you write?
I call it old-fashioned fantasy action-adventure
that’s character driven. I draw on
elements of high fantasy, epic fantasy, and sword and sorcery, so the series
doesn’t fit well into marketing pigeonholes.
I try to write books that are fun and entertaining.
3. Who's your main audience?
Because of my approach, I don’t have a tightly
defined demographic. The books have been
well-received by such a diverse range of readers that I don’t want to say any
one group because the story really transcends boundaries. Many readers from all walks of life have told
me that. I try to reach people on a
deeply personal level and tell them a story that will inspire them to face and
overcome the own obstacles in their lives.
4. When it comes to writing- what are your strong
points? What are your weaknesses?
Personally, I believe my strongest points are
narrative voice, character development, plot pacing, and dramatic tension. My weaknesses are dialogue, which I’m always
striving to improve, physical descriptions because I try for minimalism, and exposition.
5. What do you think of this term- Writer's Block?
How do you overcome it?
To me, writer’s block is simply a product of an
undisciplined writer who doesn’t work on their craft and feed their creative
energy. I rarely deal with it because I
follow my writing process rigorously and keep my creative juices at a fairly
high level.
6. How many books have you written?
I’m currently finishing my fifth manuscript.
7. How many are published?
This will be the fourth one published. The first was an awful book I wrote in my
early 20’s that hopefully will never see the light of day.
8. Are you self published or traditionally
published?
I began as self-published in 2005, but in 2011,
Seventh Star Press out of Lexington, KY took over rights to the series.
9. What's the hardest part of the writing process
for you?
The hardest part is hanging in there for the
long-haul. Novels are a marathon that
require patience and commitment. Maintaining
the focus and mental stamina for the duration of the book is the biggest
challenge I face. Life throws so many
obstacles in the way to hinder writing, and overcoming those obstacles is what
separates the professional from the rest.
It’s not easy to complete an entire book, and that’s what makes it so
fulfilling.
10. What type of books do you enjoy reading?
Today,
when I have time to read, I mostly enjoy good nonfiction based on anthropology,
psychology, sociology, or horticulture.
11. Who's your favorite Author?
In terms of fiction, probably Harry Crews.
12. What's your all time favorite book?
“A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole.
13. How long does it take you to write a book?
In terms of physical time, about 8 months of writing
and 3-4 months of editing.
Unfortunately, it seems with each manuscript of this series, I’ve had
some outside disruption that has interfered with the process and made the time
from beginning to end a little longer.
14. Out of all of your characters, which is your
favorite? Why?
Probably my main protagonist, Roskin, because he’s
grown so much as a character. He learns
from his mistakes and matures as a person.
He’s also pretty bad ass, so that makes him appealing, too.
15. What is one of the most surprising things you've
learned as a writer?
The act of discovery as the story unfolds. When I first started writing, that part of it
was foreign to me. Realizing that the
characters themselves would tell me the story as I went was one of my biggest
breakthroughs as a writer. The best
thing I can do is get out of their way.
16. What does your family think of your writing?
My family has been incredibly supportive. I couldn’t ask for more encouragement.
17. What does your writing schedule look like?
I write at night.
My most creative time is from about 10:00 PM to about 4:00 AM, so I
always try to write within that window, and I try to dedicate a minimum of two
hours each day, more if I can.
18. Do you manage to write every day?
Yes, 5-6 days a week. I give myself at least one day off a week to
rest and recharge.
19. What's the latest news you'd like to share?
On
July 18 and 19, my publisher is having an open
house and offering at least one book from each author as a free download
on
Kindle. Book one in my series, The
Brotherhood of Dwarves, will be free on those days, so this is a great
chance
to check out the series at no cost. You
don’t have to own a Kindle to download any of the titles, either. Just
an Amazon account. Amazon will store the book ad infinitum in
their cloud.
20. Do you have any advice for new writers?
If
you’re looking for quick
riches, you’re in the wrong line of work.
If you’re seeking fame and accolades, keep searching. However, if you
have a burning desire to
spend much of your life working very hard to practice your craft and
refine
your skills with very little promise of financial return, then go for
it. But don’t expect any shortcuts. The road is hard, steep, and
long. Commit for the long-haul or don’t start the journey.
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