Ask the Author: David Maxwell
Answered Questions (4)
David Maxwell
I opened the first box of my new paperbacks today. I have to say, seeing your book in print form is pretty damn rewarding, but it's not the best thing about being a writer. For me, and I expect it's the same with most authors, the best thing about being a writer is being read and appreciated. When I read a review or receive an email from someone who found hours of entertainment from something I've written, well, it's pure elation. Knowing that my words, at least for a brief time, allowed them to escape into a different world, to trade their own worries for the struggles and achievements of my characters, that's the best part.
David Maxwell
Dear Vagif, congratulations on your book; it sounds like a good read. Unfortunately, I am overwhelmed at the moment with promoting my latest and beginning work on my third. As a fellow author, I'm sure you can understand the tremendous amount of work we have to deal with. Like you, I know just how hard it is to get those reviews. My best advice would be to run a promotion (free or discounted) to get your book in front of as many readers as possible. A small percentage will undoubtedly post a review. The Goodreads Giveaways are also good bets - a good percentage of giveaway recipients post reviews. Best of luck and keep writing!
David Maxwell
In addition to dealing with the demands associated with the launch of Rebirth, I am actively working on my second book, The Drift.
The Drift begins in a quaint tourist town nestled in the mountains of Colorado. When a snowstorm turns into a blizzard of biblical proportions, the colorful townsfolk try to band together to weather the storm. Initially, that seems to be a good approach, at least until people start disappearing.
Painfully Aware, the book I mentioned in another response, still beckons. But for the moment, The Drift has my full devotion. At some point in the not too distant future, I plan to finish the sequel to Rebirth (if you've read it, then conceptualizing a sequel may seem a challenge, but I assure you, there is one).
The Drift begins in a quaint tourist town nestled in the mountains of Colorado. When a snowstorm turns into a blizzard of biblical proportions, the colorful townsfolk try to band together to weather the storm. Initially, that seems to be a good approach, at least until people start disappearing.
Painfully Aware, the book I mentioned in another response, still beckons. But for the moment, The Drift has my full devotion. At some point in the not too distant future, I plan to finish the sequel to Rebirth (if you've read it, then conceptualizing a sequel may seem a challenge, but I assure you, there is one).
David Maxwell
I actually got the idea for Rebirth while working on another manuscript, Painfully Aware. The main protagonist of that story is a young boy who, due to circumstance, goes through a period where he feels very much alone. While taking a short break to refresh my drink and stretch my legs, that boy’s loneliness stuck with me.
Although it really wasn’t related to Painfully Aware, I asked myself what effect extended periods of loneliness might have on someone, or something. Then, I imagined isolation being the origin. The next thing I knew, I had opened a fresh file and was jotting down answers to the rapid fire questions that were popping into my head. Who is isolated and why? Where does this take place? Aside from companionship, what does this person, or thing, most desire as a result? I won’t give any spoilers; I’ll just say that those thoughts snowballed into a compelling plot line. Painfully Aware was on the back-burner and Rebirth was born.
Although it really wasn’t related to Painfully Aware, I asked myself what effect extended periods of loneliness might have on someone, or something. Then, I imagined isolation being the origin. The next thing I knew, I had opened a fresh file and was jotting down answers to the rapid fire questions that were popping into my head. Who is isolated and why? Where does this take place? Aside from companionship, what does this person, or thing, most desire as a result? I won’t give any spoilers; I’ll just say that those thoughts snowballed into a compelling plot line. Painfully Aware was on the back-burner and Rebirth was born.
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