Ask the Author: Tom Seigel
Answered Questions (6)
Tom Seigel
I try not to worry. I once read that there is no such thing as writer's block, that somewhere in the deep recesses of one's mind, the wheels are still spinning, doing work in the background that will pay off later.
Tom Seigel
I love it when a character does something that surprises me, when a phrase or action comes out of the unconscious, something that makes perfect sense in hindsight but wasn't the product of a deliberate plan. It's impossible to bottle or predict, but when it happens, it's exciting and satisfying.
Tom Seigel
I think all writing is aspirational. When a writer stops aspiring, that's a recipe for complacency. I'm a debut author; so, I'm still looking for all the good advice I can get. But I would say that you shouldn't let perfection be the enemy of the good. Write it down, as much as you can. There's always time for editing and rewriting.
Tom Seigel
I’m in the middle of writing a new novel. Not a sequel. Nothing to do with space. In light of my prior work experience—as a mafia prosecutor, I’ve had more than a few requests to write something about organized crime. It isn’t going to be a mob book, but it may feature one or two unconventional wise guys.
Tom Seigel
When I become fixated on an idea or a book or a historical event over an extended period, that leads me to want to write about it. Once I start, if the process of writing gets me more interested, that's a really good sign.
Tom Seigel
I was only a few months old when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. As I reached middle age, I became fascinated by the fact that we had not been back to the moon in over forty years. This led me to start reading about NASA and its history. I learned about the sanitized backgrounds of its ex-Nazi engineers, the eccentricity of Neil Armstrong and other astronauts, and the tragic death of the first Israel astronaut, Ilan Ramon, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. All these elements coalesced over time into my novel.
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