Ask the Author: C.T. Walsh
Answered Questions (12)
C.T. Walsh
Hi Jackie! The books are each a standalone story, but I do think it is best to read them in order, as there are some overarching story lines and references to previous books, but it's not like they'll be lost if they go out of order.
C.T. Walsh
That's so funny about the question mark...I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. Some of the situations were my own from middle school (I did ask a girl out on the track and then dumped her a week later via locker note- she deserved better) while others were made up or exaggerated. Austin is always getting himself into hilarious situations and that's why we love him. Be sure to check out book two. There's a new villain and you get to see Austin attempt to win the lead in the school play. Guaranteed LOLs...Good luck with the new school year!
C.T. Walsh
I brainstorm about things that would be funny, actions that would create empathy for my main character, conflict between characters. I am a methodical outliner. My outlines are often 15%-20% of the finished novel in terms of word count. All key plot points are laid out in detail. Every chapter is planned with a beginning, middle, and end. And then I inject lots of immature humor.
C.T. Walsh
I just sit down and think about characters that would be funny and interesting, and who would either conflict with other characters or create funny situations together. I would say that Austin is a bit like myself as I've put my sense of humor into him and his parents are loosely based on my wife and me. It's a little bit off in the distance, but you may actually see C.T. in fiction as I get later into the series!
C.T. Walsh
My middle school experience certainly didn't have as much mayhem as Austin's does, but I will say that some of Austin's experiences were inspired by events that took place during my own middle school years. I did ask out a girl on the track, but didn't fall on my face, thankfully.
C.T. Walsh
I'm currently working on book ten in the Middle School Mayhem series (only four have been published to date) and expect to complete the series at twelve. There will be short stories as well, only available to my newsletter subscribers (https://ctwalsh.fun/main-opt-middlesc...). I also plan to write about Austin's high school adventures. I'm expecting that to be ten books in the YA category. If my readers want Austin's adventures to continue, I may write an early chapter book series for Austin in elementary school.
C.T. Walsh
I don't really get writer's block. I write every day regardless of whether or not I feel like it. I usually feel like it, but when it's not flowing well, I take a break, do some exercise, change my scenery, or meditate, and then I get back to it. I've never had an extended period of time where I didn't know what to write.
C.T. Walsh
Many of the ideas from my Middle School Mayhem series come from either my own middle school adventures or my daughter, who just graduated from middle school.
C.T. Walsh
It is not something I have to do. I just am inspired consistently. Stories are constantly flowing out of my brain. I just jot them down onto the computer.
C.T. Walsh
I am in the process of getting book five in my Middle School Mayhem series (Medieval Mayhem) illustrated, producing the audio book for Down with the Dance (book one), and writing book ten.
C.T. Walsh
Write consistently and write what you love. If you want to make a go as a professional author, spend a lot of time understanding the business side of things. It is very important because the landscape has never been so competitive.
C.T. Walsh
Hearing from readers who loved the book. I had a mom reach out to me who told me my book changed her life because her son loved reading my books, and he hated reading.
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