Ask the Author: Michael Max Darrow
Answered Questions (8)
Michael Max Darrow
When I was 20 years old, my best friend was in the hospital after a car accident. I wrote him a 20 page short story to cheer him up. We were the main characters but instead of being Military Police on a base in Northern California, we were in space, because I love Sci Fi. A year ago, 39 years later, I dusted off that old short and started writing. It became a 365 page manuscript that eventually became The Federation Trilogy where I combined another short story with the first one and poof, I had instant inspiration for the third story in the series.
Michael Max Darrow
When I was young I had sleeping problems. I'm a bit high strung...probably not a wise career choice to be in the infantry and then a police officer, right? I developed a coping mechanism, because I don't like drugs, of making stories in my head and they would put me to sleep. Every night I go back to where I left off and develop my characters, dialog and the story further and fall asleep again. After 40 years of this technique I had a lot of darn stories in my head! So I started writing at 60!
Michael Max Darrow
I'm breaking all the writing rules at the moment. They (The They People) say stay in your lane, write in one genre and stay there. Nope, not for me! My first novel was Sci Fi. My second novel, coming out later this week hopefully...is an adult fantasy. Now, I'm working on a police drama about a Lakota Tribal Policeman and a County Sheriff's Deputy who become friends and work a murder mystery together.
Michael Max Darrow
Writers write! Aspiring writers just think about it. Write! I write one hour a day. You don't have to lock yourself in a cabin in the woods till you come forth unshaven and unkempt with a manuscript under your arm. One hour a day. Anyone should be able to do that! I play on my phone longer than that every day. One hour a day. At the end of a week, a month...a year! You will be a writer. And write what you know about. Borrow characters from people you know.
Michael Max Darrow
Sharing my stories with others. I don't write to get rich. I got rich first and now I write. Hearing someone say the names of the lead characters of your book is very cool!
Michael Max Darrow
I don't know. I personally have never had it. My mind is full of so many stories I have a hard time telling them to be quiet while I'm pulling one out!
Michael Max Darrow
Tax Bill! That's a pretty horrible story, right?
Michael Max Darrow
Probably Amber. I loved The Chronicles of Amber when I was young. To be a Prince of Amber and slip through all the shadows of Amber or travel through a Playing Card with one of my relatives drawings on it at his or her summons. All in all, it's a pretty magical place.
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