Ask the Author: Richard Parise
Answered Questions (6)
Richard Parise
I got the idea for The Zombie Times from the huge success of the TV series The Walking Dead. I felt that the millions of zombie fans out there would enjoy a newspaper which covered news, sports, entertainment and classifieds strictly for zombies and zombie sympathizers.
Richard Parise
A zombie newspaper called The Zombie Times...
Richard Parise
I write as a hobby. I'm a retired middle school teacher. The best thing about being a writer for me is simple. I enjoy making others smile. I often give away many of my eBooks through Kindle Select free promos. Most of them are comical quick reads between 15 to 50 pages. Whether someone buys one for $.99 or downloads it for free, if it makes them "giggle a little" then I feel rewarded...
Richard Parise
I wrote a short essay in Junior High School which won second place for my grade. That award inspired me to write comical fiction. It wasn't until the advent of self-publishing, however, that I was able to share these writings with the public. My eBook, Hemingway House was actually written in the seventies. I never tried to publish it because it was too short for major publishing house to consider. I now write as a hobby and simply enjoy making others "giggle a little."
Richard Parise
The best advice I can give to an aspiring writer is to stay local. Too many independent authors try to compete with everyone in their genre. There are over 2 million eBooks on Amazon for Kindle. Your work will never be found by the great majority of readers in America. If you concentrate on your local market where people have heard of you through your life contacts, your chances of success will be greatly enhanced. From there, word of mouth will determine if your writing is good enough to reach out to strangers. Good luck
Richard Parise
Luckily, I've never experienced writer's block for more than a few minutes. Most of my eBooks are comical quick reads. When I do find myself at a loss for new material, I usually try and think of events in my past or life situations which I have not yet covered. For example, while writing Hemingway House, I recalled numerous characters from my past that were easily incorporated into the story line. There was a homeless lady that use to push a cart up and down the main street. There was a gentleman who always wore a captain's hat greeting everyone who passed by. They fit perfectly into my halfway home.When you get writer's block, look into your past for new ideas. It's the easiest way out for me...
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more