Ask the Author: Keith Steinbaum
Answered Questions (12)
Keith Steinbaum
It sounded crazy at the time but I came to realize it is oh so true. In my first creative writing class the teacher told us that in writing a novel, “always carry enough provisions to make the journey through the desert.”
In other words, between the start and the finish, make sure you have enough in between to sustain and maintain the reader’s interest.
In other words, between the start and the finish, make sure you have enough in between to sustain and maintain the reader’s interest.
Keith Steinbaum
Lots of leeway here, so in stretching my imagination as much as this question deserves, I'd travel to the fictional world of Greek mythology high atop Mount Olympus and live as one of the Gods. Despite the occasional bouts of anger and jealousy, I'd live a life doing what I wanted, how I wanted, and all within the unlimited confines of perpetual health and God-like immortality.
Keith Steinbaum
I lurched awake to the maniacal sounds of conquering coyote howls. Turning towards my wife, her unseen head buried under the pillow, I stared in nervous curiosity at the dark follicles of short, course hair sprinkled among the space between us.
Keith Steinbaum
I've just started a wonderfully comprehensive book by Martin Grams, Jr. on The Twilight Zone, the famous television series from the late 50's and early 60's. The complete title is, 'The Twilight Zone - Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic.' As a kid, this was easily one of my favorite shows to watch, and to this day, when I catch one of Rod Serling's episodes (the creator and main writer for the show), I find myself mesmerized by the storylines. Dated? Sure, it is now, but the show was quite innovative and far ahead of it's time, exposing a part of the American psyche for that era as well. Grams' book not only reviews every episode but whatever background details might be of interest to the reader/viewer.
Next on my list is the new novel by my favorite modern day author, Dennis Lehane, entitled, 'Since We Fell.' It's such a wonderful feeling for me to read a book that offers a strong engagement in the story and it's characters, and for me, Lehane is a master at this. This is the reason I've read all his stories.
My own forthcoming book, You Say Goodbye, is currently being professionally edited, and I expect to spend a sizable part of my usual summer reading time completing the final version, but once I complete Lehane's novel, I'd like to find the opportunity this summer to delve into another Ken Follett literary experience which has always been an enjoyable journey for me. I don't know which book yet, so I'll do some exploring first before deciding.
Next on my list is the new novel by my favorite modern day author, Dennis Lehane, entitled, 'Since We Fell.' It's such a wonderful feeling for me to read a book that offers a strong engagement in the story and it's characters, and for me, Lehane is a master at this. This is the reason I've read all his stories.
My own forthcoming book, You Say Goodbye, is currently being professionally edited, and I expect to spend a sizable part of my usual summer reading time completing the final version, but once I complete Lehane's novel, I'd like to find the opportunity this summer to delve into another Ken Follett literary experience which has always been an enjoyable journey for me. I don't know which book yet, so I'll do some exploring first before deciding.
Keith Steinbaum
This is a great question, which is the major reason why I wish I could match it with a deserving answer of interest and intrigue, but, unfortunately, I can't come up with a true life mystery worthy of a full book. However, like many people, there are mysterious things I've encountered that left me shaking my head over eye-opening coincidences which an author could utilize, perhaps, as something more supernatural than as a mystery. Here are a couple that come to mind:
The first one is from a time that I visited an antique store. My father taught me how to play baseball, and through him, I've grown up a fan of the game. On the wall were two Negro League antique baseball posters with dates for the games. Others had already sold, and these were the final two. One of the dates, September 16th, is my parent's anniversary. The other date, June 12th, is my birthday. In case you're wondering, damn right I bought them!
The second and more dramatic occurrence/mystery happened in a Chinese restaurant when I had just started working on my book, The Poe Consequence. I had dinner with seven other people that night, and at the end of the meal, eight fortune cookies were passed around on a plate, with me receiving the final one. Here's the exact words of that fortune: 'You are a lover of words. One day you will write a book.' When I think about that moment, I still don't know which is the greater coincidence about that event - the fact I received that particular cookie when any of the other seven people at the table could have picked it beforehand, or the correct prophesying of the message itself.
The first one is from a time that I visited an antique store. My father taught me how to play baseball, and through him, I've grown up a fan of the game. On the wall were two Negro League antique baseball posters with dates for the games. Others had already sold, and these were the final two. One of the dates, September 16th, is my parent's anniversary. The other date, June 12th, is my birthday. In case you're wondering, damn right I bought them!
The second and more dramatic occurrence/mystery happened in a Chinese restaurant when I had just started working on my book, The Poe Consequence. I had dinner with seven other people that night, and at the end of the meal, eight fortune cookies were passed around on a plate, with me receiving the final one. Here's the exact words of that fortune: 'You are a lover of words. One day you will write a book.' When I think about that moment, I still don't know which is the greater coincidence about that event - the fact I received that particular cookie when any of the other seven people at the table could have picked it beforehand, or the correct prophesying of the message itself.
Keith Steinbaum
This is a truly stimulating question, and one that makes me wish I could remember every engaging couple I've encountered. Unfortunately, however, I'm sure I'll leave out deserving candidates. Before I give my answer, my wife wanted her vote accounted for, and her answer is one that I'm sure would be a popular one - Gone With the Wind's Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.
For me, I'll give two answers - one for a book I read many years ago but still remains with me as a memorable love story, and a couple from more recent times who are part of a six book series.
Colleen McCullough's 'The Thorn Birds' offered a highly alluring, 'forbidden fruit' relationship between a Catholic Priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart, and a woman named Meggie Cleary who he watched growing up from a beautiful young girl to a beautiful young woman. The self-explanatory tension offered the reader a compassionate glimpse into de Bricassart's urges versus his religious morality, and McCullough wrote a masterful saga based around this storyline.
My answer for a couple from recent years is private investigator Patrick Kenzie, and his work partner/lover, Angela Gennaro, featured in six separate books from Dennis Lehane. Each of them carries harmful, unshakable baggage from their past combined with a burning passion for their work and each other that creates great literary dynamics unmatched in their intensity from books that I've read.
Thank you for your intriguing inquiry.
For me, I'll give two answers - one for a book I read many years ago but still remains with me as a memorable love story, and a couple from more recent times who are part of a six book series.
Colleen McCullough's 'The Thorn Birds' offered a highly alluring, 'forbidden fruit' relationship between a Catholic Priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart, and a woman named Meggie Cleary who he watched growing up from a beautiful young girl to a beautiful young woman. The self-explanatory tension offered the reader a compassionate glimpse into de Bricassart's urges versus his religious morality, and McCullough wrote a masterful saga based around this storyline.
My answer for a couple from recent years is private investigator Patrick Kenzie, and his work partner/lover, Angela Gennaro, featured in six separate books from Dennis Lehane. Each of them carries harmful, unshakable baggage from their past combined with a burning passion for their work and each other that creates great literary dynamics unmatched in their intensity from books that I've read.
Thank you for your intriguing inquiry.
Keith Steinbaum
Although I've recently completed the first draft of my second book, I figure this question applies to my first book, 'The Poe Consequence,' which is published and for sale.
Stories such as War of the Worlds, and Independence Day, are quite intriguing for the scenarios they paint where countries usually at odds with each other are forced to work together for their own mutual survival. I live in Los Angeles, another big city with a large gang problem. What happens if, instead of countries needing to come together for their own mutual survival, two gangs, such as a couple of fictional Bloods & Crips types, found themselves the targets of a serial killer intent on murdering members of both gangs due to a drive-by killing of an innocent bystander? And if this killer was an unstoppable supernatural entity that couldn't be seen or traced by the police, what could these two gangs possibly do?
Stories such as War of the Worlds, and Independence Day, are quite intriguing for the scenarios they paint where countries usually at odds with each other are forced to work together for their own mutual survival. I live in Los Angeles, another big city with a large gang problem. What happens if, instead of countries needing to come together for their own mutual survival, two gangs, such as a couple of fictional Bloods & Crips types, found themselves the targets of a serial killer intent on murdering members of both gangs due to a drive-by killing of an innocent bystander? And if this killer was an unstoppable supernatural entity that couldn't be seen or traced by the police, what could these two gangs possibly do?
Keith Steinbaum
This is a 'cut and paste' response from my website that answers this question:
"Many of us are driven to write through experiences born from pain, generating a need to uniquely express our own inner turmoil. Light-hearted inspiration is certainly an enviable reason to tap into one’s creative juices, but those feelings don’t stimulate the kinds of thoughts that lodge within me and grow in complexity. I can pinpoint a tragic, life-changing event occurring in my mid-teens that transformed me into a writer, and it seems that the weightier side of life continues to be my motivation."
"Many of us are driven to write through experiences born from pain, generating a need to uniquely express our own inner turmoil. Light-hearted inspiration is certainly an enviable reason to tap into one’s creative juices, but those feelings don’t stimulate the kinds of thoughts that lodge within me and grow in complexity. I can pinpoint a tragic, life-changing event occurring in my mid-teens that transformed me into a writer, and it seems that the weightier side of life continues to be my motivation."
Keith Steinbaum
1. Have an idea that you think is so interesting that a lot of people will be anxious to read about it and which will maintain your own interest to keep going.
2. Develop an outline for a beginning, middle, and end, knowing that it will constantly need tweaking but which gives you a game plan to follow.
3. Be patient with yourself!
4. Be prepared to critically edit your work, (more than once) and once you finally think it's ready to be published, spend some money and have it professionally edited. It's a painful but necessary process towards your goal.
2. Develop an outline for a beginning, middle, and end, knowing that it will constantly need tweaking but which gives you a game plan to follow.
3. Be patient with yourself!
4. Be prepared to critically edit your work, (more than once) and once you finally think it's ready to be published, spend some money and have it professionally edited. It's a painful but necessary process towards your goal.
Keith Steinbaum
First of all, this is quite common and the creative process sometimes needs recharging, so I accept the need to be patient with myself. But it's important to remember that fictional writing allows us to journey into our own minds away from our current realities, so I remind myself each time I write to appreciate the world I'm entering and developing that is all mine. This mind-set limits writer's block for me.
Keith Steinbaum
For me, writing is a mental health form of therapy like no other. It's an escapist vehicle that enhances my self-esteem while keeping the demons of my insecurities under control.
Keith Steinbaum
Hi Michael,
Without hesitation, I recommend Bostick Communications to help you promote your book. I've used them twice, and each time I did I received many requests within a few days from book reviewers. Warning - be prepared to furnish uploads, soft cover, and hard cover editions, depending on the specific reviewer's request, and because you don't want to delay too long, have them ready to go. For me, fortunately, I received many positive reviews through this means, and they are listed on Amazon and Goodreads, among some other sites. I've also utilized some on my book's website (thepoeconsequence.com)
When my second book is ready, Bostick Communications will definitely be hearing from me again.
Good luck with your book, and reviews, Michael. I hope this helped.
Keith Steinbaum
Hi Michael,
Without hesitation, I recommend Bostick Communications to help you promote your book. I've used them twice, and each time I did I received many requests within a few days from book reviewers. Warning - be prepared to furnish uploads, soft cover, and hard cover editions, depending on the specific reviewer's request, and because you don't want to delay too long, have them ready to go. For me, fortunately, I received many positive reviews through this means, and they are listed on Amazon and Goodreads, among some other sites. I've also utilized some on my book's website (thepoeconsequence.com)
When my second book is ready, Bostick Communications will definitely be hearing from me again.
Good luck with your book, and reviews, Michael. I hope this helped.
Keith Steinbaum
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