Ask the Author: J. Kent Preyer
Answered Questions (8)
J. Kent Preyer
I did have an editor. I was self-publishing and (due to financial limits) had to hire a professor from our local university to do the edit. I am sure a professional editor from a publishing company or one of a higher price might have gotten a more advanced level of edit. It is my first novel. I did attempt to make it as a perfect and easy-to-read as I could. I must have missed a few things. Thanks for reading!
J. Kent Preyer
In a writing workshop. The assignment was to pick up that day's newspaper and find a story in it that was clearly filled with conflict where both parties involved were "right". From that article I wrote the famous swimming pool scene with Kitty Stardust and Governor JJ Fletcher. And from that scene Tennessee Wildflowers was born. The workshop is called Writer's Boot Camp. It's based in Santa Monica. It's a screenwriting program, but I wrote a novel. A screenplay is a perfect outline for a novel, by the way. I highly recommend Writer's Boot Camp. I believe they do on-line courses now.
J. Kent Preyer
Simple. Stephen King.
J. Kent Preyer
A children's book and a horror/suspense thriller. How's that for contrast?
J. Kent Preyer
You know it. Don't give up. Write from your heart, not from the best seller lists. Pay for professional editing. Keep writing even when you see no light at the end of the tunnel. When you're done: Self-publish. It is mindboggling, nerve rattling, and totally flustering. But you keep all control. Buy all your own ISBN numbers. Writing a novel is pain. But it is worth all the pain when someone reads it and responds with a smile and a nice comment about your characters. It's a kind of immortality.
J. Kent Preyer
The characters in my books become lifelong friends. They love me like my cat, unconditionally but with boundaries. They also have an independent life they live. So the best part is when the characters decide to share some important part of themselves with me and I get to write it all down. I know. It sounds schizophrenic. It is. But it is a magical thing.
J. Kent Preyer
I move on to another part of the book, and keep working. If that doesn't work I move to a new location. Go to Starbucks, or down by the river. Most important thing: Stare at that blank page. The subconscious hates a blank canvas. Last resort. Sleep.
J. Kent Preyer
The next project out the gate is a children's book. Getting the artwork completed now. Hopefully early next year. The next novel is outlined and I am starting to get back into the writing mode. Self publishing turned out to be a full time job! I'm so happy you enjoyed the book.
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