Erik Christian's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-book-tours"
Ben Burgess Jr is the author of the award winning novel "Monster", See His New Novel Now
Author Interview with Ben Burgess Jr. For his new book WOUNDED
1. While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?
Whenever I’m writing, I have to become the main character. I feel it helps to make the character come alive. I try to think and talk the way my character would. It’s fun because some things that I’d never do or say, I can use to make my characters more interesting.
2. What are your expectations for the book?
With every book, I expect mass appeal. I work hard to market the book on as many venues as I can, to build a strong fan base. The ultimate goal(s)/dream(s) is to get signed by a major publishing company and to have my books turned into films.
3. What books/authors have influenced your writing?
My favorite author is Eric Jerome Dickey, an African American Fiction author. What attracted me to his work was the fact that it was different from most of the other Urban/ African American Fiction authors that I had read. I have spoken to him personally, and he has encouraged and supported my writing career. He has influenced me to not be afraid to be different.
4. What genre do you consider your book(s)?
My books are considered “Urban/African American Fiction” but to be honest, I’m not too happy with that label. I feel that labeling a book “Urban/African American Fiction” limits the readers for your books to only minorities. The goal for my writing is to be appealing to all races and readers. In a perfect world, I feel my work would fall more into the “Literary fiction” genre because it doesn’t fit perfectly in one specific category. (Ex: Wounded is an “Urban/AA Fiction book”, yet it has a Lesbian protagonist, and some Lesbian erotic scenes. It could be labeled “Urban”, “Erotic Drama”, or “Lesbian” fiction, which is why I feel literary fiction is the better category for my writing because it’s broader.
5. Do you ever experience writer's block?
With every book I work on, I try to improve and top my previous work. Sometimes I’m hit with “writer’s block”. When I’m faced with it, I read other authors to take a break from writing. After I take a break, I continue to write. I write whatever comes to my mind because I view it like this, nothing is final until it’s published. The key to breaking out of it, is to keep writing. I write and I modify afterwards.
6. Do you write an outline before every book you write?
I don’t use an outline. I map things out in my head and I write the way the story comes to me.
7. Have you ever hated something you wrote?
No. I put a lot of thought into the works I’ve published. Do I feel that now that I’ve matured as an author, I could’ve written things a little better now? Yes. The more you write, the more you evolve and gain a better understanding of how to improve your story. While I feel that now I’d be able to tell stories more efficiently, I wouldn’t change anything about my books because I hope readers can see that evolution in my writing. I want them to see the hard work that I put into writing heartfelt stories.
8. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
No. I’m very please the way “Wounded” turned out and it’s exactly how I wanted the story to be.
9. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
There are tons of authors that are grabbing my attention. I’ll try to list some: Julia Blues, MZ. Robinson, Michael Loring, Stacy Campbell, Charles Bukoski, Christine Hazel, Shatika Turner, Christiana Harrell, and Christopher McGoldrick. I like to give indie authors a try because I know there are a lot of great ones out there.
10. Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?
True fans. Some fans who I’ve met on Facebook when I first started promoting my book have been very supportive. They’ve helped with word of mouth, they’ve written reviews and encouraged their family and friends to write reviews, they’ve gone to my book signings and listened to my interviews on blog radio shows. I cannot thank them enough and I’m truly grateful for them.
11. What is the most demeaning thing said about you as a writer?
That’s an easy one, some people have said that I suck and I only write smut. To those people I say…LOL, there are different strokes for different folks. There will be some that just don’t feel my style of writing or the stories I’m telling. In this business, you have to have thick skin. You can’t take everything personal. I listen to constructive criticism that I feel is helpful. As a writer, I try to work on my flaws and improve with every book, but it’s impossible to please everyone. I work hard to write stories I believe a majority of people will enjoy.
For Ben's Book: http://tinyurl.com/kbhneg5
Book Tour Provided by:
ELITE BOOK PROMOTIONS
http://www.elitebookpromotions.com
1. While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?
Whenever I’m writing, I have to become the main character. I feel it helps to make the character come alive. I try to think and talk the way my character would. It’s fun because some things that I’d never do or say, I can use to make my characters more interesting.
2. What are your expectations for the book?
With every book, I expect mass appeal. I work hard to market the book on as many venues as I can, to build a strong fan base. The ultimate goal(s)/dream(s) is to get signed by a major publishing company and to have my books turned into films.
3. What books/authors have influenced your writing?
My favorite author is Eric Jerome Dickey, an African American Fiction author. What attracted me to his work was the fact that it was different from most of the other Urban/ African American Fiction authors that I had read. I have spoken to him personally, and he has encouraged and supported my writing career. He has influenced me to not be afraid to be different.
4. What genre do you consider your book(s)?
My books are considered “Urban/African American Fiction” but to be honest, I’m not too happy with that label. I feel that labeling a book “Urban/African American Fiction” limits the readers for your books to only minorities. The goal for my writing is to be appealing to all races and readers. In a perfect world, I feel my work would fall more into the “Literary fiction” genre because it doesn’t fit perfectly in one specific category. (Ex: Wounded is an “Urban/AA Fiction book”, yet it has a Lesbian protagonist, and some Lesbian erotic scenes. It could be labeled “Urban”, “Erotic Drama”, or “Lesbian” fiction, which is why I feel literary fiction is the better category for my writing because it’s broader.
5. Do you ever experience writer's block?
With every book I work on, I try to improve and top my previous work. Sometimes I’m hit with “writer’s block”. When I’m faced with it, I read other authors to take a break from writing. After I take a break, I continue to write. I write whatever comes to my mind because I view it like this, nothing is final until it’s published. The key to breaking out of it, is to keep writing. I write and I modify afterwards.
6. Do you write an outline before every book you write?
I don’t use an outline. I map things out in my head and I write the way the story comes to me.
7. Have you ever hated something you wrote?
No. I put a lot of thought into the works I’ve published. Do I feel that now that I’ve matured as an author, I could’ve written things a little better now? Yes. The more you write, the more you evolve and gain a better understanding of how to improve your story. While I feel that now I’d be able to tell stories more efficiently, I wouldn’t change anything about my books because I hope readers can see that evolution in my writing. I want them to see the hard work that I put into writing heartfelt stories.
8. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
No. I’m very please the way “Wounded” turned out and it’s exactly how I wanted the story to be.
9. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
There are tons of authors that are grabbing my attention. I’ll try to list some: Julia Blues, MZ. Robinson, Michael Loring, Stacy Campbell, Charles Bukoski, Christine Hazel, Shatika Turner, Christiana Harrell, and Christopher McGoldrick. I like to give indie authors a try because I know there are a lot of great ones out there.
10. Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?
True fans. Some fans who I’ve met on Facebook when I first started promoting my book have been very supportive. They’ve helped with word of mouth, they’ve written reviews and encouraged their family and friends to write reviews, they’ve gone to my book signings and listened to my interviews on blog radio shows. I cannot thank them enough and I’m truly grateful for them.
11. What is the most demeaning thing said about you as a writer?
That’s an easy one, some people have said that I suck and I only write smut. To those people I say…LOL, there are different strokes for different folks. There will be some that just don’t feel my style of writing or the stories I’m telling. In this business, you have to have thick skin. You can’t take everything personal. I listen to constructive criticism that I feel is helpful. As a writer, I try to work on my flaws and improve with every book, but it’s impossible to please everyone. I work hard to write stories I believe a majority of people will enjoy.
For Ben's Book: http://tinyurl.com/kbhneg5
Book Tour Provided by:
ELITE BOOK PROMOTIONS
http://www.elitebookpromotions.com
