Never Too Old For Y.A. & N.A. Books discussion

Today we welcome author Dan Krokos to the group! And he's also doing a giveaway!



Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
Definitely not. I dabbled with it as a kid, but I was also dumb and unskilled and knew nothing of the world, so it wasn’t something I could really work on at the time. I didn’t even like to read during my teen years (thanks Xbox and Warcraft).
Growing up, I wanted to be an actor. I really love movies. It wasn’t until I got back into reading that I realized I wanted to make my own stories.
How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
My shortest time was 12 days. That was only because I was trying to outrun my doubts and just hammer the thing out as quickly as possible. I don’t recommend doing this, because it just ends up being more work in the end.
My average is probably a couple months. Anywhere from 2-4, sometimes longer. All depends on if the book gives me trouble, if I have an outline, and if I’m working every day, rather than plucking at it for a few hours a couple times a week.
How do you come up with themes for your stories?
I don’t. I can’t think of themes first. I can only hope one comes out of the story by itself, unconsciously. My first goal is to not be boring, and my second is to examine life and reveal aspects of what makes us human. Anything else is a happy accident.
Do you have a schedule of when you write?
I wish. I just do it whenever. My friend Susan Dennard gets up at like 5:30 to start writing. Isn’t that awesome? I want to be like her. I actually had more discipline back when I was working at a gas station full time.
What was the hardest thing about writing a book?
The solitude. I want to work in an office with other humans where there is interaction. Even if I don’t like the other people working there. Being alone all day is a recipe for insanity.
How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?
I’ve written thirteen manuscripts I think. Some of them only had a single draft, and some of them had completely new drafts, so maybe like fifteen.
I don’t think I have a favorite. I don’t like any of them all that much, to be honest. Once the book is out all you can see are the mistakes you made along the way. I do like The Planet Thieves though, and the adult book I’m on submission with right now. Hoping the next one will be my favorite!
Do you have a favorite character?
Yes. My adult book centers on a paramedic who drives an ambulance during the day, and drives the getaway car for his contract killer uncle at night. The duality of saving lives when the sun is up, and helping to end them when it goes down was a lot of fun to play with.
Where do you write?
I recently fixed my laptop, so with the warmer weather I hope to write in cafes and stuff. I think the visual stuff happening all around you can be stimulating, but only with noise canceling headphones. Otherwise I’m at home, which has more comfort, but most of the bad kind of distraction (internet, TV)
When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?
There was only one route for me. I wanted to be in a bookstore, and have people do all the hard work of actually creating a physical book, so that meant doing everything I could to snag an agent.
What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?
My friends live all over the country, so the only way we can still hang is by playing games online. I also love television (who doesn’t), and riding my motorcycle.
What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?
I read this somewhere else, but an author (Stephen King) once said if you can do anything else, do it. Don’t write.
If you HAVE to write, then throw yourself into it completely. When I was starting out, I sacrificed social stuff in my early twenties. My friends were partying and I was writing stories about superheroes, knowing if I just worked harder than the next person, I’d eventually succeed.
So the obvious one is work hard. The second piece of advice is to go out and live life. See things. Talk to weird people. Every experience you have, good or bad, will help with your writing. Unless someone cuts your hands off. That will make writing harder.
What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
My favorite book is Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. RA Salvatore, author of the dark elf books, inspired me to write. His action scenes were so good I would have to put the book down to contemplate what I’d just read. THAT specific feeling is what inspired me to write my own stories. I wanted to give that feeling to other people.
Are you working on anything now?

I’ve taken a break from books to write a few screenplays. Right now I’m trying to decide which one to pursue.

Thanks for being here today, Dan!

You can enter the giveaway here: http://www.thecovercontessa.com/2014/...