I’m a follower of Brad Feld’s blog http://www.feld.com/wp/
and really appreciate his perspective on startups. When he came to Chicago for the Excelerate presentations, I learned about his new book “Do More Faster“. I immediately got a copy because I was always hungry for more startup knowledge and I knew that my friend Sean Corbett is in the book. I ask Brad if he could answer a few questions and he was gracious to oblige.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you become and entrepreneur? What made you want to start angel investing? Tell us a bit about TechStars and how that came about.
I started my first company – Feld Technologies – when I was in college. My partner (Dave Jilk) and I grew it to a 20 person, self-funded company – it was profitable every month because it had to be (we had no money and never raised any.) We sold it to a public company in 1993. I started making angel investments in 1994 with some of the money that I had made from the sale. At some point I realized I preferred to be an investor than a CEO, which is what I’ve been doing ever since.
I regularly have “random days” where I meet with whomever wants to meet with me for 15 minutes at a time. David Cohen, the co-founder and CEO of TechStars, met with me on one of these random days. He explained his idea for TechStars and within ten minutes I was hooked and told him I was in, would help him create it, and – as long as he wasn’t a flake – we’d see where it went. Five years later, we are both really glad we had that meeting!
What inspired you and David Cohen to write your book?
About two years ago David and I were sitting around talking about all of the things we had learned from TechStars. In a moment of insanity I said “let’s write a book.” We sketched it out over a weekend and realized that many of the ideas were from mentors and entrepreneurs that were part of TechStars. So rather than write everything ourselves, we reached out to the mentors and entrepreneurs to help us.
How did you come up with the title?
Do More Faster is one of the common phrases around TechStars, as are most of the titles for the chapters. David has a little sign that says “Do More Faster” hanging above his door that everyone sees when they walk out of the office.
The format of the book and the way each chapter is presented is very interesting. Tell us a little bit about that.
We tried to make the book a first person account of entrepreneurship, written by entrepreneurs (and edited by us). It’s not intended to be an instruction manual – rather it’s a coherent set of short lessons (usually two to five people) told from the experience of an entrepreneur. We’ve organized these into seven themes that we think define early stage startups (Idea and Vision, People, Execution, Product, Fundraising, Legal and Structure, and Work Life Balance) and written plenty of “connective tissue” between the stories.
Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?
Startups are hard, fun, amazing, fascinating, challenging, exciting, depressing, and interesting.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Um, writing the book! Actually, the edit cycle from what we thought was the final draft to the published version was the hardest. I got to the point that if I had to read the book one more time I’d poke my eyes out.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Atlas Shrugged.
What book are you reading now?
The Computer Boys Take Over: Computers, Programmers, and the Politics of Technical Expertise
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?
Nope.
What are your current projects?
I just finished writing “Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer And Venture Capitalist” (Wiley -10/8/11).
Do you have any advice for other writers? What advice to you have for entrepreneurs?
Tons of advice for entrepreneurs on www.feld.com. Not much advice for writers – I definitely feel like a rookie still.
I recently had the chance to interview Guy Kawasaki on his new book Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. To say that I am a big fan of Guy is an understatement. I’ve read several of his books and was honored he agreed to answer some of my questions.
Why did you write your book?
I wrote the book to empower people to create deep, delightful, mutually-beneficial, and voluntary relationships with others.
Who would most benefit from it?
Any who wants to change the hearts, minds, and actions of others in ethical ways. In particular, the greater one’s goals, the more you’ll have to enchant people to help you achieve them.
Why do you think enchantment is so important?
Enchantment is important because most of the world is focused on simply closing transactions. That’s not a viable relationship in the long run. More enlightened companies are at least trying to engage people. That’s still not enough because companies can engage people and still not delight them. Enchantment occurs when you go beyond this. The customers will continue to buy from you and spread the good word for you. Think about what Apple customers do!
You created the Enchantment Quiz. Can you tell us a bit about it and why you created it?
I created the GREAT (Guy’s Realistic Enchantment Aptitude Test) so that people can truly determine if they are enchanting. I’m afraid than many people may think they are enchanting when they are not.
What are some of the things you do to enchant your customers and fans?
With hindsight, the most enchanting things I’ve done for the book are that I offered a review copy to almost any blogger that wanted one. I didn’t “focus” on only those that I thought were important. I supported anyone who would support me. Second, I created a system where I personalized covers for anyone who bought the book anywhere in the world. http://bit.ly/jkFBwA Hundreds of people took me up on this offer.
What was your most enchanting experience from a product or a company?
Even though I don’t work for the company anymore, I always find going into an Apple store an enchanting experience. I can seldom get out of the store without buying something! For many people, the Apple store employee is Apple, and these employees have enchanted thousands of customers.
As an investor, what qualities do you look for in a company/product/entrepreneur?
I look for products that I would use. I think of myself as the customer and then hope there are more people like me. I’m not always right!
More resources you can use:
Order: http://www.guykawasaki.com/enchantment/order/
Web quiz: http://great.guykawasaki.com/
Facebook quiz: http://www.facebook.com/enchantment?v=app_6009294086
Speech video: http://www.guykawasaki.com/enchantment/video/
Bio and background: http://www.guykawasaki.com/enchantment/background/
Pictures: http://www.guykawasaki.com/enchantment/pictures/
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/enchantment#!/enchantment?sk=app_4949752878
Badges: http://www.guykawasaki.com/enchantment/badges/
Infographic: http://www.guykawasaki.com/enchantment/infographic/
Wallpaper: http://www.guykawasaki.com/enchantment/wallpaper/
Books on ShelfLuv: http://www.shelfluv.com/search/?q=guy+kawasaki
Who are you and where are you from?
First and foremost I’m a wife and mother. I was born in Michigan, but met and married in Florida. I love to tell stories and have been telling romance tales since I was a teenager. During the height of my book spending, my husband asked me why I didn’t try writing a few of my own.
How did you get into the paranormal erotic genre?
I have always loved paranormal romances. The erotic part came later. I submitted to this publisher and within a few hours I got a reply. “I’m prepared to offer you a contract for this book, however your sex scenes are too tame. You need to spice it up a bit.” That request has started an erotica writing binge that has not stopped.
Tell us a bit about your latest book?
Looking for Paradise released on June 15th. I believe the next book in the D.A.R.E. series that I am writing with Viola Grace is due out on the first of July. After that, I have many release dates that I can’t remember off the top of my head, but there are a lot of them.
What inspired you to write your book?
Which book? lol I have a lot more than one. I’d have to think about that one. Virgin’s Blood was inspired by the first sentence of my son’s parody. “Never give $3000 to a drug dealer. He will kill you for it.” I asked him if I could use it and a novel was born. I wrote that one in six weeks. Incidentally, it was my first published work.
How did you come up with the title?
There is always a sentence in the book that inspires the title. Somewhere in almost every book I write, you will read the title at least once.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The hardest part of writing any book is knowing if you have enough description without adding too much. The same goes for emotion. There is such a thing as too much.
Of all your books, which one is your favorite and why?
I like Alicia: The Awakening. I like how spunky the heroine is even though she’s been victimized. My Chosen series heroines have a lot of spunk and tend to be a bit rough around the edges.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I don’t think any books have influenced my life a lot. Paranormal romances, including time travels gave me the idea to write the genre, but other than that, I tend to live my life without thinking about how I’m going to live it. I live the way I write, by flying by the seat of my pants.
What book are you reading now?
I’m rereading the Dark series by Christine Feehan. I don’t know hwy, but I can never seem to get tire of it and I reread the entire series everytime she has a new release in it. By the time I’m done, I’m primed for the new release and it’s like a treat.
What are your upcoming projects?
Book 4 of the Chosen series titled, Gideon’s Angel. The Alateatian, a sci-fi novel set on another world and ancient Earth. The Kavante Chronicles, another sci-fi set in outer space. Book 4 of The Endowed series and book 2 of the Hidden Breeds, titled Kalen. Then there are the D.A.R.E. series of books along with the Dragon Bound series. Both are serials, which are slated to release every six to eight weeks. Yes, I will be busy for a while. lol
website: www.tiannaxander.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TiannaXander
twitter: http://twitter.com/TiannaXander
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tianna_xander
Bastien, Hidden Breeds book 1, is now available at: http://amzn.to/dKDTlF Topaz Dare, D.A.R.E. Project book 2, is now availble at http://bit.ly/eW57Pg The Golden Dragon, book 1 of the Dragon Bound series is now available at http://bit.ly/TheGoldenDragon
Who are you and where are you from? How did you get into the security industry?
I’m Luke Romyn, an author of action thrillers and horror novels living in Australia but represented and published in the USA.
As to the security question, that’s actually an interesting story. I was living on my own for the first time in my life at the ripe old age of eighteen, and I was doing a terrible job of it. I had no money, going from dead-end job to dead-end job and never really finding my niche in life.
A couple of older buddies who trained in the gym with me had tried to get me into nightclub bouncing, but I didn’t have the confidence for it – or at least I thought I didn’t, believing the guys who did that sort of work were some kind of monsters who simply bashed people all night and feared nothing.
Anyway, after an especially depressing couple of weeks of job searching and living on little more than tap water and Vegemite sandwiches, I was in the barber getting my hair cut when I mentioned to him the fact I might look into doing some work as a bouncer, not mentioning my fears about it. Well, lo and behold in the other chair was the head of security at a local bar who up and offered me a job working with him a couple of nights a week.
I almost peed.
That job turned into a career which I somehow excelled at. I went from a terrified teen idiot into a confident man who has seen more in a single night than most will see in a lifetime.
But I still eat Vegemite sandwiches.
Tell us a bit about your book The Dark Path
THE DARK PATH focuses predominantly on Vain, an assassin who is somewhat unwillingly convinced to protect a young boy from a cult intent on sacrificing him. If this cult succeeds, Vain is told they will raise an eternal demonic lord who was once second only to Satan in Hell.
Vain’s own nature conspires against him as thoughts of self preservation battle with his instincts to save the boy throughout the entire book. He has to fight against such things as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and other demonic risings from Hell and beyond along with hundreds of cultists whose only focus is to see them both dead. He has to travel into Hell itself in order to find what is required to succeed – aid which comes at the hands of Satan himself.
What inspired you to write your book?
There was a driving need in me to put pen to paper, so to speak. I had no idea what I wanted to write and initially started out trying to write my own memoirs – which sucked. My imagination was too strong and pulled me away, impelling me to travel down the road of fiction, a course without limitations, where I could create any universe I desired.
Yep. That suited me just fine.
How did you come up with the title?
I came up with the title the same way I come up with most of my stuff: instinct. I wanted to write a story of redemption hard won by a man who had traveled so far down a life of evil he might not be able to come back. I had a phrase running through my mind the whole time I was writing which I ended up using in the novel: “Everyone walks their own path through life, mine is just darker than most.”
As it turned out, THE DARK PATH was the most appropriate title I could have used, almost prophetic in its imagery. At one point Vain actually walks down a dark path where he is confronted by his own evil, something we must all face at some point or another lest we cave into our more nasty desires.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
There are some scenes early on in the book which are very graphic in their violence. I needed to first create the malevolent nature of Vain, and then draw him back from that edge slightly in a way as to make him acceptable for the reader. It was kind of opening a window into the events which caused him to become the way he was, but in order to do that I had to write some scenes which were truly horrific even in my own mind. During rewrites, I actually restructured the entire scene as to take the focus away from what was actually happening and transferred it to what actually happened within Vain’s mind while he was seeing these things; what his thoughts were. It ended up being much more effective.
The entire writing of THE DARK PATH ended up being a learning experience like this. I had nobody there watching over my shoulder to tell me what was right or wrong, I simply had to learn as I went. In some instances my own knowledge of writing was needed, whereas in others I needed to go with my instincts and simply hope what I was doing was right. In the end, I guess it was.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I have always enjoyed fantasy and heroic fantasy novels; total escapism from reality. This is at odds to my writing style which is based in reality and occasionally incorporates fantasy elements into it. I grew up reading J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Stephen Donaldson – getting away from the mundane and entering a world of pure imagination. I also read a lot of Stephen King during this time, reveling in his mastery of the craft and ability to create an entire universe out of the simplest idea. Pure genius.
As I got older I seemed to stop reading for a while, only snapping back into it when a friend and fellow bouncer introduced me to David Gemmell’s books which I immediately fell in love with. They did, and continue to, influence me greatly with their focus on imperfect characters battling against great odds in order to do what is right. They gave me hope in a time where I had very little.
What books are you reading now?
I’m currently reading the Frankenstein series by Dean Koontz. I haven’t read anything by Koontz before and am learning greatly from his style and impressive storytelling aptitude. His ability to interweave several storylines into one is remarkable along with the imagination needed to think of such a new take on Mary Shelley’s classic tale. I am really impressed so far.
What are your upcoming projects?
My agent is currently selling two of my novels to publishers in New York which are also already garnering overseas interest. The books are very different in many aspects as one, title BLACKLISTED, is completely action thriller in a very much Tom Clancy styling with intense detail on the military aspects and weaponry whereas the second, titled BEYOND HADES, incorporates themes from Greek mythology, posing the question of what would happen if the beasts from those stories of old were not actually myths. What would happen if they broke into our world once more?
I am also working on a series which partially follows on from THE DARK PATH, but as a sideways storyline. Vain appears throughout the series, but only as a secondary character because I didn’t want him to steal the limelight from my main characters. With THE DARK PATH now out in print and eBook, we are also looking into film interest, so we’ll see how that goes. I think it would make a great movie, and most people seem to agree.
The world is expanding before me in a way which is difficult for me to keep up with, but everything thus far is looking beyond golden. I hope you all can take the ride with me. Thank you.
For more of Luke
Website: http://www.lukeromyn.com
Blog: http://www.lukeromyn.com/blog
Shelfluv: http://www.shelfluv.com/luke.romyn/
Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Dan McNeil and I was born in Toronto, Ontario although I’ve lived in Ottawa (the capital of Canada) for over 40 years. I really consider Ottawa to be my hometown. I used to be a cameraman and editor for a local television station (for 24 years) and just recently moved over to the video department at Canada Post.
Tell us a bit about your book The Judas Apocalypse
“The Judas Apocalypse” is an historical/adventure novel about an archaeologist named Gerhard Denninger and his search for the long lost treasure of the Cathars (the Cathars were a Christian sect wiped out by the Inquisition in 1244) during World War II. He meets famed Grail hunter Otto Rahn who gives him a puzzling document, which when decoded, could possibly show him the way to the treasure. The thrilling quest leads Denninger through many twists and turns and what he ultimately discovers could change the course of history. It’s been described as an Indiana Jones meets Kelly’s Heroes with a touch of The Da Vinci Code kind of story, which I quite like.
What inspired you to write your book?
I actually had the idea for years but I had never seen myself as a writer. I read books, not wrote them. Besides I was into music, but after writing and recording two CDs but not getting anywhere I thought, “What the hell, let’s give this book thing a shot.” What I really wanted to see was if I could actually pull it off. I had the idea but it wasn’t going to write itself so …
How did you come up with the title?
That was a toughie. The original working title was “The Scroll” which was so exceedingly drab that I knew at some point, I was going to have to change it. It wasn’t until it was almost ready to be published that I finally came up with “The Judas Apocalypse.” The word “apocalypse” actually means revelation or the revealing of a hidden secret to a select few. Considering what the story was about, it worked perfectly.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Man, there were a LOT of hard parts. I figured it would maybe take a week or two to research it and another couple of weeks to write it. Honestly, what the heck was I thinking?? It took me almost a year and a half to research it and another two years to write it. To tell the truth, if I knew it was going to take that long, I probably would have bagged it. Once I was done, trying to find an agent and a publisher was no picnic either. In fact, I still don’t have an agent. The actual writing of the book was a breeze compared to that.
What books have most influenced your life most?
My all time favourite book is J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.” I must have read it about twenty times. I always loved its personal narrative style. Another fave that I’ve read dozens of times was David Niven’s breezy and easy going “The Moon’s a Balloon.” It was the first book I ever read that made me laugh out loud and I’ve always been impressed at what a great storyteller Niven was. Caleb Carr’s “The Alienist” was a big influence too. I loved the historical setting and how he peppered the book with real historical characters. It really made the story seem authentic and come alive and it was something I wanted to try in “The Judas Apocalypse.”
What book are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading the first few chapters of my friend Selena Robins’ latest novel. It’s a work in progress and it’s really good (I hope she lets me read the rest when she’s done.) Once I’m finished, I’m on to my next read (“The Burning Wire” by Jefferey Deaver.) I really like his stuff – they’re real page turners and they leave you hanging at the end of each chapter. After that, I’ve got a couple of more, ready to go.
What are your current projects? Can you tell us a bit about I Want To Hold Your Hand
In 1964, the Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. It was the biggest television event at the time. With 73 million people tuned in to watch, it’s been said that not even a hubcap was stolen in New York City in the hour that they performed. It occurred to me that it would have been the perfect time to rob a bank. Hence, the premise. “I Want To Hold Your Hand” is about Sonny Carter, a life long (and really unsuccessful) bank robber just out of prison after a 25 year stretch who sees his chance to pull off one last heist. He’s got his eye on one particular prize – the Hudson National Bank and Trust Company. What makes this larcenous gig so appealing is the fact that, not only is this institution the same one he tried to hit twenty five years previously but the president of the bank is actually the stool pigeon that ratted him out. Sonny gathers up the members of his gang, who are older and not so keen on heading back to prison and hopes to convince them to try for this one last score. With the help of a mysterious and sexy bank employee whose unique but crazy plan involves tight timing and four unsuspecting musicians from Liverpool, four losers could become winners for the first time in their lives. It has some laughs, it has some tears, it has the Beatles…what else could you ask for? It was really a labour of love for me and I’m so very, very happy with the way it turned out. I’m currently shopping it right now, hoping to find an agent and/or publisher, so if there’s any takers out there, let me know…
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
If you have an idea and want to write a book, just start writing. I mean, if I can do it…
For more of Dan:
Website: http://www.danmcneil.ca/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DanMcNeil888
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3m5e8lh
Publish Press: http://tinyurl.com/3mhjubg
ShelfLuv: http://www.shelfluv.com/dan.mcneil
Who are you and where are you from?
Hi. I’m Brian Rathbone, originally from southern New Jersey but now residing in western North Carolina.
Tell us a bit about your latest book
I’ve been working hard on Regent, which is book one of The Balance of Power trilogy. This trilogy is a sequel to The Dawning of Power trilogy, which is available now. Call of the Herald, book one of The Dawning of Power trilogy, is free in ebook and audiobook formats. Download links available at http://brianrathbone.com/free-fantasy-ebook.html, or just search for it on ShelfLuv and click Buy (it will still be free).
What inspired you to write your latest book?
I’ve had a clear vision for The World of Godsland fantasy series for a number of years, and a love of fantasy fiction has helped to fuel my desire to create my own brand of fantasy. In many ways, the first three books set the stage for the next three. The truth is that there are scenes in my head from the third trilogy that I can’t wait to write.
How did you come up with the title?
The titles for my first three books leaped into my head fully formed and stuck. Regent has been different (it’s had three titles already), and I’m still not 100% certain that Regent will be the final title. While I self-published my debut trilogy, I will be exploring traditional publishing options for Regent, which means the publisher may decide another title is better. As to how I came up with Regent, I can’t figure out how to fully answer without giving away parts of the first trilogy. I’ll just say that the title does have meaning and the titles of the next two books, Feral and Regal, are related. Wow. I don’t think I’ve told anyone those titles yet. Nice job on getting the exclusive.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Time management. With my first novel, I was just trying to figure out how to write a novel. Now that I have three novels out, I spend a large amount of time promoting those books and connecting with readers. It can be difficult to get much new writing done when trying to make sure everyone knows about your existing works. Balance can be difficult to find at times, but I find ways to get it all done.
What books have most influenced your life most?
A Wrinkle in Time started it all for me. It was the first book I ever enjoyed reading, and it opened my eyes to an entirely new world. Later it was books like the Dragonlance Chronicles, the Belgariad, Shannara, and many more that entertained me and furthered my desire to write fantasy.
What book are you reading now?
I’ve had to do a lot of driving over the past year, and I’ve taken to listening to audiobooks, especially free audiobooks from Podiobooks.com. I find it makes the time pass much more quickly. I’m currently listening to The Dreamer’s Thread by Starla Huchton, and I’m very much enjoying it.
What are your current projects?
Getting Regent ready is my primary focus, but I’m also helping to assemble Podioracket Presents: Glimpses, the second volume in an anthology of podcast speculative fiction. I also have some non-fiction titles rattling around in my head along with some new short stories. I wonder which will claw its way out first…
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
David Eddings and Melanie Rawn both influenced me as young man, and I think their work gave me something to aspire to. I wanted to transport the reader to another place where they could immerse themselves in the experience and become a co-creator of this new world. If I were to distill it down to a single aspect of their work, I would say it was the sense of wonder, awe, and beauty amid the darkness.
You mentioned Scott Adams as an inspiration. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
To quote a different Adams (Douglas), “Don’t Panic.” We all do sometimes, and that’s OK, just take a deep breath and move on. If you write a lousy first draft, no problem, that’s what editing is for–make it not suck. If your editor hates it, don’t worry, try sending it to another editor. If you get a bad review, don’t take it as a personal attack, just wait for someone to come along and tell them how wrong they are about your great book. Write with wild abandon, and then edit with passion and conviction. In the end, if you create something you are proud of, then it should be able to find an audience.
Thanks so much to ShelfLuv for hosting this interview, and hello to all the ShelfLuv members and readers out there.
Website: http://brianrathbone.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/brianrathbone
ShelfLuv: http://www.shelfluv.com/brian.rathbone
Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Amanda Young and I’m a writer from Southwestern Virginia. I write erotica and romance, or a mixture of the two. Among the thirty or so stories I have published, you’ll find contemporary and paranormal settings, with gay and straight themes.
How did you get into writing, especially the erotic romance genre?
I started writing erotic romance because it’s one of the few genres I enjoy reading. I’ve always loved romance stories in general, but being able to throw the bedroom doors wide open and allow readers to have a front row seat to all the action that normally happens behind closed doors is too tempting to resist.
Tell us a bit about your latest book
My newest release, Inestimable Blessings, is an erotic romance about a man determined to have a child, the lengths he’ll go through to make his dream a reality, and what happens when he falls for the hunk next door at the worst time possible.
What inspired you to write your book?
I really enjoy romance novels featuring single dads. There’s something infinitely sweet to me about a man with a baby. When I ran out of novels to read, I sat down and plotted out my own tale.
How did you come up with the title?
Actually, a reader suggested the title of Inestimable Blessings. It comes from a Mark Twain quote, “A baby is an inestimable blessing and bother.”
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The research was the most time consuming, but it was a labor of love. I read quite a few books about surrogacy and did a whole lot of surfing the web before I felt confident writing my story. After everything was said and done, I only used a very small fraction of what I learned.
Of all your books, which one is your favorite and why?
I really couldn’t say. They’re all my favorites at one time or another.
What book are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Mort by Rodd Reduxxx. I’m on a bit of a zombie novel kick at the moment.
What are your current projects?
At the moment, I’m working on book two in my Chicken Ranch series. I hope to have it completed soon.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
The best advice I can give to any aspiring writer is to join a writers’ group. I cut my teeth at Critique Circle back when I first started seriously writing with the intent to publish. Getting help from other people was invaluable, but even more important was the sense of community that came with the education. I’m no longer on that site, but I walked away with a wealth of information, encouragement, and several friendships I treasure.
For more of Amanda Young:
Website: http://www.amandayoung.org/
Twitter: @_Amanda_Young
ShelfLuv: http://www.shelfluv.com/authoramandayoung
Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Richard Jay Parker and I now live in Salisbury in the UK. I lived in London for fourteen years and in South Wales prior to that.
Tell us a bit about your latest book.
STOP ME begins with an email chain letter sent by the notorious Vacation Killer. It describes a girl and must be forwarded. If it ends up back in the killer’s inbox he won’t slit her throat. Nobody takes it seriously until the polished jawbone of a prostitute is sent to the police. The missing prostitute fits the description in the email.
In the UK, Leo Sharpe receives such an email but deletes it. Weeks later his wife, Laura, vanishes after only stepping out to the restroom.
John R Bookwalter claims to be the Vacation Killer and runs a website based around his delusion. He’s never left the state of Louisiana and the Vacation Killer has killed around the globe. He’s dismissed by the police as a crank but tells Leo he has Laura. She disappeared in London and the Vacation Killer was suspected because an email was circulated describing her. However, her remains were never sent to the police and Leo wonders why – did the email get back to the Vacation Killer’s inbox?
But as everyone around Leo gives up on Laura ever being found Bookwalter is the only person talking about her in terms of her still being alive. A bizarre internet relationship ensues and Bookwalter comes up with the most plausible theory of how she was abducted.
Leo has to decide whether he should accept Bookwalter’s invitation to fly to New Orleans to find out if there’s any truth in what he’s saying. It’s a story with a very unexpected twist and Leo is led down a lot of dark backstreets before he finds out what really happened to Laura.
What inspired you to write your latest book?
As a lot of people do, I receive email chain letters on a daily basis and it got me thinking about how I would react if one of them threatened somebody’s life if it wasn’t forwarded to ten people.
How did you come up with the title?
The title occurred to me while writing the first couple of chapters. I thought I might change it but as I got further into the book I realised it had a double meaning. More than the emails, it’s about being drawn willingly into something you know you shouldn’t.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
My aim with STOP ME was to continually surprise readers used to conventional thrillers so I guess staying a step ahead and keeping everything as plausible as possible was the real challenge.
What books have most influenced your life most?
There’s a noir thriller called FALLING ANGEL that I really love. It’s by William Hjortsberg and Alan Parker directed the movie (Angel Heart).
What book are you reading now?
I’m always on the look out for new writers so I’m about to read MEAT by Joseph D’Lacey.
What are your current projects?
The trade and mass market paperbacks of STOP ME are already available but on June 6th it will be available on Kindle and other ebook formats so I’m trying to get the word out there. Have had a lot of interest from readers in the US who have been waiting for the ebook.
Download and start reading STOP ME immediately here:
http://tinyurl.com/3rgyzps
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I don’t really have a favourite author but have a number of favourite books – A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by Anthony Burgess, THE WASP FACTORY by Iain Banks really influenced me when I was younger.
For more of Richard Jay Parker
Website: www.richardjayparker.com
Twitter: @Bookwalter
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=1477645928
For readers who want the book outside the UK:
Book Depository do a great shipping deal – anywhere in the world for free:
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780749007072/Stop-Me
Or check out prices and reader reviews on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Me-Richard-Jay-Parker/dp/0749007133/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305138635&sr=1-1
For UK readers it’s available in and through all good bookshops as well as my publisher who do great discounts for book clubs:
http://www.allisonandbusby.com/
Obviously Amazon UK is a good choice for price and more reader reviews:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stop-Me-Richard-Jay-Parker/dp/0749007079/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250668762&sr=8-1
Who are you and where are you from?
I’m Peter Gasston, a web developer from London, England.
What inspired you to write your book?
CSS3 is quite a broad subject, but almost every book or magazine article I read about it covered the same small subset of features. I’d been blogging about CSS3 for over five years, on my own website and on CSS3.info, so I knew there was plenty more that wasn’t being well covered. I’m a professional developer who doesn’t need to constantly be reminded of the basics, and I knew that there was a big market out there just like me.
Tell us a bit about it. What are some takeaways of your book?
As I said, it’s written for professional developers with a good knowledge of the fundamentals of CSS, who want to take their knowledge on to the next level. The CSS3 specification is quite dense and technical, and my aim was to make it more accessible. The book covers all of the key aspects of the new possibilities of CSS3, from properties that are already well implemented to ones which may be years away. It’s a practical resource, but one with an eye on the future.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Having no time off for a year! I was working full time through the writing of the book, so it occupied all of my evenings and weekends. It was especially hard on sunny days, looking out of the window and seeing everyone enjoying themselves! I have to thank my wife for the incredible patience she showed.
Do you have any advice for other technical writers?
Think carefully about the examples you choose to illustrate your points; to some extent they will dictate the form of your book, so take time and think carefully about whether each one really helps to enhance the subject you’re discussing. Also, listen to your editor! Mine helped me a lot through the early chapters, making the later ones much easier.
What books have most influenced your life most?
For technical books I’d say Jeffrey Zeldman’s Designing With Web Standards; it’s clear, concise, and full of good advice and practice which I still use to this day. In fiction, probably Louis de Berniere’s The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts – I read it on a whim and loved it, and it introduced me to the Magical Realism style and South American authors which I really love.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Favorite author is hard, but Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote two of my favourite books (100 Years of Solitude, Love in the Time of Cholera) so I’ll say him. I think it’s because of the blend of the fantastic with the mundane, and the matter-of-fact emotions. Also, I’d buy anything by the comics artist Chris Ware; his work is so unique and detailed, and really pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the medium.
What book are you reading now?
I usually have a few books on the go; I’ve just finished re-reading William Kalush and Larry Sloman’s The Secret Life of Houdini, and Professor Richard Wiseman’s Paranormality, and just started Ian McEwan’s Solar.
For more of Peter Gasston
Twitter: @stopsatgreen
Blog: http://broken-links.com
Book website: http://nostarch.com/css3.htm
ShelfLuv: shelfluv.com/peter.gasston
Who are you and where are you from?
I was born in San Bernardino in Southern California in 1958, and was the first of four sons to be born over the next five years. In 1971, our family of six moved to Lafayette, Indiana. I graduated High School there, then attended Purdue University, majoring in Electrical Engineering. I went into the Air Force, and after a three year assignment in upstate New York, ended up in San Antonio. After twelve years there, we moved to Dallas, and have been here ever since.
Tell us a bit about your book Eden Fading
It is a story based on my life’s actual events from 1961 through 1966. The story’s main character is Danny—the oldest boy; who is an angel one moment, and a devil the next. The plot involves the multiple attempts by Danny to kill his younger brother Wayne. How the family deals with each tragedy and survives it is a study in family strength. All of the characters are developed so well, you will feel like you are in the story. When Danny isn’t trying to kill Wayne, they team up for many adventures that are both dangerous and exciting. Throughout the book, two techniques are used—cars and music; which help to emphasize the story line, but also to bring back to the reader all those wonderful memories of that time. The story will have the reader hooked from the start, and the ending will satisfy everyone, making them eager for the sequel to come.
What inspired you to write your book?
My father died two years ago, and at his funeral in Indiana, my brothers and I were talking for hours with our extended family about how much trouble we got into as kids. They were all so familiar with all of the near-death experiences, and crazy stuff we got up to, we couldn’t believe it after so many years. After the funeral, my brother Gerald and I continued the conversation…waxing nostalgic about events that happened so long ago, and marveling at the knowledge that they really happened. That was when Gerald first suggested the idea that I write a book about that time. Once back in Dallas, every time Gerald and I spoke on the phone, he became more and more insistent that I write the book. After three months, he finally talked me into it.
How did you come up with the title?
Life for our family from the time I was born, until my brother Gerald was born was a perfect existence where nothing went wrong. We were living in Eden. When I was three, I first attempted to kill Gerald. After each of these episodes, our family drifted further from our perfect Eden, and our vision of Eden began to fade.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Since Eden Fading was my first book, it was having the discipline of wanting to write every day. My memories of events long ago served me well, but I spent a lot of time getting the details of that time exactly right. In that respect, I spent much more time doing research than actual writing.
What books have most influenced your life most?
John Steinbeck – Of Mice and Men
Mark Twain – The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
James Fenimore Cooper – The Last of the Mohicans
Washington Irving – Rip Van Winkle
Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Scarlet Letter
Ernest Hemingway – The Old Man and the Sea
Herman Melville – Moby Dick
Jack London – Call of the Wild
Henry David Thoreau – Walden
What book are you reading now?
The Stand, by Stephen King…again
What are your current projects?
I am currently writing a science fiction about an ordinary man who has night terrors, where he visits strange worlds, and encounters terrifying monsters. He soon discovers that he hasn’t been dreaming at all, but it is all real. This book has it all; genetic engineering gone bad, teleportation, shape-shifting creatures, battles between worlds, strong character development, and some real wicked plot twists.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
No matter how daunting a task writing a 300 page book may seem, you have to work on it every day, and be persistent. If you really don’t feel like writing, and the ideas won’t come, do research to beef up your books weaker areas, or edit the chapters you have already done. It all has to be done anyway, so do something. Sometimes, when you don’t feel like writing, try it anyway, and you may be surprised by the words that flow from your mind.
For more of Mike Barnett:
Webpage: http://www.MichaelBarnettBooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1361101847
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeebarnett
Twitter: http://twitter.com/planomike
Blog: http://michaelbarnett-edenfading.blogspot.com/
ShelfLuv: Eden Fading on ShelfLuv
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