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Meet John Abramowitz,
Author of ATTICUS FOR THE UNDEAD
Please feel free to feed this author comments. She doesn't bite. Authors are hungry for comments and it makes them SO happy :) ALSO, John is going to give away TWO copies of his book. Just leave a comment below for your chance to get your hands on this zombie legal thriller.
How did you come up with your title?
The book started out with the title Attorney for the Damned, which was a reference to Clarence Darrow, a famously talented defense lawyer. But the title didn't work for me, for two reasons. First, it was too bland, and second, not all supernatural creatures are "damned".
So I started thinking about other titles for the book that might be catchier or more interesting. As I was writing, it struck me that Hunter Gamble was similar, in a lot of ways, to Atticus Finch. He defends the clients that the rest of society reviles because he believes it's the right thing to do. So I came up with Atticus for the Undead. It's still not a perfect title -- not all supernatural (sorry, arcane!) creatures are "undead," either -- but I liked it so much that it stuck.
Describe your book in seven words or less.
The John Grisham novel I always wanted.
What chapter or part of the book was your favorite to write and why?
The end of chapter 4. I won't say anything about what happens to avoid the dreaded spoilers, but that was one of my favorite things I've ever put on paper, and it makes me very happy.
What genre do you prefer to write in and why?
Fantasy, because I think that with fantasy you have more opportunity than maybe any other genre to love the story you're telling, since literally anything is possible. You can mix gritty, serious themes with wacky, outlandish touches and make the reader believe it. I mean, really (SPOILER ALERT), what other genre would let you write about a capital murder trial and have one of the characters turn someone into a frog in the middle of the book?
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
Both, actually. I come up with the broad strokes of a novel (or a series) at the outset, and then write it chapter-by-chapter. After each chapter, I have my trusty team of beta readers review what I've written and give me detailed feedback on whether I'm hitting the desired emotional notes, whether the characters feel believable, and things like that. If they're not, then the chapter gets re-written.
These re-writes sometimes mean that I come at the chapter from an entirely different direction than I'd thought, or completely change how I had planned to have parts of the plot unfold. (This has happened to me several times in the course of writing The Void, Book 2 of The Weaver Saga, which has made the writing experience very frustrating.)
So, my process is that I have a few Big Ideas that are inviolate, but how I get to those ideas often involves much pantsing. (Is that a word?)
How did you come up with your title?
The book started out with the title Attorney for the Damned, which was a reference to Clarence Darrow, a famously talented defense lawyer. But the title didn't work for me, for two reasons. First, it was too bland, and second, not all supernatural creatures are "damned".
So I started thinking about other titles for the book that might be catchier or more interesting. As I was writing, it struck me that Hunter Gamble was similar, in a lot of ways, to Atticus Finch. He defends the clients that the rest of society reviles because he believes it's the right thing to do. So I came up with Atticus for the Undead. It's still not a perfect title -- not all supernatural (sorry, arcane!) creatures are "undead," either -- but I liked it so much that it stuck.
Describe your book in seven words or less.
The John Grisham novel I always wanted.
What chapter or part of the book was your favorite to write and why?
The end of chapter 4. I won't say anything about what happens to avoid the dreaded spoilers, but that was one of my favorite things I've ever put on paper, and it makes me very happy.
What genre do you prefer to write in and why?
Fantasy, because I think that with fantasy you have more opportunity than maybe any other genre to love the story you're telling, since literally anything is possible. You can mix gritty, serious themes with wacky, outlandish touches and make the reader believe it. I mean, really (SPOILER ALERT), what other genre would let you write about a capital murder trial and have one of the characters turn someone into a frog in the middle of the book?
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
Both, actually. I come up with the broad strokes of a novel (or a series) at the outset, and then write it chapter-by-chapter. After each chapter, I have my trusty team of beta readers review what I've written and give me detailed feedback on whether I'm hitting the desired emotional notes, whether the characters feel believable, and things like that. If they're not, then the chapter gets re-written.
These re-writes sometimes mean that I come at the chapter from an entirely different direction than I'd thought, or completely change how I had planned to have parts of the plot unfold. (This has happened to me several times in the course of writing The Void, Book 2 of The Weaver Saga, which has made the writing experience very frustrating.)
So, my process is that I have a few Big Ideas that are inviolate, but how I get to those ideas often involves much pantsing. (Is that a word?)
What is the best advice that you have ever been given when it comes to writing?
You gave it to me, actually, Angela. "It's ALL subjective."
What advice would you give to a first-time author?
Well, I have several Cardinal Rules of Fantasy fiction (which can be found here, here, and here). But the most important one: love what you write. If you love your story, there's a good chance your readers will too.
What other projects do you have in the works at the moment?
Right now, all of my creative energy is going into The Void. I have a few other things in mind, but I'll keep quiet on those for now (except to say that one of them is Book 2 in the Legal Fiction Series).
What made you decide to go the publishing route that you did?
I like the fact that self-publishing gives me more control -- not just of the story I'm writing, but also of the advertising. Any clever slogans you see on my Tweets? I came up with them. The McClain & Gamble firm website? I made it (with a generous assist from Danielle Bourdon for the banner graphic). My guest blog posts? I wrote them all, on topics of my choosing. There's an incredible sense of accomplishment that comes with that.
Oh, and the fact that the royalties are better doesn't hurt, either.
Do you write every single day? Every other day? Once a week? Or just when the muse hits?
I try to write every single day. Having said that, I'm a lawyer by day, so when I have a big motion due or something like that, sometimes I go a few days without writing. And sometimes, I just burn out or need a vacation, like everyone else. But every day is the goal.
Coke or Pepsi?
Dr Pepper. (Texas pride!)
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Long, Tall Texan. (Apologies to Lyle Lovett.)
What's one of your favorite quotes?
"The two things that matter most to me in the work that I do: emotional resonance and rocket launchers." -Joss Whedon
Stalking info:
Blog: onthebird.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OnTheBird
Twitter: @onthebird
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/John-Abramowitz/e/B005HMRZXQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/onthebird
Leave John a comment and you just might win a copy of ATTICUS FOR THE UNDEAD. John is actually going to give away TWO copies.
You gave it to me, actually, Angela. "It's ALL subjective."
What advice would you give to a first-time author?
Well, I have several Cardinal Rules of Fantasy fiction (which can be found here, here, and here). But the most important one: love what you write. If you love your story, there's a good chance your readers will too.
What other projects do you have in the works at the moment?
Right now, all of my creative energy is going into The Void. I have a few other things in mind, but I'll keep quiet on those for now (except to say that one of them is Book 2 in the Legal Fiction Series).
What made you decide to go the publishing route that you did?
I like the fact that self-publishing gives me more control -- not just of the story I'm writing, but also of the advertising. Any clever slogans you see on my Tweets? I came up with them. The McClain & Gamble firm website? I made it (with a generous assist from Danielle Bourdon for the banner graphic). My guest blog posts? I wrote them all, on topics of my choosing. There's an incredible sense of accomplishment that comes with that.
Oh, and the fact that the royalties are better doesn't hurt, either.
Do you write every single day? Every other day? Once a week? Or just when the muse hits?
I try to write every single day. Having said that, I'm a lawyer by day, so when I have a big motion due or something like that, sometimes I go a few days without writing. And sometimes, I just burn out or need a vacation, like everyone else. But every day is the goal.
Coke or Pepsi?
Dr Pepper. (Texas pride!)
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Long, Tall Texan. (Apologies to Lyle Lovett.)
What's one of your favorite quotes?
"The two things that matter most to me in the work that I do: emotional resonance and rocket launchers." -Joss Whedon
Stalking info:
Blog: onthebird.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OnTheBird
Twitter: @onthebird
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/John-Abramowitz/e/B005HMRZXQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/onthebird
Leave John a comment and you just might win a copy of ATTICUS FOR THE UNDEAD. John is actually going to give away TWO copies.
