Interview with S.A. Mulraney

Published 2014-07-15.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I have to say, it's when readers come back and say how much they enjoyed my writing. Sure, I write my stories for my own personal reasons, but it has a sense of validation when someone else likes it.
What are you working on next?
I have many projects in the works. My YA fantasy is coming out by the end of the summer (2014) and I have to start working on its sequel. I also have the concluding volume of my adult suspense/thriller trilogy to complete (written under my pen name, Andy Rane). I'm also working on a post-apocalyptic paranormal story called Ash. I've also got the conclusion to Liquid Blue to finish, along with an adult paranormal series I'm working on, called The Clock Smyth. Lastly, I've got the beginnings of a Steampunk story in the works. And, I'm sure another half dozen ideas will creep into my head soon. ;)
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My sore back. But, seriously... I feel like I was given one gift. I can tell a decent story. If I don't do something to utilize that gift each day, I feel like I've let myself down.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I like to stay active, either through a brisk walk or going to the gym.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I remember certain stories more vividly. I remember the first time I read Stephen King. It was Night Shift. I was terrified, but intrigued by how the words were able to do that to me. I wanted to be able to do that.
How do you approach cover design?
I've had most of my covers created by others. However, these first few books I've published to Smashwords under my own name (as opposed to my pen name, Andy Rane) are covers I created at a site called Canva.com. I think they're pretty cool.
What do you read for pleasure?
I read YA, primarily, but I also like Cormac McCarthy... and that's about as far from YA as possible. But, I guess I read a bit of everything. I don't read high fantasy or hard science fiction. I don't read much horror anymore either.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I have an older Kindle. No idea what "generation." Third maybe? If I had an HD or iPad, I'd just play more games than I already do. :-/
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Paid ads on popular sites are effective. I've tried it all. Soon, I'll be on a local TV spot about self-publishing. We'll see how effective that is. ;-)
Describe your desk
You have a desk? You are SOOO lucky! Seriously, I go outside my home to write, otherwise, my desk is a lap desk while I sit on my bed or the couch.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in New Jersey, which is where I still live. Jersey is great state. It gets a bad rap from misrepresentation in the media. There are a lot of good people here. We're just so tightly packed, we get a little ornery sometimes. In a sense, 9/11 happened in my back yard. If you didn't lose someone, you knew someone who did. It brought a sense of mortality to my life that had only lurked in the shadows in the past. I have seen the best and the worst of living conditions. Multimillion dollar homes are separated by a few miles in certain areas. If you close your eyes to it, you are denying what it really means to live, for good or bad. In the stories I write, there is never a perfect world. There is happiness and sadness, but never a sense of absolutes.
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Books by This Author

Liquid Blue, Book 1, Part II
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 20,310. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction, Fiction » Science fiction » General
With Caeden Llewellyn's apparent death, his father and best friend track down the person responsible for causing the mining rig to fail and plummet into Jupiter's atmosphere. What they discover is more than they bargained for. Meanwhile, a not-so-dead Caeden wakes to a whole new world and the reality that war may be coming to Earth. This is Part II of III.
Liquid Blue, Book 1, Part I
Price: Free! Words: 17,270. Language: English. Published: June 24, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction, Fiction » Science fiction » General
(3.00 from 1 review)
The year is 2074 and interstellar travel is a reality. Man has populated the solar system and distant worlds. Peace on Earth has become the norm, but a new threat is looming on the horizon. A threat posed by the same creatures that gave man the technology to travel the stars to begin with.