Interview with J.L. Savage
Published 2013-11-04.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
I have a passion for writing, and mornings are my most productive time of the day. I typically write from about six to eight in the morning, then head off to the gym. I usually take the weekends off to read or go hiking in the desert.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I was born and raised in the desert, and like to spend my free time exploring isolated canyons near my home. It's amazing what kind of crazy thoughts you can have--without stimulants--when you spend time alone in the desert. Find a quiet spot near your home!
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I spend a lot of time in bookstores and my local public library. I also spend a lot of time searching the book catalog at Kindle and on my iPad. I just finished reading Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" and decided to read the book after watching the movie, "Capote." That's how I usually find books to read--either by watching a movie or watching a documentary that mentions a book title.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes. When I was 10 years old I wrote a 5,000 word short story about a boy who runs away from home and lives near a spring in the mountains near my childhood home in the Mojave Desert. I had just read, "My Side of the Mountain," for the third time, so the story was a natural. When my father found it, he whipped my butt and destroyed the story. He never could appreciate fiction and thought my story was something I actually wanted to do. Of course I wanted adventure, we all do, but I knew where supper was served and knew I could not live on spring water and lizards.
What is your writing process?
I start any new writing project by trying to come up with an opening line and see where it takes me. To me, writing fiction is a discovery process. I've tried outlining stories in the past, but it doesn't seem to work for me. I'd rather start with a line, create a character the line applies to, and then toss in a conflict and see how my character works his or her way through it.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I started reading books early, and fell in love with my school library in the 3rd grade. Because of my background, I gravitated towards westerns. I discovered Jack London in the 6th grade, and knew from the first page of "White Fang" that I wanted to write action adventure stories.
How do you approach cover design?
I look for an image on the various stock photo websites that best matches the mood or theme of the story. I then use a simple process of layering bright text over the photo. I want the title to stand out, and the background image to hint at the topic of the book. I'm not a graphic artist and have a lot of room for improvement in this area.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
I'm still a sucker for westerns and particularly enjoy reading Louis L'Amour books. I've read them all several times. My favorite of his is an autobiographical work called, "Education of a Wandering Man." The book tells about L'Amour's "wandering" years during the Depression, and how he taught himself to be a writer.
What do you read for pleasure?
I'm an eclectic reader, and read both fiction and non-fiction for pleasure. When I'm looking for pure entertainment, I may read something by Lee Child or Stephen King. One of my favorite non-fiction writers is Malcolm Gladwell--that guy can turn subjects like demographics and statistics into a page turner.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I use a Kindle when I'm at the gym. At home, I read ebooks on my PC. At bedtime, I turn to my iPad. For camping trips, I leave the electronics at home and prefer to tuck a paperback under my arm.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
I love the ebook marketing business. We live in fascinating times, and as a writer, I am thankful for sites like Smashwords which enable writers to share their passion with a global audience. So far, my marketing has been somewhat barren. I concentrate on writing, and let the Smashwords system distribute my material to you.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
Books by This Author
Dark Waters
by J.L. Savage
What starts as a simple invitation for a cup of coffee turns into a fight for justice and survival when Archer Lake is confronted by an ultimatum—find and stop an international arms dealer, or live with the consequences.