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
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 13,490. Language: English. Published: November 16, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Adventure » Men’s adventure
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.
Rebel: A Story of Government Tyranny and One Man’s Quest for Justice
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 6,070. Language: English. Published: November 4, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General
“Rebel” is the story of one man’s struggle to survive. Transported to a concentration camp and forced to memorize political gibberish at the point of a gun, Recruit Jack Cordele must adapt to an oppressive new world order, or die.