Interview with Mike Sutton

Published 2016-02-06.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
Alaska. Mostly. Michigan, somewhat less. We moved a lot. I developed a love for fiction in Jr. High(video games before that).
When did you first start writing?
Early in college. I wrote a couple 1 act plays for fun, and then muddled through a full length play. Finally in about 2005 I started writing a short story about the zombie apocalypse, which GRRMed.
What are you working on next?
I've been dabbling in a series of short stories about a dystopian future. Also, lyrics for a buddy's metal band. Neither of which take a lot of time and focus.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
When I was writing full time, I was excited to see where the story would go that day. I couldn't wait to get up in the morning and go to work.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I enjoy taking long walks to recharge. I also participate in the national sport of my people, Video games. I don't tend to read fiction while in writing mode, but I do read a bit of non-fiction. I also dabble in approximations of medieval crafts(leather and chainmail) when I have the energy.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
No. that was probably around 30 years ago in elementary school.
What is your writing process?
I get up, break fast, goof off on the internet. Then write for a while. I set a goal of 2000 words a day and work towards that - revisions not withstanding. Taking my walks allows me to work through issues in the story while doing something simple and physical. Finally I write some more before going to bed. Leaving myself somewhere to start up again in the morning.
How do you approach cover design?
I prefer simple abstracted scenes from my stories. Lots of photoshop.
What do you read for pleasure?
Fantasy has been my genre of choice since I was 12. Then some science fiction and historical fiction.

I also love history, biography, and popular science.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I prefer actual physical books. I like the feel and the smell of paper(especially old books). I like being able to flip back and forth through the text, to dog-ear pages.

But I also use my phone, as It is always with me and can hold hundreds of volumes.
Describe your desk
It is a chaotic repository of junk. From books that I am working on to a cup of steel rings. Fortunately I write on my laptop and can avoid the distraction.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I was compelled to become a writer by a passion for writing. So I worked on a vain attempt to avoid a real job after graduation. My goal was to get published - and it went as well as my previous goal of being a professional college student. So I released my work through the epub medium.

People buying the first book in the series feels fantastic. But not nearly as much so as when they come back for the rest of the series in one go.
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