Interview with Michael J Boyle
Published 2015-06-26.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
For many years I had the notion that I wanted to write a book, I often challenged why I would want to do that. There were no family traditions to follow, no authors amongst my siblings, I just wanted to write a book. My wife would tell me, “You won’t write a book, you don’t even read books”. I didn’t take that as a challenge I just thought that she could be right … but I will try one day, and find out.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
That was the surprising, I didn’t plan any times or working conditions in which to write. One morning I had just completed some maintenance items around the home and decided to do a rough outline on my thoughts about a plot for my book. I just sat down in front of the computer screen to jot down some points that I may ‘one day’ use for my book. From that time on, I just couldn’t leave my computer. I started writing and continued writing 6 - 7 hours a day.
What kept you at the task so long each day, did you ever have writer’s block?
Well, I suppose I did initially, I wrote myself into a corner. I could have completed my plot in 100 pages. I just didn’t have the experience to structure a book, so I had to learn as I went. I was so naïve, but my naivety proved ultimately to be my friend. I was discussing my then feeble attempt at writing with my wife, she simply stated, “Mike you can create any scene, any character any action you want, just make it interesting”. I thought about that for a while, and then the whole world of ideas opened up for me, to the point that I kept creating.
How long did it take you to write your book?
Over the fall, at around 600 pages in normal book size format. At the end of each writing day I didn’t want to leave the characters half-way through a part of their lives!! I needed to get them to a point where I felt they could be at rest. It is hilarious to me now when I look back, but I became so consumed in the story and the characters, I just wanted to keep writing.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your book?
I had an initial plot. I didn’t need to have a lot of statistical, factual or historical facts. I didn’t want a technical, historically correct story. I just wanted it to be interesting and exciting. Whilst it was a Sci-Fi, I also wanted to be sure that it was based on logic with reality laced with fiction is more plausible, more acceptable.
What did your family think of you writing a book?
They didn’t know until I sought out my son to have a look at what I had written in the first 200 pages. He is an avid Sci-Fi reader, and very critical of bad writing, so I took a chance that he may burst my literary bubble … he didn’t … I then submitted my writings to another prolific reader, and literary editor … one that would, regardless of family status give me a brutally honest appraisal … my wife … she suggested I continue writing. I did so with a little more confidence.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?
Not to become embroiled in all of the so called pre writing guides. The amount of information that is given on how to structure your plot, your book, generally, can be mind boggling. Then there are the publishing steps. It is frightening. It is enough to stop you from even commencing writing anything. It may not work for some, but I am so blessed that I didn’t enter into this mine-field of pre-writing jargon … I just sat down determined to write my book then submitted it to the literary system for editing and publishing.
How did you approach the Publishing of your book?
Because of my inexperience, I made many mistakes when searching for the best platform to launch my book. I approached over 16 Literary Agents and publishers in both Australia and USA. This was a total waste of time. Generally I found, not necessarily all of these agents, but I found that they were concerned about one item only … how much money they could make from my inexperience. I kept searching for many more weeks for a suitable publisher and was fortunate enough to find www.dizzyemupublishing.com this publisher has been able to do in one week what others had promised to do in months and at a very reasonable price.
My book (They Are Here) is now published on Amazon.com, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, nook, Kobo, Smashwords, all in the space of just a little over one week.
Do you have any suggestions to help other new writers?
I think the only suggestion I could offer is to have the commitment and the desire to write. I believe that if you have a semblance of a plot, and the other prior two factors, there is nothing to stop anyone from writing. It is a highly rewarding to read what you have created each day. You just want to keep writing.
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Books by This Author
They Are Here
by Michael J Boyle
One June evening, Stephen Jacobs was suddenly extracted and transported to another world. He learns, in essence, he has actually been under the Alien’s close surveillance and academic guidance for the past 30 years … just for this upcoming event … their DNA strain was dying … he was going to try and save them!
