Interview with M. W. Wolf
Published 2014-12-03.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first book that I ever fell in love with was "Watership Down," by Richard Adams. It fascinated me that rabbits could talk and think, and well, have many of the same concerns as people.
How do you approach cover design?
Through delegation. I use Derek Chiodo, at eCoverMakers.com. He does a great job at a reasonable cost, and he'll keep revising it until you get the look you want.
What do you read for pleasure?
Books about Th. Jefferson, wine, and Christianity--I'm always curious to know if someone has discovered new evidence to yea or nay religious doctrine.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
It's been a Kindle, since I received it as a gift.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
I'm just entering this aspect of the game. I recently hired a publicist, Rachel Anderson, at rmapublicity.com. We've just constructed a press kit, which she'll get out when I'm up and running with my distributors--CreateSpace, Smashwords, and Lightning Source. I also believe in branding, which is writing more books (not necessarily with the same characters) with a very similar appearance so that customers can always tell that they are mine. I think if an author can write several good pieces, get them into several distribution channels, and keep up with fans willing to serve as their spokesperson, then sales will come in the end. Of course, finding someone willing to make a movie of my book would be awsome.
Describe your desk
I can't, really. It's under too much stuff. But I think it's a golden oak.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb of Saint Paul. I hated writing. I use to get the shakes if I had to write a 2-page paper! Then in my mid-forties, when most guys are dreaming about owning a red Ferrari to calm their mid-life crisis, I went to law school. William Mitchell taught me how to write. They taught me a little something about the law, too. Afterwards, I found myself critiquing other people's writing to the point where I was less interested in what they had to say, then how they said it. I discovered that many people--many learned professionals--simply do not know how to write. Writing became enjoyable once I felt that I'd gained some proficiency for it. And that's when I began my first novel: Ambrose: A Modern Rendition.
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Books by This Author
Ambrose: A Modern Rendition
by M. W. Wolf
"Ambitious worldbuilding" -- Kirkus Reviews. "Solid characterization . . . difficult to put down" -- D. Donovan, Senior eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review. The life story of Ambrose, a fourth century bishop who lived in Milan, Italy near the close of the Roman Empire. However, this book captures his life as though he were living today, in the modern, somewhat futuristic, United States.
