Interview with C.M. Healy
Published 2016-06-25.
Who are your favorite authors?
Shel Silverstein, Frank E Peretti, Stephen King, Dan Brown, Mark Waid
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Working hard to become a full time writer so I can spend more time with my family and friends. Knowing that it's a possibility to do what I love is encouraging. Each day brings me closer to my dream. How close depends on how much I work.
What is your writing process?
It depends on what I'm writing. For poems I use pad and paper, scratch out lines, rewrite, rearrange. For some reason I usually come up with an ending first and work my way on getting there.
If its a book like Beyond the After I'm writing now, I'll block out the various chapters and outline of the story and then I'll go back and type it all up as I go. It almost develops itself right as I'm writing it, kind of like a movie in my head.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
The dream of having enough money to be able to spend as much time with my family as I want so I don't have to miss a thing.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I love playing videos games like Zelda and watching all kinds of TV shows/movies. Sometimes I'll have a show on while I'm building Legos. And of course spending time with my wife just chillin' on the couch.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I was in an advanced class in grade school and we had to write one for a contest. I still have it and plan on polishing and publishing someday. Marvin Kugose: At the End of the Rainbow.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I'm not sure about the first story I ever read but the one that's had the most impact is Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. They changed how I viewed the world and why things happen as they do.
How do you approach cover design?
Sometimes I let the artist I've hired come up with something and we tweak from there. Or sometimes I get a specific idea of what I want and go from there. I can't draw a lick but it's difficult to let others do my artwork.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
This Present Darkness, The Oath, ANYTHING Shel Silverstein , Harry Potter series, Mere Christianity. All of these books have so much value at how they see things and how they are written. Each has it's own unique contribution to my writing styles (which are versatile as well) and how I think and create.
What do you read for pleasure?
Comic books, and anything that can keep my interest.
What's the story behind your latest book?
I can finally update this answer now that I'm finished.
Beyond the After: Princess Lillian. It's the first book of 4 about Snow White, Cinderella & Sleeping Beauty but 20 years later about their teenage daughters. I haven't changed anything about the original fairy tales. I simply integrated and extended their tale into a brand new fairy tale for old and young generations alike. So far, it's been getting great reviews on amazon and good reads from ages 10-60 and both genders. So if you're remotely interested in what happened after "happily ever after," then check it out. I promise you won't be disappointed.
I also have 2-3 more children's books coming out hopefully by the end of Aug 2016, so keep on the look out for those: I Can't, Penelope Pig, and another collection of silly poems.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
Smashwords has been an invaluable tool in starting. Getting your foot in the door is usually the hardest part, but they have made it super easy with their guide and examples. The fact that if you format your stuff right, their Meatgrinder will take care of every format necessary is AMAZING! My book was available at Apple iBooks 2-3 days after I uploaded and I only had to make one correction.
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