Interview with David Dusty Cupples
Published 2014-06-05.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
So far I have not latched upon an effective marketing method.
Describe your desk
Could be anywhere I can plug in. On my lap at home, at the library. Haven't had a permanent desk since my days in Taiwan teaching English - doing the "struggling writer" thing just now.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Western Ontario and later Orange County, California. Probably this was fairly limiting; only by studying and traveling widely did I become interested in writing and acquire the life experience to be able to write anything meaningful. That need not be the case for others, of course.
When did you first start writing?
Fairly late, around the age of 40, with a first novel about Carl Jung. Never published, for good reason, I'm sure.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
The literary world didn't come knocking.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
Just getting started now.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Facing overwhelming difficulty and pulling it together into a meaningful story.
What do your fans mean to you?
I hope to have some some day.
What are you working on next?
Screenplay on revolution in Latin America.
Who are your favorite authors?
James Michener.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Gotta get to it - life might come knockin' but you won't hear the call if you're lazing around.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Walking. Trying to figure things out - like a plan for the future. Like to read independent news media and commentary. Enjoy a nice plate of pasta with vino.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Haven't read any yet.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
No, but an old report card from elementary school contained the note that I tell good stories.
What is your writing process?
Not a good outliner. I just try to push through a first draft and then try to make something out of it.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Probably a comic book, back in those days. I remember one, The Prince and the Pauper. I think the visual accompaniment to the storyline was good for a young kid. Comic books serve a purpose, I believe. One of the first books I remember having was Huckleberry Finn. I guess a sense of adventure came through, though I understood nothing about the racial issues until I was older.
How do you approach cover design?
Hire a pro.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
Fiction: Poland by James Michener. Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt.
Non-fiction: Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. Fateful Triangle by Noam Chomsky (or most other books by Chomsky).
All extremely powerful accounts of the world around us.
What do you read for pleasure?
Something one can learn from, whether life lessons in fictional form or historical background.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
