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Interview with Mike Essig

Published 2015-12-22.
What's the story behind your latest book?
I wanted to show some of what I have been working on for the past eight years. This is just a small selection. More will follow.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Traditional publishers are too cumbersome and slow. The market for poetry is tiny. It makes more sense to self-publish. Walt Whitman thought so too.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
Yes. It has allowed​ me to get my ebooks to a much wider variety of readers on different platforms.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Writing makes my head hurt, but my heart leap.
What do your fans mean to you?
I want them to enjoy my words. I love to hear from them.
What are you working on next?
First, another general collection, then a book of three short stories and a collection of my surrealist poems.
Who are your favorite authors?
So many! Philip Roth, Jim Harrison, Wendell Berry, Charles Simic, Kim Addonizio, Paul Guest and far too many others to name. And, of course, all the great novelists of the Vietnam war.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Coffee, music, writing and curiosity.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Mostly reading. I don't own a TV.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Primarily by random browsing. The best way I think.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes. It was awful​.
What is your writing process?
Keep notebooks full of random lines and quotes, refer to them, get a good starting line and let the poem write itself.
What do you read for pleasure?
Fiction, poetry and much, much history.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I use a Kindle Fire.
Describe your desk
Chaotic.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in a small town when America was still great and free. The contrast between then and now fills my writing.
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Books by This Author

Never Forgotten by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 3,950. Language: English. Published: December 20, 2015 . Categories: Poetry » American poetry » General
These war poems are based on my experiences during the 1972 Easter Invasion of Vietnam.
Huck Finn Is Dead by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 3,710. Language: English. Published: December 20, 2015 . Categories: Poetry » American poetry » General
The poems grew out of the author's 64 years of experience in war, peace, life and love.