Interview with Stephen Baker
Published 2018-03-14.
Who are your favorite authors?
I really like fiction authors: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia), Jules Verne. I also like to read non-fiction theological works by Matthew Henry, John Gill, Charles Ryrie and others.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
I have to get up to take care of my church, prepare my sermons, write my books and go to work to provide for my wife and two dogs.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I like to spend my free time reading, studying, and watching mystery/drama on television.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Usually they are either recommended to me, or I stumble on to them while searching for something to read that I am interested in.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I'm not sure about the first story, but when I was in little kid, I wrote a poem called, "The Ceramic Pig" that was published in Highlights Magazine. It was about a guy who bought a pig from a farmer, and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't eat. He finally tripped, dropped it and discovered that it was ceramic--when it shattered into pieces. My teacher had a ceramic pig in her classroom that inspired the poem.
What is your writing process?
If I'm writing non-fiction, I do a lot of study and research. I build bibliographies and create endnotes. Fiction is more of a creative process, but either way I read, and read, and re-read. I make numerous revisions. I have editors (usually friends) analyze and critique the work. Writing is a long process and involves hard work. But it's fun!
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first story that I remember totally being blown away by was a book called, "A Murder for Her Majesty" by Beth Hilgartner. I remember thinking what a great story it was and how much fun it was to read.
How do you approach cover design?
I study other book covers, choose good graphics, and work on the design in Photoshop until I have something that I think looks good. Then, I let my wife look at it and given feedback. Finally, it is critiqued during the editing process.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
1. Tyndale's New Testament - First printed New Testament translated from the original Greek, and a historic work of English literature.
2. Pilgrim's Progress - a classic work of Christian allegorical fiction.
3. The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection - I love good detective stories and Holmes is the best!
4. John Gill's Commentary on the Bible - a great tool. I use it constantly.
5. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible. - a wonderful devotional and exegetical commentary.
What do you read for pleasure?
Sherlock Holmes. Bible commentaries. The Bible.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
A Kindle.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Free book promotions and using Facebook to promote the free book promotions.
Describe your desk
My desk is an easy chair with a laptop computer.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Northwest Georgia with a mother who was a musician and very creative. I also spent a lot of time in Middle Tennessee at my grandmother's house. These environments fueled a desire for adventure and creativity which shows up, especially in my works of fiction.
When did you first start writing?
When I was a small child. I used to dictate stories to my mother who would type them. I had my first work published when I was in pre-first.
What's the story behind your latest book?
The book I am currently working on is a historical fiction set in the late 1920's and early 1930's. It is my first historical fiction work and I'm doing lots of research. I am trying to tell some of my life story through the characters. I'm excited to see how it turns out!
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I always wanted to publish books but didn't know how to get started. When I discovered that I could self-publish in an economical way, it was fulfilling a long-held dream.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
I just started with Smashwords, but I'm hoping that this will allow me to get my books into new markets and gain new readers. I'm excited to see how the publishing process will work with Smashwords. It's a new adventure!
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
Books by This Author
The Written Word
by Stephen Baker
In THE WRITTEN WORD, you will read the amazing story of how God's Word originally came to man, how it was preserved over the centuries, and how it has been translated into the English language. The author writes from a conservative, pro-Received Text and pro-KJV viewpoint.
