I’m learning as I go and have found that I LOVE writing… Marketing, not so much. But I also know that a great book won’t get read if no one knows it exists.
Beverley Scherberger – 17 February 2018
The Back Flap
Carl and Laralee and their team of scientists are hired by the Spanish government to develop a highly secret, revolutionary serum. Their goal—to create an army of carnivorous monkeys that would give Spain an indisputable advantage over its enemies. They succeed beyond their wildest dreams. However, greatly increased intelligence is an unexpected side effect that causes serious complications. The beasts are thinking, reasoning, and increasingly dangerous.
After one death and several serious attacks on workers, the scientific team is relieved to learn their request to move the facility to a larger island with more security and built-in safeguards is approved.
While awaiting news of a moving date, additional experiments with orangutans prove successful as well. James and Julie, the most advanced, skilled, and lovable of the facility’s apes, have mated. Will they produce the amazingly intelligent offspring the team expects?
During the facility’s relocation, a terrible storm wreaks havoc with their plans and the new island turns out to be anything but a safe haven. Carl and Laralee, Doc Gustav and Teresa, and the rest of the team battle for survival against their own nightmarish creations.
About the book
What is the book about?
The location of “Savage Isle” is a small-ish island selected by the Spanish government on which a group of scientists perform top-secret experiments on primates. The goal of one set of experiments is to develop a serum that will create an army of carnivorous monkeys capable of traveling over any type of terrain ~ they will never run out of food as long as they defeat the enemy. An unexpected side effect is that the serum greatly increases the monkeys’ intelligence and reasoning process, making them much more dangerous.
A second set of experiments is being performed on orangutans to make them helpful, friendly, kind, and willing to aid humans in many different types of work. Their intelligence is also enhanced, and they can be used as butlers, gardeners, factory workers, etc. Their helpful, willing-to-please attitudes and extraordinary strength make them invaluable.
Eventually, the scientists deem the island too small for them to work in such close proximity to the increasingly vicious monkeys and they petition the government to move the facility to a larger island. Their request is approved but in the process of relocating, the ships are caught in a storm that blows them off course and onto a reef, sinking both vessels and sending people and animals alike into the water, fighting for their lives.
The survivors have no idea how many animals make it safely to the nearby island. They hope and pray for rescue, but after many months, realize they must make a life for themselves in the new locale. Couples are formed, children are born, and life goes on, but all is not idyllic in this tropical paradise. In some cases, it’s humans against humans; in others, it’s monkey versus human.
In the end, only one person survives the all-out attacks on the village.
Savage Isle is the prequel to Stranded and that story takes up where Savage Isle leaves off, however, this book is a stand-alone story, complete in and of itself. You do not have to have read one to enjoy and understand the other.
When did you start writing the book?
Let’s see… My last book came out in mid-July, so I must’ve started Savage Isle later that month.
How long did it take you to write it?
Five months.
Where did you get the idea from?
I had readers asking for a Book II for Stranded and rather than a sequel, I decided to write the “what-came-before” part of the story. So I created the whole back-story for how Stranded came to be and wrote Savage Isle.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Since this book chronologically takes place BEFORE Stranded, I sometimes found myself glossing over portions where I already knew what happened because it was explained in the next book. However, to make Savage Isle a stand-alone read, I had to go back and more fully develop those parts.
What came easily?
I enjoy writing the ‘thriller’ parts, so the attacks on the village, the fight scenes between humans and monkeys, even the human versus human parts were easy for me to get into.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I once asked my readers to send me names of people who should be killed off ~ only in the book, of course! ~ so one of the characters was named by a fan. Another was named after someone I know, but the rest are entirely fictitious.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I started writing at a young age ~ sixth grade ~ and feel I’ve developed my own style, but I do like the way Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Peter Benchley create scary scenarios. Not that I put myself on a par with any of them, but I’ve been told I can craft a really hair-raising scene. I love strong verbs and adjectives that make a story come alive for the reader.
Do you have a target reader?
Anyone who enjoys action, adventure, and thrillers ~ whether young or old, male or female ~ if they like a story to raise the hair on the back of their neck or make their heart pound should love my books.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I’ve always been a ‘pantser’ ~ writing by the seat of my pants and just letting the story flow. But with Savage Isle, I created a framework that listed the Protagonist and Antagonist in the main plot, what they wanted and what they did to make a change. I did the same with the sub-plot. I noted the conflict and then made a list of the Story Beginning, Game Changer 1, Game Changer 2, Game Changer 3, and the Story Ending. In each Game Changer I itemized the most important topics.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
No, I’ve never outlined a book. I guess the framework I used for Savage Isle was the closest I’ve come. I know an outline isn’t carved in stone and I could change it any time I wanted, but I sometimes can’t sleep when I have a lot going on in my head and end up changing the entire direction of a chapter at 4:00a.m. It kind of makes an outline pointless if I’m going to go by the seat of my pants, anyway.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I’m a serial editor. I can’t help myself. I edit newspaper articles, magazine stories, and emails from friends. My cousin won’t email me because he knows I’ll find all the mistakes ~ he calls me after I email him. Mistakes, typos, weird sentences ~ they all jump out and slap me up alongside the head. What’s a person to do?
Did you hire a professional editor?
For the reason stated above, I do all my own proofreading. I have a wonderful friend who is excellent at content editing and is also an author, so we trade. She gives me pointers, ideas, and the occasional kick in the pants to improve the content of my stories, and I proofread her stuff. It’s a great arrangement and costs a whole lot less than hiring a professional editor. I’ve seen some self-pubbed work that was supposedly professionally done, and I know between my friend and I, we do a better job.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No, I like silence while I write. Nothing intrudes on the thought process.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No, I like the control of self-publishing; being able to finish a book and put it up on Amazon right away without waiting months or a year to get it ‘out there’; and frankly, I believe you make more money self-pubbing. Some well-known authors who have been traditionally published are going with self-pub for that reason. And it’s a lot of time-consuming work to try and find a publisher, write those queries, etc. when I could be working on my next book, instead.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
See above.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My first book, Stranded, was done by a professional graphics design firm and I paid an outrageous amount for it. I love the cover, but would never do that again. After that, I visited Upwork.com and found a great designer who ‘gets me’. She takes my ideas and improves on them and I’ve loved every cover she’s done for me (four out of my six books). And her price is a FRACTION of what I paid the first time around. So I can’t say I did Savage Isle myself, but I knew I wanted a jungle background and a monkey showing lots of teeth. She took my ideas and suggestions and ran with them ~ and I love the end result!
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I’m learning as I go and have found that I LOVE writing… Marketing, not so much. But I also know that a great book won’t get read if no one knows it exists. So I’ve spent considerable time recently contacting bloggers and asking for reviews and have had good luck with this approach. I plan to create some targeted ads ~ which I have not done for previous books. And I’ll do some cross-promos with other writers.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
After reading numerous self-published books that contain an embarrassing number of errors, missing words, typos, and weirdly-crafted sentences, I would say ALWAYS have your book professionally edited ~ or at the very least, professionally proofread. A story can be well-told and captivating, but if it’s full of errors, I’ll never read that author again. And I’m sure I’m not the only person in the world who feels that way. It’s worth it to make a good first impression!
About You
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Ohio, but my family moved to Pennsylvania when I was two. I grew up there, returning to Ohio at age 40 to go to college. Following graduation, I moved to Arizona and finally got warm! I hated the winters in NW PA. Ohio wasn’t much better.
Where do you live now?
When I retired, I relocated to a small village in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, South America. I love the (very) small-town living and slower pace of life. I don’t even own a car! I walk everywhere or take an inexpensive bus or taxi. Here is where I joined the local writers club and found the support and encouragement I needed to begin my first book. In only 15 months, I’d written and published six! I guess the writing/publishing bug bit me hard.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I’m an animal lover and wanted a horse all my life. Now, at age 63, I finally have one! His name is Socrates and he’s taught me the true meaning of patience. My kitty Squeak is my best buddy ~ we’ve been together for eleven years and I read my books to her. She even purrs at the scary parts! I’d have a dog, too, but Squeak has vehemently vetoed the idea.
End of Interview:
For more from Beverley, visit her website.
