I had such a problem reading too much as a teen that now, when people ask, and they ask often, they all often receive completely different answers. I might leave one person thinking I read one set of books and another one thinking I read a completely different type.
James Bayers – 21 February 2019
The Back Flap
Police Officer Lee Curtis has met his precise equal, in no way but genetics. In every other way, his genetic equal is not like him at all. In fact, his genetic equal is just the opposite. Especially the opposite side of the law. Oh, but how things change as Snake Slough ensues.
As it twists and turns like DNA, Snake Slough is brought to life.
About the book
What is the book about?
When two products of an unmonitored white-jacket cloak-and-dagger bureaucracy meet, a face-off between good and bad begins. Alex Carver and Lee Curtis are these products. Yeah that’s right, this is a story about two clones.
Their pasts are muddled with lies and their futures are subject to one clone being victorious over the other.
It’s a bit of a start to police officer Lee Curtis to find that he has a twin clone, but he was always aware of his own clone status. Alex Carver on the other hand is blown away. Not only has his life of crime been upset by the cop, but he’s also captivated by the idea that he has a brother he never knew about. That’s only the tip of the iceberg though. He soon finds himself exposed to a world of new possibilities, and he takes to it rather quickly.
When did you start writing the book?
I wrote most of the novella in 2013 and then then put a copyright on it because I’m particular about that kind of stuff. Then I put it down for several years. It wasn’t until 2018 that I competed it.
How long did it take you to write it?
Except for the five years between 2013 and 2018, it only took a few months. It’s not a lengthy novel.
Where did you get the idea from?
Well I was thinking about devils and angels. The idea of a book pitting good and bad against each other spawned easily out of that. In fact, the character, Paula, was originally named Angela. Like an Angel.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Yes, finishing it.
What came easily?
The plot and setting came very easy. The outcome and setting for the outcome was a bit of a nightmare coming up with. I don’t chase those ghosts though. It turned out well and the angst and conflicting things going on in my little pea brain at the time are not apparent in the book.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
It is 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?
Sure. So many from my youth that I couldn’t even possibly recount them all. I had such a problem reading too much as a teen that now, when people ask, and they ask often, they all often receive completely different answers. I might leave one person thinking I read one set of books and another one thinking I read a completely different type. This is not a thing I set out to do, just that I don’t have a set answer for this question. It depends on my mood.
At the time I came up with Snake Slough, I had just read several John Sanford novels. I can see his influence in the novella, but I don’t think it’s going to be obvious to everyone.
Do you have a target reader?
When I was young I used to write with the idea that I’d write cool books that the people I knew who didn’t read much would like. I wanted to get them hooked like I had been hooked. Snake Slough wasn’t written like this. Snake Slough was actually just something I enjoyed writing. It wasn’t my attempt to win anyone over.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Yes. Production. Production with as little of what I call “tippy tapping on the screen” as possible. In other words, I don’t like rearranging sentences or paragraphs. Once they are written, that’s it. Unless the story-line is off or some other plot problem arises, I don’t see a need to rearrange things to get them to sound or look a certain way.
This is my process. It’s not necessarily the best way, but it’s my process. So, if you want to write like I do, that’s how to do it.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Yes, I outline. I outline large portions of the story at a time. It’s like a leapfrog game I play with myself.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Wait until I finish.
Did you hire a professional editor? (May skip if being published by a small press rather than self-publishing)
No. Honestly, I don’t believe in them. That’s not to say that there aren’t people out there who could improve my book. Just that I don’t believe getting an editor would.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Never. I’m not a music person.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
The idea of it was appealing to me. It wasn’t about it being the best way. Really it was a coin toss and since this seems like the future of novels this is what I did.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I did it myself. I scoured the web for pictures of Snake Slough and found the cover on shutterstock.com. it was perfect. I know it doesn’t reflect the plot, and that throws some people off, but it reflects the title and the title indirectly represents a lot of what the book was supposed to be about.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
My plan is to get a few people to read it. Hopefully some word of mouth will be generated.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
No, but I could probably come up with a few questions. If there is one way that is better than the others, I couldn’t tell you.
End of Interview:
