I also target not only people who have lived or know Oakland but those who have never been. I want to show people the good and sometimes not so good of the city. Every place has good and bad, places and people. I just want to bring it to life.
Ronald S. Barrios – 19 January 2014
The Back Flap
James Yuen is the leader of a Chinese Mafia family, he’s also the target of a plot that involves ritualistic murder. When James and his daughter Jennifer hire Rey to protect him and find the would-be killers they neglect to tell him that because of an ancient prophecy Rey’s life will also be in danger. The case turns out to be more than Rey counted on so he turns to Chris Nathan. Now Rey and Chris are involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse and in order to get the help they need Rey must agree to locate someone for Steve Austin, the only problem is there is a real possibility that Steve may have to kill the man he needs Rey and Chris to find.
About the book
When did you start writing the book?
Jan 2011
How long did it take you to write it?
About three (3) months give or take a few days
Where did you get the idea from?
I needed an idea for the next book in the Rey series and 2012 was the year of the dragon so I figured why not?
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
No
What came easily?
Not to sound arrogant but writing comes easily to me. I never have writer’s block and run out of ideas to write about. My protagonist is a Private Investigator so crimes are pretty much always available only limited to my imagination.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Rey is loosely based on me in that he was born and raised in Oakland Ca and loves the city and the people. He’s been where I’ve been and seen pretty much what I’ve seen but other than that I’ve created everyone else.
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?
Robert B Parker was the biggest influence on me. His writing style in the sense that he would not waste words, meaning why use five when three will do. I love writing dialog, as did Parker. In fact I feel that dialog pushes the story along better than anything because it helps develop not only the characters, because everyone speaks in a unique rhythm, but it also works well with plot.
Do you have a target reader?
Anyone who loves mystery novels. I don’t use profanity or sex so anyone can pick up my books and not have to worry about what they may read. I also target not only people who have lived or know Oakland but those who have never been. I want to show people the good and sometimes not so good of the city. Every place has good and bad, places and people. I just want to bring it to life.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Yes, I write ten (10) pages a day, five days a week. I write five (5) pages in the morning then take a break and catch up on sports scores, then after lunch I write another five (5) pages then do some editing. I know what you’re thinking, ‘Ten pages a day would mean it doesn’t take three months to write a 300-350 page book’, but lately I’ve been writing two books at once, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. I’m a weirdo, I know.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I never outline. I know my characters pretty well so there’s no need. Plus I tried to outline a story once and spent so much time on the outline that I never wrote the book! Haha. I ended up with a 200+ page outline and no book.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I start off rereading what I’d written the day before and do minor edits, whatever I catch, then I do another edit when the book is finished then I send it out to some friends to proof read then publish.
Did you hire a professional editor?
No.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No. Just me and my thoughts, and my coffee.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I had an agent at one time. Not anymore.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
As I said I had an agent and we sent my books out to everyone, and like every other writer I got more rejections than I care to think about. Haha. But a lot of them were positive. One small publishing house, I don’t remember the name and wouldn’t tell if I did, actually offered to publish a book but told me I needed to add profanity because according to them, “that’s how people in urban areas speak”, and implied that a sex scene or two wouldn’t hurt. I rejected them. Then I decided to go Independent. I have to tell you, it feels good to be Independent.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I did the first two covers myself but this last novel, Year of the Dragon, I had a professional artist create for me. His name is King B.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I’m still learning marketing so a little of both, I think. If you have any advice I’m open.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
I think you need to really do your homework. Going indie is a good thing and it gives you freedoms you may not enjoy otherwise but you have to realize that it is a lot of work. Everything is on you. Just make sure that you are ready for it and understand what you’re in for and if you still want to do it, I highly recommend you start slow and just keep moving forward. You can do it.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Oakland California
What would you like readers to know about you?
I appreciate everyone who chooses to read my books because I know that they can choose not to so I do my best to write novels that are worthy of their time. It’s also the reason I don’t call Readers “fans”. They are not Fanatic for me or my books or me, they are Readers just as I am a Reader.
What are you working on now?
I’ve written a Y.A. novel and I’m currently working on a new Rey novel. Both will be released this year.
Thank you for the interview. I really appreciate it.
End of Interview:
For more, follow Ronald on twitter or like his page on facebook.
Get your copy of Year of the Dragon from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook)
