This was an oral story that I told to my son first. So, I had a lot of material before I even sat in front of my computer. I just had to remember it!
Dave Maruszewski – 8 February 2022
The Back Flap
Recently knighted squires Raven, Romda, and Ravai are tasked to help a nearby priest. However, this simple errand turns into much more. As the three knights investigate, they get drawn into a complex journey.
A being simply named the Dark Beast comes to the attention of the trio. From local gossip, the Dark Beast sounds more like a character from a fable than a real life person. Now, this Beast is on a mission to destroy an entire city. The three can’t let that happen. They will have to work outside of their safe castle walls and go into a country of unknown people and places.
Could it be that the Dark Beast tales are true? And what of his power? Raven, Romda and Ravai have their own strengths and knowledge, but will it be enough to defeat a being so superior? They may have no choice. The Dark Beast is coming …”
About the book
What is the book about?
This is a book about 3 friends (Raven, Romda and Ravai) who are recently knighted. They go on their first mission which seems like a simple task. However, it starts to spiral as they encounter the Dark Beast who wants to destroy a town. As they journey to the town, they meet people who fill them in about the Beast. Each person fills in a little more of the background story. How much of it is true or not? The three will find out when they meet the Dark Beast.
When did you start writing the book?
I started it around 5 years ago (2016). It started out as an oral tale, but then I brought it to type about 3 years ago.
How long did it take you to write it?
Depends on how you look at it. The first pass was less than a year. It probably took me like 4 months to write the whole thing. However, with rewrites and edits, it ended up being about 2 years.
Where did you get the idea from?
I thought that it would be neat to have a story be made of smaller stories, but all connected. So, I had characters tell stories of the past. The people would then give a composite about our antagonist (The Dark Beast.) Then, our protagonists (Raven, Romda and Ravai) would go about these smaller excursions on their way to meet the antagonist. These small stories would fill the people in on who they are.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Well, I had a lot of small stories that I needed to seam together. I was hoping to have each chapter be a small story, but some were just too large. I ended up splitting some of the Dark Beast tales into sections. It turned out that I liked it this way because different characters would tell the entire story. That could leave some mystery and/or different ways the stories were told.
What came easily?
This was an oral story that I told to my son first. So, I had a lot of material before I even sat in front of my computer. I just had to remember it! Once I got the bones down, it actually was fairly easy and I realized how much I liked storytelling in written form. By expanding it from a bedtime story to a full-blown story was cool. Filling in the pieces came easy.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Many of the characters are inspired by real people. The Ravai character actually came from one of my son’s friends. The more that I wrote, the more he became an amalgam of many of my son’s friends, mostly the males.
It helps to use a real person as the “Starter Set.” I find that when I get stuck with dialog or choices, then I can refer back to what that person would do. Even if the reaction doesn’t fit well into the book, I can always modify and massage it in a way that would fit the story better.
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 grew up reading comic books, so writers like Wolfman, Byrne and Claremont were influential. That is the low end part of my writing, I guess you could say. Comics in general have a good way to set up action/fighting. They have a story that ends in a focus of some showdown. My own writing essentially takes this form.
As for the higher end, I loved Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. I’ve read it more times than any other book. He has a great way of injecting the search of universal truths into his writings amidst very messy situations. Even though I am nowhere near as smart as him, I am using a similar process to insert themes into my writing.
Putting both of those parts together, I’m trying to write rich but approachable books.
Do you have a target reader?
I don’t like demographics, so I hate having to pick an age group. Instead, I decided to write for people who don’t like to read but still appreciate depth.
I think that many presume that people who don’t like to read are a little simple. However, I think that a decent percentage of those non-readers might have an anxiety or even a disorder. I was a terrible reader when I was a kid. I was slow, lost my place often and couldn’t read for long periods of time. I’m going after that type of person.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
If you knew me, you would know that I get my fingers into many things. So, I like playing with a process to see what I can get out of it. I’m still at this stage where I haven’t perfected a routine or common practice.
I guess, eventually I will use an outline. So, there’s that. However, I don’t even use that consistently. Sometimes, I start with an outline. Sometimes, I build an outline as I go. Sometimes, I use small outlines per chapter or situation. I think that is the fun thing about writing. It is so on your own and non-supervised that you can constantly mess up your sandbox.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
See above J I think at some point in my writing, I need structure. I feel like I am stuck in between a battle between both sides of my brain, creativity and order. Eventually, I have to choose order to tame my creativity or I spiral out of control.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I like to edit as I go. I am never short on writing. However, sometimes my text can come out as drivel. I need to clean up often or I lose the clean thread (or I just create word jumbles.) When I get to the end, I will re-read my book and edit it at least one more time. At some point, I have to cut myself off. To write three paragraphs, I can get it just right after about 8 re-writes. To do a whole page, wow!
However, polish doesn’t necessarily guarantee a good piece. In fact, sometimes sophistication can push it to an effete status. You know, just like the word effete.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I do. I even pass it to my wife first, who has a great eye for those things. Then, a professional English major is in order. That is one area where I am lacking. I’ll let story take precedence over grammar and good prose. I think I would be a horrible editor of others works.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Definitely! Nothing too complicated like Classical or my brain starts trying to interpret the music instead of thinking on the subject. So, I usually will put it at a low volume.
I get anxiety about starting to write. So, if I need a little extra boost, I’ll listen to some loud rock at in the very beginning so that I can get a little adrenaline boost. Then, the volume goes down and it can stay there or 70/80’s R&B, pop or even metal … anything with good guitar and bass.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No, I wanted to get moving on my project so I didn’t want to shop it around. There’s a lot of competition out there, and it is hard enough to get a review. I thought that it would be quicker and simpler if I completed the process via the hybrid model.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I think the freedom was the best. I’m a first-time author on this upcoming book, and I didn’t see myself fully satisfying a larger book publisher with who I am and what I am trying to do. This way I get to make exactly what I want.
I talked with a few other authors to see what they did, and after talking with them I knew that Indie was best for me. So, it was a fairly quick decision after that. That is my usual process: research then deciding. I’m not a natural decision maker. I usually need to convince myself. After that, I just see where it goes.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I got it professionally done. I have decent skills in that area, but I don’t have the time. I find the time to complete promotional work overwhelming as it is.
If I made every cover, I’d hem and haw over every art detail, just trying to get it all right. I’d take even more time to get my books out!
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I have a plan, but it changes based on the dead ends that I encounter. It’s crazy!
I started off with a list that I thought that I could just check off. However, I realized that I needed a timeline. In a way, it worked out better. I am more invigorated about meeting the deadlines such that I don’t dawdle with the unpleasant stuff as much.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Just jump into it! If you worry too much about the other details, you’ll talk yourself out of it. Naiveté gets more done than pessimism or even realism.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up mostly in Western New York, around an hour south of Buffalo in a town called Lakewood. It was fairly rural. I loved it. I liked going out playing a sport or hiking in a field with my friends without notice. Just go, have fun and relax.
I moved in high school and I took it pretty hard. It’s true that small town lets you be who you want to be. I had to fit in more when I moved to Maryland.
Where do you live now?
I just moved to Carmel, Indiana. My friends moved out here and said we should, too. So, oddly enough, we did.
That is a big step for our family. We don’t usually venture out big like that. It turns out that we loved the decision. The area is great. A lot of stuff to do, and it has access to whatever we need. As a person from a small town, it doesn’t feel too big either. I’ve always liked the Midwest personalities. That courteous, friendly demeanor is very much appreciated.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Oh, wow. I’m not really that impressive. However, I’m not sure that is something that I want people to know.
I guess I would say that I am very good-hearted. I want to make good-hearted books as well. I think modern fiction went a little too far with the anti-hero. I plan to have a safe space for people to read about well-intentioned people … beating up on bad-intentioned people. That doesn’t sound right, but I like to investigate what people do when you can’t have a constructive discussion with people anymore. What happens then?
What are you working on now?
Since the Dark Beast is the first in a series, I am writing more on that series. I have about 7 books loosely constructed with the bones of some long running character development and plot lines. Two are completed but need some editing.
I also have some more involved novels not related to the Raven, Romda and Ravai series. I have started playing with outlines and things like that. However, those aren’t fully thought out yet. Those are more dabbling because I like doing this so much.
In my spare time, I like to program, so I’m constantly making apps and games. I call it my spare time, because my book has officially took over my schedule. Technically, software development is my day job. I’m not sure that is true anymore.
End of Interview:
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Get your copy of The Dark Beast from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
