Take a Break With Em! More questions!!

It's the first week back from the back to back holidays and the last thing you really want to do is actually work at work. Especially if you are in an office setting with no deadlines in your immediate future. All you want to do is just scroll mindlessly, seeing if anyone out there is having a more excited time than you are now. So, how about we do some more Q&A on those "Interview Questions to ask an Author" on a podcast. 

Today I will take five of those questions plus one that was submitted by a reader!

Q1: What do the words "Writer's Block" mean to you?

A: Writers Block means I'm either not listening to the characters or I'm just not yet ready to know what's next. It means I have to get chores done so I can spend chunks of time focused on writing and nothing else. I do laugh over a shirt I saw that read, "Writer's Block is when your invisible friends aren't talking to you." I never stress over having writer's block. I know it will all flow when it needs to. 

Q2: How do you come up with character names for your stories?

A: Most of the time the name finds me. Sometimes the names just fit. Other times it feels like a temporary name until the correct name fits. Other times, I'll get either a baby name book, or a phone book, close my eyes, flip the pages, and then point. It's a very complex process (yes, sarcasm) but it works for me! 

Q3: Do you prefer ebooks, printed books, or audiobooks?

A: Printed books, hands down. I like how they feel, I like hearing the pages turn, I like seeing my progress in the book...I like everything about printed books. I'll even flip through the books again after I've read one I really like and read random parts of the book. I'll read ebooks in bed at night when I can't have a light on because I don't want to disturb anyone. I cannot pay attention to audiobooks and lose track with them. I often have too much going on and am doing too much to have that extra "static" in life. Some of them even make me sleepy. However my kids loathe reading books but they will listen to audiobooks as much as they can. They love them and have been building a library of them. I'm excited that they love books like and will listen to them over and over again. 

Q4: Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself?

A: Writing just gives me peace in my life. Publishing, however, is where the real "work" takes place. It is such a lengthy, involved, and challenging process if you really care about your work. It's editing, it's marketing, it's more editing, it's designing covers. It's realizing you aren't perfect, mistakes are a constant, and understanding that your work is never final -- There are always mistakes you haven't seen until you're reading what you believe is your "Final final -- No really it is Final" draft which is your now printed and on sale hardcover and you realize you left out a letter in a common word.  And then it's having to accept what other people think about the material you are putting out there. Bearing your heart and soul for others to critique and judge. It is a humbling experience.  These days publishing is easy but to take something through the creation process to a final finished product for others to enjoy is an accomplishment -- Especially to do it more than once! Not everyone who begins to write something will carry it through. 

Q5: What part of the book do you have the hardest time writing?

A: The description of the book. I used to have a difficult time with titles but the tides have turned and it is now the description. Trying to write something short that creates interest but doesn't give too much of the plot away is a difficult thing to do. And it has to fit on the back of a cover too. Oh boy. 

BONUS Question: Which of your characters have surprised you the most? (As in what they've said, done, or their appearance in your work.)

A: There have been a few of them that surprised me with the newest one being Mason Beaudrie in One Hell of a Best Seller and The Allegheny Chronicles: Veil Falls. I was surprised with the direction of his journey. I was always surprised with the Alchemist and his appearance in my writing. I did not expect his story at all and the way in which we meet him. Of course, and then there's always Brian Ridley -- the original surprise. His story, his journey, his development -- everything about him was surprising considering when I first began writing about him, I was solely into writing about animals and racehorses. He just had story and life of his own that I often wonder if he is a real person somewhere out in this world. But all in all, I am glad that they all surprised me because what a journey it has been!

Do you have any questions you'd like to know the answer to? Let me know!

You can find all of my books online at www.amazon.com/author/embrooks, at barnesandnoble.com, and on Apple Books! They are available in eBook, paperback, and hardcover! Please tell your favorite Barnes and Noble brick and mortar locations to carry all of my books in paperback so you can find them there too!

Be sure to visit my website at https://sites.google.com/view/theauthorembrooks/home and keep up to date with my writing here on blogspot or subscribe at embrooks.substack.com.  Follow me on Facebook at Facebook.com/theauthorembrooks and on Instagram at instagram.com/theauthorembrooks.