Today I have Greg Smith here to answer some questions about his writing methods as part of his blog tour for his book You Can Run, which comes out this month! You Can Run is the second book in the Kramer and Shadow Crime Novel Series and the sequel to The Pits.
In You Can Run, two US Marines (one a dog) volunteer to work with the FBI to bring down an international crime boss.
If you're into thrillers, crime fiction, and dogs, you might want to check this series out yourself. You can find everything you need to know on Greg's website.
It's always fun to get to know other writers, so let's get to it!
Interview
Who is your all-time favorite character?
Not at all a fair question because, for me at least, I don't feel as if I have ONE all-time favorite character but to answer in the spirit of the interview, right now I would have to say Gaius Publius Varrus would have to be at the top of my list. He is the main character in the first book of Jack Whyte's THE CAMULOD CHRONICLES, one of the best historical fiction novel series I have ever read. If you love this genre and haven't picked up this series, then it should be a must-read for 2016.
Are you a pantser or planner when it comes to writing?
I guess, to be brutally honest, I would have to bow to the title of being a pantser when I first started out as a writer. But since taking James Patterson's MASTER CLASS I have become a devotee to planning my storylines, etc before setting out to put finger to keyboard.
Where did you get the idea for your latest novel?
Where does any author get their ideas for their books — from here, there, and everywhere. Possibly from overhearing something said one day, a tidbit of news, a dream ... my ideas are born of my imagination which runs rampant most of the time. Any author, writer, or novelist should never place a limitation on their imagination when it comes to being open to any story idea or concept.
Can you tell us more about it? What's it about?
Well, YOU CAN RUN is actually Book 2 in my Kramer and Shadow Crime Thriller series, and is the sequel to the first book, THE PITS. Again, Captain Kramer, USMC and Sgt. Shadow, USMC are the main characters and are 'volunteered' by their commander to assist the FBI continue their fight to bring to justice the international crime boss, Valdiron and his beautiful partner, Shelley Harper. This time the two Marines (man and dog) find themselves unraveling a case that goes so much deeper than the kidnapping and human trafficking of several young girls. Kramer knows that the evil hand of Valdiron and Harper is all over this mystery, but despite Kramer's best efforts, one of the crime figures makes it out alive.
Without spoiling too much, what was your favorite part of it to write?
Hmmm, that's a tough question because I enjoyed the entire writing process of this new book. If I was forced into a corner and made to mention my favorite part I guess I would have to say the entire sequence leading up to the attack on Kramer's farmhouse and the outcome. Phew!!
In general, which part of the novel-writing process is you favorite? Which do you find most difficult?
Overall, I would have to say that the best and, coincidentally, the most difficult aspect of the whole writing process is the planning; endeavoring to develop the best storyline possible and control the flow of action, etc.
Any advice for aspiring authors?
Considering what I have just gone through with regards to the editing stage of YOU CAN RUN, the best advice I can give any aspiring author is to find yourself a great reliable editor, because without the assistance of their professionalism your book can end up being another ho-hum story as opposed to a great read!
Thanks for joining us Greg! For everyone else, keep your eyes open for You Can Run this month!
Nice to read this.Thank you so much for sharing this.
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