Happy Friday everyone! I hope that you all have a great weekend planned. Today, I am bringing to you a special treat…my very first author interview. I have the pleasure of interviewing C.W. Snyder, the Author of Child of Nod. Before we begin the interview, let me introduce the author so that you all know who I am talking about.
About the Author
Now that you all know a little bit about C.W. Snyder, let’s move on to the fun part. The interview!
Interview
How did you come up with the title of your book? Was it something you created before, after, or during the writing process.
The original title of the book was ‘Fairy Tale’, and my editor in all her wisdom went, “Well, that’s kind of generic.” Solution #2 was to work in the theme of the story with the location, and that’s how ‘Child of Nod’ came about.
When you develop characters, do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as they go?
Like most of my writing, I have an idea of where things will go, but I’m a discovery writer, so I don’t really know where they’ll end up until I get there. Writing a story that way is far more interesting to me than plotting because I can always be surprised at the direction a character or the plot can go in.
What was the most difficult part of writing this book?
Probably the editing. I did four passes before I sent it off – it was my first real professional effort, and I wanted to make sure everything gelled before I let it out into the world.
What did you edit out of this book?
When I was piecing it together, I had another story that was supposed to tie in the long way, about wolves in a primeval forest. It never really fit, though it did become another short that’s still on submission.
What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
It’s not quite what you’d expect. It’s a little fantasy, a little horror, a little fairy tale, and a little mythic. I was shooting for something with a fever dream sort of feeling.
What can we expect in the sequel?
Alice takes on more responsibility, faces harder challenges. You’ll see her deal with some survivor guilt, and a literal plague of madness. Also, we meet Maggie, one of my favorite characters.
Who are your favorite authors or inspirations?
I’m very fond of a pile of authors. Stephen King, Clive Barker, Sarah Gailey, Cassandra Khaw, Richard Kadrey – the list is pretty huge, to be honest.
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you for reading! If you loved the book, and you want to tell an author, don’t hesitate to shoot them a mail, tweet them, or leave a review. We love positive reinforcement.
Where is your favorite place to write or read?
I have my PC set up next to the couch, and that’s where I do most of my work, usually with something on the TV in the background. Other than that, I’m a bit of a cliché at times, and love going to the café and tinkering around for a couple hours.
How long have you been writing?
Since I was a teen. So roughly 30 years? Sheesh. That’s a long time.
How do you feel about eBooks vs. print books?
I love both equally. As long as I can read them, I’m happy.
How do you feel about alternative publishing vs. conventional publishing?
I’m a fan of both. Obviously, I was more comfortable with traditional, but I have friends who write wonderful novels that are self-published, and they’re as successful, or even moreso at times as traditional authors.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
Well, they say you’re not supposed to, but I don’t usually do what I’m told. I celebrate the good, and if the bad have something valid to say, I take it into consideration as I work. The only ones that have ever gotten to me are ones where I’m penalized for a DNF.
What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
I write too fast and sometimes rush the story. It’s entirely valid. I’m planning an epic fantasy now, and I have no idea how I’m going to break the 60K word mark other than taking a breath and working it out slowly.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
And if you can’t, relax. Every day doesn’t have to be a frenzy of work. You need to recharge. Watch a movie, play a game, take a walk, get stinking drunk with your friends. You can’t write about life if you don’t live it.
If you would like to keep up with C.W. Snyder, follow him on Twitter. You can also catch him May 12th at Bismarck Comic Con from 9-4pm and on an author panel from 10-11am. I want to thank C.W. Snyder once again for allowing his readers and fans to learn a little more about him. It was great fun. Be sure to check out Child of Nod and let me know your thoughts.