Featured Author: Alex Siegel

[Tawdra Kandle]

Tell us about your book: 

Apocalypse Cult is the first book in the Gray Spear Society Series. There are currently nine books in the series, and the stories mostly take place in contemporary Chicago. The heroes are a secret group known as the Gray Spear Society. Their mission is to protect the world from a particularly potent, unnatural kind of evil.

In the case of Apocalypse Cult, the threat takes the form of a cult which recruits and brainwashes teenagers. At first, the protagonist, Aaron, is just trying to rescue a girl from captivity. As he becomes more involved, he realizes the stakes are much higher than the life of one girl. This cult is planning to kill thousands of innocent people in an extreme act of terrorism. He and his new friends in the Society have only a few days to discover the threat and stop it. It won't be easy.

All the books place a strong emphasis on intense action and intricate plotting. They start fast and keep moving until the last page. The settings and battles are gritty and realistic. There is a supernatural element, but it's mostly just background.

Where did the idea of your (latest) book come from?

I have a deep dislike of cults. They destroy the lives of innocent victims, often without legal repercussions. For me, using a cult as the antagonist for the first book in the series was an easy choice.

The concept of the Gray Spear Society came from a period in my life when I was thinking about the Big Questions a lot. Is there a God? What is free will? What is the purpose of life? Those thoughts evolved into an idea for a series that quietly ties those questions together. But I don't want readers to think I write some kind of heavy philosophy. The books are mostly just good fun. On the other hand, I think it's important for fiction to always contain a kernel of deep truth. I'm not afraid to let my true feelings bleed through in my work.

Who and what inspires you to write your books?

I'm compelled to tell my stories for a couple of reasons. First, I think the messages are important. Books should be more than just bland, commercial entertainment. There is more than enough intellectual junk food in the world. I write because I have something interesting and different to say. It's an opportunity for me to teach as well as amuse, and I love teaching. The other reason is my best work is still ahead of me. Every novel I write is a little better than the one before it. I'm curious to see how this long journey ends. When I feel I've finally peaked, I'll consider quitting.

Each author has his own fascinating journey. How did you begin writing?

I had a bad accident when I was twenty-five. I suffered serious injuries and almost died. That experience made me think a lot about my legacy. What will I leave behind after I'm gone? I had always wanted to write, but my accident gave me the impetus to take it seriously. Great books can bring pleasure to generations of readers. They are a lasting contribution to the world. I took my first creative writing class a few years later.

What has been the most pleasant surprise about being a writer? How about the most unexpected downside?

Interacting with fans has been a lot more enjoyable than I expected. It feels wonderful to be appreciated for my hard work. Knowing that people are eagerly waiting for my next book gives me a ton of motivation. The downside is the business aspects of the job. As an independent author, I'm obligated to constantly market and promote my own books. I have to hire my own help. I do everything that a publisher would normally do. It's a pain in the butt and takes away time from what I really want to do, which is write.

Do you have any particular writing routines or rituals?

 I try to avoid rituals. They feel too much like superstitions. I suppose my only routine is to write as much as I possibly can. I spend every spare minute at my computer. It's the only way to be successful in this business.

Do you write in order?

Yes. I never begin a novel until I have a complete outline which describes every scene in detail. I've found good outlines make the rest of the writing process much more efficient and successful. By the time I start the first draft, I'm ready to knock out the whole book. I blast straight through from the beginning to the end, often writing thousands of words at a sitting.

What is on your playlist when you write?

I don't listen to music when I write. I find it distracting. Often, I'll have the computer read the book back to me using text-to-speech software. That's a great way to make sure what's on the page matches what's in my head. It's a particularly effective trick for proofreading dialog.

Favorite writing snack?

Sparkling water, peanuts, and grapes.

Where do you like to write?

I write in my office in the basement of my house. I have a nice computer with two big monitors. I use a super-ergonomic Kinesis keyboard.

Do you have any advice for authors wanting to publish?

Be extremely persistent and have a very thick skin. I wrote a million words before anybody besides my wife appreciated my work. I still have a big pile of unpublished material on my shelf. It takes several years of lonely struggle to learn the craft of writing. Very few authors are successful right from the start.

My other advice is to write what you love to read. You'll have to proofread it many times before it's finished. If you don't love the material, you'll be absolutely miserable.

Are you currently working on anything else?

I'm in the final stages of writing the tenth book in the Gray Spear Society series. It's entitled Eyes of the World.

Who is your favorite character and why?

The main protagonist is a guy named Aaron, so of course, I'm fond of him. His girlfriend, Marina, is also fun to write. She deals with issues in a very direct manner.

Favorite book of all time?

It's hard to pick a favorite. I love the work of Terry Pratchett and Orson Scott Card. I suppose if I had to pick one, it would be the graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. Younger people don't appreciate the enormous significance of that book. It created the modern concept of a graphic novel. It was a brilliant and daring departure from the norms of the day. There are powerful moments in that book which I still reference in my own writing.

I think breakfast says a lot about a person. What is your perfect breakfast?

You can't go wrong with thick strips of bacon. I also love fresh orange juice.

Please tell us in one sentence why we should read your book.

It tells a story that you've never heard before.

 

AMAZON  iTunes   Barnes and Noble

Website   Facebook Twitter Pinterest