Interviewing author Bruce Woods…
Steve: Today I’m pleased to offer readers of this blog an interview with Bruce Woods, author of the new historical fantasy novel Royal Blood and other books. Royal Blood has just been published by Penmore Press. So let’s welcome him. Bruce, why don’t you tell us something about yourself?
Bruce: Thanks. My novels Royal Blood and Dragon Blood are scheduled to be published by Penmore Press. (Royal Blood was previously offered in paperback by Knox Robinson, but that press has gone out of business.) I’ve finished two trilogies, the first of which includes a final book not yet scheduled and a second featuring many of the characters in the first but with a different protagonist, The second is not yet scheduled for publication. I live in Alaska with my wife and two cats. Our kids both recently graduated and now live in the lower 48.
Bruce on reading and writing:
Steve: Why, how, and when did you start writing?
Bruce: Like most authors, I suppose, I’ve always been writing but took up fiction full time after a career of magazine editing and, most recently, service as writer/editor/media spokesperson for USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Alaska.
Steve: Did you publish the first book you wrote?
Bruce: Nope. The first one remains unpublished, but I haven’t given up hope!
Steve: What is your biggest problem with the writing process? How do you tackle it?
Bruce: Deep in my heart, I suspect that I’m more of a stylist than a storyteller. This has led me to the genre of historical fantasy, where the story exists but my fictional characters’ impact upon it becomes the focus of my tale. I’m currently working on a straight literary fiction manuscript, which is slogging along as they all have..
Steve: Do you feel writing is something you need to do or want to do?
Bruce: Writing is what I do. I can’t imagine not doing it.
Steve: Have your personal experiences or situations influenced you creatively? If so, how? Bruce: I’ve spent most of my life in magazine editing. I learned many things along the way. Perhaps the most important is that the writing itself should never take precedence over the information presented.
Steve: How much of your creative ability do you think is innate and how much is learned?
Bruce: I was perhaps born with a spark, but everything I’ve done and everything I’ll do works toward fanning that into a flame.
Steve: What is the last book you read? What are you reading now?
Bruce: I’ve always got at least two books going, either reading or rereading. I’m currently rereading William Gibson’s Spook Country and Mollie Panter-Downs’ London War Notes.
Steve: Who are your favorite authors? Whose writing inspires you the most and why?
Bruce: I’m a reading omnivore. But everyone who writes fantasy owes a debt to Anne Rice and Steve King. I also owe a lot to George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman books. I hope there’s humor in my work too, though I suspect it’s a bit dryer than Fraser’s. Gibson (mentioned above), Hemingway, and Terry Pratchett are always worth another read for inspiration.
Steve: What’s the last book to make you laugh? Cry?
Bruce: I suspect I’ve chuckled and teared up while rereading Spook Country, if only at the mastery over the language that Gibson shows.
Steve: Should writers read in their genre? Should they be avid readers?
Bruce: Writers need to read, in their genre and elsewhere. Writing empties the well that only reading and living can refill.
Steve: How do you find (discover) your plots?
Bruce: I love history, and read it regularly. Exploring the lesser known events (such as the first Matabele War and the Boxer Uprising in the two books coming from Penmore) encourages me to explore.
Steve: Are your characters based on real people?
Bruce: A tough question. There are of course real people in my fantasies, and characters that are completely fictional. The latter are at least in part based on what I know of myself and what I see in others.
Steve: How do you name your characters?
Bruce: I research names appropriate to the period I’m dealing with and add a little whimsy.
Steve: Which comes first for you, plot or characters?
Bruce: I have to have a plot in mind for my characters to play in. That said, many of the fictional characters that populate my books have been with me for quite some time.
Steve: Any comments about writing dialog?
Bruce: I hope the dialog I write helps inform the reader about the character speaking. Regardless of social upbringing, education, age, etc. we all have dialog tells that reveal things about us.
Steve: How do you handle POV?
Bruce: I’ve skipped around between first and third person, though I suspect I do find first person easier.
Steve: Do you do fact-finding for (AKA research) your books? If so, how? What sources do you use?
Bruce: When I write historical fantasy, I research heavily, both on the ‘net and through my local libraries. I’ve been known to read up to a dozen histories to get a manuscript right.
Steve: What reference works do you use most?
Bruce: I’m a greedy user of public libraries.
Bruce on the writing business:
Steve: Do you use a formatter? Editor? Agent?
Bruce: I’ve got a strong background in editing, and I have been called a ferocious editor. I don’t look elsewhere for help yet.
Steve: Do you self-publish or traditionally publish?
Bruce: I’ve done both, but place more trust in the traditional avenues.
Steve: What are your most effective marketing techniques? Where would you like to improve? Do you go it alone or seek professional help (outside what your publisher provides, if appropriate)?
Bruce: This is probably my weakest point. I maintain an author’s page on Facebook and another separate author website. I also use short stories featuring my main characters as marketing tools. But this remains an area where I know I can do better. Self-promotion is a chore for me.
Steve: Do you release trade paperbacks or ebooks or both?
Bruce: My former publisher released trade paperbacks. Penmore has thus far only offered my work in ebooks.
Steve: What do you think of publishing services like Amazon, Smashwords, etc? What about small presses v. large, traditional publishers?
Bruce: I’ve yet to work with a large publisher, but I would welcome the chance. I favor any publishing service that any writer finds of value.
Steve: Do you want to include a snippet of prose from one of your books? What does it illustrate that you find important for readers to know?
Bruce: Check out my website, http://brucewoods.net , for samples, including free short stories!
Personal questions for Bruce:
Steve: What is your favorite place to eat out? Favorite food? Drink?
Bruce: I like Mexican food, and I am happy enough with a cold beer and a burrito.
Steve: What are your favorite other places, either here or abroad? What places would you like to visit?
Bruce: I loved the time I spent in London and India. I still hope to visit Australia and New Zealand.
Steve: What other interests and activities do you have besides writing?
Bruce: Bicycling, fishing, camping, and most of the Alaska recreational activities.
Steve: What was the last movie you went to see? If your book(s) were to be made into a movie, who would you want to play your main characters?
Bruce: The last movie I saw was Aquaman. I haven’t fantasized about anyone acting in a movie adapted from my work.
Steve: If you could trade places with someone for a week, famous or not, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
Bruce: Samuel Johnson.
Steve: What is your favorite song and why? Piece of music? Theater work? Movie? Piece of art?
Bruce: I love Warren Zevon and anyone else who writes smart lyrics. If a song has words, the words should be at least as well thought out as the music.
Steve: I want to thank you, Bruce, for all your candid answers. Readers, please visit Bruce’s website http://brucewoods.net to find out more about his novels and other writing.
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Notes from Steve: (1) Comments to these blog posts are always welcome. (2) Any author who wants to be interviewed by me should email me a request using my contact page.
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