[I’m honored today to interview author S. P. Brown. Like me, Stan writes in various genres. Also, like me, he has an academic background. Without further ado, let’s begin….]

Steve: Stan, let’s start with some back story: why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?

S.P.: My full name is Stanley Paul Brown, but I write fiction as S. P. Brown. Some of my published genres are Political Thrillers/Paranormal Thrillers, Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy/Sci-Fi, found in the following books: The Legacy (Political Thriller/Paranormal), Veiled Memory (Contemporary Fantasy/Sci-Fi), and Fallen Wizard (Middle Grade Contemporary Fantasy). I just finished the MS for The Captain of Tally Ho (Children’s Chapter Book – Animal Adventure/Fantasy) and The Ruby Ring (Book Two of “The Stonehenge Chronicles”—Book One is Veiled Memory). You mentioned my academic background; I have a Doctorate in Exercise Physiology (Department Head of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University). I’m a Marvel nerd—check my website out for an interesting item here.

S.P. on Reading and Writing:

Steve: Why, how, and when did you start writing?

S.P: As I explain on my website, I started out of boredom. I had been a very successful academic (still am) but cranking out papers and more books after achieving full professor was just blah, so I needed a new challenge. Years ago, in Oxford Mississippi, I attended the same church as John Grisham just before his meteoric rise. At the time I remember ruminating with a friend something like this, “You know, we could do that. Piece of cake.” I didn’t start trying until 2005, and, no, it wasn’t a piece of cake like we thought. But I LOVE a challenge and this was going to be it because I love to read, all sorts of fiction and nonfiction. So, bored, I sat down with a tablet and started jotting down ideas. The first became my second and current published novel, Veiled Memory.

Steve: Did you publish the first book you wrote?

S.P: Yes, Veiled Memory, with Black Opal Books.

Steve: What is your biggest problem with the writing process? How do you tackle it?

S.P: I’ll only say here that I would not characterize it as a problem. It’s a large puzzle that you create in your head and all the parts have to be there for it to work. Everything you mention, each are equally important and I would include plot, because my work is definitely plot driven.

Steve: Do you feel writing is something you need to do or want to do?

S.P: Both really. It is a professional necessity for me and I love storytelling, so it’s something I have also chosen as a pastime that I will continue into retirement (about 5 years away).

Steve: Have your personal experiences or situations influenced you creatively? If so, how?

S.P.: I would say no, other than the fact that I admire creative people. I try to be that too because it’s a challenge.

Steve: How much of your creative ability do you think is innate and how much is learned?

S.P.: Definitely a learned art. Learning the craft is tough. It doesn’t come right away. I read and wrote and read some more on the craft of writing and critical reading of novelists I love.

Steve: What is the last book you read? What are you reading now?

S.P.: Harry Potter (one of them again). Fallen Wizard, releasing August 2018, is in that vein.

Steve: Who are your favorite authors?  Whose writing inspires you the most and why?

S.P.: Michael Connelly, John Grisham, Vince Flynn, JRR Tolkien, Jim Butcher, JK Rowling, Dean Koontz. All these guys are huge wordsmiths. Tolkien is inspiring. I try to create new mythologies like he did. [Steve: they’re certainly all in my list!]

Steve: What’s the last book to make you laugh? Cry?

S.P.: Been a while since I read this, but in one of Grisham’s early books he uses the word “sumbitch.” When I read it I burst out laughing because it’s such a quintessential southern curse and in the context he used it, it struck my funny bone. I use it repeatedly in The Legacy out of the mouth of a quintessential southern sheriff. I’ve cried reading Tolkien, but it’s been a while.

Steve: Should writers read in their genre? Should they be avid readers?

S.P. For the first question: ABSOLUTELY, NO DOUBT. AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT. Same answer for the second question.

Steve: How do you find (discover) your plots?

S.P.: Organic for the story I have in mind, but it is also more fully discovered as I write. Nothing is fully fleshed out when I start—character, plot, nothing. I usually have a general idea of the story and the ending, and I start and edit constantly as I go and let the characters begin to write themselves. Can’t do like Grisham does and write a short synopsis of each chapter/scene before he starts the book. Waste of time for me. I have to begin. And the beginning is the hardest part.

Steve: Are your characters based on real people?

S.P.: No.

Steve: How do you name your characters?

S.P.: Pops into my head. Although, the main characters in The Legacy represent a call out to family and some famous characters others have created.

Steve: Which comes first for you, plot or characters?

S.P.: Plot, always. I have a definite story I want to tell that’s plot driven. I start with a concept, the rudiments of an idea and go from there.

Steve: Any comments about writing dialog?

S.P.: Make it real for the character and genre. But it cannot be how you would talk with all the minutia we speak in real life. Dialogue must further plot too in my opinion. So it is very purposeful.

Steve: How do you handle POV?

S.P.: The worst thing a new writer can do is to strap himself into a mold and never explore. Lots of things can work, so explore. Having said that, my work isn’t experimental at all. I tend to go for a close POV in the third person, although my just finished children’s chapter book, The Captain of Tally Ho, uses an omniscient narrator.

Steve: Do you do fact-finding for (AKA research) your books?  If so, how? What sources do you use?

S.P.: All of my stuff, though paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi, is grounded to the contemporary world we live in. So, I try to be accurate. BUT, this is fiction, so literary license is ok. I do a lot of research via the internet and think about things a lot if I’m striving for accuracy in any scene or situation. I’ve never been to the situation room of the White House, but I have a scene there in one of my books.

Steve: What reference works do you use most?

S.P. I have lots of these, but being lazy I’m not going to go rummaging for them. Plenty books on the craft of writing. I’ve also read lots of internet blogs on writing. Some I agree with, others I don’t. I see the “big” guys making mistakes all the time, so I try not to be strapped into doing things a certain way. This isn’t a college English comp class. Be free, explore, write one word sentences if a scene calls for it.

S.P. on the Writing Business:

Steve: Do you use a formatter?  Editor?  Agent?

S.P.: Editor at Black Opal. Used to have an agent until she flipped out. I was with the Ethan Ellenberg Agency once upon a time. I left them and am now on my own.

Steve: Do you self-publish or traditionally publish?

S.P.: Traditional.

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).

S.P.: I have a publicist/web designer/etc, all in one person. She helps in all things. Indispensable. Couldn’t do it without her.

Steve: Do you release trade paperbacks or ebooks or both?

S.P.: Both.

Steve: What do you think of publishing services like Amazon, Smashwords, etc?  What about small presses v. large, traditional publishers?

S.P.: I prefer to publish traditionally. Seems more legit that way. All platforms are necessary today. BOB is a small press with a ton of writers, and the community there is easy and workable for me. Though I still aspire to write for one of the large houses.

Personal questions for S. P.:

Steve: What is your favorite place to eat out? Favorite food? Drink?

S.P.: Any hamburger joint. Red beans and rice from The Chimes on the LSU campus. Beer and wine. [Steve: I had BBQ in Savannah once—to die for! Southern fried chicken is great too. All-American food!]

Steve: What are your favorite other places, either here or abroad? What places would you like to visit?

S.P.: Oxford, England and any pub there. I’d like to visit Italy (anywhere there). Also Ireland and Scotland. [Steve: Don’t wait too long. Ireland is beautiful, especially if you have good weather.]

Steve: What other interests and activities do you have besides writing?

S.P.: Working out. Movies.

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?

S.P.: Ant-Man and the Wasp. When I was writing my current book (Veiled Memory came out late April 2018), I had Nicole Kidman in mind for my main character, Madeline Alleyn. She would have been perfect, now she’s getting a little too old.

Steve: What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

S.P.: Milk, beer, wine, cheese, assorted condiments, watermelon, etc, etc.

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?

S.P.: JRR Tolkien and discuss writing with the Inklings at the Eagle and Child in Oxford, England, over several pints. Can’t wait for the biopic on his life—being filmed now I think.

Steve: What is your favorite (song) and why? Piece of music?  Theater work? Movie? Piece of art?

S.P.: “Bring Me to Life” by Amy Lee. It’s my current favorite. Nice work all around and it was featured in the Daredevil movie 15 years ago. Any Marvel movie currently playing is my favorite, and the best of these was The Winter Soldier.

Steve: Thanks, Stan, for being so candid with your answers. I’m sure readers have loved learning more about you. After reading this interview, they’ll probably just want to start enjoying your books? I do. [I’ve already purchased Veiled Memory. Lots of Celtic references piqued my interest.]

***

The Chaos Chronicles Trilogy Collection. This trilogy is my version of Asimov’s Foundation trilogy. Unlike the inimitable Isaac’s, my universe is replete with ETs. Starting with dystopia on Earth and in our solar system, the reader heads off to the stars to encounter ET cultures and some strange collective intelligences. Humans have their problems, and not just with ETs. Dystopian, militaristic, and paranormal sci-fi awaits you. (The first book in the trilogy is included here; it might remind you of where humanity might be heading right now, which is why it’s dystopian, of course.) This bundle is on sale now at Smashwords—you’ll pay only $2.99 versus the $5.99 retail price during the month of August—just use the coupon code on checkout. (Of course, even $5.99 isn’t a bad price for three full novels of sci-fi adventures.) Great for summer reading!

In libris libertas….

 

 

 

 

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