Interview with: Gregory S. Lamb
Author of: The People In Between: A Cyprus Odyssey, and his soon to be released, A Dangerous Element
http://gslambpdxauthor.webs.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008HTEG6A
I can honestly say that the best thing about me becoming an author is meeting other authors. There is nothing better than having a conversation with someone who has a lot of the same interests as you. I love spending time with people who are filled with stories and are willing to share. Here is a pretty long interview I had with Mr. Gregory S. Lamb. I was supposed to go through it, edit and cut it in half, but I just didn’t have the heart to take anything out.
Mr. Lamb is a very interesting person who has traveled the world. He has seen so many interesting, beautiful things and places and I envy him for it. What I find absolutely fascinating about him is that he is so humble and so down to earth. After speaking with him, I can honestly say that when I grow up, I want to be just like Mr. Lamb, haha!
I was introduced to his writing a little less than a year ago by reading his book The People In Between: A Cyprus Odyssey. I felt an instant connection to his work. I absolutely love reading books like this one. This particular story has everything: history, romance, painful past, and mystery. It’s very well written. The characters are likable and believable. The main character is Nora. She has an amazing job that takes her all over the world, giving her great opportunities to visit other countries, to meet people from all over the world and to help the ones who are less fortunate than us. The story starts when Nora’s twin brother, Nils, talks her into going to Cyprus for the summer to take care of their family friend’s gallery while he’s away. This trip turns out to be the best adventure Nora has ever ventured into. It, not only, gives her a chance to meet the love of her life, but it, also, unlocks some secrets about Nora’s mother who died giving birth to Nora and Nils and whom they never got the chance to meet.
Other than telling us Nora’s story, the author gives us quite a bit of Cyprus history describing the beautiful country in such a way that the reader feels like they’re watching it on TV or looking at pictures.
This book will take you on a great journey to a beautiful country.
Please take a moment to read my interview with Mr. Lamb.
Why don’t you begin by telling us a little about yourself?
I am your average 53 year old American man. I grew up on the West Coast. My wife Cindy and I have been married for 30 years. Together we’ve lived in many places. I’m now retired from the nomadic life I dragged my family through while serving 26 years as an Air Force Officer and pilot. We are very proud of our three sons, now all grown and out of the house.
I am a humanitarian and peace advocate – I’ve seen enough of the old paradigms in American society, both at home and afar, to know we can be the change that will make the world a better place.
When did you decide you wanted to become an author?
When I was twelve years old I read “The Call of the Wild” by Jack London. At that age, I didn’t know what I wanted to do as an adult, but knew that I wanted to experience a life like Jack London must have experienced. It didn’t hurt that I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Oakland waterfront was a back yard for me.
I wanted to be like Jack London in every way, so I began to imagine that some day I would become an author. It only took me another 35 years or so before I was able to realize my dreams.
Do you have another job besides writing?
I spent my first year out of High School as a skilled tradesman working at a sail loft making sails for boats. My employer, Kame Richards of Pineapple Sails was really good to me and I was intellectually challenged by the work. While I was there, I was given an opportunity to do some technical writing – developing procedural manuals. However, I knew I wanted to do more, so I returned to school and began my studies in English Literature. In the end, fate took me on a different path that lead to a career in service to my country.
My former profession as a military officer played a significant roll in shaping my lifestyle as a writer. As a result, I am fortunate to have a retirement income that affords opportunity to do other things without having to worry about having enough money to put food on the table.
After my retirement from the Air Force in 2009, it took me a while to decompress. I wasn’t ready to begin writing anything serious. I’d already spent quite a bit of time in my professional life writing and staffing policy documents. After a few months of fishing and hiking, I decided I wasn’t done serving others, so I took a part-time position as a Veteran Services Officer here in Portland Oregon. Though rewarding, I found myself being tapped as a resource doing special projects writing continuity plans and eventually migrated into a consulting position supporting the Department of County Human Services.
Were you an avid reader as a child? What type of books did you enjoy reading?
As a boy growing up I was pretty active with outdoor sports and activities. I had a sense of what can only be described as wanderlust, but with no means to do anything about it other than going on long hiking trips. I discovered the joy of armchair traveling through reading. Back then, I read stories of adventure. Aside from the novels and stories by Jack London, Joshua Slocum’s “Sailing Alone Around the World” captivated my attention. I was also a big fan of Hemmingway, but if I could pick one novel that really left a mark, it was “The Drifters” by James A. Michener.
In college, I read Kafka, Cheever, Saul Bellow, and a few other standards on the undergraduate reading list at Cal State East Bay. During those years, I was being drawn to Robert Ludlum whom I read to get my mind off of school. Later I ended up following a pattern of escapism through reading cold war spy novels, and yes, even Tom Clancy. After a while I burned out on those kinds of stories, maybe because of the work I was doing at the time was more authentic to me.
It was during the late ’80s that I stumbled on a copy of “Exodus” by Leon Uris. At the time I was deployed to Cyprus for the first of my three tours of duty in that divided island nation. Those two things; reading Uris and being in Cyprus set me on the path I’m on today as both a reader and a writer – I’m a connoisseur of stories involving triumph over tragedy.
Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.
Given everything I’ve mentioned about escapist reading, armchair traveling and triumph over tragedy, my latest novel isn’t any of those things.
A Dangerous Element opens with former combat pilot, Mark “Coolhand” Reynolds cloistered in a psych ward piecing together the events that landed him there. He suspects his nemesis and former squadron mate, Randy “Snake” Wormwood has something to do with using a top secret mind control weapon against him in order to cover up an intelligence operation gone bad. When Iran announces to the world they are targeting a high profile location to detonate a nuclear device in retaliation for the destruction of one of their research facilities, Mark realizes he’s the only one who can stop them.
Back in December of 2011 while I was watching the evening’s World News, I saw a clip that showed some overhead imagery of a nuclear enrichment facility in Iran. The story didn’t go into much detail though, but a seed was planted in my mind. A few days later, there was another news clip on the world news that showed Iranian Air Defense soldiers celebrating the shooting down of an American Stealth Drone. Not much else was mentioned until about a month later when there were peripheral stories that emerged describing a computer virus dubbed STUXNET. These real world events provided all the stimulation I needed to craft this story.
How would you describe your creative process while writing this book? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline?
I tried writing via a stream-of-consciousness approach several years ago. Back in the mid-’90s I read the first novels by Paul Watkins, who at the time was a young author. I admired the gritty realism of his characters and true to life dialog he put into his stories, so I began corresponding with him. He told me that when he got an idea, he’d just start writing – no outline, nothing. I learned that doesn’t work for me at all. However, Paul is still one of my mentors and favorite authors.
The story I told in The People In Between: A Cyprus Odyssey is a family saga wedged into a period of history, so it required some character mapping and chronology. Similarly, since A Dangerous Element is loosely based on historical fact, I needed to map the chronology with an outline. I also needed some characters of various nationality and occupation to act out their slices of the story.
I like reading a well-balanced story with a good mix of character development and a solid plot with continuous action. I enjoy using dialog and finding a unique voice for each character. In order to do this, I sketch a system outline of the personality traits for each character and I refer to them when my characters take center stage.
I also enjoy two other aspects of a story when I read, I allow my imagination to take in the settings and I always enjoy learning something new. The main story line for A Dangerous Element, set in Iran, unfolds in a variety of locations simultaneously. I hope my readers will enjoy the trip.
Did your book require a lot of research?
I like it when interviewers ask me this question because my chosen genre often requires some research. I’ve discovered that most of what I enjoy writing about is connected to experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met along the way. That said, I’m sometimes envious of writers of fantasy and Sci-Fi because they seem like they draw from an endless well of creativity.
Why do you write?
“Reading takes me on an adventure while writing takes me on an epic journey.” I’m a collector of stories and when I get one that burns in my mind, I put everything else on hold until it is done. I collect stories from the people I meet and of places where I’ve worked and played. I like the feeling I get when I’m writing and my mind is transported to a different place and time.
Who are your literary heroes and why?
Well, I’ve already mentioned Jack London and Paul Watkins. Of late, there are several that come to mind:
Tatiana De Rosnay– “Sarah’s Key” evoked enough emotion that I hold De Rosnay near the top of all time.
Abraham Verghese – “Cutting for Stone” – well written and with a theme I can relate to.
Geraldine Brooks – “People of the Book” is still one of the best novels I’ve ever read with a story structure that is compact and clever.
Steven Galloway – Because “The Cellist of Sarajevo” made me cry at the remembrance of those times when so many suffered. So much happened in those years that connected me to authors like you. My emotions were highly charged in the early ’90s. In those years, my wife and I wanted desperately to adopt every orphan who’d been victimized by the conflicts. Later we reconciled that many of the lost children stood a better chance for happiness if they could be re-united with relatives.
I am also a big supporter of Independent Authors. Aside from you, Sanela Ramic Jurich, at this time, there are only a few others who have made an equal impression on me this year. One of them was Kate Campbell – She’s a local West Coast gal my age, who knocked one out of the park with “Adrift In The Sound.” I told her Adrift was likely going to be the best book I’ll have read in 2013.
If you could have any vice without repercussions, what would it be?
This is perhaps the most thought provoking question I’ve ever been asked in an interview. I know we all have vices and some of us might have even have more than we’re willing to admit. I would be truthful in saying that I’d love to be able to eat and drink whatever I want. Additionally, I have never allowed myself to intentionally waste time. In fact, I never sleep in. I’ve tried to shed this compulsion I have for productivity but some deep phobia keeps me from idling. I guess laziness is a vice I’d like to – “try on for size.”
What kind of promotions do you do for your books?
I tried word of mouth, which maybe sells a handful of books to relatives and acquaintances. I did a six-month experiment working up a full blown social networking media campaign (blog hopping, blog interviews, participating in Facebook and Goodreads on-line discussion groups etc). It was fun and enlightening, but in my after action analysis, the increase in book sales didn’t justify the time I spent away from writing. As a result I shifted gears.
I found a niche, a small press outfit, AEC Stellar Publishing, Inc. and they accepted my first draft of A Dangerous Element as a project. I’ve been working with them over the past year to bring the manuscript up to a level of quality that will stand up to those that are currently being promoted by the large publishing houses. Currently, with the support of the AEC Stellar Publishing, Inc Marketing Team I’m laying in the groundwork for a release in early spring 2014. When the book is released, my game plan is to do some local book signings at a few of the prominent book vendors around Portland that support independent writers. I might even venture out to some of my old haunts at the various military bases where I’ve served over the years.
In the mean time, I’ve continued to grow my on-line presence by doing “free”-lance publicity and posting reviews of books written by independent authors. I emphasize the word FREE because there is little or no monetary compensation for what I’ve been doing. My strategy is to gain exposure while maximizing the time I have available to write the next novel.
What is the funniest/most embarrassing/scariest story from one of your books signings or events?
I guess I’m not too embarrassed to confess that I’ve never done a book signing, or engaged in an event designed to promote my work. I’m not exactly shy, but I’ve been to a few book signing events done by other authors and didn’t want to feel like I had to persuade people to buy my book. I wrote The People In Between: A Cyprus Odyssey precisely so I wouldn’t have to explain the story or how I feel about the novel’s core theme. It is all there to be consumed by the reader.
I’ve since learned that being part of the marketing process is something I’ll have to immerse myself in if I want my stories to be read, and I think that is the main goal.
If you could have been the servant to any famous person in history, who would that be and why?
Hands down my favorite historical figure is Martin Luther King Jr. followed in close second by President John F. Kennedy. Mr. King was a man of intense integrity and courage and he risked everything to pave the way for all Americans to enjoy equal rights and opportunity. He didn’t live to see the beginnings of his vision of a hopeful future gain momentum. By serving a man like Mr. King, I would have met some of the most interesting and courageous people of our time. Furthermore it would have been such an honor to be involved in a movement so much larger than any single individual.
If you are a world builder, what is your favorite part of creating these worlds?
Great question for Fantasy and Sci-Fi authors – I’d be interested in hearing their answer, as this has to involve some very difficult planning.
How do you research?
When I was putting the plot together for A Dangerous Element, I knew I’d have to learn a lot more about atomic energy and the process of nuclear enrichment. Fortunately there is quite a bit of information available on the Internet. The STUXNET computer virus that is central to the plot in this story was another matter all together. One of the great things about fiction is that you can invent solutions to mysterious problems. I am fortunate in that I have several friends who are Info Tech professionals. I tested some of the plot elements by asking these friends of mine some very specific questions.
When did you start writing? Relate an anecdote from your earliest writing years.
My mom used to embarrass me in front of her colleagues by constantly introducing me as her son, who wrote a play in 5th Grade. It was one of those uniquely American experiences where each grade in our elementary school was required to put on a performance for the Thanksgiving Holiday. I don’t know how it happened, but I ended up writing out all of the parts so that every member of my class could participate. Some of the other classes made up songs – that would have been a lot easier.
Anyway, I think my mom continued to introduce me to her friends as her 5th Grade Playwright until I was in my twenties. By then I was flying jets in the United States Air Force and my mom would introduce me to her friends as her son who is a “pilot.” Is that maybe every boys dream? I don’t know, it wasn’t mine, I just ended up in that roll.
Was there a magical moment when you discovered you had a story worth writing? When was that? What were the circumstances?
Absolutely! I was visiting a ghost village called Kayaköy on the southern Turkish Coast. When I learned some of the history behind the population exchange that took place in Turkey at different stages before and after World War One, there were many questions that burned in my mind. One central theme that stuck and remains with me today is the impact that human conflict has on the broader population. It was an emotional experience for me to imagine friends and neighbors being torn from their lands and torn from their lovers by policies that they knew little about.
Having lived in Cyprus, a country still divided by a frozen conflict, I felt a need to tell a similar story that would give readers insight into a microcosm, a political conundrum yet to be resolved. I wrote The People In Between: A Cyprus Odyssey, maybe to satisfy my itch to get that kind of story out to an audience of readers and thinkers.
Who was your mentor?
I live in Portland Oregon, so I’m going to say my neighbors. All of them are my mentors. Many of them have written fiction, painted, or performed as a musician. I dare say that all of them have been close to the arts longer than I have.
I’ve corresponded with a number of other independent authors and have tapped several of them to beta read my early drafts. Of late, I’d also have to say Raymond Vogel, the owner of AEC Stellar Publishing, Inc.. Though many years younger than I am, he has been a wonderful mentor. His criticism of my writing has been objective, constructive and encouraging all at the same time.
Discovering your background, it seems you started your writing career later in life. Do you find this to be an advantage or disadvantage in the work you are doing now while writing contemporary fiction?
I don’t think I could have written fiction in my early years. I was too busy acquiring experiences and too impatient to even stop what I was doing long enough to even shoot a photograph. As a military pilot, I operated in a highly charged environment where I sometimes allowed my own ego to govern my interactions with others. I totally admire and respect the ability and creativity that many younger writers put into some of the fiction I’ve read recently. It will be interesting to see what some of these young writers will be producing when they are in their 50s and 60s.
It took me a while to open my eyes to a very important concept – As a person, I am not my occupation and if I let my occupation define me, at some point I’d be lost. I’m really glad I learned that lesson before retiring from the military. With my eyes wide open, I’m discovering so many interesting stories from the drama that occurs in the everyday lives of the people around me. With an open mind and heart, I’ve discovered there is an endless source for enjoying the epic journey of writing fiction.
I understand you are retired with a comfortable income. If you had to make a living as a writer, do you think you would succeed?
For me personally, I don’t think I could have handled the stress that comes from the uncertainty of the writer’s lifestyle. I’m aware there is plenty of work available in the field of writing, though most of it has little to do with writing fiction novels. It would be too tantalizing for me to work as a professional writer without being able to devote my full attention to writing fiction.
My financial stability was hard won but is luxurious nonetheless. I sometimes find myself reminding people that my retirement at a relatively young age is justifiable because the military profession has a way of wearing people out at twice the rate of most other occupations.
What would you tell aspiring young writers about the publishing business?
First off, I’d tell them that on the one hand, I am by all means not an expert. However, on the other hand, the publishing industry as a whole is a moving target in a constant state of change. The eReader revolution coupled with the self-publishing revolution has altered the playing field in the publishing industry. This makes it possible for anyone with enough tenacity to rapidly become an expert and participate in the process of reshaping the industry. I’d say to them, chase your dreams, and execute your back-up plan simultaneously, but don’t go into debt chasing the dream.
What has been your experience with literary guilds or groups?
When I started writing fiction, I participated in NaNoWriMo for three straight years and did a couple of workshops. It was insightful and I admire and respect those who put a serious effort into their writing. However, I prefer to work on my own, but not alone. As you probably already gathered, my writing process involves getting out there and experiencing places and interacting with people and learning their stories.
Do you belong to a critique group? How has this helped or hindered your writing.
My critique group has consisted largely of a select group of trusted agents (the publishing team assigned to work with me, one family member, a couple of former colleagues, and a couple of reliable beta readers who I met through social networking). What I discovered working with people who aren’t invested in the project is that they hold back on the objective criticism authors need to improve both their craft and their story.
If you could talk to any fictional character, who would that be and what would you say?
Cody Maverick from the animated penguin movie, “Surf’s Up.” I’d say, “Hey dude, that was a radical wave!”
Which of your characters do you love/hate/fear/pity the most and why?
From The People In Between: A Cyprus Odyssey, I loved Aydın. He turned out to be a better person then I’d intended. It was his ability to forgive and accept his past that makes him a worthy character.
In A Dangerous Element I wanted Randy “Snake” Wormwood, the antagonist in the story to be a character that readers would want to hiss at whenever his name is mentioned. I’m hoping I achieved that goal. I created my protagonist; Mark “Coolhand” Reynolds to be the stand-up guy that everyone should be cheering for. Farrouhk Reza Kehdem, is the Iranian Engineer who is actually a good guy on the wrong team, and finally, the mysterious man called “Marios,” is the guy readers will wonder, on which side is he?
Tell us five random things about yourself.
Twice in my life I’ve tried to quit drinking coffee and on the second attempt after a two-month ride on the wagon, I failed.
I don’t drink beer anymore. I make up for it with copious amounts of wine.
I’ve been addicted to watching “Survivor” on TV even though after every episode, I declared I hate it and will never watch it again – Isn’t the book The Hunger Games just another version of “reality TV?”
I no longer have a sense of smell, so I love my dog, even when we are in the car together after he’s rolled in all the dead sea creatures he finds on the beach.
As a former U-2 pilot, I’m one of the few who can say that there were times when, I was the only living human from planet earth occupying the upper reaches of the stratosphere (15 miles above the earth).
What other types of artistic talents do you have?
I wouldn’t call anything I do for fun a talent, but I play some 5 String Blue Grass banjo. I’ve got other instruments, but I’m not much of a musician. I’m the guy that sits around the campfire to entertain myself and I consider it a good day when my dog doesn’t hide under the bed when he sees me grab my banjo.
I am also discovering all the benefits of cooking and preparing meals with fresh ingredients.
What type of writer are you—the one who experiences before writing, like Hemingway, or the one who mostly daydreams and fantasizes?
I think you know the answer to this one. I’m the writer who has to experience it. I also have a burning need to embrace the stories of others and play them out, imagining what they must have experienced in their lives.
When do you get your best ideas and why do you think this is?
In my younger years I used to run many miles in a day. Now that my knees and ankles won’t let me enjoy running, I take my dog out for long walks and hikes in the Cascades of Northern Oregon. It is during these outings when most of my ideas take on the shape of a story. It must be the endorphin-induced euphoria allowing the flow of creativity.
Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her when she refuses to inspire you?
I’ve got the best muse in the world – as you might have deduced from this interview, I’m never at a loss for words.
From the moment you conceived the idea for the story, to the published book, how long did it take?
First time around it took about 2 years, but I allowed myself some long breaks throughout the process.
Second time, I skipped all the hard work and wrote a YA novel based on a campfire story I used to share with my sons when they were young. With that novel I didn’t do any marketing, nothing. I just cranked it out in three weeks, set it aside for a month, let my wife do the editing, did one more self edit before formatting it for self publishing on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and in two months, I had another book out there.
I wrote the first draft of A Dangerous Element in six weeks. It took another year to get through the final revised and edited manuscript. It will release in Mid-March 2014, so in total, about 18 months of concerted effort.
Describe your working environment.
My wife and I are empty nesters. Our 104-year-old home is small. Our urban neighborhood is in close to downtown in South East Portland. I was issued a passkey to the writer’s room of Portland’s Central Library. Though it is a wonderful space, I rarely work there. Instead, I wake at 5-5:30 a.m. every morning and write while sitting at the dining room table sipping coffee.
Do you write non-stop until you have a first draft, or do you edit as you move along?
Generally, I’d say I’m a non-stop writer. I sometimes will re-shape a sentence or passage to get it to flow to the next idea, but I don’t like it when the editing process slows down creativity.
As a writer, what scares you the most?
Running out of stories – for me it would mean the kiss of death.
When writing, what themes do you feel passionate about?
I love stories of triumph over tragedy. Displaced populations are chock full of people with stories. Places like some of the troubled nations in Africa might demand some of my attention in the coming years. I realize there is not really a market for this niche, so I’m allowing myself to write some Pulp on the side.
I had so much fun while writing A Dangerous Element; I’ve already got a sequel mapped out for it. However, I’ll be working on another sequel over the coming months titled, A Generation of Hope.
Are you a disciplined writer?
Yes – I rarely procrastinate. I have a set period of the day when I feel most productive, and when I’m writing a novel, I structure my days around dedicating my mornings to writing. My afternoons are then available for other activities including some paid consulting I do on the side.
Technically speaking, what do you struggle the most with when writing? How do you tackle it?
Point of view – I’m learning from my publishing team the importance of consistency in establishing a formulated pattern for providing a character’s point of view. As a reader who writes, I’ve also been paying closer attention to how the various forms of narration fit with character dialog.
How was your experience in looking for a publisher? What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one?
Early on, I corresponded with an author I admire and respect. He advised me to go pure “indie” without a publisher and most certainly without an agent. I’m not really comfortable offering advice on whether to abandon using a publisher all together. These days there are all kinds of options to consider that involve editing and marketing services that traditional publishing houses also use. Paying a cover artist to put a good face on your novel is paramount.
One thing I would advise against and this is an absolute. Don’t try to self publish without employing an editor. This could cost some money, but if your story is a good one, it will all come back to you.
I completely agree. You especially need an editor if English is your second language.
What type of book promotion seems to work the best for you?
I really like the Goodreads platform and setting up book give away promotions on their website. For every printed copy I’ve given away, I’ve sold at least four. My digital editions are on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Select, so I use their platform for digital give aways. Statistically, the returns from digital give aways haven’t amounted to increases in book sales. At least not for me.
What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Give your characters each a unique voice and make sure your story has a good balance of dialog with narration.
Do you have another book in the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects?
I have two projects in work:
The first is the sequel to The People In Between: A Cyprus Odyssey
I made a promise to a group of Cypriot youth who I worked with on a peace building program. I told them that 100% of the royalties from this sequel will go to their program with the hope that it will increase the odds of re-unifying their divided nation. The book’s title is A Generation of Hope. The story behind the title follows:
Two summers ago, I attended a round table forum along with a group of teens visiting from Cyprus. Dr. Birol Yeşilada and Dr. Harry Anastasiou, from PortlandStateUniversity, facilitated the forum. Birol is a Turkish Cypriot and Harry is a Greek Cypriot. Both of them are best friends. During the forum, they shared their experiences from their youthful days on Cyprus during the turbulent troubles of of those years.
Birol described the suffering of Cypriots in a generational context, suggesting that the people in his parents’ generation represented the generation of violence. He referred to those that suffered the loss and endured the turmoil of becoming refugees as the generation of pain. Then he went on to define this next group of Cypriots as the youth who grew up in a country divided. Both professors turned to the Cypriot teens and identified them as members of the generation of hope for the future of their country.
Throughout the forum, my mind was in high gear and by the time it was over, I knew I had to write a sequel to The People In Between: A Cyprus Odyssey. One of my previous blog entries dated 21 July 2012 covers additional details regarding this forum.
The second project is the sequel to A Dangerous Element:
Readers who will find themselves captivated by this story will also enjoy a relationship with some of the characters. Some of them will not have survived the “pre-quel.” The others will carry on. I’ll be recycling them in a yet to be titled action adventure that involves the main character, Mark “Coolhand” Reynolds…and for those who must know, the mysterious man known as “Marios” will be revealed in his entirety.
Together Marios and Coolhand, along with those they must rescue, will once again divert a political military catastrophe from altering what would otherwise be, a peaceful future.
What book do you wish you had written and why?
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway – This story moved me, as did your novel Remember Me for all the reasons that I write. Authors who have a story to tell that tug at the emotions of the reader have a very special gift. Courage, bravery, chivalry, tenacity, the enviable character traits that most of us average humans would hope to discover in our very own genome. Sadly I don’t know much about the author, but I do know something about his story. This is one I only witnessed from 15 miles above. I watched the BBC broadcast news every evening in hope that the suffering would stop. The intrepid NATO aviator was powerless to accomplish the same result as the humble artist naked and unarmed, sitting on a chair in the square with a bow in his right hand holding his wooden stringed instrument in his left.
Mr. Galloway not only had a view that was different than mine, but he most certainly must have had personal contact with – “The Cellist of Sarajevo.”
What book are you reading now?
Wow – What a great question! Typically, I have two or three underway at the same time. As I may have indicated, I’m a supporter of the Indie Author community. If you had asked me a day or two ago, my answer would have been completely different.
Right now, I’m reading First Born by author Ryan Attard. He’s a young writer living in Northern California and has a couple of novels published by AEC Stellar Publishing Inc. What I like about Ryan’s writing is his total disregard for convention. He presents a sense of humor and imagination that some readers would call “snarky”. Frankly, I find his writing refreshing and amusing.
I’m also reading Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan and Ateş Orga As you have already gleaned from this interview, I enjoy the stories and insights of others. A few months ago, I was strolling in the Golden Horn area of Istanbul and was drawn into a local bookshop on a mission to grab a current driving map of Turkey. Though his English was probably better than my Turkish, the shop keeper was gracious enough to continue our conversation about my planned travels. Based on our conversation, he recommended this book first published in 1950, and recently released in English for the first time. I’m devouring it like Mediterranean food.
Finally, I like the pulpy stuff I can pull off of Amazon for the price of a bad cup of black coffee. Murder on the Côte d’ Azure by Susan Kiernana-Lewis. By all means the price doesn’t translate to quality. So far I’m really enjoying this story. It has that element of transporting the reader to other places, making it an attractive wintertime read for me.
Do your pets help you with your writing?
Nope – they just make me laugh and keep me company. My dog keeps me on a disciplined schedule for getting my endorphin fix. Without him, I’d probably be out there anyway, hiking and taking long walks but it wouldn’t be as much fun.
What’s your worst writing habit?
When I hear my own voice in a dialog between my characters. I usually stop writing. At that point I refer to my queue cards for each of the characters and ask myself a question or two about how they would actually be speaking with one another. My dream is to never have to refer to these cheat sheets. My dream is to develop an ability to become each of the characters in my story, just for those moments when they are in dialog. For me, this is the real adventure of embracing the roll of an author…and the joy.
Do you have any recurring dreams or nightmares?
Yes but these will remain close hold for now.
Thank you, Mr. Lamb. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.
Greg’s Blog: http://gregorylambpdxauthor.wordpress.com
Greg’s Author Website: http://gslambpdxauthor.webs.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.lamb.1612
Facepage for The People In Between: https://www.facebook.com/LambPDXAuthor
AEC Stellar Publishing, Inc. Website: http://aecstellar.com
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