Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid, and have spent almost every night reading to my kids. I’ve lived in Montreal, Toronto, Silicon Valley and these days we call Calgary, Alberta home (and aren’t planning to leave this wonderful place). How could you not love the “Wolverine – X-Men” homeland?
My world changed in many ways when I started 15 months of constant horrible abdominal scar pain a couple of years ago, and had to be the driver in figuring out what was wrong and how to get the pain level down so that I could function. Nearly six months after slowly returning to the work force, I was hit with sudden, severe asthma. I came out of that changed even more, and thankfully my marriage and relationship with my children were stronger than they had ever been.
At the end of 2013 I completed the third round of editing of my memoir (mentioned ago below I think) and was ready to start going after building my fiction author career in a serious way. When I started writing Along Came a Wolf, my first book, I was reintroduced into how much I loved writing fiction and there’s no turning back now.
I’m also an experienced public speaker and mentor.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book was the first book in The Yellow Hoods series, Along Came a Wolf. After completing my memoirs which covered among other things chronic pain and being hit with sudden, severe adult onset asthma, I was ready to start a new writing project but having trouble getting started. My daughter nudged me to write “The Hoods” as I called it, and so I started. Before I knew it, what I thought would be a short story turned into a novel and a series with a distinct plan.
The story arc had been building for a couple of years, inspired from telling my daughter stories on the spot at bedtime and from singing The Muffin Man to my son for years. When I’d sing to him, I’d create new verses and then that became a story line. The core part of that storyline is planned for the series that will succeed The Yellow Hoods (which will be 5 installments), tentatively called Rise of the Muffin Men (which takes place 10 years later).
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t usually write upside down or in a batman costume… much.
Probably the unusual thing that I do is that I tend to write the story almost in random order, flipping back and forth until everything starts to weave together. In the world of mostly inductive and deductive writers, I am very much the abductive writer.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Influences as a person and ways of looking at the world, probably Aldous Huxley, George Orwell and Sun Tzu (Art of War) from a books perspective, and too many to list from a comic book story arc perspective.
As a writer? I’ll have to think about that one.
What are you working on now?
I’m completing the 2nd book in The Yellow Hoods series, which is targeted for September 2014. It’s called Breadcrumb Trail and will really step up the intrigue and technology elements in the story.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning this and am all ears.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn to finish the first draft, and then learn how to consider a story finished. Letting go and moving on, and accepting that it is going to be out there and potentially criticized is extremely difficult but absolutely essential.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Get out of your own way
You can do twice as much with half the effort by believing in yourself more
Never use parentheses or brackets (ever), even if you think you really need you (because you don’t)
What are you reading now?
Honestly I read non-fiction mostly. Also, as a dyslexic, I listen to more books than I read.
Currently – Write, Publish, Repeat by Johnny Truant, Sean Platt
Also – Flash Boys – by Michael Lewis
Fiction wise, I love comic books and read select material. I usually read for information and tips. I often feel like sitting down to read fiction is an indulgence that I can rarely allow myself, for no particularly good reason.
What’s next for you as a writer?
After completing book 2 of The Yellow Hoods, I’ll do book 3 and then switch to another series before returning for book 4 (don’t worry, that means only about 3 months off).
As an author, the next step is really increasing my reach, building my relationship with readers, doing more public speaking as an author. I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone more and more as I am focused on making this a new career for myself over the next five years, and there’s a heck of a lot of work to do to get there.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. How to survive on a Desert Island by I. Gotfree
2. How to signal boats at a distance with only what you’ll find on a desert island by C. Me-over Here
3. How to make a writing implement while on a desert island by Roe Dit
4. Blank note books to write in while I await rescue
Author Websites and Profiles
Adam Dreece Website
Adam Dreece Amazon Profile
Adam Dreece’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Adam Dreece is a post from Awesome Gang