Anthony: I try and write
every day. Most of it is done on the fly with a laptop or pad and paper. My
living room chair serves as a writing space. I work full-time and have a
family, so I squeeze the writing in where I can.
Paul: What types of books do you like to read? Who
are your favorite authors? Why?
Anthony: I love horror and
crime novels. Some favorites are Stephen
King, Bryan Smith, Blake Crouch, and Joe Konrath. I’ve also recently picked up
and enjoyed books by Victor Gischler. They write the fast-paced, darker stuff
that I love.
Paul: If someone had the power to step into your
creative mind what would they see?
Anthony: Everything is
fodder for a story. I write horror and dark thrillers so I tend to take
ordinary things and try to imagine the worst-case scenario. Because of the dark
stuff I write, my wife likes to joke that she sleeps with the light on.
Paul: In all the years you’ve been publishing your
work, what is the biggest mistake you made that you could share so others can
avoid making it?
Anthony: Letting fear take
control. Fear of writing and submitting your work. You have to put yourself out
there. It might be scary, but you’ll never reach an audience if you keep your
work to yourself.
Paul: How do you find the
time to write?
Anthony: Usually by grabbing a half-hour
here or fifteen minutes there. It all adds up. If you can produce 3 pages a
day, you can have a decent-sized novel in three months.
Paul: What is one thing
you hope I do not tell the readers?
Anthony: Writing isn’t blood, sweat, and
tears. Most of the time, it’s a lot of fun.
Paul: If you are self-published, what led to you
going your own way?
Anthony: I love having control over what I write, the
cover art, and the whole process. I had three novels traditionally published,
and although it was a great experience, going indie has been a lot more
enjoyable.
Paul: Do you plot your stories or do you just get
an idea and run with it?
Anthony: I start with about 60-70 plot points I want
to hit. I figure out my beginning, middle, and end sections (I guess this would
also fall under Three-Act Structure). I like to throw in twists and surprises
as I go, and I’m never afraid to take the story in an unexpected direction.
Paul:
Do you do a lot of editing or do you
find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?
Anthony: As time has gone on, I’ve learned to write a
pretty solid story, so most of my editing deals with grammar, typos, and
inconsistencies that crop up in the story.
Anthony: My most recent
release is a crime novella called Getaway. It’s about a mob wife who rips off
her husband and goes on the run from a hitman and two crooked cops.
My next novel is Beat The Devil, the first in my John Childress
series of thrillers. Childress is an ex-Navy Seal who gets recruited by a
government agency to track down and kill a serial murderer named Raven. Beat The Devil Will Be Released mid-July.
Paul: What inspired you to write this book?
Anthony: I’ve been wanting
to branch out into writing crime and thrillers for a while. I liked the idea of
a shadowy government agency combined with fast-paced action. I also wanted to
try my hand at a series and see where it takes me.
Paul: What do you do when you’re not writing? Do
you have any hobbies or party tricks?
Anthony: I love to read. I do some drawing and sketching, mostly fantasy and horror art. I’m also known for mangling Led Zeppelin songs on the guitar.
Anthony: I love to read. I do some drawing and sketching, mostly fantasy and horror art. I’m also known for mangling Led Zeppelin songs on the guitar.
Paul: Thanks Anthony, that was great. I wish you every success for the future.
Anthony's Blog: Anthony Izzo
Anthony on Twitter: @AIzzo
Anthony on Facebook: Anthony Izzo
Anthony's latest book: Getaway (Amazon)
Follow Paul Dorset:
No comments:
Post a Comment