In an effort to "clear the board" before the end of the month, I'm bringing you another interview. Two in two days!? Say it ain't so!
Well, yes! We will be having two in two days on the TW blog! So today we have J.R. Vikse, author of The Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre (& Tie Factory). He has graciously answered my simplistic questions, and here they are...
Tell us about yourself - what do you like to write? How long have you written? What prompted you to start writing?
My name is J.R. Vikse. I’m a Canadian author who has published six books, including a youth fantasy trilogy, two contemporary new adult comedies, and a short story collection. I’ve been writing since about 2008, but didn’t publish my first book until 2012. I was encouraged to write by a number of my teachers in high school, but unfortunately ignored their advice until I was well out of university. That’s when I started to play around with my first short story: an epic children’s poem entitled Cat Got Your Tongue? After that I did a few more short stories (some of which are in my collection, some of which have been relegated to the recycle bin of history). One of those short stories grew beyond my control and eventually became my first book, The Lazy Postman.
What type of books do you like to read?
All kinds (although I will admit it can be rough to get me to read more than a few non-fiction in a year). I have a pretty eclectic bookshelf; I think that’s an important part of making sure you don’t lose yourself in a genre-specific voice, if that makes any sense. But for pure escapism I do tend to turn towards an intricately plotted fantasy (like Sanderson’s Mistborn), a classic mystery (Agatha can’t be beat!), or even a play or two.
Do you have another author that you model yourself after?
Not as such. I try not to model myself after any authors; I think an author’s voice is to valuable to throw away trying to copy anyone else. Part of what readers want in an author is a unique voice, after all. Something new and distinct. However, I do have authors whose work I find inspiring, particularly in the way they handle issues I deal with in my own writing style. For example, I like how Lois McMaster Bujold defies genre even within her own series. I admire Scott Lynch’s complexity of plot and character while he still keeps a humorous voice. And I envy Patrick Rothfus’ ability to build worlds and entrench history into the most mundane of objects and places. I aspire to their talents, but I wouldn’t say I model myself after them or anyone else.
What inspires you to write one?
I’m a storyteller! I have to tell stories! Even when I’m not writing, I’m often expressing myself through other forms of story-telling, especially the theatre. As for what inspires each individual book, that depends on the story. Sometimes it’s a “what if” question, sometimes it’s a phrase, sometimes it’s the title that comes first, forcing me to think, “I wonder what that book is about?” (That was the case for my latest book, The Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre (& Tie Factory).) Then I have to puzzle out what the story could possibly be, reverse engineered.
When a story idea pops into your head, how long does it typically take to write it (from start to finish)?
Well, that’s a tricky question. A story can pop into my head, be written down as an idea to explore later, and then sit on a mental shelf for ages before I ever actually get to the point of writing it. But once I really begin going from outline to draft to manuscript, the average time its takes me is somewhere between 5-9 months, 2-3 of those being the writing of the first draft.
What did you find to be the most difficult part of the writing process? Easiest?
For me, the most difficult part of the writing process is the cruel first edit. After spending all your time and energy putting your book together and finally having it out and on paper, you have to tear through it without mercy, cutting bits, rewriting, removing chapters, characters, entire subplots if necessary. Then, you start again, minus the murdered darlings, wounded to the core at destroying your brainchild, but knowing that it’s all for the best.
The easiest part is the pre-production. Sitting down and drawing up plot lines, coming up with characters and their personalities and names and motivations, building and designing worlds, cultures, creatures… that’s the fun stuff. And I think it needs to be, because if that part doesn’t work, the whole project is doomed. In the end, readers (and writers) want plots to dive into, worlds to explore, and characters to fall in love (and hate) with. For me, all of that happens before I start my first draft.
Tell us about your book. Where can readers find it? Do you have a website? Blog?
My latest book is a comedy/mystery called The Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre (& Tie Factory). It’s a fun, light read for fans of books and film. Here’s the blurb:
“Newly-minted reporter and life-long film buff Odelia Kennicot wants nothing more than to be an investigative journalist. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be anything worth investigating in the humdrum town of Ridgewood. Until now.
When Odelia starts spending her evenings at the Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre, she meets Wil Nash, an irritable babysitter with a chip on his shoulder and a potential story in his pocket. Wil suspects that there is more going on at the drive-in than meets the eye and Odelia jumps at the chance to write a real story for a change. But what starts out as a routine investigation soon takes an unexpected and baffling turn.
Shadowy organisations, coded messages, and government conspiracies are all upcoming features at the Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre, where Odelia sets out on the investigation of her life, armed with nothing more than her wits and the encouragement of the oddball movie-goers around her. Full of quirky characters and unexpected twists, this hilarious new mystery from the author of The Lazy Postman will keep you guessing and coming back for more as you join Odelia in puzzling out: What is really going on at the Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre?”
It’s a lot of fun to read, and full of twists and turns to keep you guessing and laughing! It can be found on Amazon, of course. More details on this book and my others can be found at my website: www.jrvikse.com.
Well, yes! We will be having two in two days on the TW blog! So today we have J.R. Vikse, author of The Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre (& Tie Factory). He has graciously answered my simplistic questions, and here they are...
Tell us about yourself - what do you like to write? How long have you written? What prompted you to start writing?
My name is J.R. Vikse. I’m a Canadian author who has published six books, including a youth fantasy trilogy, two contemporary new adult comedies, and a short story collection. I’ve been writing since about 2008, but didn’t publish my first book until 2012. I was encouraged to write by a number of my teachers in high school, but unfortunately ignored their advice until I was well out of university. That’s when I started to play around with my first short story: an epic children’s poem entitled Cat Got Your Tongue? After that I did a few more short stories (some of which are in my collection, some of which have been relegated to the recycle bin of history). One of those short stories grew beyond my control and eventually became my first book, The Lazy Postman.
What type of books do you like to read?
All kinds (although I will admit it can be rough to get me to read more than a few non-fiction in a year). I have a pretty eclectic bookshelf; I think that’s an important part of making sure you don’t lose yourself in a genre-specific voice, if that makes any sense. But for pure escapism I do tend to turn towards an intricately plotted fantasy (like Sanderson’s Mistborn), a classic mystery (Agatha can’t be beat!), or even a play or two.
Do you have another author that you model yourself after?
Not as such. I try not to model myself after any authors; I think an author’s voice is to valuable to throw away trying to copy anyone else. Part of what readers want in an author is a unique voice, after all. Something new and distinct. However, I do have authors whose work I find inspiring, particularly in the way they handle issues I deal with in my own writing style. For example, I like how Lois McMaster Bujold defies genre even within her own series. I admire Scott Lynch’s complexity of plot and character while he still keeps a humorous voice. And I envy Patrick Rothfus’ ability to build worlds and entrench history into the most mundane of objects and places. I aspire to their talents, but I wouldn’t say I model myself after them or anyone else.
What inspires you to write one?
I’m a storyteller! I have to tell stories! Even when I’m not writing, I’m often expressing myself through other forms of story-telling, especially the theatre. As for what inspires each individual book, that depends on the story. Sometimes it’s a “what if” question, sometimes it’s a phrase, sometimes it’s the title that comes first, forcing me to think, “I wonder what that book is about?” (That was the case for my latest book, The Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre (& Tie Factory).) Then I have to puzzle out what the story could possibly be, reverse engineered.
When a story idea pops into your head, how long does it typically take to write it (from start to finish)?
Well, that’s a tricky question. A story can pop into my head, be written down as an idea to explore later, and then sit on a mental shelf for ages before I ever actually get to the point of writing it. But once I really begin going from outline to draft to manuscript, the average time its takes me is somewhere between 5-9 months, 2-3 of those being the writing of the first draft.
What did you find to be the most difficult part of the writing process? Easiest?
For me, the most difficult part of the writing process is the cruel first edit. After spending all your time and energy putting your book together and finally having it out and on paper, you have to tear through it without mercy, cutting bits, rewriting, removing chapters, characters, entire subplots if necessary. Then, you start again, minus the murdered darlings, wounded to the core at destroying your brainchild, but knowing that it’s all for the best.
The easiest part is the pre-production. Sitting down and drawing up plot lines, coming up with characters and their personalities and names and motivations, building and designing worlds, cultures, creatures… that’s the fun stuff. And I think it needs to be, because if that part doesn’t work, the whole project is doomed. In the end, readers (and writers) want plots to dive into, worlds to explore, and characters to fall in love (and hate) with. For me, all of that happens before I start my first draft.
Tell us about your book. Where can readers find it? Do you have a website? Blog?
My latest book is a comedy/mystery called The Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre (& Tie Factory). It’s a fun, light read for fans of books and film. Here’s the blurb:
“Newly-minted reporter and life-long film buff Odelia Kennicot wants nothing more than to be an investigative journalist. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be anything worth investigating in the humdrum town of Ridgewood. Until now.
When Odelia starts spending her evenings at the Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre, she meets Wil Nash, an irritable babysitter with a chip on his shoulder and a potential story in his pocket. Wil suspects that there is more going on at the drive-in than meets the eye and Odelia jumps at the chance to write a real story for a change. But what starts out as a routine investigation soon takes an unexpected and baffling turn.
Shadowy organisations, coded messages, and government conspiracies are all upcoming features at the Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre, where Odelia sets out on the investigation of her life, armed with nothing more than her wits and the encouragement of the oddball movie-goers around her. Full of quirky characters and unexpected twists, this hilarious new mystery from the author of The Lazy Postman will keep you guessing and coming back for more as you join Odelia in puzzling out: What is really going on at the Munsen Street Drive-In Theatre?”
It’s a lot of fun to read, and full of twists and turns to keep you guessing and laughing! It can be found on Amazon, of course. More details on this book and my others can be found at my website: www.jrvikse.com.
