Monday, 30 July 2007

• Meet Jeffrey Redmond

  This week, I chose to interview Jeffrey Redmond, author of ‘Fair Aer-Inn’, ‘Islands of Mak-Naw’, ‘Valley of Von-Dar’, The Chronicles of Er-Da, ‘The Er-Dan Stories’, and ‘Getting Together or Breaking Up’.

   

  Hey Jeffrey; thanks for doing this interview with me.  In opening, can you tell us a bit about each of your books?

   

  In the past few years, I've been getting science fiction and fantasy adventure novels published. But only after two decades of rejections!

   

  Most of your works are either straight fantasy or cross-genre fantasy.  How did you become a fantasy writer?

   

  I enjoy a wide variety of reading, and have tried to combine various  elements from different genres. I feel (strongly!) that this makes for a much more interesting, entertaining, and educating read. It is difficult to sell non-fiction.... and I have tried. There is still a market for good quality fiction, and I definitely enjoy pleasing my audience.

   

  Are there any other genres you’d like to write in?

   

  Currently I'm working on a second murder mystery. I've just had my first one accepted by Double Dragon, and it will be published in 2008. There's usually a one year lead time between contract and printing. But again I combine science fiction with mystery in the first one, and sci-fi with the supernatural in the second one.

   

  What kind of books do you like to read?

   

  I especially enjoy any kind of historical work. Right now I'm reading an autobiography by the famous author Pearl Buck. She tells about her life and the many events in China in the 1920's and 30's. And, of course, the coming onslaught of World War II.

   

  Have you written any books that haven’t made it to publication?

   

  Yes. I still get manuscripts rejected. But - interesting enough - two of these publishers have recently announced their termination and/or bankrupcy. This could be a kind of what the Germans call "Schadenfreude," meaning a delight in such a thing happening to others. But I'm also relieved I didn't sign any contracts with them.

   

  When did you start writing?

   

  Of course when I was in high school, and also in college. There were all those assignments!

  
  But I also began submitting letters to editors of major newspapers, and also wrote for campus "underground" papers (not too subversive). About a quarter of a century ago I also began submitting short stories to various magazines, and every once in awhile I'd get an acceptance. The pay was only a few cents per word, but my ego was assuaged. But trying to get books published was a long and tedious time for me. I had to learn - the hard way - to write for the readers.

   

  As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

   

  Either a WW II submarine captain or a defender of the Alamo.

   

  When you were writing your novels, did you use outlines?

   

  I find that I must. I simply cannot deal with all the characters' names and situations otherwise. Each novel is different, and I'm always making changes in plot and interactions.

   

  Your book, ‘Fair Aer-Inn’ was written from the point of view of a scribe.  How did you choose this point of view, and how is the scribe involved in the story?

   

  Someone such as yourself would be the dynamic princess, and some energetic and forceful fellow could be the army commander. But I myself, easing into middle age, will have to be an observer and chronicler of all that takes place. Since I can't control the events around me, I can at least control all future understanding of them.

   

  In ‘Islands of Mak-Naw’, a young woman travels to the planet Erda.  Can you tell us a little bit about Erda’s history, and how it came to have a human colony?

   

  Excellent question!!! Erda is an ancient name for our own Planet Earth. I include "fresh water seas" just like the Great Lakes around my home state of Michigan (see map). I tell of all the problems we have down here today, but have them happen in a future of a thousand years hence. My point is that people will always be what they have been, no matter where and when they exist.

   

  You’ve also written ‘Getting Together or Breaking Up’.  I’m a bit hesitant to ask you about something outside your fiction writing, but I’ll give it a shot.  Why did you decide to write this book?

   

  I remember being a young man and being so confused about young women. So I thought I could have some fun and maybe help other males out. I don't really know how informative that particular book is, but it's filled with humorous anecdotes throughout.

   

  What qualifies you, as a self-proclaimed ‘dating man’, to tell others how women think?  That seems like a pretty broad generalization to me—do you have extensive experience in psychology or sociology?

   

  I am absolutely the LAST man on Planet Earth to ever claim he knows anything at all about humanoid females on this planet. Now on my own planet of Erda...... I definitely know everything about all the humanoid females there (I think).......

   

  Which of your books is your favorite?

   

  Most probably all of the ones I've written and gotten published.

   

  How do the writing styles change or develop from one of your books to the next?

   

  I actually believe (and fell) I'm getting better. Especially thanks to all the feedback and edits from all those wonderful female editors and publishers. Whereas my romance adventures were more like simple stories, my mysteries are more complicated with interactions and plot twists.

   

  Do any of your novels feature specific underlying social issues or allegories?

   

  Yes, most definitely. All of them do. I try to throw in my own personal opinions and comments throughout. Perhaps also a kind of Christian subversion with how we should all behave not as we want to do, but instead as we ought to. And also how destroying our environment will destroy ourselves.

   

  What online writing communities do you frequent?

   

  I keep getting bombarded with e-mailings from the NWU, the MWA, the RWA, the N3F, the SFWA, the SFRA, the RFF, and other such writers organizations. Quite often there are some really lively online discussions and debates.

   

  Critique groups often help a writer improve his/her technical details, catch plot inconsistencies, and help with awkward phrasing.  Do you participate in any crit groups, on or offline?

   

  Actually I don't have to. I receive enough nasty remarks about what I say and do from others in the above mentioned groups.

   

  Three of your books have been published with Double Dragon Publishing.  What can you tell us about working with DDP and its owner, Deron?

   

  I lived in Ontario Canada for three years. The Canadians have a much softer and gentler culture than we do in America. A few years ago I found the Deron Douglas's DDP company listed as being a better than average one. I sent them a few manuscripts other publishers had rejected. Deron is especially enthusiastic about science fiction and fantasy works, and he actually tries
  (hard!) to market and sell his publications. I especially like the process of submitting and doing everything on line. I have wasted a lot of time and expense in postal mailing hard copies to other publishers, and then getting them rejected by a badly photocopied form letter mailed back to me

   

  Can you give us links to purchase your books?

   

  Oh, please do! Here's a good one:  www.erdabooks.net
  
  And another one about me: www.myspace.com/jeffringr
  
  The DDP one is at: www.double-dragon-ebooks.com

  
  My books can best be found by searching by author Jeffrey Redmond

   

  Have any cats?

   

  I could, but my sister would have a fit. She said her dog would get jealous, and I believe her

   

  For you, what’s the most difficult part of writing a novel?

   

  I have found that I usually get tired and bogged half way through each one. But after a week or two off, the old urges to get back at it resurface.

   

  Several of your books have been self-published.  How was your experience, and what would you say to skeptics of self-publishing?

   

  I was lucky to find out about the iUniverse company in Nebraska. I paid $100 for the cover art and ISBN and copyright for each one. They pay for all production and distribution costs. I had to do all my own advertising and marketing, but there have been quite a few libraries and book stores that have gotten copies. At about $2 per in royalties all I had to do was sell fifty copies of each to break even. The latest iUniverse report to me has total sales at almost 600 for the past few years, and so I am satisfied. Plus I'd had two terrible experiences with "vanity" publishers many years before. They would have me pay them $ thousands, and then go out of business. I highly recommend all new authors double-check into the publishers they want to deal with first.

   

  Do you have any upcoming books?

   

  Yes. Double Dragon in Ontario will continue to publish my science fiction novels. Midnight Showcase in Texas will be publishing a few fantasy tales, Aphrodite's Apples in Delaware has already accepted two erotic romances, and Whiskey Creek Torrid Press in Wyoming will be publishing one novel. All of these will be forthcoming in 2008.

   

  A lot of published authors organize projects to bolster online or local writing communities.  Do you have any plans or ideas for such projects?

   

  I hope to be able to contribute ideas and information to the groups I belong to. Though I hope to not bore them too much with my bragging, my sarcastic humor, and my personal opinions.

   

  Often, books can be associated with colors or color schemes.  What color(s) would you associate with your books?

   

  My favorite color is blue (though I actually have hazel eyes). I love the sky and water, and believe I am a water person (and also a Taurus). I appreciate when publishers will include lots of blue shades on the books covers. A bold blue, a dark blue, a deep blue, a bright blue, and a beautiful blue.

   

  Any last thoughts?

   

  Thank you very, very much for your time and energies with putting all these interviews together. You have helped me organize my thoughts. I hope to be able to continue to provide enjoyment and interesting information to many others out there in literary reading land.
  
  Stay safe and well, everyone, always.
  
  { Jeff Redmond

   

  

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