Friday, January 2, 2015

Interview with Christopher Cloud (& a Giveaway!)







Christopher, Do you have any advice for new writers/authors?

There’s an old adage in the writing business that insists writers should write what they know. Twenty-years ago that was true, but not today. The availability of the Internet affords writers the luxury of writing in-depth on any subject. Your story may require a great deal of research, but if you’re willing to invest the time, the Internet allows a writer to qualify himself/herself as an expert on any subject. The Internet has eliminated those long, exhausting trips to the library, and outshines even the Ancient Library of Alexandria.


What are your writing tips for others?


Don’t be afraid, at first, to write poorly. All writers, from Stephen King to Mark Twain, have written stories they’re not particularly proud of.  These stories are usually shoved to the back burner awaiting a serious rewrite. Most never see the light of day. I look back over stories I wrote in college and cringe, they are so poorly written. But that’s how writers improve. There can be no success without a few failures. We cannot all be a Truman Capote, who is said never to have received a rejection letter.
 


Tell us a little about your next book or writing project.     

    
At the moment, I’m between novels. I have established a few criteria for all of my novels, and my next is no exception. The story must be either middle-grade or young adult and have some social relevance. I've boiled my story ideas down to three candidates.







More about Christopher Cloud:


Award winning author Christopher Cloud began writing fiction full time after a long career in journalism and public relations. He writes middle-grade and young adult novels..Cloud graduated from the University of Missouri in 1967 with a degree in journalism. He has worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist at newspapers in Texas, California, and Missouri. He was employed by a Fortune 100 company as a public relations executive, and later operated his own public relations agency. Cloud attended high school in Japan, and lives in Joplin, Missouri. His website Is: www.christophercloud.com

Where else you can find Christopher around the web:



***** Now onto the giveaway! Christopher is being kind enough to offer a print copy of Adelita's Secret to one lucky U.S. winner or an e-copy if the winner is located internationally!     *****




Here are the rules! 

To become eligible to win, all you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter form below! 


·     The winner of the contest will be announced on this blog
·     The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only for the physical copy or kindle version and international winners will receive only the kindle version

·     You will receive your choice of a physical copy or kindle version, if that is what you prefer in and are located in the U.S., of the book Adelita's Secret. If you are located outside the U.S. you will receive an e-copy. The winner will receive the book within two weeks after the winner is announced

Remember to please leave your email address in the Rafflecopter so we have a way to contact and verify the winner's information! This is important. If you do not leave an email addy then I won't be able to contact you and therefore you won't be able to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment:

  1. What a wonderful interview! Great to hear Chris's advice for new authors. Thanks so much for the giveaway. :)

    Happy New Year too!
    ~Jess

    ReplyDelete