AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m Rebecca Scarberry, @Scarberryfields on Twitter and author of: Messages from Henry, Rag Doll, the Jumper series, and Where Love Takes You. I’ve interviewed another author, and I think you’ll enjoy getting to know him as much as I have. He is author, Richard Cezar (@richard_cezar on Twitter).
Rebecca: Would you please tell us about your nationality, where you were born, and where you live now?
Richard: I’m third generation Czech, born and raised in Cicero. It’s a small western suburb of Chicago, infamously the home of the “roaring twenties” era gangster, Al Capone. Since then, I’ve moved seven times, all within a stones-throw of Chicago—except for one brief stint in Phoenix. It was about a girl, but that’s a story unto itself. Over the years, I’ve spent more time traveling than at home. The last seven years have been less hectic and found me close to home in Forest Park, IL.
Rebecca: Is Richard Cezar your real name or is it your pen name?
Richard: It’s my pen name. In character development, I often use the traits and appearance of people I’ve met. Then, I combine and twist them into shapes that suit the story—sometimes scoundrels and murders. If any of those real people recognize themselves in my characters, I don’t want to help solidify the connection by using my real name.
Rebecca: Now that you’re traditionally published, are there any advantages you didn’t experience when you were self-published?
Richard: The biggest advantages are exposure and distribution. However, from what I’ve heard, publishers used to take care of everything. Even though I’m now traditionally published, I find that a great deal of my time is taken up in self-promotion.
Rebecca: If you’re writing something new, would you please describe it?
Richard: I’m about a quarter of the way into a new novel. It’s a complete departure from what I’ve done previously. If I find the right words, it will be a statement–of sorts–on the human condition in dealing with the stresses of today, but told within a high-tech, fast-paced, mystery-thriller genre. Speaking of words, I sure crammed a lot of them into that sentence.
Rebecca: Once you published your first book, did you miss any of the characters in the book?
Richard: Never! I find that they become part of me and help define who I am now. I hope that doesn’t sound too contrived to you, but it’s how I feel.
Rebecca: How long have you wanted to write fiction?
Richard: Since Creative Writing in college, when my professor told that my scribblings were “amazing”. Ha-ha, at least shethought so!
Rebecca: How was it you became traditionally published?
Richard: Actually, it was quite by accident. I sent my manuscript to over a hundred publishing houses and was rejected by them all. The standard reply went something like this: “It’s good—just not the kind of thing we handle.” I kept at it for about three months before deciding to self-publish.
Without going into too much detail, I was having some work done with a company that I thought was involved exclusively with cover graphics. I was impressed by one of its people and asked for his boss’s email to send a compliment. To make a long story short, I ended up talking to his boss on the phone for over an hour. Within our discussion, he mentioned that he was a small publisher. I described my frustration in getting publishing houses to read my book. He offered to have one of his staff-members, a New York Times best-selling author, read my book and evaluate it. I agreed, with the condition that she read the entire book. After having read it, she phoned me with some very flattering feedback. Her boss and I decided that, since I was so close to release of my semi-autobiography, MP, that I would go ahead and self-publish it. In the meantime, I collaborated with his staff member to edit the book for pace, drama, and general readership appeal. In other words, transform it into a novel. She made suggestions only, being careful not to offer her own wording. Four months later, we were both happy with the highly augmented version.
Having met all the requirements for a new body of work, An American MP in Korea, was released this April. One of the fans of my first offering, MP, also purchased the new book, expecting it was an entirely new story and was understandably disappointed. I hope that person reads this interview and accepts my apology. The front pages of An American MP in Korea clearly state that it is based on the same story as MP, but I don’t expect everyone to read the “fine print”.
Rebecca: Do you plan to self-publish your next book?
Richard: That decision will be made later, depending on experience with my current publisher.
Rebecca: What was your biggest challenge as a writer?
Richard: Getting though those days of writer’s block, or when I know that what I’m writing is pure drivel. I’m learning to overcome my perfectionist tendencies, and highlight those sections for revisiting later. I force myself to keep writing through the bad days.
Rebecca: If you have one professional wish, what is it?
Richard: To obtain feedback from my readership that my work has been satisfying to them, and from my peers that I’ve done a professional and workmanlike job.
Richard: Now that we’ve finished, do you mind if I ask you a question?
Rebecca: No, not at all!
Richard: Why is your blouse so suggestively low-cut, and why are you wearing those skin-tight leather pants. It seems quite inappropriate for an interview!
Rebecca: Er—uh—umm!
Director:Fade to black!!!
Link: Novel: http://smarturl.it/udbngd
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/R.Cezar