What genre do you write and why?
I usually
write either science fiction or fantasy.
Both genres give me the freedom to explore the possibilities of other
worlds and realities, their life forms, their ecosystems, and the way the
characters respond to and meet the challenges presented to them in these
environments.
Tell us about your latest book.
Haunted World is a fantasy novel set on an earth struggling to
rebuild itself centuries after an apocalyptic natural disaster. Only two human populations survive. Unfortunately, our species’ ancient penchant
for war remains and has raised its vicious head. When Ranger-Colonel Dermot O’Donnell’s Fourth
Regiment sets out to prevent inevitable invasion by fortifying the one breach
in the otherwise impervious barrier separating his people from their enemies,
he expects to encounter trouble from the savage environment and is not
disappointed. What he does not realize
is that the super volcanoes which ravaged the continent, taking out almost
every living thing on it six centuries previously, did not erase every trace of
its victims. The spirits of a massive
column of refugees remain, guarding the place to which the soldiers have
come. When the anticipated invasion
begins early, long before effective defenses can be prepared, the Fourth’s only
hope of survival lies in gaining the favor of the ghosts and their willingness
to wield the terrible force that exterminated them.
What formats is the
book available in?
Haunted World is available in a number of electronic
formats: pdf, prc, epub, htm
Who are your
favourite authors?
I read and have read many fine authors, but my favorites
are J.R.R. Tolkien, Andre Norton, and C.S. Lewis.
What advice do you
have for other writers?
I presume you mean individuals striving to write on a
professional level. My advice is simple:
Write.
Even if it’s just to keep a diary or journal at first. It’s the only way to learn how to use words,
how to get them to convey your ideas and emotions to others. They are to us what notes are to musicians
and paints are to artists.
Read.
See how other authors use words, images, emotions.
Research, whether you’re doing fiction or
nonfiction. It’s necessary, and it’s
fun. If you don’t like your subject, you
shouldn’t be punishing yourself by immersing yourself in it for the length of
time it takes to write a book. – I’m not referring to school assignments, of
course. Those, you must do, so strive to
do them well. It will add to your
skills.
Remember, once you seriously begin to
write, you may have to wait a while to be a published author, but you are
an author. Don’t lose that knowledge.
Where
can people find out more about you and your writing?
On my website, www.pmgriffin.com It contains descriptive material, cover
artwork, and ordering information. There
is also a brief biography.
Who
designed the cover?
Charlotte Volnek of
MuseItUp Publishing. Charlie does a
marvelous job in fitting her covers to the books in question, and it’s a joy to
work with her.
Where can a reader purchase your book?
A number of places: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo | Scribd | Inktera | 24Symbols | and
from the publisher MuseItUp Publishing
How do
you research your books?
Research is essential, especially in my fields. One has to know
this world to create others. I use the
internet to some extent, and DVDs and videos are a good source of information, but
I prefer hard-copy books. I simply find
them easier to use for the kind of checking and cross-checking I like to
do. In fact, the bulk of my pleasure
reading is nonfiction. If well-written,
such works are as gripping as any novel.
Who or what inspired you to become a
writer?
The
moment when I knew I must write is fixed in my memory. I was in the second grade, seven years old,
and I had borrowed Andre Norton’s Star Rangers on my first visit to the public
library. (I was reading well above my
age norm.) One scene so affected me that
I knew I had to do the same thing, that I had to create on the same level, had
to give on the same level. I’m describing
all this as an adult, naturally, but I’ve never seriously wanted anything
else. That does not meant I
didn’t intend to support myself and live as a decent, functioning human being
as well. As a point of interest, Miss
Norton once said the scene which so moved me was the only one she had ever
written that fully expressed her own inner thoughts and feelings about it.
