Book: Apex
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hello, I’m a film and video game enthusiast who has recently shifted to writing fiction. As an author, my goal is to great fast-paced stories that take readers for a ride. APEX is my debut novel, and is available on Amazon.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Apex ’ book?
I think back to one of my favorite action film series, Die Hard. The first was a claustrophobic rescue romp through a building that had some implausible sequences, but also those that made the protagonist believable. Fast forward to 2007, and we had the same protagonist jumping onto a hovering fighter jet, and crashing it while clinging to the aircrafts tail. Long winded story short, I wanted to make sure APEX kept the suspension of disbelief in a reasonable place. I knew the story would require escalation, and some high-tension sequences, but I wanted to make sure their execution wasn’t egregious or relying on extremely unlikely conclusions.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
My writing has been influenced by a number of authors – Crichton’s epic storytelling, Dan Brown’s pacing, Stieg Larsson’s sense of dread, and Andy Weir’s timely comedy – Just to name a few.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
If I told you, then I’d have to kill you.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
I spend more time in design and prep than writing. I have endless pages of notes, whiteboards, and scattered drawings of sequences throughout my office. I prefer not to write a single page of a book until I have every character fleshed out and every chapter mapped.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Apex’ book?
The end-to-end process was about five months – Storyboarding, Writing, Editing, Publishing. Truth be told, I wrote the initial manuscript for APEX in 17 days. Once I know what I want to write, and I have a blueprint, I go.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Apex’ book to buy?
Paperback is available across a number of online retailers, Amazon and Barnes and Noble are the most notable. APEX is currently part of Amazon’s “Kindle Unlimited” program, so the eBook (right now) is exclusively available on Amazon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Apex’?
I knew the cover had to reflect the setting of the book while not giving much away. The painted hills from the island provided a literal depiction from within the story, as well as an “APEX” allegory. The cover looks pretty simple from a distance, but if you look close, it’s actually brought together with strokes of white paint, which also ties back to a major event in the book. I don’t remember where the idea came from, but my cover designer, Astrid Burke, did an amazing job bringing it to life.
The title itself, comes from the main antagonist organization in the book. Also, plays into the notion that humans are the planet’s apex predators.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
My secret sauce is limiting the amount of information readers have at certain spots in the book. Imperfect information creates tension. Additionally, though APEX is a violent book, I spent a ton of time working through when and how it would be used. I knew early on being careless with violence would create a numbing read, but if you’re strategic, it can be the most effective character (thank you, Quentin Tarantino).
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
I recommend reading the book. At face value, this is a “shoot from the hip” thriller, with the single goal of sending readers on a good time. That being said, I tried to layer in a few different themes and concepts that hopefully give readers pause to think twice.
Book Is Available On Amazon
Sassy Reviews 