Book: Ungodly
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I am a proud father of two, and honored husband to one. In my free time — what little there is — I enjoy exorcising demons by writing dark fiction. An example of such a therapeutic exorcism, and the reason we’re here, is my novel Ungodly. Thanks for having me. 🙂
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Ungodly ’ book?
Truthfully — finding time to commit to the task. Our first child came along soon after I started writing the story, so time was (is) of the essence. Since my creative energies peak in the early hours, I carved out routine time slots in the morning during the work week, waking up at 0430 and dedicating a solid one hour to highly caffeinated story writing. While some sessions were naturally more productive than others, working in this brief but methodical fashion best channeled my creative focus.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Without question my style was distilled from reading virtually all the ‘80s-‘90s works by Dean Koontz and Stephen King. In alternating patterns, I’d go back and forth between authors, quite literally, learning from the best in their prime while thoroughly enjoying the wildly different rides.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
It’s probably not a coincidence that my novel is set in a lonely mountain town — I do love the mountains. In fact, you’re hard-pressed to find more scenic, inspiring views than you will see along the Appalachian Mountain range. Basically, just pick yourself a starting point, traverse the mountain’s trail in any direction . . . and savor the sweet majesty.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
In terms of gathering lots of coffee — yes, absolutely. Can’t have enough of the murky magic. Cheers.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Ungodly ‘ book?
In total, it’s tough to say . . . because of the aforementioned brief morning sessions that rarely exceeded one hour in length, and due to setting the work aside for spells (discontinuing the writing to tend to other projects), it’s tricky to quantify in total time. I will say that the first draft was completed in 2015, and because it weighed in at 511 pages, I knew I had lots of work to do in trimming down the story and extracting the fluffy material, so I put the manuscript in a drawer for a couple years, hoping to develop an eye objective enough to perform the necessary surgery. Over time, thankfully, I found the objectivity needed to trim the fat, further assisted by the weighty critiques of well respected — but varied — fiction editors.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Ungodly’ book to buy?
Right now, only on Amazon, but with recent interest, I’ll be exploring more options soon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Ungodly’?
Covers are critical, right? Contrary to the cliché about not judging a book by its cover, that is exactly what we are prewired to do — and it’s especially difficult to bypass this type of wiring. All I knew was that I sought a concept that lived somewhere between majestic and macabre, with a mountain landscape that teased with intrigue. Fortunately, the designer, Reynaldo A. Licayan, interpreted my intentions with utmost precision and produced a stunning cover. All credit to Reynaldo here. Hats off to him.
The title was inspired by the only word that came to mind upon first reading a scene in part two — which remains the most disturbing chapter of fiction I’ve ever written, as far as I’m concerned, if only because I wrote the scene in one sitting while in a trancelike state, possessed by the dark power of the writing itself.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
Readers and critics have described my writing style as conversational and casual, if not playful and simple; friends within the circle say they can literally hear me speaking the prose they read in the story. The point is, I just want to have a playful chat with you. That’s all. And yes, full disclosure, the conversation will take some dark turns.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
As the title suggests — and according to readers — it’s a devilish ride . . .
Book Is Available On Amazon
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