Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I’m Wes Mogenson, author of Don’t Play The Game and the first book in the Page Terrors Series Dead Summer.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Dead Summer”?
Fixing the plot holes and keeping the characters straight were the big ones. This book is told from multiple points of view, and at one point, I had to rewrite two chapters because those scenes weren’t working in the first character’s narration.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
R.L. Stine is my biggest influence, and from the beginning, Goosebumps has been my comp title for this book and series. Although James Patterson has been another big influence on me, he’s had the biggest impact on my writing style.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Boston, it’s the coolest city. There’s so much to see and do and so much rich history.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
I normally write a thorough outline which I then use to keep me on track and avoid writer’s block. Although with Dead Summer, I didn’t. I just started writing.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Dead Summer’?
Too long, LOL. I wrote much of the first draft during my first year of college, and it quickly became a stress release for me, like when I wrote several pages of it while spending all night in a hospital waiting room waiting for a family member to come out of surgery. Then during the Covid-19 shutdown, I returned to it again as an escape from our harsh reality. I can normally write a book in about a year, but Dead Summer was more like three years.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?
It comes out on the 21st of April and is available for preorder on Kindle. Then as soon as it comes out, the print version will be available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Also, for more information, you can check out my website, wesmogensonbooks.com, and find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Dead Summer’?
The cover process was simple. It was narrowed down to two photos. I believe the best one was chosen, and I’m quite happy with the final product. The title was a bit more challenging, this book had a few different titles before being called In The Dead of Summer, and then when it was decided that it would be the first book in a series, it got shortened to Dead Summer.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
Having no memory and promptly forgetting everything I’ve written helps, LOL. But seriously, I start each new project with a fresh slate and challenge myself in new ways. I also live life, pay attention, and listen to get new ideas and concepts that I can use in later books.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Yes, this book is filled with tips and tricks on how to survive the zombie apocalypse. What are the ones I would use?
Buy Dead Summer on Amazon
Sassy Reviews 