Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. Sure. David Rosenbaum. I am a retired academic who was involved in research and teaching at Masters level in leadership and change management. My PhD thesis was all about change in the nonprofit sector. Towards the end of my academic career, I became interested in fiction, and the more I read, the more I got interested in it as a genre. And reading numerous books by authors such as Gail Honeyman, Gabrielle Zevin, Frederik Backman, Lan Chang, Kevin Powers and Kristin Hannah, to name but a few, I became excited about the art of writing fiction and using imagination as a form of intimate expression. It was the ability to let my imagination do whatever it wanted to do, that got me very excited about writing a book.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “The Remaking of Myles”?
A2. The biggest challenge was developing a writing style that was conducive to writing fiction, especially having come from an academic background where I was the expert and my writing was reflective of conveying expert knowledge. Having worked with a book coach for a period leading up to the writing of my novel, it became more and more obvious that the approach of ‘telling’ the reader, needed to be replaced by ‘showing’ the reader as the story unfolds. So, the challenge became relying on the reader’s imagination to interpret my own imagination. Even as I was writing the novel, slipping back into the ‘telling’ versus the ‘showing’ approach occurred regularly, and recognising this as it occurred was a continuing challenge. Having finished the book, I think I can happily say, I’ve got it! And so the sequel is moving ahead well.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. Frederik Brokman’s ‘Anxious People’ & ‘A Man Called Ove’; Gail Honeyman’s ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’, Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s ‘Fleishman is in Trouble’, and David Grossman’s ‘More Than I Love My Life’
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. My favourite spot is the Blue Mountains which is around two-hours’ drive west of Sydney. Whilst it’s becoming somewhat more congested as is the rest of Sydney, great parts of it still remain somewhat of a haven. Beautiful sights along the mountain ranges, ancient trees in the extensive bush, and a wealth of wildlife that you don’t see much of in the greater Sydney area. Staying overnight in one of the many guest houses gives you the opportunity to take deep breaths and relax, so that you can put up with the chaos that Sydney is fast becoming.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘The Remaking of Myles’?
A5. My original aim was to write an autobiography. But the more I thought about this and planned for it, the more I realised that nobody would be interested as I was an unknown quantity, both as an author as well as an individual. So, I ruled this approach out and decided that writing fiction that was based on real foundations was a better way of going.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘The Remaking of Myles’?
A6. There are probably two parts to this answer. Before I started writing, I worked with a Book Coach for around 12 months. This was to ensure that I was able to transition from academic writing to fiction writing. Then when I became more comfortable with what was involved, it took me around two years to finish the book and another 6 months or so to complete all levels of editing.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. It is currently available on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback and Books Online Australia for paperback
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Remaking of Myles’?
A8. I wanted a title that reflected personal change and growth, a favourite topic of mine especially during my academic career. I was considering an alternative title of ‘I Am Myles’, which focused on the positioning of a character in the here and now, rather than the character’s past. But that seemed slightly static, and I was looking for something more active and in fact positive. Having someone being remade responded to this. And so ‘The Remaking of Myles’ was born. The cover needed to respond to 2 desires on my part. First, the visual aspect. I wanted uplifting and bright colours reflecting a future and optimism. Secondly, I wanted a cover design that showed fluidity. Things moving and flowing which is how Myles’ life changed.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself.
A9. That’s part of the journey. I write every day even if it’s only 100 words, knowing that there are days when I can’t stop writing and an entire chapter may be the result. But before any writing is undertaken, I reread what I wrote the previous day and when a chapter is written I tend to reread it at least 2 to 3 times to ensure 2 things, first that it gels and secondly that the next paragraph, page, chapter etc. is consistent with what I am trying to achieve with the story. In between writing I am constantly reviewing the character arc of the protagonist and researching elements of scenes to ensure reality is maintained with regards where scenes take place etc.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. Don’t give up. If you believe you have a story to tell, then don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. Given that a very small portion of writers make a living out of writing, make sure you do it because you love doing it.
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