Happy leap day everyone! Be sure to give guest author Frederick Crook a warm welcome!

 

1. What’s the title of your latest release? Link?

Of Knight & Devil (http://www.amazon.com/Knight-Devil-Frederick-H-Crook-ebook/dp/B0158XZXC8) is the latest, having been released in October.

2. Why do you like writing in this genre?

My dystopian world is different from everyone else’s, as the balance of mankind has relocated to a new world. No Armageddon has occurred and no apocalypse. My novels and short stories are tellings of the result of the “Great Exodus” for the remainder of mankind here on Earth. It’s dystopia with a difference.

3. What do you like to read?

Well, as an editor for Solstice, my field of preference has expanded. I’ve gotten to read a lot of things that I normally would not have. Paranormal, romantic fantasies, for instance. I never would have cracked a book to read those, but I’ve run into some exceptional works by fantastic authors that way.

4. Favorite movie?

There are simply too many to mention just one. I love old movies. We watch Turner Classic Movies quite often. I do the usual sci-fi flicks and such, but there’s nothing like an old Frank Sinatra film, or a John Wayne western. I recently had an entire storyline pop into my head while watching a Sinatra and Dean Martin flick recently. It will be my next work.

5. What are your writing habits? Music or silence? Daily regimen or spurts of creativity?

I prefer music while I work. I write everyday if I’m not editing a large job for Solstice.

6. What was the most surreal moment you’ve had as an author?

It has to be the time that a local fan that I met at the pub I frequent came to realize that I was the author of “The Dregs of Exodus”, my first novel. He had talked to me several times before realizing I was the same guy. He’s a huge fan and has read everything but a few of the short stories on Kindle. His preference is paper books.

7. How can readers find you?

The easiest way I can suggest is to go to Amazon.com and search ‘frederick h crook’ in books. That will take you to my whole collection. Otherwise, my website is: http://frederickcrook.wix.com/crooksbooks I’m also on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDregsOfExodus/?ref=hl And I’m @FrederickHCrook on Twitter.

8. What do you know now about being published that you wish you’d known before submitting?

I wish that CreateSpace had been bigger back in 2010. I don’t think it was, but I went with Authorhouse instead. I paid them for publishing my work and making it for sale, when I could have done it myself. Companies like Authorhouse and the others like them have a poor business model. They’re only interested in taking from an author what they can get, rather than help the author put out their best possible product and promote it. They would really get a lot more revenue if they helped sell quality products from beginning to end, rather than soak an independent writer upfront.

9. Favorite snack/drink while writing?

Coffee or cola while I work. I try not to eat around my computer, but it happens. Whatever’s around usually gets it, as I tend to lose track of time while I work.

10. Look at your writing area…what’s the item you keep to inspire you (piece of artwork, figurine)?

I don’t really have anything like that. Hmmm…maybe I should. I don’t know, everything’s internalized. I can see the whole story in my head before I begin typing. If I don’t have it all worked out, I don’t write the story.

Thanks for stopping by, Frederick!

BB