Hi Richard, thanks so much for visiting with me today! I'm so-o looking foward to learning more about your writing journey, so let's get right at it.
1. How long have you been
writing? What genres do you write?
First of all, thanks for inviting
me to do this interview January. Sounds like you’re having lots of fun with the
release of your novel, FOREVER MAN. So, how long have I been writing? I’ve been
writing stories since the third grade. I’d bring them to read for show and
tell. Over the years I wrote now and then, occasionally pushing a query out the
door, but family and work took most of my time and energy. Then about five
years ago I realized if I didn’t get on with the writing I’d miss the
opportunity. So I started carving out time at night and on weekends. In 2009 I
used a move from Austin to Seattle for a major shift to focus much more of my
time on writing novels.
In terms of genres, the Nick
Sibelius series, which TOXIC RELATIONSHIP is the first, is suspense (but with a
sense of humor). I have a sci-fi fantasy that won the Texas Writers League for
Sci-fi in 2011, which I will probably pull out again one of these days. And I’m
writing a YA fantasy which combines elements of fantasy, speculative and historical
fiction.
2. Where do you find your muse
for your stories?
Place plays a big role in the
development of story ideas for me. TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, rises out of Central
Texas, drawing on the land, environment, people, culture, music, food -- all of
it.
3. What do you like best about
writing?
The total immersion in the world
I’m creating. When I’m on my game, I lose track of time. I write in coffee
shops quite a bit for the white noise and the energy of the place. It’s not
unusual for me to look up and see that five or six hours have passed and my
latte is stone cold.
4. What has your journey been
like on the road to becoming a published author?
I decided awhile back before
being published to start telling people I was a writer. I wanted to own it. But
more importantly, I decided I needed to do my art no matter what the market
wanted. Some of the greatest artist were unknown in their lifetimes. I think
the best writing happens not because there’s a market for a certain kind of
story and I’m going to write to it, but because the writing has to happen,
whether it gets read by the masses or not. Writers have to write those stories
down.
5. Any advice for newbies?
Write, write, write. Be open to
feedback and criticism. Write, write, write. Be persistent. Write, write,
write. Did I mention write?
6. Who is your favorite character
in your novel Toxic Relationship? Why?
I’m torn between two, but I’ll go
with Junior. He’s the kind of, as we say in Texas, good old boy, who means well
but his actions always seem to lead to a bad end. He’s a likeable felon with a
good heart and absolutely no judgement. He provides much of the comic relief
for the book.
I’d have to say however, that
Nick Sibelius, my protagonist, is my favourite. He’s a tough guy physically,
but he definitely has a tender side. His history has been difficult -- his wife
cheated on him and a drug dealer killed his police force partner right in front
of him -- which has led him to a little plot of land just outside of the city
limits of Pflugerville, Texas. He’s a man who would prefer peace and quiet, but
keeps finding himself in the vortex of other people’s bad decisions. So he
keeps going forward, hoping to create some kind of stability in the midst of
chaos.
7. Do you have a favorite author?
I could give you a long list, but
when I want to have a fun read, I always enjoy Carl Hiaasen’s novels.
8. What are your writing now?
Champagne Books will be
publishing the second Nick Sibelius novel in June, 2013 entitled, DIRTY WATER.
So I’ve started work on a third in the series with a tentative title of CHAIN
REACTION. I’m also working on a YA fantasy series called INKER WARS. The first
book in the series, THE FIVE PENS OF JOHANN is in the draft stage. In addition,
I’m writing some short stories.
9. If you could speak to a question
you have not been asked yet about your writing what would it be and how would
you answer it?
How about if I tell you about
TOXIC RELATIONSHIP.
After a
murdered partner, a cheating wife and a lost job in Houston, Nick Sibelius sets
up a private investigation business in a small Texas town hoping to find some
peace and maybe, himself. When a couple disappears and a bass fisherman turns
up dead, he finds himself drawn into a web of toxic relationships: MaryLou, a
beautiful woman with a mysterious past; Junior, a failed farmer whose best
intentions seem to always result in a dead body; Barry, a sociopathic dentist
turned illegal toxic waste entrepreneur with visions of grandeur. When the
felon who killed his partner in Houston joins forces with Barry, Nick must not
only stop the toxic waste dumping while finding his client’s missing daughter,
but keep from being killed in the process. In the end, MaryLou’s dark secret
will either save him or kill him -- whichever comes first.
Sex,
murder and toxic waste. Nowhere else but Texas.
Thanks so much for visiting with
us today, Richard!
To purchase Richard Hacker’s fine
book, Toxic Relationship, you can visit the links below.
Kobo, OmniLit and Champagne Books.
Coming soon to Barnes and Noble and other fine
ebook sellers.
You can follow Richard at:
Web & Blog: www.richardhacker.com
Twitter:
@Richard_Hacker
“I know that I’m going to find someone who will love me no matter what--who’ll love me unconditionally.”
