WRITERS and READERS of DISTINCTIVE FICTION(WRDF)
***INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JAMES FLETCHER***
I Am Honored to bring to Today's AUTHOR INTERVIEW, JAMES FLETCHER, Author of
"THREADS OF DECEPTION." He is one of our Talented Authors among us here at
WRDF.
1. Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?
Jim: I'd have to say it was around the time our mother would read to us at bedtime from the series
of OZ books. I wanted someone to read something I wrote to their kids one someday.
2. Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing?
Jim: To be enjoyable for me, it would have to be what I enjoy reading, which is anything from
historical non-fiction to any fiction that takes me to other places.
3. Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to become a writer?
Jim: Oh yes...my mother. She wrote constantly. One of her books is in the second-grades
Dallas School system. She, and I were collaborating on a juicy murder mystery before she
died from cancer ten years ago. I promised her I would finish what we started.
4. Geri: How you written any books based on a true life story?
Jim: Not yet, but it will be about my mom, a true angel on earth.
5. Geri: Who is your favorite author?
Jim: Wilbur Smith, and Clive Cussler are great action, adventure writers. Charles Dickens, and
Alexander Dumas are my classical favorites.
6. Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or are they from
the imagination?
Jim: My characters are an amalgamation of myself, and people I've known whose traits stood out
enough to be memorable. I never knew the Wicked Witch of the West, but I've known some
people that share her most memorable attributes.
7. Geri: How many books have you written?
Jim: One, I'm quite new at this business. I've had articles, and manuals published in trade
journals, regarding industry safety. I've been a writer in my head for almost fifty years, now I have
to make up for that lost time.
8. Geri: Where can your books be purchased?
Jim: Amazon, Barnesandnoble, and ALL the online stores. I don't think I'm in any bookstore
yet.
9. Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published?
Jim: I felt validated. After I finally received my copies of THREADS OFDECEPTION, I signed one
and gave it to my wife, Karen. She was so proud of me that we both got teary-eyed.
10. Geri: Do you have any current work in progress for a new release?
Jim: Yes! I've started on a sequel since I really enjoyed the characters in the first book. The
working title is "THE Texas-Alaska Connection."
11. Geri: What are some links to your websites?
Jim: www.JamesFletcherBooks.com
www.authorsden.com/jamescfletcher
www.myspace.com/jamescfletcher
12. Geri: Do you have goals set for the future in your journey of writing?
Jim: My ultimate goal is to get all the stories out of my head so that I can do things normal
people do...whatever that may be. Wait! On second thought, everything I see, or do has a
story to be told. I just thought of a story about doing Author Interviews.
13. Geri: At his point and time in your life, are you exactly where you wanted to be in your
writing endeavors?
Jim: Since I'm just starting out, I'm still ahead of my wildest dream of being a published author.
I want to get the next book out, before my dreams catch up.
14. Geri: In your opinion, what are some factors that can help authors reach their dream of
accomplishment?
Jim: I think articulating a goal, voicing it publicly to friends and family helps keep you
accountable to your commitment. That's what works for me, and keeps me focused, and on
track. I can live with letting myself down, but I can't abide letting someone else down.
15. Geri: As an author, have you ever experienced writer's block?
Jim: If writer's block is the same as stalling, and rationalizing that something other than writing
has a higher priority at the moment, then....Yes!
16. Geri: What advice can you give to authors to prevent writer's block?
Jim: I think writer's block is a fact of an author's life, and one shouldn't spin his, or her wheels
trying to prevent it. I have two schools of thought on the subject. 1. Work through it, and hope
the block crumbles to dust as you struggle through the first couple of pages And 2...Take a
break, and refresh yourself. I use both techniques as my moods change from day-to-day with
regard to writing. I have learned that when I'm in the second through the fourth draft, I need to
be wide awake, and refreshed.
17. Geri: As a child, did you have any favorite books?
Jim: Oh Yeah! Comic Books! I think I learned to read from Superman, Batman, Archie,
Dennis The Menace, Casper And Wendy, and Richie Rich comics. Consequently, i did not
discourage my son from reading comics when he was at the age where all he could talk about
was Star Wars, and He-Man figures (batteries not included).
18. Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading alot?
Jim: Very much so. I remember being forced to read Dickens' Great Expectations in school,
and actually enjoyed it very much. In eighth grade, I was assigned to do a book report on
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE. The next day in class, the teacher who I thought hated me
asked me why I wasn't reading my book in class, along with the other students. I told him I
finished it the night before. From that day on, he treated me with a certain amount of respect,
and I became an excellent student in all my classes, beginning that day.
19. Geri: If you had the opportunity to one day live the life of a famous author, who would it be?
Jim: Well...some day in the future, it will be James Fletcher. Until then, I'd trade a day with
William Shakespeare.
20. Geri: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction after publishing a book. Some feel a
sense of achievement, can you relate to such feelings?
Jim: If you work hard at anything and succeed, then that sense of achievement is the proudest
moment of your life. As a writer, my first published novel was that crowning feeling of
accomplishment. If I was working hard at digging ditches, and dug the longest, and deepest
ditch, then I would feel the same satisfaction for a job well done.
21. Geri: How do you balance your current occupation with your goals for writing?
Jim: I'm fortunate enough to be in a position to write full-time. The only balancing I do is
making sure Karen receives as much attention from me as writing.
22. Geri: How did you feel at your first book-signing, or the first time you signed one of
your published books?
Jim: I haven't done a book-signing yet. I've only signed one book, and that was a well earned
gift to my wife, Karen. I felt proud that I could give her something of me that represented my
love for writing as well as my love for her.
23. Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, would that change your plans in your writing career?
If so, how?
Jim: I would like to travel, and research various settings for future works.
24. Geri: As writers, we begin with a manuscript that becomes published. then we learn the
meaning of promotions. What was the most difficult task?
Jim: Everything involving self-promotion is difficult for me. I'm basically a very private person,
and prefer to avoid the spotlight whenever possible. I am comfortable in my cloak of shyness,
and discarding that cloak to tell people about me, and my book does not come easy.
25. Geri: Some writer's need to listen to soft music to help them write those chapters for a
new release, some prefer looking at the ocean, or flowers. Do you have any particular scenery?
Jim: First, I chose to have the government send me to Alaska to live. I always thought snowy
mountains, with large fir, and spruce trees would be an inspirational setting for me. Second, I
need background music (60s rock) to plunge me into the "Zone." The sounds of peace, and
quiet are deafening to me.
26. Geri: If you had books published in one genre such as horror, and became daring to
write a novel for a different genre, what would it be?
Jim: I think I would enjoy trying science-fiction. Anything involving time travel gets my heart
racing when I imagine the possibilities of visiting the past.
Geri: Thank you very much for your time. It has been a Great pleasure to get to know you
as an author here on WRDF. I am delighted to promote your work. The Best of luck in All
your writing endeavors!
Jim: Your welcome Geri. Thank you for the hard work you do to promote your fellow authors.
"THREADS OF DECEPTION." He is one of our Talented Authors among us here at
WRDF.
1. Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?
Jim: I'd have to say it was around the time our mother would read to us at bedtime from the series
of OZ books. I wanted someone to read something I wrote to their kids one someday.
2. Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing?
Jim: To be enjoyable for me, it would have to be what I enjoy reading, which is anything from
historical non-fiction to any fiction that takes me to other places.
3. Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to become a writer?
Jim: Oh yes...my mother. She wrote constantly. One of her books is in the second-grades
Dallas School system. She, and I were collaborating on a juicy murder mystery before she
died from cancer ten years ago. I promised her I would finish what we started.
4. Geri: How you written any books based on a true life story?
Jim: Not yet, but it will be about my mom, a true angel on earth.
5. Geri: Who is your favorite author?
Jim: Wilbur Smith, and Clive Cussler are great action, adventure writers. Charles Dickens, and
Alexander Dumas are my classical favorites.
6. Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or are they from
the imagination?
Jim: My characters are an amalgamation of myself, and people I've known whose traits stood out
enough to be memorable. I never knew the Wicked Witch of the West, but I've known some
people that share her most memorable attributes.
7. Geri: How many books have you written?
Jim: One, I'm quite new at this business. I've had articles, and manuals published in trade
journals, regarding industry safety. I've been a writer in my head for almost fifty years, now I have
to make up for that lost time.
8. Geri: Where can your books be purchased?
Jim: Amazon, Barnesandnoble, and ALL the online stores. I don't think I'm in any bookstore
yet.
9. Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published?
Jim: I felt validated. After I finally received my copies of THREADS OFDECEPTION, I signed one
and gave it to my wife, Karen. She was so proud of me that we both got teary-eyed.
10. Geri: Do you have any current work in progress for a new release?
Jim: Yes! I've started on a sequel since I really enjoyed the characters in the first book. The
working title is "THE Texas-Alaska Connection."
11. Geri: What are some links to your websites?
Jim: www.JamesFletcherBooks.com
www.authorsden.com/jamescfletcher
www.myspace.com/jamescfletcher
12. Geri: Do you have goals set for the future in your journey of writing?
Jim: My ultimate goal is to get all the stories out of my head so that I can do things normal
people do...whatever that may be. Wait! On second thought, everything I see, or do has a
story to be told. I just thought of a story about doing Author Interviews.
13. Geri: At his point and time in your life, are you exactly where you wanted to be in your
writing endeavors?
Jim: Since I'm just starting out, I'm still ahead of my wildest dream of being a published author.
I want to get the next book out, before my dreams catch up.
14. Geri: In your opinion, what are some factors that can help authors reach their dream of
accomplishment?
Jim: I think articulating a goal, voicing it publicly to friends and family helps keep you
accountable to your commitment. That's what works for me, and keeps me focused, and on
track. I can live with letting myself down, but I can't abide letting someone else down.
15. Geri: As an author, have you ever experienced writer's block?
Jim: If writer's block is the same as stalling, and rationalizing that something other than writing
has a higher priority at the moment, then....Yes!
16. Geri: What advice can you give to authors to prevent writer's block?
Jim: I think writer's block is a fact of an author's life, and one shouldn't spin his, or her wheels
trying to prevent it. I have two schools of thought on the subject. 1. Work through it, and hope
the block crumbles to dust as you struggle through the first couple of pages And 2...Take a
break, and refresh yourself. I use both techniques as my moods change from day-to-day with
regard to writing. I have learned that when I'm in the second through the fourth draft, I need to
be wide awake, and refreshed.
17. Geri: As a child, did you have any favorite books?
Jim: Oh Yeah! Comic Books! I think I learned to read from Superman, Batman, Archie,
Dennis The Menace, Casper And Wendy, and Richie Rich comics. Consequently, i did not
discourage my son from reading comics when he was at the age where all he could talk about
was Star Wars, and He-Man figures (batteries not included).
18. Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading alot?
Jim: Very much so. I remember being forced to read Dickens' Great Expectations in school,
and actually enjoyed it very much. In eighth grade, I was assigned to do a book report on
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE. The next day in class, the teacher who I thought hated me
asked me why I wasn't reading my book in class, along with the other students. I told him I
finished it the night before. From that day on, he treated me with a certain amount of respect,
and I became an excellent student in all my classes, beginning that day.
19. Geri: If you had the opportunity to one day live the life of a famous author, who would it be?
Jim: Well...some day in the future, it will be James Fletcher. Until then, I'd trade a day with
William Shakespeare.
20. Geri: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction after publishing a book. Some feel a
sense of achievement, can you relate to such feelings?
Jim: If you work hard at anything and succeed, then that sense of achievement is the proudest
moment of your life. As a writer, my first published novel was that crowning feeling of
accomplishment. If I was working hard at digging ditches, and dug the longest, and deepest
ditch, then I would feel the same satisfaction for a job well done.
21. Geri: How do you balance your current occupation with your goals for writing?
Jim: I'm fortunate enough to be in a position to write full-time. The only balancing I do is
making sure Karen receives as much attention from me as writing.
22. Geri: How did you feel at your first book-signing, or the first time you signed one of
your published books?
Jim: I haven't done a book-signing yet. I've only signed one book, and that was a well earned
gift to my wife, Karen. I felt proud that I could give her something of me that represented my
love for writing as well as my love for her.
23. Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, would that change your plans in your writing career?
If so, how?
Jim: I would like to travel, and research various settings for future works.
24. Geri: As writers, we begin with a manuscript that becomes published. then we learn the
meaning of promotions. What was the most difficult task?
Jim: Everything involving self-promotion is difficult for me. I'm basically a very private person,
and prefer to avoid the spotlight whenever possible. I am comfortable in my cloak of shyness,
and discarding that cloak to tell people about me, and my book does not come easy.
25. Geri: Some writer's need to listen to soft music to help them write those chapters for a
new release, some prefer looking at the ocean, or flowers. Do you have any particular scenery?
Jim: First, I chose to have the government send me to Alaska to live. I always thought snowy
mountains, with large fir, and spruce trees would be an inspirational setting for me. Second, I
need background music (60s rock) to plunge me into the "Zone." The sounds of peace, and
quiet are deafening to me.
26. Geri: If you had books published in one genre such as horror, and became daring to
write a novel for a different genre, what would it be?
Jim: I think I would enjoy trying science-fiction. Anything involving time travel gets my heart
racing when I imagine the possibilities of visiting the past.
Geri: Thank you very much for your time. It has been a Great pleasure to get to know you
as an author here on WRDF. I am delighted to promote your work. The Best of luck in All
your writing endeavors!
Jim: Your welcome Geri. Thank you for the hard work you do to promote your fellow authors.
Tags: Authors, Books, Interviews, Promos, Spotlight
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lynda Coker on -
Wonderful interview, Geri. And Jim, I too am fascinated by Sci-Fi. I love world building. I hope you write one in the future. I'll certainly stand in line to buy it. Lynda
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Permalink Reply by GERI'S BOOK REVIEWS on -
Thank you Lynda for visiting us! I also enjoy Reading & Reviewing Science Fiction books. I recently
Reviewed one & am reading the second from the Same author. She's young & quite Talented!
Thanx again, Geri -
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Permalink Reply by Sandy on -
Hi Jim and Geri,
What a wonderful interview. Jim, I could relate to your effort to make sure you give Karen as much as you do your writing. I work hard to do that with my husband, and it's not always easy.
Sandy -
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Permalink Reply by GERI'S BOOK REVIEWS on
-
Thank you for commenting Sandy & for joining us here once again! Please don't Leave!
Hugs, Geri -
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Permalink Reply by GERI'S BOOK REVIEWS on
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I Agree Jim, I Miss em All too! What a Good crew of Friends!
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Permalink Reply by GERI'S BOOK REVIEWS on
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Your STILL Missed, but I totally Understand! Happy Halloween & Happy Writing!
XO Hugs, Geri
PS What a very cute Pic! -
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