Author Monday!
Author Monday is a new weekly post on my blog in which I interview a author! I ask them questions about their book/books and also some fun questions like, what they would dress up as for Halloween! It's a fun way to get to know the authors and their books! Arnulfo will be my first author and I hope many others will join! Thank you Arnie for answering my crazy questions, you're the real MVP! Enjoy.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
A: Now that’s a tough one. I’m a big time nerd (or as a ‘friend’ once said, you’re just weird) although I enjoy working out (and not for my health either). I’m at home both eating pupusas or sushi, or a giant cheeseburger with curly fries. I ended up marrying my childhood sweetheart (we met when I was six, and she was three, and she can kick my butt) and I value friendship more than I value platinum (never cared for gold).
In your own words, please describe the book.
A: a coming of age story of an emotionless alien, born to human parents, with a thinking sentient computer implanted in his brain as the only tie to his home world. This is his story as he deals with an emotional world he barely understands and how it is his mission to bring emotions back to a world that lost them more than two hundred thousand years ago. Wow, that was an awesome question! I’m gonna use when people ask me that from now on J
If you could be a character in any novel you’ve ever read, who would you be and why?
A: Duncan Idaho from the Dune Series J
Is there any author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
A; excellent question. There was a book I picked up at a used bookstore that just grabbed my attention from the get go. At the time, I enjoyed reading mostly Star Trek or hard science fiction, but this was different. It’s called Love Child by Andrew Neiderman. His style of writing was so different from anything I had read before. A teenage protagonist? It blew my mind, and I realized that an entire universe lay before me and it didn’t involve James T Kirk or Mr. Spock(Did I mention this was a while ago). It took me along the route of YA/NA style of writing, rather than say more adult type books.
If you were at a Halloween party, what would your costume be and why?
A: I always joke I’ll show up as George of the Jungle, complete with a butt flap, but I have to get to 6% body fat for that (getting there). The reason why? So I can say the words “buff flap” in polite company
When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
A: Both in college. I think I was a sophomore and I had read an article about this woman that started writing when her husband died back in the beginning of the 20th century and her books took off almost by magic. I had just picked up love child, and I knew how my book would take shape.
How did you come up with this title?
A: as I started writing my first book, I realized I needed a title. I had already come up with most of the characters and the central theme. I thought to myself, “What is the most important thing for Jason?” that’s when the eureka moment came in “Emotions!” I called out and the title was born!
How long does it take you to finish a novel?
A; if I had all the time I needed, six months counting editing. Although final editing will always be done by a professional editor (from now on)
You have multiple personalities, describe some of them.
A: Wacky one, always overly happy and making funny noises
Gentleman: bowing in front of ladies and calling everybody sir and being snooty and people
The fanboy; overly excited about anything literary or science fiction based
The glutton; give me CARBS!!!
Do you ever experience writer's block?
A: I can’t say that I do. If I ever feel a little block, I can immerse myself into that world that I’m creating and see how the story could play out, what the characters would say. Or I can turn on the TV and let that guide me. An entire chapter in Emotions came out watching a special about Mumbai.
So far, what has been the greatest moment in your writing career?
A: There have been a few, not going to lie, I lose it every time I get a good review, but I remember when I was featured in a magazine article in Exito Latino. It was at the very beginning of getting published, but it felt so good that I knew then I was on the right path with my life.
If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?
A: Nerds do it better
What are you working on at the minute?
A: The sequel to emotions, called sins of the fathers (when you read it, you’ll know why the title) still in the editing phase, not even ready for alpha reading (well maybe alpha but not beta)
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
A: don’t ever quit. Like any dream that’s worth it, it’s a long, difficult road, but when you get there, the air is sweet, the colors vibrant, and you are the king of that hill.
What holiday would you invent to get the day off from work?
A: Nerd day. After all, the modern world owes its existence to nerds. You don’t have to be a nerd to enjoy it, but it helps.
Jason Ariaz is not your average 22 year old. He has been genetically and cybernatically enhanced but that’s only the beginning. He is an emotionless extraterrestrial born to human parents and living amongst us. Both him and his implanted thinking computer were damaged on landing and must go through life as less than what they really are. The purpose of their mission: to gain permanent emotions from the more primitive society that is Earth. If he is successful, he will be the first of his species to do so in nearly 200,000 years.
Hope lies in the fact that he is capable of emotional episodes and he has been able to forge true friendships. However, he does have the chance of completing his mission if he can truly care for Ariel, the closest human in his life. But he better know his heart soon. Their lives are in danger of ending tonight, unless he can recover what his species has lost.
-SandraTheBookWorm
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