Author Interview: Patrick Jones "The Wolf’s Moon”

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Patrick, thank you so much for taking the time today for this author interview. Let’s dive right in:

What inspired you to start writing?
I have written since I was a kid.  I wrote a mystery novel in High School.  My classmates liked the story but it, like everything else, wound up in the circular file cabinet.  Mrs. Ruth Morrisey, an English Lit teacher, encouraged me to write, while my family said I would starve.
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How did you get the idea for the novel?
One day I sat with a pen and paper and just started writing.  Sandy, my wife, was giving a lecture at a seminar so I decided to kill some time.  The more I wrote, the more it took on its own life.  “The Wolf’s Moon” went from a doodling, to a short story and ended as a novel.  I only wrote what I saw in my mind.
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How would you describe your book to someone who has not yet read it?
The story is an action suspense thriller that intertwines love, loyalty and in the end, redemption.  Mark Lansdowne wants to be left alone to grieve the loss of his wife to illness but instead is pulled into uncontrolled circumstances which narrowly cost him his life.   Although he knows he and his lifelong pal, Warren Skruggs, should leave it to the proper authorities, things continue to happen causing Lansdowne to take matters into his own hands.
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Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
Loyalty and Love: The loyalty between Linden and Skruggs: Trusting each other even if it caused their death, never questioning their motives.  True love that Linden has for his deceased wife:  Linden made a commitment and took a vow.  He loved her completely in life, so her death is only a temporary separation.  Love and friendship do not die.
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Who is your favorite character and why?
Skruggs.  The reason I like Skruggsy is because he would rather see humor than the bad in life.  He always smiles, but when the smile fades he becomes a very controlled, violent individual.  He deeply loves his wife.  He would help anybody at the drop of a hat that needed help.  But he would kill just as fast.




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Are your plots based on your real-life experiences?
For a writer to convince the reader that a character is real, he must believe each and every one of them is real.  While one is writing the story he or she lives with each character as though they actually exist.  Maybe they are fictional but life experiences, what the writer sees, feels and hears must be the same for them.  I think this is true regardless of genre if the writer expects their readers to identify with the characters.  Each reader should think of someone they know or have met.
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If Oprah invited you onto her show to talk about your book, what would the theme of the show be?
I would think that I could get on stage and Oprah would say, “How in the world did you write a book and have it made into a movie at this time in your life?” Adele would then sing the song she made for the movie!!
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What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
The Kirkus Review has captured the essence of the book by the following description of their interpretation:  “Jones’ novel confidently lays the groundwork for future books, with romantic and thriller subplots tightly interwoven in the service of a propulsive narrative. No time is wasted in introducing the characters or the creature, yet nothing feels rushed. Fans of romance may feel shortchanged by the surprisingly chaste nature of Lansdowne’s interactions with the nurse. However, thriller fans will rejoice at the well-paced vignettes and spiking tension. Jones doles out information with care, providing enough history to make things clear without overwhelming exposition. This same care is evident in the novel’s resolution, which ties up loose ends without shutting the door on further developments.”

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Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
Years ago, before Indie Publishing, it was hard, if not impossible, to get a book on the market.  Now if a person is willing to pay people (that a publisher pays) it’s not as hard.  What I have really learned is writing the book is easier than selling the story.  When I received my first proof copy, I was satisfied that I completed what I had set out to do.  I have learned literary agents are tough people who have to say, “no,” a lot.  They cannot take too many chances.  Books are their bread and butter and they have to maintain a good rapport with publishers.  If a publisher, after spending time and money promoting a book and it doesn’t sell, he or she is on the street.
I don’t think of a rejection letter as a bad thing.  It just tells me I need to sharpen my skills.  It is like getting a bad review.  I smile knowing I did something they probably did not – I wrote a book.
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Considering a book from the first word you write to the moment you see it on a bookstore shelf, what’s your favorite part of the process? What’s your least favorite?
Since my book has not been in a bookstore yet, I suppose my favorite part really is working with my wife.  It is fun.  We work well together.  I have not found anything I don’t like, except trying to find new ways to sell my book.
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If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything about your book?
No, I like it the way it is.  The editor said the first chapter sounded like a travel log.  Maybe, but people who have read the book tell me it helps to understand the Ozark Region. Stephen King wouldn’t have liked Chapter One but I don’t think he has read “The Wolf’s Moon”.  I haven’t heard from him…YET.
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The Wolf's Moon is available in print for $15.03 and in digital format for $4.44 and received already 133 great reviews. .
If your book would be made into a movie, who should play the main character?
The guy who played the part of the scientist in the TV program SG1, Michael Shanks.  He looks much like I imagined Linden to look and I think he could pull it off.
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How did you get published? Please share your own personal journey.
We self-published.  Sandy and I shopped around to find someone and decided on Create Space.  We were actually able to speak with a person that advised us.  The rest sent emails.  Yes, most everything had a price tag.  They were not the cheapest nor were they the priciest.  The people at Create Space were easy to talk with.  When we ordered books, they usually arrived before the scheduled delivery date.  They mentored us through all of the steps we needed to go through to get the book published.  We learned that the process does not end there.  There are a multitude of other steps that are necessary to traverse through the self-publishing adventure.  We have met wonderful people along the way who have mentored us throughout the entire process.  Sometimes it is frustrating, but with each baby step we move ahead in the journey.
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Don’t miss the book trailer for The Wolf’s Moon on YouTube and give it a thumbs up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LUT5eyAjE

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What general advice do you have for other writers?
If there was any advice I would give to an aspiring writer, it is to write.  Read other people, not for story content, but to see how they put the story together.  Don’t read just the King’s or the Patterson’s but also the Twain’s, Spillane’s and Fleming’s out there.  Then develop your own style.  Anyone can copy a style but to be unique to you, it must be your own style.

When they have what they feel is their style – let a few people read something. They should be people that will tell the truth and give an honest opinion.  If it’s not what you wanted to hear, don’t get discouraged, get determined.  Don’t quit.
Remember:
There are a great many people out in the world wanting to sell their work.  Whether you sell only one copy or make the New York Times Bestseller List, you did something that many want to do and never do – you wrote and completed a book.
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What do you find is the best part of being an author?
That is a hard question.  I think meeting, talking, or emailing people who have said they enjoyed the book and they want to know, “when is the next one coming out?”  It is fun to know they enjoyed the story enough to want another.
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What is ONE thing that you have done that brought you more readers?
Blogging has done a lot but my wife continuously gets me involved with social media.  She says that it is important for people to know that I am no different from them.  I still cut grass, work in my wood shop, go grocery shopping.  I do all the same things that they have to do.  Where they may work in a factory, my job is writing.
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What’s one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you?
My personal world is a simple, comfortable place, as my immediate family makes life wonderful.  Sandy (my wife) and I like flowers, so we have several gardens around the house.  Our house is like one from a fairy tale.  At the end of a day, sitting with her on the deck having that last cup of coffee, watching the sun set and the moon rise give me great satisfaction and contentment.
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Where can people learn more about your writing?
To know more about me they can go to the website:  http://www.thelindenchronicles.com .
There readers can see pictures and my blogs.  I like to blog about everyday things.
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Thank you so much Patrick to get to know you better and to hear about your journey of writing the first book and the first year as an author-publisher.  We heard your next one is soon to be launched.  Looking forward to it!

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