About Dan O'Mahony:
I've self-published four books so far, and as of this interview will be releasing two more. I write mostly middle-grade fantasy, but one the books I'll soon be releasing, Death's Fair Maiden, will be my first attempt at young adult, not to mention my first fantasy-romance.
I grew up in California, mostly in So Cal. Currently, I live in Phoenix, Arizona but have plans on moving back to Cali' in the near future. Oh, and I am the proud father of two beautiful cats, Luna and Shyanne. They are in fact sisters.
What inspires you to write?
I write because "I am." It's in my nature. I create stories and share them with the world.
I have always enjoyed the fantasy genre. I can think of dozens of books that have provided me with great joy and insight, that have stretched my imagination and allowed me to escape my real world troubles for awhile. I definitely want to pay that forward.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, and Wiliiam Butler Yeats. I also read a lot of Irish myth and folklore along with Irish history, for enjoyment and to gather material for new stories.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am somewhere between a plotter and a pantser. I do take the time to list as many key events as I can before I start a story. It's pretty broad, and there are often gaps. But inspiration always comes to my rescue.
I always start with the character development. If you do a good enough job with character development, the characters will literally "come to life."
For the actual writing, I use Scrivener software. I love how you can easily rearrange scenes. You can also create files for things like character and setting sketches and research notes and access them on the sidebar.
Scrivener also compiles your work into a number of different formats: ebook, novel, manuscript …
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Oh, yes. Big time. Back when I was more of a plotter, I used to argue with my characters when they refused to do things "my way." I ended up giving in and letting them tell me what to do. I have not regretted it. After all, the characters know the world of the story much better than I do.
What advice would you give other writers?
This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Be ready to put in the work and be patient. You also need to develop a think skin when it comes to dealing with rejection and criticism. Learn to take constructive criticism though. And whatever you do do not "write for the market."
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I tried for a long time to get traditionally published. I have had some interested agents who requested full manuscripts. When they got back to me, they would praise my work and tell me how much they enjoyed it — but they would then tell me my book either "wasn't what they were looking for at this time" or they couldn't see themselves as being able to "champion my book."
I decided on self-publishing, because I have too many stories to tell, and I want to get them in the hands of as many people as possible.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Self-publishing continues to grow in popularity. A lot of unique and interesting stories are being put out there by self-published authors. A lot of the work I see coming from the big publishing houses seems rather stale — unless you're talking about the greats like Gaiman or King.
What genres do you write?: middle grade and young adult fantasy
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Dan O'Mahony Home Page Link
Link To Dan O'Mahony Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
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