About F.P. Spirit:
I am an avid science fiction and fantasy fan. A Trekkie before it was cool, I became hooked on fantasy the moment I cracked open my first copy of Lord of the Rings. When I'm not lost roaming the multiverse of sci-fi and high-fantasy fiction, I am either creating adventures for my role-playing friends and family, walking Thor, our black Labrador, or connecting with my mind and body in an attempt to reach that inner spark of spirit.
What inspires you to write?
All of my books have been inspired by a tabletop role playing game that I played (and still play) with my sons and friends. I always thought the stories and characters were fun, and wanted to pay homage to them and the players behind them, so I started writing those stories down and turning them into books!
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I enjoy J.R.R. Tolkien. I also really enjoy The Belgariad by David Eddings. It's very underrated. I really enjoyed the character interactions, and I found it way more realistic than any of Tolkien’s characters. The Belgariad characters would bust each other's chops and have fun, and felt more three dimensional than the serious, formal characters of Tolkien.
Tell us about your writing process.
I typically get alone, where it is quiet. I break things into scenes and try to write them up like a movie scene. I will sometimes grab a sword and act out a scene, to make sure that movements and flourishes feel realistic, so I can better describe them to the reader. I will also create a spreadsheet for the large battles, listing the characters and all the parts they are playing in the battle, so I don’t forget about anyone, and no one falls out of the storytelling.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes. Just yes. Two of the characters are based on my sons, so I literally talk to them every day.
What advice would you give other writers?
When you’re writing, just put down to paper what comes to mind. Don’t worry about making it perfect. Don’t stop to edit. Just write it down. Take notes of things that need to change, and keep moving. Later, after you’ve finished writing the story, go over it about 5-6 times, and make it better. Also, not everybody’s going to like your stuff. Only look at bad reviews for constructive criticism. Otherwise, if there’s nothing helpful for you there, ignore them!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
One of my friends, who is also an author, told me that she published on Amazon and that it was really easy. So, I basically followed in her footsteps and got started that way. Another friend introduced me to the "Wide for the Win" Facebook group, and I learned everything about publishing my books Wide there. It has taken my book sales to a new, better level.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think publishing has gotten easier and easier for authors, and will continue to get easier. However, what I have seen is that marketing books has gotten harder. A lot of big companies and algorithms have made it very hard for independent authors and other competition to market effectively.
What genres do you write?: Fantasy
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
F.P. Spirit Home Page Link
Link To F.P. Spirit Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Smashwords
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.
