About Gene John Miller:
A first-time author, who has released a new nonfiction collection of 15 "time capsule" (1965-1970) short stories entitled "WARNING: Short Stories for Middle School Boys Only, Because Girls Have Cooties! A collection of "Coming of Age" humorous and adventurous stories set along the Delaware River in the small South Jersey town of Delanco. Miller is a 44-year educator with instructional experience from grades sixth grade to college. His understanding of adolescents and his unique perspectives from adventures along the river growing up bring great nostalgia in the 21st Century.
What inspires you to write?
My short story collection was inspired by my two oldest grandsons on the verge of entering middle school. The middle school years were a time for adventure, exploring, friendships and decision-making. Some of those decisions did not go so well as indicated in this collection. The stories teach a life lesson a chapter to adolescent readers and reminds adult readers how difficult it is for an adolescent to grow into a successful young adult. My writing is inspired by Twain, Steinback, Hemingway, Stevenson and J.D. Salinger.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
As stated above I always enjoyed Mark Twain's work for two major elements, adventure and humor. I have included these themes in each of the stories in my collection. A "chuckle a chapter" as I told my publisher. I have taken from Steinback and Hemingway the facts as they unfold around the main character and the supporting cast. The protagonist goes through a series of conflicts to emerge by the end of the story as more knowledgeable about life and hopefully a better person for elevating oneself from the struggle. Salinger had a crazy perspective running through "Catcher" and I wanted that feel uncomfortable, yet alluring feel to many of the stories as well.
Tell us about your writing process.
Writing a non-fiction short story collection is much easier than writing a fiction novel I've always been told that I am a terrific storyteller. The writing process that I use is connected to accurate recall of the most important stories that constructed a boy into a responsible young man and a successful adult. Interviewing available persons connected to the story and fact verification were important to the accuracy and legitimacy to each of the 15 standalone short stories. Writing from the seat of my pants, then verifying the story with a person connected worked for this collection very well.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
The most effective writing process comes from the flow of ideas first. Writing the story down first is important in building the foundation first. Exploring hooks at the beginning of each story is important. Hooking your reader within the first two paragraphs can either make for the start of a successful story or not. Verification of true stories is the next phase to ensure that I achieved most or all of it accurately. After verification, descriptive "choice" words are then identified. As I reread each short story, I look for boring adjective and adverbs that get highlighted for replacement. Those replacement terms actually help to draw in the reader. I know this through professional reviews and reader reviews that have been left on Amazon, B&N and my author book page.
What advice would you give other writers?
I read a variety of authors in all genres. Stephen King has been very entertaining and far from anything I'd write in non-fiction. History autobiographies and autobiographies have always been my favorites-U.S presidents, generals and wars attract most of my outside reading. I hold an Englis and History degree. Autobiographies and biographies, wars and politics are all attractive reads for me.Bo Woodward's "War" is my next book on my must read list.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
The only reason that I decided to self-publish was due to two factors: The first one was that I could not achieve a literary agent through querying. After 28 queries and 18 rejections, one resubmit, and 9 ghosted contacts, I became frustrated and disappointed. I truly believed my short story collection had a message that could give middle level learners an enjoyable and humorous read from that time period and use it to compare it to growing up now in the 21st century. I wanted the adolescents to see what has changed within the time periods of growing up and what challenges have remained the same. Technology has been a huge influence on adolescents today. The second reason I wanted to publish was that I desired to leave a legacy for my eight grandchildren. I wanted the six 5 and under grands some stories to better understand and know about their grandfather as a child attempting to become a young man. With a second round of cardiac issues, there's no promises for tomorrows. "Carpe Diem" is how I view each day. If you snooze, you lose.
My advice for new authors, much like me, is to take a course or courses on querying before you begin the publishing process. Self-publishing if done correctly is highly expensive. If your queries are well written and you have a terrific book, you will land a publishing agent and that will cut out most-if not all-of your out-of-pocket costs. Without an agent the costs you will absorb will be or should be: developmental edits, line edits, copy edits, proof reading edits, publishing, and cover art design costs. Those costs will begin around $7,500-$12,000. Then there's marketing. Establishing yourself as an author with a new book in a flooded book market is essential if you want to sell more than a couple hundred copies. There are many avenues to follow, there are dangerous unscrupulous people offering publishing for $400, $750 and it runs into marketing offers as well. Do your research and use the Better Business Burea to sniff out the fraudulent thieves licking their chops for a payday.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Consider self-publishing with reputable publishing companies. I was fortunate. My son and daughter in law self-published a fiction novel with a company in South Carolina called Palmetto Publishing. I firsthand got to see the finished product. The artwork on the cover, the quality of the paper, the binding of the book and the print on the paper. Both hard back and soft back books were significantly well done. All signs, including fair pricing pointed to Palmetto. The people working with my family and then me were of top levels for collaborating. We both have published a quality book. I believe everyone has a story within themselves and those willing to create it and to print it will find formats to get their stories out. Self-publishing will continue to expand going forward.
What genres do you write?: Middle Level/Memoir/Adult Nonfiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Gene John Miller Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
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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.
