About Grivante:
I enjoy writing stories that make people think by showing them something new or introducing them to a world view they may not have otherwise encountered. When I write I get caught up in the creative process and am often just as wowed as the readers by the final product. Those moments of writing when you can tell you are connected to your divine creative source is a moment of bliss and what makes writing so worthwhile.
My stories are journeys for the mind, sometimes short brief escapes and others long epics that will pop back into your consciousness long after you have read them.
What inspires you to write?
The original inspiration for writing came when I was in grade school and I wrote a piece of fan fiction based on The Friday the 13th movies. My classmates were scared and excited by it. Seeing that my written words could have that kind of impact on others has inspired me to pursue writing ever since.
These days my life directly inspires my writing. Sometimes it is the adventures I go on and at other times I find myself trying to figure out a problem at work or in life in general and it starts to work itself out within my stories, revealing answers to me I would not normally have considered.
I also like to make people laugh, which is why even in the heat of an action packed near death moment, I look for the absurd or off the wall comment that not only will make people laugh, but also fits right into the story.
Tell us about your writing process.
I write long hand to start. Usually I start by chasing a random idea to see where it will take me. If it holds my interest I will keep coming back to it. Leading a busy life, the moments to write are often brief, so sometimes I will not be able to finish something, in those moments, I usually try and scribble out a few tidbits that will help me pick up from where I left off.
Later I’ll come back and get excited remembering, oh yeah, THAT was about to happen and then I am off and running again.
Other times, if I know where a story is going, but feel stuck, I’ll start outlining. I’ll expand forward or backwards from what I know is going to happen until eventually it all connects. I usually find that the reason I was stuck is because there was something that happened in the future of the story that I wasn’t aware of yet that clicks it all into place once I have outlined enough. Then it is usually a mad dash to get it all out on paper before I start to lose it!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t talk to my characters. I think about them a lot, but I’ve never… yet… spoken to them.
What advice would you give other writers?
My advice to other writers is to read as much as you can across all genres. Listen to the words in your head as you are reading. Hear the author’s writing voice. Listen for what you like and what you don’t like. You will find this helps to improve your writing just as much as the next piece of advice which is the ages old standard, Write, Write, Write!
Lastly, hire an editor to edit your work. You need another set of eyes that aren’t someone you know. Let them do your job and make your writing the best it can be.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Back in the 80’s I was a big supporter of the early indy black & white comics movement. There were so many unique voices out there with stories to tell. I saw that doing your own thing could be done. Over the years as I explored the craft of writing I realized it was very hard to break in and while traditional publishing might be a little easier, in the end, you still have to do a lot of footwork yourself, so I formed my own publishing company, Grivante Press, to get my work out there as well as others.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think the shift from traditional publishing to a blend of publishing techniques and options is in full swing. The new options available to authors puts the power in their hands. Authors need to do everything they can to make sure their work is the best quality it can be to continue the self-publishing revolution.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Horror, Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children’s, Action, Humor, Bizarro
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Grivante Home Page Link
Link To Grivante Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
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.
