About Max E. Stone:
I’ve been writing almost my whole life.
Since I was about nine years old.
It was a hobby for me back then.
My first story scared the pants off of nearly every adult in my life. It was about these three families that were all intertwined somehow in their lives and from New England. Other than that, I don’t even remember what it was about, but I remember constant questions of “Is everything okay?” and “Do you need to talk about anything?”
I was a suburban kid with no real troubles at the time so I was fine.
The stories just came to me.
It wasn’t until I turned sixteen years old that writing became my lifeline.
I suffered the worst trauma in my life ever and writing was just one of the main things that got me through it.
I haven’t stopped since.
What inspires you to write?
Anything and everything. A talk with my buddies, the news, my own thoughts. Anything and everything drives my pen, which is why I always have it ready.
Tell us about your writing process.
I just write. I’ve tried brainstorming, the whiteboard and everything like but, for me, I didn’t work. My own thoughts would feel very jumbled. So, I’ve found what works for me is writing it down on paper and transporting it to the computer. Between the two devices, somehow, my thoughts and the story end up making sense.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
All the time. I can’t get a word in edgewise. I feel what they feel all the time. In my most recent book, Black Cradle, there’s a scene where Detective Bennett is looking for a kid that he has gotten to know and has a horrible feeling about what happened to him. I could literally feel my heart beating faster, tears pouring down face. So, I can’t help but talk to and listen to my characters. They punch me in the emotions so much so that I have to pay attention.
What advice would you give other writers?
For readers, read everything. Don’t not read something because someone told you not to. You can always learn something from a good book no matter the genre.
For authors, read everything. Life has a little of everything. As such, so do the best books and, in the those books, you’ll learn how to craft your own stories. Plus, if this is really what you want to do, don’t let anyone stop you. Shut out the negativity and just go for it.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I did try traditional publishing first and could not break in because I was constantly told that I needed literary agent to get i. It was years before I heard about self-publishing and I decided to try it out. It’s working pretty well for me thus far.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Honestly, I don’t know. I do know that anything could happen. For one thing, I’m anticipating more libraries, digital and otherwise.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: Mystery, Hardcore Thriller, Action, Suspense
What formats are your books in?: Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Max E. Stone Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
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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.
