About Shawn Lewis Hill:
Shawn Hill has been a successful freelance IT specialist since 1994, volunteer instructor of taekwondo since 2004, online blogger since 2009, founded the non-profit MARTiAL YOU in 2011, has been creating instructional media since 2012, and most recently has leveraged his experience into that of an author, to write and promote his book titled JULIANDRA.
Shawn started and still runs his own company called VASTmicro Incorporated which specializes in Informational Technologies for small business while continually working to open up opportunities for youth through efforts with his non-profit organization and martial arts.
What inspires you to write?
My romantic nature made me do it.
I always have stories locked in my mind. I never write them down and usually they fade away after some time goes by. Finally after so many years of not writing anything, I decided to take one of my stories and articulate it into written word. Wow, didn’t that prove difficult!
Your mind can imagine so much with what seems to be very little effort, but to describe what you see in your mind with words is a whole different story. It took my mind seconds to create the world of Juliandra… Seconds! and it has taken over a year to try and adequately describe that world in a summarized way.
Tell us about your writing process.
I write in a linear fashion. As I see the story play like a movie in my mind, I simply describe what I am seeing and what I know is happening.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I think for many writers you have to imagine a dialog with the characters. You have to create their personality and empathize with what emotions each character may be experiences. It’s empathy what allows me to even think about writing from another perspective. You have to think you are them and write for them. As far as talking to a character, I’m not sure I could say that is how I work with them. Making myself that character is the key for me.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write and Refine!
I am to this day, still refining my thoughts with the words our English language provides. I’ve learned that thoughts must flow smoothly, more so than actual life. Ever listened to someone talk who cannot articulate thoughts well? It’s like that, if your writing doesn’t flow than reading becomes hard work and less entertainment.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
That was easy. There is virtually no way a new author will be picked up by a big time publisher these days. Self-Publishing was the only choice, therefore it was an easy choice.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
This is difficult because as technology changes, information, including entertainment becomes more easily attained. More people will be writing and less value placed upon any one source. We see this today with self-publishing. So many books out there and very little recognition unless your a proven success. I almost think career writing might dwindle more and more due to less ability to monetize the writing. Who knows though.
What genres do you write?: Mostly fiction with varying levels of sci-fi.
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Shawn Lewis Hill Home Page Link
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
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.
