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B. J. Loft (aka Dan Bynum) |
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B.J.’s 18Q |
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The Eighteen Questions |
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18Q |
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www.eldrwrtr.com |
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Bibliography |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? I believe that writing chose me. I was good at writing in high school and during my twenty-seven years with the Department of the Army I wrote procedures and SOP's, performance ratings and justifications for funding. My supervisor said upon my retirement, "I could write volumes about nothing." I have published my first novel, "The North Point Boys," which is a story of my growing up in a small town. The book is fiction because I added fictional occurrences. Some parts of the story are true.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) After high school I joined the Air Force and after my discharge I went to work for the Department of the Army. I went to night school and earned by AA degree. I got married and my wife and I raised two sons. I belong to the American Legion, The Midwest Writing Center and I volunteer twice weekly at our local VA Clinic.
3. When did you 'know' you were a writer? "The North Point Boys" is a story I wanted to write for a long time, but it wasn't until I retired that I had the time to put in the effort. When the book was published I knew I was a writer.
4. How would you describe your style of writing? and 5. What is your writing process? I really liked Hemingway and Steinbeck, I read off of the classics and all of Thomas Hinkle's books. I start a paragraph or chapter signifying the beginning and the last chapter is a continuance of the first chapter outlining the consequence. I like using very unique murders or consequences at the end. From there I fill in the second scene.
6. What was your path to publication? A friend of mine told me to mail out three query's a week. It took over a month before I received two responses. I had to make a tough decision as to which publisher to choose.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? My favorite self-marketing idea is book signing appearances.
8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer? The responses I have received from my first book-the kind words from those that don't know me but read the book.
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? As I mentioned earlier I volunteer twice each week. And on warm Tuesdays I fish. If I catch one okay if not that's okay too. As I set on the bank I do a lot of thinking and make a lot of notes. The inspiration come from within. I was at the VA Hospital in Iowa City waiting for a doctor. While waiting I noticed and old white haired man shuffling along the sidewalk, his suit was too big for his aging body and all I could see was the tip of his shoes.. I used him as a character in the book I am writing now.
10. What is your proudest writer moment? When I got the notice that my book would be published.
11. What's the best advice you were given about writing? Writing an outline and dividing the story into three acts and come up with a dark secret or accusation.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? Reading my book after it was published. The publisher's editor missed two corrections that I had brought to his attention.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? None yet. I am keeping track of expenses and sales.
14. What is your writer life philosophy? My philosophy is investigation and research. I only use four-letter words according to the personality of the person I'm writing about and I use them sparingly. When I write about sex, I use innuendo and very little description.
15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun? Volunteer and fish and we have a grandson that we pick up after school on Thursdays. He's a joy in our life.
16. Who do you like to read? I like to read mysteries especially John Grisham, Jeffery Deaver and Lisa Jackson. A new used bookstore opened and I went in and looked around. I picked up a book, "The Last Valentine." by James Michael Pratt. I don't know why I picked that particular book, but after reading it I can't imagine any man or woman not feeling the emotions of the story.
17. What’s your advice for new writers? I believe there is at least one story in all of us. I advise new writers to purchase two books: "Story Structure," by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D. and "Writing Fiction," Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French. And, join a local writing club and subscribe to Writer's Digest.
18. What are you currently working on? I'm writing a book about Triplet sisters, "The Libra Trust," their lives loves, heartaches |
