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Michael G. Hurston |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? I've chosen to write, though I would not call it much of a profession as yet. I still have to keep my day job, for now at least, but in any case I have always found myself writing about all kinds of things. If you told me today that I would never have another poem, story or book published or read by another living being - I'd be ok with that. I write for myself.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) I was born in San Jose, but grew up in upstate New York, went to school in Connecticut, moved back to the Bay Area, traveled Western Europe for a spell and now reside in Las Vegas.
I never had the patients for college, though I tried to go to a junior college somewhat consistently for almost two years. I ended up working a lot of odd jobs, mostly with either print or web design related positions and found myself a Marketing and Design manager for a commercial real estate firm. It's been over a decade now with the same career, so I guess I must enjoy some aspect of it. Although I'll always complain about something if you ask me too.
3. When did you 'know' you were a writer? You either write or you don't. At least that is my experience. I forget how the saying goes, but there are many writers in the world, but not a lot of authors. I think a good deal of people have more potential than they think, but are sometimes to afraid to put themselves out there. It's unfortunate because given the latest New York Times bestseller lists we really could use a change.
4. How would you describe your style of writing? I spend most my time writing fantasy based fiction for role-playing games. So often my style goes from sober to laughable depending on if it's a gritty Ave Molech story or an Alice Wonderland tale or a supplement dealing with pirates or drug addiction.
5. What is your writing process? I typically write a lot of notes and ideas down as they come to me, or at least try too jot them down when I get my hands on my computer or a piece of notebook paper. When I actually sit down to write I read them over, toss them out and then start from scratch. I'm rarely ever happy with my initial draft and will end up rewriting sections or whole stories over multiple times before I feel I've gotten it right.
6. What was your path to publication? I had been writing a lot of poetry, which I was posting online since I was in high school, which wasn't very good. But it had some dark moody qualities that many people within my circle enjoyed. I have also been an avid RPG player since I was old enough to roll a twenty-sided dice, which lead me down the path of writing fiction based on various pen and paper games. Eventually I started on my own campaign setting for a world I called Ave Molech. At the time I had it finished Wizards of the Coast released Eberron and Privateer Press released Iron Kingdoms which both felt very similar to my ideas and writings. I then went back and reworked a lot of the game mechanics and stories and released my work under Morbidgames.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? I don't really market myself. This coming from a guy who has a day job as a Marketing and Design manager – I Know! While I can sell anyone on anyone else's ideas, I could never be a salesman for myself. Since writing isn't my primary source of income I prefer to take a back seat and watch news and buzz spread without any help. It's a huge ego boost to release a product and see people I have never met or spoken too posting about it on forums.
8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer? You mean you can't write a whole new book in a single evening? I kid, but really, my biggest surprise would be my wife's support. She's not into reading, let alone the thought of even purchasing a printed item that does not have pictures of the new hip young actress or performer of the week on the cover. Yet with that said, she's very loyal and enjoys talking to friends, family and even strangers who she feels would be interested about my books.
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? I have still to figure this out. My brain seems to create ideas and thoughts at the most random of times and I often find myself either at work or in the middle of the night springing up to write down a sentence or two and decipher it's meaning at a later time.
10. What is your proudest writer moment? Definitely the release of Ave Molech second edition. I got my favorite artist in the world Brom to let me use one of his drawings for my cover. He didn't gouge me on the price like he could have, instead he new I was doing the independent publisher thing and gave me a great deal. He honestly is one of the nicest guys out there.
11. What's the best advice you were given about writing? If you want to write, write. Really, there isn't any other way around it, and that short statement works for anything you do in life. Whatever it is you want to do, do it.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? The first edition of Ave Molech had several spelling and grammar mistakes that neither my editors nor myself caught and we got flamed for it pretty bad. Since then I've learned to always have someone not working with you take a look at pieces before they go out to print.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? Hiring people. It's been really difficult to find people, which is surprising, especially in today's economy. I've been trying to hire some authors to do some supplements to my RPG world, and while I have a lot of people who have offered to do it for free and submitted partial items, I can't find anyone who wants to actually work on specific projects I give them for a monetary value. Not that I'm apposed to free help, but I've found that the people willing to work for free can sometimes flake on you since they don't really have any vested interest in helping you.
14. What is your writer life philosophy? This question sounds pretentious to me. I believe it must be a trick.
15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun? I play a lot of RPG, mostly on the computer or my consoles these days, but I'm always looking for a fun group of people to game with. My wife and I enjoy wine tasting and good conversations with strangers at the local pubs or at a friend's house. Our teacup yorkie and chinchilla keep us busy as well.
16. Who do you like to read? It depends on which genre I'm in the mood for. If it's something slightly modern I'd reread one of my many Bukowski books. If I'm looking for fantasy I'd probably grab a Weiss and Hickman novel. For cutting edge new fiction I'd head to one of the many online PDF publishers for some independent pieces. Of course with that said, the last book I just finished reading for enjoyment was I Am American (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert.
17. What's your advice for new writers? Don't stop writing. Ever.
18. What are you currently working on? With Ave Molech Second Edition out, I have a novel I am currently working on that fleshes out more of the story behind the campaign setting as well as I am working on a short story I've loosely titled Alice Wonderland and the Abyssal Rabbit Hole to Perditious Netherland. Also there is always the Ave Molech Journal series I have which I hope to release the 5th installment before this summer. |
