Scott Lothian interview
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
A little introduction:
Hello, my name is Scott Lothian. I am a clinical pharmacist from the
Chicagoland area and have practiced for over 40 years—concentrating in
solid organ transplant, oncology and pain management, but have been on the
clinical IT side of healthcare for the past decade. I have two published
novels to date: Perfect Posture and Deep Waters. I write character-centric
stories incorporating history while using both to drive plot twists and
turns. My readers will always find characters who they will love to love or
love to hate as well as a mix of levity and interesting history as the book
spins to its exciting conclusion.
When did your love of books begin?
I loved to read when I was little, but not so much in my teens. Once I was
a living breathing self-sufficient (well, somewhat) person, I discovered my
love for books again. I read all kinds of books, but mostly stay on the
fiction side of things. I love historical fiction, mystery-thrillers and
just about anything with a good storyline arc that is accompanied by
well-developed characters, and, based on the genre, has the expected twists
and turns.
When did you start to have the wish to become an author?
I started my first book nearly two decades before it was completed. It was
out of the blue that the idea came to me and I jumped in with both
feet…initially. However, my kids were of the age that any extra time was
spent working, sleeping or drinking, so I put the book away for quite a
while until my middle son prompted me to finish it. I fully respect those
that write as a profession, but my writing is a hobby at this point in my
life and therefore allows me to enjoy the process and not sweat the
success. As I try to “get my book out there,” I feel for those who have
truly jumped in with both feet since it is hard for the little author to be
seen these days.
How have you found the process for becoming an author?
I have to admit that I was not an especially gifted creative writer in
school, but something changed when I started writing my first book, Perfect
Posture. The story seemed to flow out of me. I found that if I tried to
write a novel that I wanted to read the story seemed to flow from me to the
paper as if I were reading it. Currently, I research the general subjects
and plan out a beginning and an ending, but what goes in the middle is
always created along the way. I know many writers research and plan to the
point they are just filling in the outline with text. I prefer to set upon
the journey and see what I find along the way letting the emerging story
direct my research. You can plan your vacation to the last detail, but you
cannot control who you might meet on the elevator or at the dinner, so let
it happen—let your story help create the next chapter.
What would you say to those wanting to become an author?
Write for yourself. You would not let a stranger pick a significant other
for you, so don’t let them direct your story. Write and keep writing. Even
the bad stuff helps you develop a style. Practice may not always make
perfect, but it does make better.
Tell us about your book/books:
As I noted before, I have two published novels: Perfect Posture and Deep
Waters. I am currently working on a children’s book and a third novel.
My new novel, Deep Waters, is a historical fiction odyssey-like life arc
mystery-thriller about the life of a man who evolves from a 15-year-old
farm town quarterback to a crew member of the USS Indianapolis—the ship
that delivered the nuclear bomb that helped end World War II and then
suffered the worst open ocean shark attack in U.S. naval history. This
story is very much a combination of slice-of-life historical fiction with a
“what if” storyline that portrays how a man deals with a life filled with
tragedy and disappointment that is not under his control. Layered
throughout, there is a good versus evil theme that starts in 1307 on
Cyprus—the island home to the Knights Templar—and continues on to Sado—an
island off the Japanese coast—until it leads to the mystery-thriller
possibly “atomic” ending.
Perfect Posture is a detective versus serial killer crime-thriller that
goes inside the mind of a serial killer while chronicling the lives of
those committed to stopping the escalating carnage. It is written to create
a palpable good vs evil tension much like that effected by Erik Larson’s
Devil in the White City. This book is rich with Chicago area history and
filled with personalities and relationships—both dark and occasionally
comical—that readers will grow to love or hate as they follow the chess
match storyline to a twisting catastrophic end.
What do you love about the writing/reading community?
I love how dedicated this group is to writing. I can tell some are trying
hard to be full-time authors while others are like me, trying to work it
out on the side. But let’s be real – there are few “full-time” authors
since many of these aspiring writers also have jobs or are stay at home
parents or any other combination of life getting in the way (which should
never be considered a minus), so I respect all avenues to this dream.
If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?
I thank you for giving any one of my books a try. I believe Deep Waters is
a universal novel that can be enjoyed by almost anyone, but Perfect Posture
is not for the faint of heart—you have been warned. I have been mostly
lucky to receive great reviews from people who read these genres and
recently received one that any author would take since this is what we are
going for:
Amazon Review: Great book - I was so sad when it was over.
So, thank you to all who venture out of the mainstream and give the indie
authors a chance. You are the real heroes here.
Where can people connect with you?
I have a few active author pages and an email below.
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottLothianBooks
Follow on Goodreads:
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScottLothianBks @ScottLothianBks
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/scottlothian
Email: ScottLothianBooks@gmail.com
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