Michael Shotter interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

                                          

A little introduction:

Michael Shotter is a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a lover of science, fiction, and fantasy, his works aim to push beyond the boundaries of traditional genre fiction into new and exciting realms born from literary craftsmanship.



When did your love of books begin?

As a kid, I enjoyed reading as a means to learn more about the world beyond what I was exposed to in my daily life. I was particularly fascinated by tales of other peoples and cultures from around the world in magazines like "National Geographic" and such.



When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

I recall having the thought more than once at a fairly young age, somewhere between 5 and 7, that it would be "pretty cool" to write a book that other people read and enjoyed as much as I enjoyed the things I was reading at the time. Those notions didn't really go anywhere until I was much older but the seeds were definitely planted early.



How have you found the process for becoming an author?

It's very challenging and time consuming on a variety of fronts. Whether you're talking about the actual act of writing, or the many facets involved in editing, publishing, and marketing a book once it's been written. There's basically an infinite amount of potential work to do at any given time. That said, it's certainly a very rewarding and fulfilling profession when those efforts pay off in any way.



What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

Be prepared to work very hard for a very long time to find and retain an audience. Of course, anyone simply wishing to express themself creatively should absolutely do so, but those seeking to make a living as an author would do well to see it for the job that it is.



Tell us about your book/books:

To date, I've published four novel-length works: "The Big Men," "309," "Shards," and "The Nemesis Effect." They all fall under the very wide umbrella of speculative fiction but each book has its own distinct style and tone.

"The Big Men" is a paranormal thriller focusing on the perceptions, manifestations, and consequences of power as wielded by specific men in the modern era.

"309" is an epic, science fiction action/adventure novel centered around a world-altering event.

"Shards" is a short-fiction anthology that infuses elements of horror, mystery, and even a bit of romance into a collection of stories firmly rooted in the universe established in the first two books without being dependent on them.

"The Nemesis Effect" offers a glimpse into a near future where humanity confronts a looming but largely-unknown threat in a desperate and unconventional manner.

My upcoming novel, "Big Man Down," focuses on an important, recurring character facing the most dire and challenging situation of his life, and directly connects to all my other releases while remaining effective as a standalone experience.

One of the core ideas behind my books is that they can be read in any order a reader might prefer, gradually revealing a broader, overarching narrative while conveying their own compelling, self-contained stories.

What do you love about the writing/reading community?

How generally supportive and open it tends to be. For the most part, the vast majority of interactions I've had with other writers and readers have been very positive or constructive.



If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

I say it all the time but I'll gladly say it again. Thank you very much for your support of my works. You make these things live in a way they never would if nobody read them.



Where can people connect with you?

I'm fairly active on social media. I actually have three Twitter accounts: @mdshotter (Personal,) @shotterwriting (Writing,) and @NemesisEffect (Author Promotion and Other Fun Stuff.)

I have a web site:

http://www.michaelshotter.com

and a page on my blog that lists the many other places I can be found online:

http://vortex-1.blogspot.com/p/on-social-media.html