Meet Author Lincoln Cole

Lincoln is coming to us today via 4-Wills Publishing. So let's all meet Lincoln:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was about ten I realized I wanted to tell stories. I loved reading books, especially by Stephen King, and I knew I wanted to do that when I grew up.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on the book. Sometimes it takes about a month, and other times it can take as much as a year to put it all together. I’ve gotten better at writing a first draft, but I have a lot less time to write now as well.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I like to outline my stories, but then I completely abandon the outline after only a few stories. It doesn’t make me like doing it any less, though, I just accept that my outline is going to change completely every time I write.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

It’s hard to say, really. I usually think of characters and imagine action scenes for them, and then the story sort of unfolds around that.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I was fourteen when I published my first book (it was terrible) and then seventeen for the second (equally as bad). I never really went back to those stories and didn’t even manage to write the third book in the series. One day I would like to go back to it, but not yet.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I work as a software developer, and I like to go for walks, watch tv, and listen to music when I’m not writing.

What does your family think of your writing?

They are kind of supportive of it and help as much as they can. I think in general they view it as a hobby and not a profession and they assume I’ll never really ‘make it’.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

How many different jobs a writer needs to do to really sell books: you have to write, edit, market, promote, solicit reviews, and do everything else on your own. They aren’t kidding when they say writing the book is the easy part.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’ve written six books, and I’ve been lucky so far in that every book I’ve written has been better than the one before. I think Raven’s Peak is my best, but each book is different, and I like to write in different styles. My favorite changes based on what I’m working on at the moment.

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Get the first draft done, put the book down for a while, and then come back to it with fresh eyes. It’ll help you clean up your manuscript so much more when you give it time to rest. Also, start promoting early. Marketing is a long tem process, and if you wait until your book is established to start, you’re going to be months and months behind.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

Not really. I occasionally get emails from people or feedback. People have mixed feelings about my books, which makes sense. For example, with Second Chances I wanted to make it kind of like the real world, but also tremendously different. I wanted the language and dialogue to be jarring and challenge prejudices. For some people this is off-putting and they have a strong reaction to it. I can fully sympathize with their reactions, but in many cases they just aren’t the right audience.

What do you think makes a good story?

If it’s something people can’t put down because it holds their attention, it’s good. There is a phrase thrown around: ‘write to market’ which basically means write a book that will sell to a particular audience. I think it’s entirely true, and also a cop-out. Write the book you want to write, don’t be afraid to be different and bend the rules. If your only goal is to make money, then there are better ways to do it than writing books, so if you’re only writing to market then I don’t know why you even bother.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Depends on when you asked me. I wanted to be basically everything at one time or another. I love technology, so I guess that’s why I ended up working with software and computers.

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A quiet little mountain town is hiding a big problem. When the townsfolk of Raven's Peak start acting crazy, Abigail Dressler is called upon to find out what is happening. She uncovers a demonic threat unlike any she's ever faced and finds herself in a fight just to stay alive.

She rescues Haatim Arison from a terrifying fate and discovers that he has a family legacy in the supernatural that he knows nothing about. Now she's forced to protect him, which is easy, and also trust him if she wants to save the townsfolk of Raven's Peak. Trust, however, is considerably more difficult for someone who grew up living on the knife's edge of danger.

Can they discover the cause of the town's insanity and put a stop to it before it is too late?

 

Contact Information for Lincoln Cole:

LincolnJCole@gmail.com

Links:

Website: http://www.LincolnCole.net

Raven’s Peak: http://www.LincolnCole.net/ravens-peak

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnJCole

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LincolnJCole

Newsletter: http://www.LincolnCole.net/signup

Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Cole/e/B00AUIOU3A

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7MhpGIAWkU

This tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com