Smashwords' Author Interview
J.M.Erickson
When did you first start writing?
I started writing in 2011 when I drove my son to school on a daily basis. Since his school was far, it didn't make sense to go back home so I stayed in the library with my laptop and looked at all the books around me. My son also inspired me. He mentioned that he wanted to try writing as a career. I read some of his work and was impressed with his skills and I wondered if I could do that too,
What's the story behind your latest book?
My more recent book, Intelligent Design: Revelations (AIA Publishing), is a science fiction novella that translates the origins on the human species into a possible intentional plan by a more advance civilization. There is balanced use of metaphor, literature, science and speculation to hopefully make the story interesting but at the same time great efforts were made to keep it simple. This was an opportunity for me to focus on a straight forward novella that could be a stand alone story, and to keep it far less complex when compared to my other works, Future Prometheus I and II (Outskirts Press), Future Prometheus: TheSeries (J.M.Erickson) and the Birds of Flight, series (Outskirts Press).
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Honestly, I am a control freak. The idea of letting my work be handled by other people, and at a ridiculous low royalty rate, was just beyond me. The biggest area, maybe the only one, where I let the control go is when I turn my manuscript over to complete strangers for editing. Manuscript reviews, copy-editors, proofreaders, etc. I learn so much from these knowledgeable people! Is there a downside to this control? Yup! I have to change one of my book covers because I lost objectivity and went with something I wanted as opposed to what might draw the reader. If you control everything, you're responsible for everything, good and bad.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
For me the greatest joy is world creation with interesting characters. I just love creating the people and their personal stories - their nuances, habits, dialogue, and their interactions with the other characters. While a plot to a novel is critical, I think that many readers focus on the characters, the people they remember - who they love, who they hate, and who they would want to be.
What are you working on next?
I'm working on combining a couple of short stories and novellas into a collection called Time is for Dragonflies and Angels that should be out in September 2016
​What is your e-reading device of choice?
Kindle - the older kind that is black and white
Describe your desk
My desks are crazy! I have one glass and metal desk that holds an old style CPU with 16 gigs of RAM, two monitors, color printer and a couple of small screen tablets. This is my writing and personal desk. My other desk right next to it is near identical except that is used exclusively for clinical work and teaching. It could all be combined to one but there is something about the "command center" effect that makes me feel self important.
Do you review books?
I tend to review various clinical text books I either use or plan to use in my teaching masters' level clinical graduate students and books I use for my clinical practice' since the field is always changing especially in neuroscience, psychopathology, psychopharmacology and cognitive behavioral therapy, it's my way of staying up to date in the mental health field.