Thursday, April 4, 2013

Interview with author Scott R. Caseley



What or whom inspired you to become a writer?

When I was in the second grade, my teacher had assigned us short stories to write as part of a new lesson plan. I became hooked right away. I wrote a tale about an elephant and his mother, then one giving human characteristics to food items, and several more. The goal was for us to write stories that we could bind with fabric covers and illustrate them ourselves. The teacher called this “publishing” them, and I think that I personally published at least ten.

What types of books do you read?

I like a good mystery, one that is character driven where the people are so dynamic that really anything is possible except the predictable. I’m reading two really great ones now, “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn and “Turn of Mind” by Alice LaPlante.

What well-known authors do you admire most?

Gwendolyn Bounds comes to mind first, though I’ve only read “Little Chapel on The River”. The honesty with which she told her story of starting over after a tragedy and starting a new life in a new place was quite inspirational.

Dan Millman is another one; his “Way of The Peaceful Warrior” was very instrumental in me giving yoga a chance. It reminded me of my teachings in the martial arts as a child learning about patience, and eliminating the bad in life to find the focus to be. It helped me to become one with myself and then in turn with my writing.

What were your writing habits while writing Isosceles?

I’d start off the day and take notes either mentally or on paper, and then take a shower or eat breakfast and think them over a bit. I’d go to yoga, or walk a couple miles then figure out how to make them work. When I’d set up my computer to start writing for the day, I’d either make poetry from the notes, or character sketches for what I wanted to say, or just dive right into writing the scene. I didn’t outline though, it was just told from writing straightforward through, and then looking back as I went to make sure it lined up through continuity, and through established behaviors and scenarios. This worked 98% of the time.

How did you come up with the plot?

In my last couple years of college, and in the first few years after I graduated, I had a number of people I knew pass away. I wasn’t close with many of them, but because most were around my age, their deaths had an impact on me. I started to think about life and death on a philosophical level. I wondered what it all meant. I started to question, what does it mean to someone’s reputation when they pass on? Why are some people more revered, or despised after they die? If their death is unexpected, why do we feel like they have become an absolute stranger suddenly? How will I be remembered when my time is up?

What is your favorite part in Isosceles? 

My favorite part is the sledding scene where Sean and Madeline bond for the first time one-on-one. It’s reminiscent of my own childhood where I used to go sledding behind my house with my brother and his friends, and then when I was a bit older with my own friends. I did my best to capture the wonder and fear my friends and I felt as we dared each other to go down the more difficult hills.

What was the hardest part to write? 

The most challenging part would have to be the moving scene, because I had to give depth to a character that up to that point hadn’t really been much more than a one-dimensional individual, and I had to give him some heart. Plus, it was also a major turning point for three characters, and I had to do it on a multilayered front, where Sean had to stay in the forefront as he was the main character, but through the other two people’s turning points, he would be able to make the next leap into the next stage of his own life.

What character is the most/least like you, and in what ways? 

Sean is probably the most like how I used to be growing up. I used to be very shy and insecure, but I always liked to imagine that love would be possible for me, and that it was a matter of destiny. Trey is definitely different from me. He’s more fearless than I was as a kid, and he was always a bit of a troublemaker, whereas I followed the rules and liked a sense of order to my adventures. 

What would your ideal career be if you couldn't be an author? 

I would like to be a historian or an anthropologist. I have always been into learning all manners of life, behaviors, past events, and how closely we are all related despite the differences that seem so apparent unless we dig deeper or just get to know one another. 

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing? 

I definitely do. I am grateful that my characters are what people pick up on the most as my strength, because my fictional friends definitely get the most attention when telling a story. So by that notion, I do feel that my future work will continue to be character-driven since it seems to be working for me. However, I may challenge myself with a high concept plot one day. So, yes, on the immediate level I am influenced by their opinions. 

Do you find it hard to balance your writing with your personal life? 

Depends on what stage I’m at in the process. If I’m just starting off, I’ll focus a lot of attention on getting that draft done. But, then during the revision process, I’ll be able to balance by personal life better. Because of the nature of revisions, some distance from the work is better, so that one can be more objective on what stays and what goes. My editor taught me that. 

Do you have any other books in the works? 

I’m writing a second novel right now that has certain elements that are similar to Isosceles. It’s a young adult, and has some romance, coming of age elements to it, however, it’s more of an adventure and it’s in a very condensed time period a few months rather than over a decade as Isosceles was. 

Do you have a blog, website, or links to share?

I have a blog, it’s scottrcaseleyauthor.com and I also have a Facebook page, the link is www.facebook.com/ScottRCaseleyWriter. Plus you can follow me on Twitter @scottrcaseley and email me at SRCaseley@Gmail.com.

Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
eBook ISBN: 978-1-77127-239-1
Publication Date: January 2013
Genre of Book: Young Adult- Coming Of Age, Mystery/Romance
Places where available for sale: MuseItUpPublishing.com, Amazon.com, Amazon UK, Bookstrand, Omnilit, Kobo, Coffee Time Romance & More, Smashwords and B&N

About the Book:

When he finds his best friend Trey Goodsby dead and almost completely submerged in a bathtub filled with bloody water, Sean McIntyre is determined to find out if it was an accident or suicide. Did his death accidental or intentional have anything to do with Madeline Edwards, the woman who came between them constantly through their thirteen-year friendship? The tale begins with the death of Trey Goodsby, and explores his relationships with family, friends, his romances, and which of the circumstances he found himself in that led to the tragic event, and the repercussions for those he left behind.

If you have that feeling that you're coming up short...what will it take to feel equal?

About the Author:

While this is his first novel, he wrote and directed a dramatic feature, co-wrote and directed a documentary and wrote for an online magazine. He’s also a trained voice, stage, and screen actor. In addition to his creative pursuits, he is passionate about healthy living. He follows a mostly self-directed fitness quest consisting of weight training, walking, swimming, yoga, and hula hooping. When not working out, he also enjoys cooking healthy gourmet meals as well as playing board games with family and friends with plenty of coffee brewing to keep the fun going until the wee hours of the morning.

You can find out more about Scott R. Caseley, his novel and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/c85xoz4

2 comments:

  1. Billy,

    Thank you very much for a great interview. I enjoyed answering your questions, and revisiting my initial journey into Isosceles, and previewing my next work just a little bit.

    Scott

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Billy for another great author interview, for your efforts on this blog and for being such a wonderful host to those on your blog.

    Wonderful interview and thank you for letting us get to know this author a bit more.

    Scott, wishing you much success.

    ReplyDelete

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