Author Interview with Science Fiction Author Larry Cockerham

Today, science fiction author Larry Cockerham is ready and willing to talk about all things writing. Spend a bit of time getting to know this author, and check out some of his books!

--Arwen


If you could, would you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I have been a pastor for thirty-five years and have a Master of Theology degree. I enjoy writing both fiction as well as non-fiction. I've watched sci-fi and military
movies and documentaries for over fifty years. I'm married with three children and four grandchildren.  I retired in January of this year, but I still preach at a local church.

How long have you been writing?
I wrote my first non-fiction book in 1995, followed by a space opera a couple of years later.  Then twenty years later, I wiped the dust off of the sci-fi manuscript and had it formatted and uploaded to Createspace and Kindle.

So, what have you written?
I've written one non-fiction book, Revelation: Prophetic Addresses to the Seven Churches, and four sci fi novels.  The first was Dark Force Invasion (1995), the second was The Mortalis: Beyond the Stars (2015), the second was The Mortalis: Beyond the Cosmos, and the third was The Mortalis: Beyond Eternity.  I've just finished uploading the three in a boxed set.

Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book(s)?
I haven't decided yet on a trailer.

Where can we find your books?

My books are on most of the major vendors. I first uploaded them on Amazon, then decided to use Draft2Digital to get more coverage.

What genre are your books?
Except for the non-fiction book, all of my books fall into the space opera category.

Is there something about this genre that draws you to it?
I think that the ability to travel to the stars is part of being human, the desire for exploration.

Do you have a favorite book that you've written?
My second book in the Mortalis trilogy was my favorite as it was primarily a time travel adventure.

If you could cast anyone to play the characters in your most recent book, who would they be?
It would have to be a very tall actress as my main character is well over six feet tall.

Why do you write?
I get a sense of completion when I write which is not always possible in most vocations.

Where do you see your writing taking you in the future?
I would love to write a time travel novel or series of novels, but I'm not sure what direction it would take.

Where do the your ideas come from?
Most of the tekkie stuff comes from past series and movies, but the basic premise for The Mortalis series was mainly theological.

Some authors use outlines, some just fly by the seat of their pants. How do you write?
Usually I have a beginning and end already in my mind.  It's the middle that sometimes brings me to a halt.  Usually I will outline as I start to get into the middle and end of the book mainly to check my thoughts in order, to notice the word count, number of chapters.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It's been taking about three months, not counting the editing and formatting.

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
Once I have an idea that I'm passion about, I write whenever I get a break in my schedule.  My most creative time is late at night.

Do you design your own book covers?
Most of the later covers were done by thecovercollection.com.  They have some great artistic covers that they can overlay your title and information. Once you have one of their covers the image is taken down and is unique to only your novel.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
The later covers by thecovercollection.com played a big part in the process.

How do you market your books?
I have used some of the social media, Amazon marketing, and other avenues, such as, Goodreads, Wattpad, etc.

Do you have any advice on how to get book reviews?
I have software that automates a certain amount of the process of book reviews. But I have used some bloggers and others.

What are your thoughts on good vs. bad reviews?
I think the negative reviews were certainly helpful, although I think some were overly critical for various reasons.

Who are your favorite authors?
I loved H.G. Wells along with Isaac Asimov, but most of my immersion in science
fiction has come through movies and television series.

If you could have been an author for any book, who would it be and what book?
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
I would say study the craft of creative writing.  Buy as many books as possible about writing.  If you love to write, write, even if you never do it full time.  It has always given me a sense of satisfaction, although I have a ministry to care for.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
Most of my writing has a theological undertone, although it's not always obvious.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?
I have a website, Facebook page and am on Lnkedin, Amazon, Twitter as noted below.

Websites:
Larry Cockerham
Ultimate Marketing.com 
Prophecy Forum
Blog: Prophecy Forum
Facebook: Larry Cockerham
Twitter: Larry Cockerham
Linkedin: Larry Cockerham
Pinterest: Larry Cockerham
Amazon Author Page: Larry Cockerham

Book Links:
Revelation: Prophetic Addresses
The Mortalis: Beyond the Stars 
The Mortalis: Beyond the Cosmos 
The Mortalis: Beyond Eternity 
The Mortalis Series: Books 1-3
Dark Force Invasion

Goodreads

Author Interview with YA Author J.S. Frankel

First of all, I want to thank author J.S. Frankel for agreeing to an author interview. He's an interesting Canadian author, and a fellow fantasy writer. He specializes in YA fantasy and his works look intriguing. Enjoy!

--Arwen

If you could, would you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I was born in Toronto, Canada, a long time ago. Moved to Japan when I was twenty-six and never really left. I got married about twenty years ago, have two children, and a very lovely wife.

How long have you been writing?
Not very long, really. I have only been writing seriously since 2014.

So, what have you written? 
Mainly YA. See my Amazon link at the bottom of this page.

Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book(s)?
This is my youtube trailer, made by a friend. The music is pretty loud, but it shows all the books I've written to date.




Where can we find your books?
I'm on Amazon, at this link: J.S. Frankel

My main publisher for most of my novels is Devine Destinies.com.

What genre are your books?
YA Fantasy, Paranormal, with a little romance thrown in for good measure. Lots of action, some violence, but not nearly as bloody as some other books I've read. There is blood, though. Not gratuituous...I won't go there.


Is there something about this genre that draws you to it?
YA is fresh and immediate. Decisions young people make seem to be more important at that age, although in the fullness of time they may think those decisions weren't so wonderful or necessary. YA allows my inner geek to come out, and I can journey pretty much anywhere I want to.

Do you have a favorite book that you've written?
Of all of them, probably the Catnip series. YA Action/Paranormal, it takes the mundane and turns it into something extraordinary. The series is only five books, but we see the protagonist, Harry Goldman, go from nerdy teenager to a married man who isn't quite a man. His wife isn't quite a woman, either, so they make a very unconventional but happy couple.

If you could cast anyone to play the characters in your most recent book, who would they be?
Oh wow, great question! I would really go with unknowns who fit the physical description, rather than go with a name. I think that if the audience sees the current male or female heartthrob, they might think "Oh, they're all wrong for this part". That's why going with unknowns is better, in my opinion. And, if a movie is made, it might make them a star!

Why do you write?
Very simply, I have stories to tell that I think will entertain. Some of them carry a message, but I never preach. That's the kiss of death. I simply try to show. That's what my main goal has always been.

Where do you see your writing taking you in the future?
Hopefully to the bestsellers list. (Yes, a joke). I'd really like to see my books read more widely. I have no illusions over being a top writer in Hollywood or anything like that, but if a lot of people like what I write, that's really good enough for me.

Where do the your ideas come from?
Everywhere! I look at online newspapers, watch YouTube videos (I've gotten a ton of ideas from them) and even throwaway lines from people on Facebook and other social sites. Those things, combined with my own imagination, take me places.

Some authors use outlines, some just fly by the seat of their pants. How do you write?
I outline, but go about it in a very basic way. I make notes on each chapter, who's doing what, add in dialogue and flesh out the narrative. I do that for every chapter and try to end on a mini-cliffhanger. I always try to have to reader think "Oh, what's going to happen next?"

How long on average does it take you to write a book?
For first drafts, three weeks. Yes, I know that sounds short, but that works for me. Keep in mind, though, my novels average out to be 67500 words or so, not too long, but just enough to keep you interested and reading more.


After the initial draft is done, I take another two weeks or so to edit, revise and redo, and then take one more pass at it before submitting it. If it's accepted, then I work with my editor to make it the best I can make it.

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I write at night, from around ten until midnight or after, while my family is asleep. Sure, it's sleep deprivation for me, but that's the only time I have, so I might as well make the most of it.

Do you design your own book covers?
No, my book covers are done by the publishers. Carmen Waters (she's on Facebook) has done all my Catnip covers and some other novels. My other publishers have also put out awesome covers to my Nightmare Crew novels as well.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
Yes, I think so. If you have an eye-catching cover, chances are the reader will be interested. Having said that, you do need to write a quality story as well.

How do you market your books?
Facebook, Twitter, and CoPromote are my three main marketing avenues. These days, a writer, whether self-published or not, has to use any and all tools available, although word of mouth is still a tried and true method. But this being the digital age, you can't get around using digital media. It's there, it's fast, and it works.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?
See above. Make connections, find common interests, and market. Hopefully, you'll profit by it.

Do you have any advice on how to get book reviews?
Going to bloggers, sending out emails asking for reviews, and following other writers can help. It's tough, yes, but worth it, if you can find a good reviewer.

What are your thoughts on good vs. bad reviews?
My thoughts are the same. Reviews are like noses. Everyone has one. Not everyone is going to like what you write or how you write it. I've had mainly good to very good reviews for my novels, but had a few stinkers as well. If they give constructive criticism, I'll read it, use it, and then move on and try to improve the next time around. We all should. That's part of the learning process.

Who are your favorite authors?
In no particular order, Robert McCammon, N.K. Jemisin, Stephen King, and a lot of the classic writers, such as Bronte, Thackery, Dickens, and many more of that era.

If you could have been an author for any book, who would it be and what book?
Wow, that's hard...probably...Gone South, by Robert McCammon. I loved that novel. Long, wordy, yet nothing was wasted. I would have added a tad more action, but there was enough, really. I remember thinking the first time I read it that it would make a great movie if it were adapted for the screen. I still think so.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers? 
Keep writing, learn, read other authors, ask for feedback, don't be afraid to write about something difficult. Stretch and go beyond what you know, be unafraid, be bold, dare to dream.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
Just to say "Thank you!" for allowing me to write my thoughts down for you. Not everyone is as open. I am grateful for the opportunity to show who I am and what I've done.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JS-Frankel-AUTHOR-1458667077729037/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessSFrankel
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/J.S.-Frankel/e/B004XUUTB8/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Book Links: DeviineDestinies.com/FinchBooks.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4859674.J_S_Frankel