Mike:
Hi, John.
I’m happy to have yet another Association of Rhode Island Author (ARIA)
to introduce to my Overlords fan base.
As with the others, we’re going to do an old fashioned interview. Here we go!
Mike: John, please introduce yourself to my
Overlords fans with a little information about you and where you’re from.
John: Thank you, Mike, for having me here. I’m a Middletown resident, and like my
literary namesake, I have a background in the law—I’m a practicing attorney,
with an office in Providence. Like many
Aquidneck Islanders, I come from a Navy family.
My father was in for 25 years, and I got to see different parts of the
world growing up.
Mike: What are you working on
these days and what’s the current status of that project?
John: I’ve recently published my first novel, University, a look back at college life
in the 1980’s. The story focuses on the
friendship between a group of dormmates at a fictional New England university—an
otherwise impersonal, bureaucratic institution, headed by a president whose
ambitions extend well beyond campus.
Mike:
Can you tell the audience what inspires you to
write?
John: It’s satisfying on so many levels. Besides the creative aspect, it can be
cathartic as well. You’re creating an
alternate universe—one where you pull all the strings—and inviting others to
share the experience. There’s a
tremendous feeling of accomplishment involved…but mainly, I wrote this book
because I sensed there was a story there that needed to be told.
Mike: What genre do you enjoy
writing the most?
John: Literary fiction would be the default
term. I don’t see myself as a humorist, a
romance novelist, or a writer of mystery and suspense—yet a novel-length work
will likely incorporate these elements and others to some degree.
John: There are some interesting
possibilities. University may lend itself to a sequel, though it can stand on its
own just as well. I’m also intrigued by
the idea of a novel about a post-bankruptcy America—only less dystopian than
restorative.
Mike:
OK, time for some quick ones, ready? Favorite movie?
John: The Man
Who Shot Liberty Valance.
Mike:
Favorite food or dish to make?
John: I like a good ribeye steak. Sadly, it’s not a frequent indulgence.
Mike:
Favorite place you have ever visited?
John: Orlando, Florida.
Mike: Favorite music band?
John: The Steve Miller Band.
Mike: Favorite book, and no it can’t be one of
yours!
John: Since you put it that way…The Last Convertible, by Anton Myrer.
Mike: John, thanks for being such a good
sport! Is there anything you would like
to leave my fans with?
John: If you’re an ’80’s survivor—or a first-time
visitor—I hope you’ll check out University. And if you like what you read, please
tell your friends.
Mike: John, thanks for being part of this great
blog series. Please follow the links below to get in touch with John and
most importantly, buy his books!
This is the link to my site, which in turn links to Amazon:
