Our next author in the spotlight is Syntell Smith, with his book, Call Numbers!
TW: What is
your writing process?
SS: I come
up with the concept, a brief summary from beginning to end, then I outline a
bit, I develop character details and backstory and I just write the scenes I
have in my head. When I get stuck somewhere I move ahead to a different scene
and piece them all together.
TW: How difficult was it to write your story?
SS: Call Numbers was surprisingly easy to write, it was
previously a television show idea I developed into a treatment (a pitch for
producers) and I wrote the pilot script after studying screenplay scripts and
their formats. I submitted it to several contests and then I sat on it for a
while. Ten years later I came back to the project and decided to make it a
novel series. Book 1 turned out to be HUGE so I split it in half and now I have
Book 1 & 2 already done with 3 already planned out.
TW: What are your hopes for this project?
SS: I hope readers will be drawn to its diverse characters, the
unique setting (not to many books that take place in a library.) and would want
to read the next book by the time they reach the end.
TW: Do have plans of writing more books?
SS: Oh yes! I have four more projects in the works, two
standalone and a second possible series outside of Call Numbers.
TW: What is your favorite genre of books and do you plan on
venturing in those areas?
SS: I love mysteries and suspense novels but I couldn’t
write them myself, I would blow the mystery by revealing the killer too soon by
accident! For now, I plan on staying with literary contemporary fiction, maybe
as my craft grows I may give it a shot.
TW: What do you want readers to know about you?
SS: That I love to tell a story with a message that really
makes you think.
TW: Do you have a favorite author or book?
SS: I have favorites, it’s hard to pick one, but if I had
to, I would say “Fearless Jones” by Walter Mosley
TW: Did you notify your family that you were writing your
book before you started? If so, what was their reaction?
SS: When I printed my very first proof with Lulu as a test,
I took a picture and told my mother. She told me to call her back after
“Empire”. Needless to say, she’s been far from supportive. Spite can be a great
motivator, I do what I can, my number 1 supporter in my corner has been my
wife, she’s always been there since I started the novel.
TW: What does literary success look like to you?
SS: It’s not all about money, it’s about a legacy, I want my
books in libraries for years after I’m gone. I want them to say “He was a true
storyteller.” when describing me. Recognition by my peers, helping others to
bring their works to life, there is no completion, there are just future
allies.
TW: What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
SS: Finding the time for writing, time management is the
biggest challenge.
TW: How has this book changed your life?
SS: It’s given me the confidence to know that I can finish
something I set out to do as long as I work hard, don’t give up and be patient.
TW: Do you have any future events or updates we should know
about?
SS: I’d like to do a live excerpt reading in May and release
a book trailer, the book hits stores worldwide on June 21st.
TW: How can we contact you and purchase your book?
SS: I can be contacted directly at syntellsmith@gmail.com. I’m active on
most social media platforms, the hashtag #callnumbers or #syntellsmith on
tumblr (https://neverfearsmithiswriting.tumblr.com/tagged/Call-Numbers), Twitter
(@syntellsmith), Instagram and even Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/syntell.smith)
will result in updates and posts on the novel. I have a universal book link (https://books2read.com/u/mdWzey)
where pre-orders for print and ebook copies can be placed.
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