Author's Spotlight - Syntell Smith

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 21^st.

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.