Author Interview - James W. Peercy

Welcome back to Rambling and Writing, I am your host, Kyle Hannah.

About a month ago, I started on a little adventure to interview authors from my new publisher as a way to get to know them a little better.  The results have been phenomenal, and I am pleased, this week, to welcome James Peercy from Line by Lion Publishing (linebyline.com) to Rambling and Writing.

M: James, come on in, make yourself at home! 

J: Thanks, its great to be here.

M: Tell us a little about yourself.

J: James William Peercy fell through a portal into the publishing biosphere in 2012. Previously, he had been observing his own world and recording it since the age of 10. James continued writing while attaining a degree in Computer Science, getting married, raising dogs, and starting a business. Since all worlds exist simultaneously, he has added two book series, the Cliff Fulton mystery series and the Xun Ove fantasy series. With a mind constantly moving, he devotes his downtime to writing, enjoying a bit of travel, and adoring his wife, Claudette.

M: Wife, dogs, business, and portals. Sounds like the storyline for a new book! When did you start writing?

J: Oddly, I started wanting to write stories in Middle School after reading Robert A. Heinlein’s book, The Red Planet. From that point on, I wrote down everything: thoughts, dreams, adventures, and stories.

M: Do you outline, or do you fly by the seat of your pants when you write?

J: The two choices don’t fit what I do. I define my main characters, know the start and end of the adventure, and then proceed to let the characters tell me what happens. So, a combination, maybe?

M: I follow a similar pattern.  A little planning, a little flying.  As long as the characters take over, right?

J: Exactly!

M: So, what is your genre?  What inspires you to write that genre?

J: Originally it was sci-fi. Robert A. Heinlein, Christopher Stasheff, Ursula K. Le Guin, etc. all inspired me as I read everything I could in the Middle School library. Then I was introduced to Dungeons and Dragons which took me into fantasy.

M: Anything else?

J: Poetry. My poetry was inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Concord Hymn. I love the rhythm and rhyme that helps to make a person remember the meaning.

M: That smile on your face...there's more?

J: LOL. Yes. In 2010, my father had cancer which miraculously disappeared when he went to the doctor and told him, “I don’t have cancer. Your drugs are making me sick.” During my Dad’s sickness, I did a lot of research which started me writing mystery.  Since then, I have done steampunk and a psychological thriller. I also have a paranormal in the works, a direct result of a ghost hunting group I am part of!

M: Sounds like a bit of everything.

J: I write what I see...or want to see.

M: What about a writing routine? 

J: Until February 18th of 2017, I wrote late into the night. I would start anywhere from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.  I find those hours least disturbing due to the zone I get in while writing.  I would then get up the next morning, head off to work, work all day, go home, finish off distractions, and start again. This process would usually happen for four to five days until I crashed from lack of sleep. When I woke up, I would rinse and repeat.

M: I'm familiar with that crash. Go on...

J: After February 18^th, the day my father passed away, a lot has changed. We, my wife and I, are now 24-hour caretakers for my mother.  For the first three months, I could not write anything.  To get me back into the swing of writing, I started editing older manuscripts. Within the next three months, I will have a two book sci-fi series coming out. I also plan to have the fifth book in the Xun Ove fantasy series out.

M: Sorry for your loss. 

J: Thank you.

M: Not to be morbid, but what kind of things are on your bucket list?

J: LOL. I love to travel and experience things in person. I don’t know that I could say any one thing is on it. Though some traveling has been done, I plan on Italy and France this next year, very important to the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th book in the Cliff Fulton mystery series.

M: Europe is very nice, been there a few times.  Lots of inspiration in that rich history. Anywhere else you'd like to visit?

J: If I ever get the chance, I would like to fly to the Moon!

M: As a sci-fi writer, I would hope so!  LOL  Well, what makes you…you?  Anything that you want your readers to know?

J: Never give up. Never let someone else steal your dreams, no matter how crazy they sound. Life is exactly what we choose to make it. Live every day to the fullest you can!

M: I love it!  Any advice for up and coming authors?

J: Define your characters.  Create your environment.  Let the characters show you the story.  They know what they will do next, and it will make sense to the reader with proper character development.

M: Excellent advice!  I learn so much talking with my fellow authors!  So, what are you writing now?  Your current work in progress?

J: I tend to bounce between two: the fifth book in the Xun Ove fantasy series, and a paranormal romance story. The keys on my keyboard are going as fast I can make them!

M: Who is your favorite author?

J: I have read some really great authors over the years: Edmond Hamilton’s Star Wolf comes to mind from High School, Piers Anthony’s Xanth series, Christopher Stasheff’s Warlock series, and John Myers Myers’s Silverlock. I still defer back to Robert A. Heinlein. If it were not for him, I would not have started into writing.

M: Heinlein is one of my favorites too, so I know where you are coming from.  Do you attend conventions/meetings for your genre?  Where can fans come to meet you in person?

J: We have our own group, Authors Round Table Society, which meets the 3^rd Wednesday of every month in Denison, Texas.  We started over a year ago.  The group focuses on marketing aspects after a book is ready, the prep to get it there, and offers help to up and coming writers of all ages.

M: A great forum for authors!  What about conventions?

J: We also attend quite a few book signings a year which vary from one day to three days.  They include comic cons, renaissance festivals, and library events.

M: Anything else you want the readers to know?  Any last words of wisdom?

J:Have fun with what you write.  If you don’t like it, no one else will.

M: There you go, the truth about writing!  James, thanks for dropping by Writing and Rambling.  I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!

J: My pleasure, thanks for having me.

You can find out more about James (or stalk him) at:  

www.JamesWilliamPeercy.com

www.WithinTheHeartOfSilence.com

www.StoriesToTell.com


Thats a wrap this week.  Thanks to everyone for dropping by Writing and Rambling.  Until next time,

Write on!

Kyle