Where do you live?
My home is situated on an acre of grassy land near the outskirts of a small, rural town. I was actually born in Ogden, Utah but moved to Washington State at preschool age. It is where I continue to reside.
What’s your home life like?
My home life is nothing extraordinary. I work every Monday through Friday as an office manager for a family-owned business. After work, I come home to house chores and a teenage son who is completing his senior year of high school. I work as a committee chairman for a local Boy Scout troop, but that position will come to an end in December after my youngest son receives his Eagle Award. I am very proud of him and his older brothers. That makes three Eagle Scouts in my family--not an easy accomplishment.
What genre(s) do you like to write? To read?
I love to read and write all types of fantasy/scifi literature, but I truly love the classics as well--especially Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens. My personal written works always include some element of romance suitable for young readers and mature readers alike. I enjoy exercising my creative muscles, something I find easiest to do in fantasy worlds.
Poetry is another creative outlet for me, one I engage in frequently. The deep contemplation needed to compose meaningful lines of poetry serves as an effective coping tool. It is a way to smear my emotions on paper in artistic form. Writing poetry is therapy for me.
Why did you start writing?
It's a strange story, really, why and how I started writing. A curious mix of circumstances came together to plant the crazy idea in my head. I had just turned 38 years old. My twenty-year high school reunion was just around the corner. My boys were gone from the house for a week, and I was missing them terribly. I was seated at the computer desk in my front room, typing the annual Christmas letter that bragged of personal accomplishments every member of the family had achieved the previous year. While doing this, I realized there was nothing for me to brag about; I had accomplished nothing impressive in quite some time. Sure, I worked and cooked and cleaned and mommied and all the other responsible adult stuff, but it had been ages since I had actually used my talents to do anything unique or noteworthy. Missing my kids and dreading my high school reunion didn't help anything. I felt like I needed something more in my life. Something challenging. Something I could own alone. That's when a crazy thought struck me from out of nowhere. It occurred to me that if I had written just one sentence a day for the past twenty years, I would have composed an entire novel by now. That thought was powerful and strangely motivating for me because I knew I could write a sentence a day. The idea was simple--nowhere near intimidating. The thought of simple steps resulting over time in an actual novel was compelling. Plus, it was a hobby that would cost little more than pen and paper. So I started that very hour and wrote the first few sentences of what eventually became a six-book series--the Harrowbethian Saga. Since then, I've been hooked on storytelling.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
When I'm not writing, I'm thinking up stories in my head. That's the truth. Writing is a consuming way of life for me. I do dabble in artwork, and I sometimes sit down to clink out songs on the piano. I try to read a fair share of books as well, but writing is how I love to spend my free time.
Where do you like to go when looking for a new book to read?
If I'm looking for something to read, I usually check out the books on Goodreads recently listed by my friends. The classics are always a go-to for me if nothing else seems appealing.
At what point do you call it quits when reading a new book?
Ninety-nine percent of the time if I start a book I finish it. I just have a hard time quitting something I start. It takes a lot to get me to try a book in the first place, so if I do begin the first few chapters and the plot is slow or the characters weak, I tend to hold out hope that things will improve and somehow a marvelous, creative ending will make me appreciate the struggle it was to get there. Plus, it nags at me not knowing how things end. Yes, I have finished reading from cover to cover my fair share of unimpressive books. Sadly.
Are you independently or traditionally published?
All of my work is independently published. When I started out, a traditional publisher showed interest in my six-book saga, but the deal fell through. I think it was a word-count issue. (I like big books; I cannot lie.) The self-publishing route has proven to have a lot of perks that I really appreciate. I love having control over every aspect of my books, from illustrations to length to tone and content, etc. I like that any pressure on my shoulders to meet deadlines is put there by me and can be removed by me. Being your own boss is sweet.
How many books/stories have you published so far?
At present, I have eleven books published and available for purchase in paperback and e-book formats.
What book/story are you currently promoting or working on?
I am currently working on three to four-ish books (that's how I roll.) One will definitely be published this coming June 2020 because it is a graduation gift for my son. This book is titled, Being Bold. It is a book comprising 365 original quotes, poems, and short stories to inspire and motivate individuals throughout the year.
The second book I'm working on is a collection of my original poetry grouped by emotional themes. This book is titled, A Heart Made of Tissue Paper. The third book is an All Hallows Eve tale with witches, werewolves, vampires, gargoyles, trolls, and other spooky creatures. It is titled, The Tarishe Curse. The fourth book is a supernatural adventure/romance involving Mayan culture. It is titled, Phantom's Veil. What’s the elevator pitch?
Here is an elevator pitch for The Tarishe Curse.
It is challenging enough for Duvalla and Kresh to protect their young family in a world of Hallows Eve creatures, but such a feat proves near impossible when a witch bent on vengeance against the werewolves casts a Tarishe curse that manipulates both heart and mind. The fight is not only with the sword but an internal struggle to love the ones Duvalla has sworn under a spell to hate, and to hate the one who through evil enchantment manipulates her heart. How long have you been working on it?
I have been working on The Tarishe Curse for the past eight years. Generally, I only add chapters to this book around Halloween time when I post the new chapters for readers to enjoy. But I am forgoing that tradition this year since I am so close to the end of the story. My plan is to finish writing it in its entirety by Halloween of 2020. That's my goal.
When will it be available to buy? Where?
How can readers find you?
There are numerous places you can find me online these days. Just google my name and you will see. You can check out the following social media sites as well:
What inspires you to keep writing?
Following are two of my favorite writing quotes:
“He was everything I needed because his entire character had been molded by my deepest wants and desires. He was my rock when I cried, my playmate when I laughed, and my hero when I needed to imagine that one existed for me.” “Life is a valuable and unique opportunity
Two main influences keep me writing. The first is so many positive emails received by readers, thanking me for an inspirational thought or a line of poetry that helped them in some meaningful way. The second influence comes from the way I feel when I read my own stories. Being able to entertain myself makes me want to keep writing.
Anything you’d like to add?
If you read something you like, let the author know. Leave kind reviews. Write kind emails. You have no idea how much your support means and how it helps a struggling author.
Many thanks to Richelle for her participation on My Laughably Inane Blog. I wish her all the best out there in rural Washington and in all her writing endeavors.
Sincerely,Nicholas P. AdamsJust a small-town boy with an overactive imagination.
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