Please welcome Tristan Peterson to my blog.
1. Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.
My name is Tristan Peterson. I write under the names T. A. Peterson, for the Fantasy Meta-Series “Vingt”, but for this particular project, I write under the name Netta Stirs-Peron. Which is an, admittedly lazy, anagram of my name.
Other than that, I don’t consider myself all that interesting a person, so I try to make my writing interesting instead. I love both Heavy Metal and Classical music, I’m a fan of old school Fantasy, such as Elric of Melnibone, and riding my motorcycle. I am, pretty much, just a nerd in a leather jacket.
2. Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?
Writing been a fixture in my life since I was a child. I’d say from the age of nine and on wards. I wouldn’t say I knew that it was time to write my first book, as I’d completed a number of manuscripts before. I just didn’t consider pursuing a career as a writer until I was in my thirties.
3. How difficult was it writing your first book?
Writing my first book wasn’t difficult at all. It was an idea I’d been kicking around for a long time, with characters I’d had percolating in my mind for just as long. It was all a matter of putting it all together. The truly difficult part was completing it – insofar as making sure those pieces were cohesive.
4. Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?
I have, honestly, never wanted to give up. I will take a few weeks off of a project, rarely will I completely shelf one, but I always come back. I’ll probably die at a desk, with a pen in my hand. Personally, I am fine with that.
5. Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?
That’s like asking a parent who their favourite child is! I have been fortunate enough to have friends, work colleagues, fellow writers, and even a few fans who have been nothing but supportive in my pursuit of a writing career. So, I feel I owe it to them all to give it my best shot and see how far down the path I can go.
6. Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
In terms of becoming an Author? Well, it would be to have an actual, paying job, first and foremost. Dreams don’t keep the lights on, or the fridge filled. Have a 9-to-5, to keep you self alive, feed the dream so you can live. If you truly want to make something of it, then you will find time for it. Even if its just half an hour a night.
In general? Listen to Motorhead. See Evil Dead The Musical. Live well, love free, and pay your artists.
7. What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?
For writing: “Anybody can write a book; but not everybody should.” – David Eddings.
For life: “Each day we should one should hear a little song, read a good poem, see one fine painting and – if at all possible – speak a few sensible words” – Goethe.
8. What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?
My usual target audience, at least in the case of the Vingt novels, has always been Young Adult – around the ages of eight to sixteen. This most recent book, however, was a departure from that. Leaning more New Adult/Adult, as its themes and language might be a little much for younger audiences.
In terms of what aspect of my writing hits that audience, I would put that largely on the dialogue and the main character’s internal monologue. I get the feeling that a lot of it – not all of it, mind – will resonate with quite a few people.
9. Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?
There’s actually a story behind that! The concept of this book didn’t begin as a novel. It was intended to be a comic book. I wrote up the scripts and storyboards and, since I cannot draw all too well, sought out a local artist whose work I was familiar with. He was keen to take up the task, and seemed to really like the concept, so we worked out pricing and schedules. Then, all at once, I lost my job, my then girlfriend, and my house. Since I wasn’t going to ask the artist to work when I couldn’t guarantee payment, I shelved the project.
Many years later, I came back to the concept and drafted it as a novel. When it came time to create a cover, I sought out that same artist again. He was more than glad to do the artwork.
I believe I made the right choice in that. I had worked with them before and I have always like their style and their instincts on things, such as poses, blocking, and overall dynamics.
When I told him the cover would be “In the tradition of comic book covers – where what you see on the cover had little, if nothing, to do with the actual plot of the story” he ran with it and produced some excellent work.
10. What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?
For this current project, I am working on an Audiobook – which will be coming soon. I am also in talks with another writer, who wants to produce a short Prequel Comic/Graphic Novel for this story. I am also kicking around a possible sequel to this story and some other books set in this world.
I am, however, currently more engaged in releasing further books in the Vingt series. Book 2 is in the hands of a publisher, and a few others are with Agents right now. So, I can only hope things work out on that front.
If you want an excerpt, then I will be glad to show you something from the next Vingt novel “Lizard Hands” (Release Date TBA)
“Why don’t you pray for your gods to heal you?”
She instantly regretted asking this, as she recalled just how angry he tended to get whenever May questioned his faith. Nari was surprised, however, to hear laughter. Surprised, and more than a little afraid, as she was almost certain she’d incur some of his wrath. But there was no mocking, or any warning in his laugh, if anything he sounded genuinely amused. Sitting at the foot of the statue, he relaxed his posture and answered Nari.
“The gods do not grant such boons to a sinner, like me.”
“Then why are you asking them for help?”
“One can only ask the gods for little things. To remove the stones from your path, so you might conquer the mountain.”
11. Any last words before we wrap things up?
Do not seek out a career in writing purely for the Money or the Fame it can bring. Such writers are a dime a dozen. It is why the current marketplace feels mired in tepid, vapid, ultimately cookie-cutter stories, released en masse by publishers who spent far too much on marketing.
Write because you would feel as if a part of you would be unfulfilled if you did not. Don’t be “the next Stephen King” or “Author of the next Harry Potter”. Be the first you. Wear your inspirations on your sleeve and write – even if nobody will ever see it.
If all else fails, then avail yourself to my personal credo:
Passion. Patience. Perseverance.
Links:
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/T.-A.-Peterson/author/B0CDZGFL2F?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Goodreads
As T. A. Peterson: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/30869911.T_A_Peterson
As Netta Stirs-Peron: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49746705.Netta_Stirs_Per_n
Twitter: @LawfulEvilBard
When Angels Fly 