Note: Greg will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to a
random commenter! Please welcome Greg Strandberg to my blog! He was kind enough to answer some questions about himself and his writing life.
I
grew up in Helena, Montana, in the 80’s and 90s – really the kind of place
where there’s nothing to do. After
kicking around college for the better part of a decade I got a degree in
History and in 2008 headed to China for a year to teach English.
I
ended up staying for 5 years, and moved back to Montana in June, 2013, with a
Russian wife and a young son. Now I
primarily ghostwrite for others and do a lot of ho-hum web content for others,
you know, sites trying to get you to buy stuff you don’t need.
The Joys (?)
of Writing
No
one wants to write – you need to. For me
writing is a job, but when I started seriously back in 2010 I just wrote for
myself. Actually, I think I wrote to
one-up this author who forced me to read three, in my mind terribly boring,
fantasy novels. Hey, the covers pulled
me in!
I
had a routine of 2,000 words a day, and always hit it, missing but 20 days,
give or take that year. Now I write
everyday, and low days are 1,500 words or so.
Writing non-fiction, like advice for teachers on my ESL website (English as a Second
Language), makes it easy for me to write a lot each day.
The Front and
Back Burner
If
you visit my site you’ll see anywhere from 10 to 12 word count meters. I always have a lot of things on the back
burner, but right now I’m focusing on the following:
l G.I. JOE:
Amazon Kindle Worlds is starting up a new line of G.I. JOE books, you
know, those action figures and cartoons kids were wacky about in the ‘80s. Well, people reading this stuff will love
many of my other books.
l SEO and 80’s Movies: This is a book I’m working on for people to
understand SEO better (Search Engine Optimization). I do this by talking about all those 80’s movies
you loved, and applying them to SEO principles in ways you can actually
understand. The movies? Well, how many cheesy 80’s movies can you
name?
l Vigilante Justice: This is an ongoing series of novellas, all
about 20,000 words, that focus on crazed urban vigilantes rising up against the
powers-that-be. The first book focuses
on a race killing, the second stolen pensions in Detroit. The third book I’m
writing now joins those two characters as they build a team to take on social
injustices. Maybe a female
glass-ceiling-breaker next?
l Ale Quest: This is a short novel set in
medieval times. A knight has to bring
ale back to a castle under siege. Along
the way he finds love, trouble, laughs, and a hideous plot to upend the
kingdom. There’s also ale drinking,
although unfortunately our hero hasn’t a drop.
My Advice to
You
If
you’re a writer I’d say write everyday, even 250 words or so. Write about non-fiction things you know well
when nothing else seems to come. Write a
huge list of weird topics, and come back to them.
If
you’re a reader I’d say take some chances – try to pick up one book outside
your comfort zone each month. I bet
you’ll be pleasantly surprised, and perhaps look at old things in a new way.
And now, for his book!
Blurb:
Jim Sharpe is
sick of life, sick of being a cop, and most of all sick of Hong Kong. He’s one
of the few not on the take, yet he’s being charged with corruption. By the end
of the week he’ll be kicked off the force – no matter what.
All that changes
when a dead body’s found next to Victoria Harbour, a bloody Tarot card in its
hand. Jim’s called onto the case, and what he discovers promises not just to
upend his world, but the whole city as well.
Excerpt:
Jim pulled the
Cutlass up to the curb a few blocks from Tarot of the Stars, about as close as
he could get to the shop this time of day. Andy got out on the other side and
they were soon walking in to see Madame Chu for the third time. The bells on
the door chimed and the incense in the air assaulted their senses immediately
upon entering.
“Back again so
soon, eh?” Madame Chu asked. “Another killing?”
She seemed
alarmed and Andy nodded.
“Last night,
right here in Central.”
“And you want to
know what the card means?”
“That’s right,”
Jim said. “It was the Six of Pentacles this time.”
“And did you
check to see how it was laid out?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
Jim smiled. “Of
course! What do you take us for, the mainland police.”
Madame Chu
frowned. “And?”
“It was the Six
of Pentacles, and it was face up and upright,” Andy said, “whatever meaning it
has should be just the face value of the card.”
“There’s never
any face value when it comes to the Tarot,” Madame Chu said, whirling about.
“It all depends on the querent.”
“Well the
querent’s dead,” Jim said. “It was another police officer, a woman this time.”
Madame Chu’s eyes
narrowed. “I only read about the man.”
“We kept most of
the details about this third killing quiet,” Andy said. “The papers already had
quite enough with Donald Chow that they didn’t nibble too hard on this one,
though I’m sure there’ll be a lot more information come tomorrow.”
AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
Greg Strandberg
was born and raised in Helena, Montana. He graduated from the University of
Montana in 2008 with a BA in History.
When the American
economy began to collapse Greg quickly moved to China, where he became a slave
for the English language industry. After five years of that nonsense he
returned to Montana in June, 2013.
When not writing
his blogs, novels, or web content for others, Greg enjoys reading, hiking,
biking, and spending time with his wife and young son.
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/gpstberg
Website:
http://www.bigskywords.com/
