18Q John "Jack" Miller

John “Jack” Miller

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?

It absolutely chose me. I was taking care of my ill wife. I could not take any more of the Soaps. When I got to know the Forresters by name, I knew to keep my sanity, I had to do something.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)

Lucky to have graduated from high school and fortunate to get a couple of hours in college. My real education came from that school, Hard Knock Univ.

3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer?

I don’t think that I will ever “Know” that I am an author or a writer. At least not a good one. Happy one yes, a good one, I don’t know. There is so much to learn and so little time.

4. How would you describe your style of writing?

I write fiction based on factual situations I have been involved with. I try to tell a story and have to lie a little to keep it interesting, that is the fiction part.

5. What is your writing process?

I write when I can. I know I need more discipline to be better but life is short.

6. What was your path to publication?

I got one rejection letter and my best seller dream went out the window. That was when I went to the industry of “You want to see your book in print, open your wallet.” Would I do it again, a resounding NO!

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?

I wrote a letter under an assumed name to a media reporter. The letter announced the publication of a new book about espionage in the Nevada desert. The title appeared in the reporters column. Don’t know if it sold any books but the title got out there. Cost $0.37.

8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer?

The whole process astonishes me. I thought the author only wrote, and of course cashed the checks. What a surprise to learn that I had to have it edited, book covers designed, edited again, rewrites, editing, printing, marketing, marketing and more marketing. My first book signing, what a disappointment.

9. How do you inspire yourself?

What are your sources of creativity? See number one. I do not want my brain to become mush. I feel good when I can take an idea and put in on paper and make it interesting.

10. What is your proudest writer moment?

Seeing my first book with its color cover. It was like having a fourth kid, then a fifth, sixth and who knows, I might be pregnant again.

11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing?

Edit, edit and edit. Then rewrite and edit some more. But more imnportant was what I learned. See #12.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?

I had completed my latest book Master Cheat! I knew I did everything right on this one. I even paid to have it edited. I told my printer to print a thousand copies in order to get the best price. I had given away about 50 copies and sold another 50 when the daughter of one of the purchasers, a friend, called and said on page 116 you are describing a woman and her orgasms. Unfortunately you are describing her as having organisms. The visions or the moaning and writhing went away and the scratching began. I immediately reduced the price of the book and told buyers that there are some spelling errors.

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?

Getting some of the book stores where I have had signings and provided the books to be sold to pay in a reasonable period of time. I would suggest to anyone doing this to sell the books to the store, conduct the signing and if necessary buy back the remainder. This really simplifies accountability as well.

14. What is your writer life philosophy?

Have fun with it. Let your mind go. Pull it from its restrictive scabbard like a saber and engage in a mock battle as you did when you were a kid. Use your imagination as you did in front of the radio on saturdays listening to the Green Hornet and his trusted valet Kato. Our minds were the television. Bring it back, Have fun.

15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun?

I like to BS with buddies, drink coffee, tell war stories, and of course Television. Favorite shows are Survivor, Big Brother and of course NCIS and CSI.

16. Who do you like to read?

Tom Clancy and John Grisham

17. What’s your advice for new writers?

Stick with it but don’t take life so serious. None of us are going to get out alive.

18. What are you currently working on?

The sequil to my first book “Cold War Warrior.” This has the working title of “Cold War Defector.” I anticipate it will be completed and released in 2007.

Authors’s 18Q