Xlibris Publishing returns with Monroe Silver, author of The Abandoned of God.
What inspired you to write your book and how long did it take you to finish it?
I grew up listening to the “stories” of the wonderful men in my family that served in WW2. I had one older uncle that was in WW1 and rode with General Black Jack Pershing in pursuit of Pancho Villa in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1916, before WW1. It was my Dad’s Army stories from his 20 year career of far flung adventure in faraway place in the 1920’s and 1930’s even before his actions in WW2 against the Japanese and later the Germans, that were the most memorable to me.
Dad only shared these stories with me. He might tell others “some funny incident” that happened over his career, but the life and death action in WW2 and earlier in the Philippines and on a rescue mission to China, he only shared with me his son. I accumulated these adventure action stories in my head.
My Father passed away in 2006 at the age of 100 years. I wrote a broad description of his exploits during his 20-year army career and had it read at his funeral so others would know about this untold part of his life. After the funeral, many relatives, friends, and acquaintances of my Dad, who had known him all their lives, told me they had no clue about what he had done in the Army. Many wanted a copy of what I had written. Many more told me I had to write a book sharing these adventures in detail to the world about my Father.
I told myself I was too busy to write Dad’s story, but in reality I feared failure. Before I retired I was a courier delivering pharmacy medicine to nursing homes at night. When I finished the deliveries, I would have a 2 hour drive home starting at 1 or 2 am. I began to remember all Dads’ stories in the order of his assignments overseas. I had his adventures to grow into a fictional story to fill in gaps that I did not know from Dad. Then more and more of my life’s experiences and my Mom’s began to be added in my head until I had enough for more than one book.
The story in my head “grew and grew” as I typed on my computer. More and more fictional events were created and more unique characters and plot twists. I really had inspiration on where to go with so much more than only my Dad’s story. I wrote and wrote for 1 ½ years, maybe close to 2 years. I had much much more than 1 book.
What is the one message you would like to convey to your readers?
Please see the uniqueness of the story. Forgive any errors and the inexperience of this new writer and let your mind’s eye see what I am painting in word pictures. See how the story shows the belief conveyed by my father, that God the Creator still has direct interaction with earthly events, Enjoy the journey by this father and son, as they follow their destiny altered by deadly tragedy and see that “a life becomes a better life through living!”
Are you working on a sequel to your book?
The sequel is published and for sale: The Abandoned of God—Book 2: Niger is the Last Place You Get to Before You Get to the End of the World!
Are there any events, marketing ideas or promotions planned for your book? Mention any accolades you have received.
I have been nominated for the current Eric Hoffer/Montaigne Medal Finalist. This award is for “the most thought provoking books” that are to be judged for a category prize, to include the Hoffer Grand Prize. I have Xlibris taking my book with other newly published works to National and International Book Fairs, starting in February and continuing through July
What was your favorite part of you publishing experience, overall and with Xlibris?
I have 2 books published by Xlibris. I knew nothing about how to get a book out to the public. The professionals I have worked with at Xlibris have “taken me under their wing” and directed me through each step of the way. I was hopeless without their fine help. Publishing a book was a “new world” for me. I had decades of ideas held in my memory that I wanted to share. After I retired, I simple starting writing and writing to get those memories recorded and organized into stories that would become books. Xlibris made my dream a reality!
What advice do you give to aspiring authors?
This is a tough question for me. I know what I did to write my books. I’m not sure this should be followed by others. I had no “knowledge or training or experience” in writing. I had my “stored memories” that I wanted to tell. As I simple began to write them down, I had more inspiration of additional characters, plots, adventures, funny situations, and details that “came to my thoughts” that expanded my story. I told my tale the way it was stored in my memory, in my words and with my imagination. I am not advising this for new authors. You should “learn your craft” to be your best. I didn’t start to write my story until I was retired at 67 years of age. I wanted to record my stored memories before they were gone!
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