In October I’m interviewing Kalen Cap, a writer from Columbus, Ohio. What I really appreciate in his work is the focus on environmental issues and animal protection, these are things which also interest me and I hope to write about them one day.

Let’s see what Kalen has to say about his work.

Bio:

Kalen Cap is a writer living in Columbus, Ohio. His upcoming young adult novel “The Ancient Tripod of Peace” is currently scheduled to be published in 2017. It is the first of the “Teen Thief-Catchers” series set along the southern coast of Lake Erie in Ohio.

Active in environmental and animal protection causes, he often brings such concerns into his fiction writing. “Tangled Ties to a Manatee” was his first novel published in 2012 and is available in paperback and kindle ebook formats on Amazon.com.

Website –  http://kalencap.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/TeenThiefCatchers/

1- What do you think of “trailers” for books, and do you have a trailer/will you create one for your own work?

I think trailers are a good way to differentiate your message for your book. They access a different way to remember a work than strictly written or static visual means. I had a modest trailer for the first novel and hope to have another for my next.

2- How often do you write, and do you have a special time during the day to write?

Writing part-time, I write several times throughout a week, but not everyday. My other work schedule varies, so the time of day I write varies often.

3- What drew you to write in this genre?

An interest in mixing ancient stories and the present. Also, I like the fresh perspective with young people interested in solving mysteries. Further, theft crime solving isn’t as dark a form as murder mysteries, so it can keep a lightness about it.

4- Any tips on what to do and what not to do when writing?

Don’t confine yourself to perfect conditions or elaborate routines to write. As a part time writer, if I have ten minutes during a work break and a scene is in mind, I’ll write for those ten minutes. If I’m behind my computer, I’ll write there. If I’m at a restaurant and a description or dialogue I need to change comes to mind, I’ll either write notes longhand or use a cell phone app. I’ve emailed myself notes while on islands or in vehicles (while not driving). For those who’ve found a dictation solution, writers can do that while they walk the neighborhood these days. Staying flexible about when and how one writes is invaluable to those of us who do it part time.

5- Did you do a press release, Goodreads book launch or anything else to promote your work and did it work?

I did a formal launch service with my first novel that was helpful. I plan to use those kinds of services even more aggressively in the future. Those who have spent any time managing social media pages understand you can’t always tell when something presented will be shared extensively. Also, something well-shared isn’t necessarily going to lead to a desired action without steady, less captivating forms of communication.

Kalen, thank you very much for your answers and happy writing!