What inspired you to become an author?
I can’t say for sure what inspired me to be an
author other than I had stories inside of me that I wanted to tell. I started writing when I was in high school,
but wasn’t very good at it. I dropped it
when I got to college. Majoring in
Biomedical Engineering, there wasn’t a whole lot of time for ancillary
activities. After graduation, my wife thought
it would be a good idea if I started writing again, and I realized that it was
something that I missed. That was when I
got serious about learning the craft and trying to get published.
Do you have a specific writing style?
My style is very action oriented. I try to keep my stories as fast paced as
possible with few lulls and as little fat to trim as possible. I write in
different genres but I still maintain a similar style whether I am writing
horror, fantasy, or science fiction.
Do you write in different genres?
I certainly don’t hold myself to a genre. My first novel, Two For Eternity, is an
historical fantasy novel that takes place of 12,000 years. I followed that up with Blood Street, a
paranormal thriller featuring vampires feuding with mobsters. My latest novel, Reconquest: Mother Earth, is
a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller. I
basically find concepts that really interest and excite me and I turn it into a
story. I see myself doing more of that
in the future, regardless of genre.
If yes which is your favorite genre to write?
Even though I dabble in different genres, the one
that I am drawn to the most is horror. I
have been a fan of horror novels and movies for as long as I can remember. When it’s done right, and that isn’t often enough
for my liking, it is the genre that I enjoy the most.
How did you come up with the title for your latest
book?
Titles are so tricky. Occassionally, I come up with a title early
on in the process, but more often than not it comes later. In the case of Reconquest: Mother Earth, Brett Talley, who is a fantastic, up and
coming horror writer, suggested the title.
Is there a message in your novel that you want
readers to grasp?
I try not to overtly put messages in my novels,
however, Reconquest: Mother Earth is
mostly about the human will to survive and adapt, to find ways of fixing very
complicated problems. This perseverence
and unwillingness to accept defeat is embodied in my main character Mitch
Grace, a former Navy SEAL who is determined to take back the planet Earth from
the alien conquerors.
Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a
true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?
Seeing as how there has never been an alien invasion
and takeover of the planet, I can’t imagine than anything in here reflects any
true life experience.
What books/authors have influenced your life?
My favorite book is most definitely The Stand by Stephen King, who is my
favorite author. The Stand is the best
novel I've ever read. I tackled this
post apocalyptic epic fantasy when I was thirteen. It had a profound effect on me then and made
me want to write. There is so much going
on in the novel, but if you want to boil it down to its fundamentals, it's
ultimately about good vs. evil. The personification
of evil, and the best written villain I've encountered this side of Hannibal
Lecter is represented in Randall Flagg, who is kind of like the devil incarnate
and the one who started this super flu.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider
a mentor?
I would love to work with Stephen King. He has redefined the horror genre and his
early work is brilliant. I would
probably be very intimidated to work with him, but I would still thoroughly
enjoy it.
What book are you reading now?
Crossroads
of Twilight by Robert Jordan
What books are in your to read pile?
Next up on my list is Bloodstone by Nate Kenyon and Seven
Brains by Michael Louis Calvillo.
What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?
Just recently I finished a manuscript am I currently
titling Beyond Ragnarok, which starts off with the Battle of Ragnarok taken
from Norse mythology. In my story Loki
swerves the Asgardian gods by not appearing at Ragnarok, and instead spending
the last decade on Midgard (Earth) creating a virus designed to wipe out most
of the population so that he can wrest power from the world’s leaders. It is up to two of the survivors of the
Battle of Ragnarok to stop him.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging
in your writing?
It’s hard to say since I truly enjoy every aspect of
writing. For me the hardest part is
probably starting the story. I think
that’s the most crucial part of the story, and you have to hit it just
right. You have to hook your reader in,
introduce your main character, introduce setting, and it all has to be
perfect. That balance isn’t always hard
to reach.
Who designed the cover of your latest book?
Jeremy Rathbone, who is one of the in-house artists
used by Montag Press, my publisher.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
I would say really work hard to get better at the
craft of writing. Don’t rush to get
published. Good writing is something
that takes a lot of hard work to achieve.
It also takes time.
Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that
you think represents this book?
I am thinking something either from the early Ozzy
Osbourne era or perhaps some of his work when he was with Black Sabbath.
Carl Alves
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Montag Press
Date of Publication: March 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-940233-02-4
ASIN: B00IKYE5WM
Number of pages: 304
Word Count: 75,000
Cover Artist: Jeremy Rathbone
Book Description:
SEAL Mitch Grace was among the first humans to see the aliens when they landed at the naval base where he was stationed, but like the rest of humanity, he was powerless to stop them.
Five years later, Mitch awakens from his coma under the care of an alien physician to find that aliens control the planet. Starting alone, as a one man army, he rallies the surviving humans to build a resistance movement to take the planet back from the alien conquerors. After his capture by the aliens, Mitch is forced into intergalactic slavery to become a gladiator, fighting as the sole representative of the human species. Against all odds and far from home, he lays the plans for the reconquest of his homeland.
Reconquest: Mother Earth is the thrilling combination of Red Dawn, Independence Day, and Gladiator.
About the Author:
Carl went to Boston University majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Carl graduated with a BS degree, and has since worked in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries. He later graduated from Lehigh University with an MBA degree. His debut novel Two For Eternity was released in 2011 by Weaving Dreams Publishing. His novel Blood Street was released in 2012 by True Grit Publishing. His novel Reconquest: Mother Earth is scheduled to be released in 2014 by Montag Press. His short fiction has appeared in various publications such as Blood Reign Lit, Alien Skin, and Dark Eclipse. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and has attended the Penn Writers Conference.
You can visit his website at www.carlalves.com
April 21 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
April 22 Spotlight
Night Owl Reviews
April 23 Spotlight
Cassandra M's Place
April 24 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
April 25 Interview
CBY Book Club
April 28 Guest blog
Corazones-literarios
April 29 Interview
Mythical Books
April 30 Interview
Pembroke Sinclair.
May 1 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books
May 2 Interview
Author Karen Swart
May 5 Guest blog
Darkest Cravings - Adult Blog
May 8 Interview
Eclipse Reviews
May 9 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm
May 12 Guest blog
Fang-tastic Books
May 14 Spotlight
Cover Reveals
May 14 Spotlight
Booklover Sue
May 15 Spotlight
Soaring Eagle Publicity
May 19 Spotlight and Review
Lissette E Manning
0 comments:
Post a Comment