Fault
Line,
looks like a great young adult/military fiction book. Any plans for
this to be part of a series?
There
is definitely more that these characters want to say. I don’t
believe their story is done yet.
What
do you think makes a great story?
I
have always found that great stories have characters that are
relatable, ones that you find yourself caring about, not necessarily
in a good way. Sometimes I really care that the villain meets a very
nasty end. The story must take place in a setting that draws you in.
The scenes have to make you feel like you can almost smell the air,
taste the rain, hear the receding wave draw the sand along the beach.
A great story has you thinking about it after you put it down, going
over the story in your mind, kind of obsessing over it until you can
get back into it. A great story makes you feel and think in a
special way.
What
inspired you when writing Fault
Line?
There
has been a great deal of discussion about keeping our borders safe
and the problems with gang activity. We need to address those
issues. There is and has been a problem with gangs and drugs in our
country for a long time. The brave men and women of law enforcement
have been fighting these issues head on. Another problem that is not
talked about as much is human trafficking. People in America go
missing at an alarming rate, especially young women and children.
The problem is even worse in other countries. What is almost never
discussed is that those victims are kept as slaves right here in the
land of the free and the home of the brave. It is a dire issue that
is and must continue to be fought.
The
kernel of the story came to me one night when I was out with some
friends. I saw what I considered to be some sketchy activity going
on across the street. Local law enforcement stepped in and dealt
with the situation quickly. Well that inspired the writer in me to
ask the most powerful question a writer can ask: What If? And the
answer is Fault Line. I hope you enjoy it.
What
are your ambitions for your writing career? Full time? Part time?
I
love writing and telling stories. I am looking forward to one day
being able to spend my time writing as a full-time pursuit.
When
did you decide to become a writer?
I
have always loved stories. I have been an avid reader and moviegoer
my whole life. I have also been an avid people watcher. Everyone
has an interesting story. We put our face on that is appropriate for
the situation we are in. Every person in every situation tells a
story as they pass you. I have always been interested in trying to
glimpse as much of that story as possible. Once I retired from the
military I have had more time to focus on my interests. The third
novel I am releasing is actually the first story idea I had. It is
called Levels and is in the final editing stages. I will be pitching
it to agents and publishing houses this spring. The first novel
called A Life Worth Living is available on Amazon. It was the most
intense story idea. It came to me one night while I was driving. I
pictured the pivotal scene in such detail. It was like I was
watching a high resolution movie playing in my mind while driving
down the road. It was very intense.
When
writing Fault
Line
did anything stand out as particularly challenging?
Fault
Line is the most action driven story I have written to date. I
didn’t want the details of the action to overwhelm the characters
themselves. At the same time I wanted to describe the events as
realistically as possible for you to feel the scene. It was a fun
line to walk and I hope you think I achieved that balance.
How
did you come up with the story of Fault
Line?
Please
see above.
What
do you like to do when not writing?
I love to read and usually have between
three and five books I’m reading at a time. I am also an avid
runner. The only races I run are between me, the route I’m on, the
distance, and the clock. Usually the clock only because I only have
so long to get my run in.
Check out my blog:
http://tlscotttheauthor.blogspot.com/search/label/Fiction
Twitter: @TLScottAuthor
Wordpress: authortlscott.wordpress.com