Interview with John Arthur Miller
John Arthur Miller (or JAM as we often fondly call him), has published here with Static Movement, and he's got an office in the workshop Zoetrope (Liquid Imagination – named after his Web Magazine) and seems lately to be just about everywhere. Those who know John know of his love for the written word and his awesome talent for telling a tale. He's got a new e-Book coming out 2012 Kin Bin Tin Nah from Sonar4 Publications and he'll be on Blog Talk Radio with The Odd Mind on May 28 th 9pm central time (that's 10pm here in the south). The call in number for this exciting interview is 347-945-7025.
2012 Kin Bin Tin Nah is the name of the book and I've read it so I can vouch for the fact that it's well-written, and one heck of a story. Really, you won't want to miss this. It is a very entertaining read so I recommend that everyone get their copy.
John is all about helping other writers along the way so we thought it would be great to be able to help this great writer advertise his book.
John Arthur Miller has an online Magazine entitled Liquid Imagination, and its sister publication Silver Blade.
Q. John, what is the story behind 2012 Kin Bin Tin Nah (without giving too much away!)?
The story involves Calvin Thomas and Linda Orteganaldo, a reporter from Time Magazine, who interviews Cal for his traveling group of gypsies called the Psychic Circus. The Psychic Circus consists of employees who are the real deal, psychics giving very accurate readings. They've been on Good Morning, America ! and other television programs, and Cal is their business manager and spokesman. The opening scene begins inside an auditorium, Medieval-style tents in which the psychics give readings to paying customers. While Linda and Cal enter the tent of one of Cal 's psychic employees, events begin to transpire that will change the face of the world. Zombies stalk Cal and Linda, an epic fantasy swallows the land, the world teeters on the brink of Apocalypse and the mysteries of the Mayan Calendar—carved in stone atop an unknown pyramid hidden in the jungle—waits the reader at the end of the book. The story ends, despite all the devastation and loss, in a moment of human triumph.
Q. Where did that story idea come from?
With me, who knows? I'm a bit different than other writers, and that's either going to really help me or really hurt me. So far it seems to be helping a bit. I had researched into Mayan religion (I do not like calling it “Mayan myth”) for another story. I finished that story but couldn't place it, but I realized I still enjoyed writing about the subject, so I began writing again. I tried for a short story with this new tale, but events kept transpiring within the story, and I couldn't just end it. That's when I realized it wasn't going to be a short story.
Q. How long did it take you to write the story 2012 Kin Bin Tin Nah ?
Writing the rough draft took about two months. The revision process took much longer. I sent it to Chris Bartholomew (Static Movement) to get her thoughts and a possible critique, and she actually gave the story its first solid edit. It was a painful experience for her (lol), because it was a very rough draft. I had names wrong, scenes slightly out-of-jar along with sequence, but she got it back to me in record time. I listened to all her edits and suggestions, following them faithfully, and afterwards I found a few more myself. So while writing the story took two months, the revision process took considerably longer.
After Chris' extensive work, I went through it several more times. Adding description, removing a few things. I talked my Mom into helping me with it, bribing her with iced tea and Diet Pepsi, and I read it aloud as she sat in my big overstuffed easy chair. I read aloud each line, and she'd say, “That doesn't sound right.” By the time Sonar4 Publications accepted it, it had gone through several revisions.
Then the revision process with Sonar4 Publishing began, and that took approximately another month. All told, from beginning to end, it's taken a good five-to-six months. I heard a writer once say that “real writing” doesn't take place until the editing process begins, and I tend to lean toward that way of thinking.
Q. How did you come about the decision to publish this as an e-Book and how did you learn about Sonar4?
I had a few ideas to place it side-by-side with other writers, incorporating it into an anthology of novellas, possibly three or four writers self-publishing our work together, but I really considered the amount of work that had gone into this piece—I wanted it to stand alone on its own merit.
I hadn't considered an e-Book until I heard Sonar4 had just started publishing novels. My short story “Tainted Canvas” had been accepted an hour and fifteen minutes after having submitted to Sonar4's ezine, and I had a good feeling about the entire organization. I began reading the stories in the ezine, and I enjoy my subscription to the print PDF magazine. I absolutely love it!
I always go with my gut instincts about people and organizations, and it has never steered me wrong once (except with women, but that's another story, lol). I queried Sonar4, and Senior Editor and owner Shells Walter accepted my story. We spent another month and a half revising it, together on weekends (with me polishing it during the week). Somewhere along the way, it became finished. Along the way I saw Shells superb editing skills at work, her professional manner, and I knew my instincts about Sonar4 had been proven accurate. I sincerely recommend Sonar4 Publications to other authors.
Q. Who did the cover for the e-book?
Cover art is done by Sonar4 Publications for all their books. I've seen the cover art of other presses with artists on staff, and I can honestly say that Sonar4 does a fantastic job. Between the trailer and the cover art, I am well pleased.
Q. How did you become interested in blog talk radio and The Odd Mind? Was this interview requested, your idea, or as a result of the publisher Sonar4?
Shells sets everything up for her authors; the virtual tour, the blog talk radio—everything. When she accepts your story, she does so because she believes in it, and then she backs it one-hundred percent. It's uncanny to have someone believe in you as a writer to that extent, but at the same time Sonar4 doesn't make money unless you make money. And the only way to make money is to offer solid, fast-hitting entertainment. That is what I hope I've done.
Q. What is your marketing plan for 2012 Kin Bin Tin Nah ?
My marketing plan includes using my online magazine Liquid Imagination to promote the book. I plug it at various blogs, and will be including it within the Liquid Imagination Blog as well. In fact, while receiving a paying speaking engagement to Long Ridge Writers Group students at their website (students pay to learn the secrets of writing from published authors and writers), I plugged it among students and staff, and have been promoting it at various places, including my private web office of 270 writers, editors and poets.
I also believe in the power of networking, as well as promoting others with worthy projects such as ezines and/or novels. I believe cream rises to the top, and hopefully my work will, too. Yet at the same time, it is important to promote worthy endeavors of other writers. By doing this, they in turn read my work and—after careful consideration—will in turn promote 2012: Kin Bin Tin Nah.
Q. What are the Sonar4 Publication marketing plans for the e-book?
Sonar4 Publications has set up virtual tours at various sites. The Odd Mind's program on blog radio is just one example. Review copies have been sent out to various critics. I will appear on a site called Conversations with Writers, and I have answered in detail many questions concerning 2012: Kin Bin Tin Nah, as well as other factors regarding writers, especially new writers (which hold my heart). Sonar4 has set up many sites to promote my book:
Sonar4 Publications/John Arthur Miller
And I will be on blog radio at May 28 th , nine o'clock Central Standard Time.
All this has been set up by Sonar4 Publications, and I must say I am very impressed.
Q. When will for 2012 Kin Bin Tin Nah be on sale and where can we get our copy?
It goes on sale in April at Sonar4 Publication's website at http://www.sonar4publications.com/2012kintinbinnah.html
Q. Anything you'd like to say about your life in the 'real world'? I know you have children, what do they think of your writing?
I have full physical custody of three children: Louie (11), Vinnie (7), and Leo (6). They live with me and, they are the light of my world. I've just been included in the 800 laid-off employees from the Caterpillar Mossville plant in Illinois, and currently I'm concentrating on promoting 2012: Kin Bin Tin Nah, writing, publishing and promoting other worthy projects. In the midst of this, my children's humor chimes in: “Dad, are you married to the computer?” Everything I do concerning writing utilizes the computer, but sometimes I'm at it a little too much, and their humor brings me back down to Earth.
Besides them, my Mother helps me with my children, watches them when I have important meetings concerning my e-book, and has been a great help and boost. As I've said, she went through 2012: Kin Bin Tin Nah with me and that is some strong support.
Q. Does the community where you live know you as a writer? What do they think of your work?
I started to get involved in my community to help writers workshop stories. Some workshopping was already in place, and I noticed a strong aversion to changing things. I stepped back to let the groups in place maintain whatever it is they're doing, but I have considered a writer's workshop at the local library. It is my opinion that I couldn't have a better library than the Alpha Park Library in Bartonville , Illinois . Staff is no-nonsense, knowledgeable, and simply FANTASTIC!
I believe wholeheartedly in the power of the Storyteller. I capitalize the word “Storyteller,” because the Storyteller is very important to me. I had a novella serialized at “The World of Myth” called Storytellers: Their Words Write Our Lives. I'd like to leave a snippet from that novella here, concluding this interview yet honoring the Storyteller in all of us, honoring Sonar4 Publications, but especially honoring Calvin Thomas, the main character in 2012: Kin Bin Tin Nah, because Calvin is an ordinary man until extraordinary events occur, making him change his story.
I wrote what Sophia had told me. Then I wrote my own story—you're almost done with it now. As a fellow Storyteller, I hope what you've read helps you in some fashion.
I know my story will make it into the hands of those who aren't Storytellers (who do not have access to Destiny's Price), but I think that is what Sophia wishes. You see, she wants us to know that we are all storytellers, and our lives are stories filled with chapters and sentences, and we write our stories through the things we do and say and think.
Is my story over?
As I finish this chapter of my life, I realize my Story is just beginning. It is in the process of being rewritten by my fellow Storytellers. Your life, too, has been rewritten many times. We are all Storytellers in our own right, editing, and rewriting our future by the actions and choices made today.
Keep on writing.
Publications I am involved in: |