Author Bio:
MAD ABOUT UNDEAD YOU is Carl S. Plumer’s first novel. While getting from there to here, Carl worked at a variety of jobs, including gravedigger. He once had a corpse fall on top of him while digging too close to a neighboring grave during a thunderstorm at twilight. (Come to think of it, that incident may have planted the seed for Mad About Undead You.) Visit his website, www.CarlPlumer.com, to read his latest work and chat with the author about writing, horror, zombies, and such things. Carl Plumer is on most social media platforms, so reach out to him on your favorite platform. All of his contact information is also on the website. He would enjoy hearing from you, starting a conversation, and learning about you and your interests. Carl Plumer holds degrees in English and Writing and has earned a living as a business writer his entire adult life. He is originally from New York City, now residing in the Midwest. In his quixotic quest to be an author, Carl receives unending love and support from his beautiful wife Kristen, four amazing children, and two suspicious black cats.
What inspires you to write?
It’s not so much an inspiration as a need. When I write, I am actually amazed at what comes out of my brain or channels through me through the universe or however you want to put it. When I finish writing for the day, without exception, I always think, “Well, that’s that. I’ll never write anything ever again.” Still haven’t gotten used to the fact that I might actually have a little bit of talent in this one area. Whether I’m any good at it, only time (and generous readers) will tell.
Tell us about your writing process
I crank up a little old school punk to get the blood flowing, warm things up a bit. Then I “go in” as they say in Necromancer. Earbuds in, tuned to some internet jazz station. I use Word, believe it or not. I’ve tried every tool out there that you can imagine, which have been created for writers, Scrivener included. But Word works for me. My REAL secret weapon, though, is a combination of two things: NaNoWriMo’s write every day for thirty days, and a little software product called Write or Die. It sends a shrill noise into your ears if you miss your word count in, say, 20 minutes. (You set both the word count and the time you want to write.) I typically write in anywhere from five to ten sessions, each 15 minutes long. That’s it, that’s the secret. At least for me. Butt in seat, and no choice but to write.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
As far as listening or talking to my characters, no, I don’t do any of that, at least I haven’t so far. However, I think about my characters all the time. I wonder, after I’ve finished their book, what they’re doing now. I only got to observe a small portion of time in their lives. Over time, too, I picture them much more clearly than when I first started writing them, even when the book went “public.” They grow on me. But talking with them? No, not yet.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I think mine is a familiar, and oft-traveled route. I got a slew of rejections for my novels. And I think, in the beginning, they were quite justified! My early writing was unpolished, untrained. I still had so much to learn. I know more now, but what I am most aware of is how much I STILL have to learn. It never ends, truly. I’ll be learning the craft of writing to the day I die. So, anyway, once I couldn’t get my foot in the door into traditional publishing, before I had any time, really, to feel frustrated or upset, I discovered indie publishing, and that appealed to me. Like being in an indie rock band. So I studied books, websites, blogs, and taught myself everything I could as fast as I could.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think the future of publishing is rosy, indeed. I think “traditional” publishing is adjusting and I believe its role will be to support the big names, the bestselling authors, and to be the gatekeepers into the worldwide arena, including HBO, made-for-TV, and movies. I envision indie publishing for everyone else! It lets all of us write to our heart’s content. I think in the future there will be a natural settling process of some kind, where elite indie writers will get recognition and the good writers, too, will stand out from the crowd of millions. Right now, it’s hard to stand out if you’re any good. We all rely on the same word of mouth, good reviews, Facebook likes, tweets–all that. You may have lots of friends, but a not very good book, and still do well. You may have a brilliant book, but few friends, and never get discovered. I believe in the next five or ten years, a system or something between indie and traditional will appear to help highlight the best of the indies. And not just a handful of the best, but hundreds across all categories.
What do you use?
Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?
Action & Adventure, Thriller, Romantic Comedy, Horror
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print, Both
Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Author Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6545375.Carl_S_Plumer
https://www.facebook.com/carl.plumer
http://www.twitter.com/CarlPlumer
http://pinterest.com/carlplumer/
Leave a Reply