Author Bio:
James Blakley was educated at Missouri Western State College and Washburn University. While at MWSC, he was a local and national award-winning columnist and section editor of “The Griffon-News.” Blakley worked 10 1/2 years as a page and as an Assistant Librarian for the River Bluffs Regional Libraries of St. Joseph, MO. He currently lives in Topeka, KS where he worked for The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library; several years in clerical and customer support capacities for international computer companies, such as EDS and HP; and information-gathering and analysis for numerous local, state, and federal agencies.
Blakley prefers reading history, current events, and allegorical fiction, and runs the gamut cinematically. And besides writing in his spare time, he is an avid pro sports fan who enjoys playing men’s fast-pitch softball.
What inspires you to write?
It's one of my "gifts." I've always liked reading or hearing a good story. That inspired me to write one myself. And, as mostly a hobby, I've done so since I was at least 9 or 10 years old.
Back then, I wrote what I called “paper books”: That is, I’d write and illustrate usually a backyard adventure story using magic markers on ruled paper; then, staple the pages together; and … voila: A book was published! I must have penned 50 or 60 from grade school into junior high, with alas maybe 10 preserved.
Later, I sharpened and broadened my writing talent, as a high school and college newspaper editor and columnist. Along the way, I won a few local and national student journalist awards.
I only returned to fiction writing in 2010, but since then have written 3 novels: "The Steel Deal", "The K-Frost Caper", and "The Diamond Head Deception." All are multicultural mysteries with action, adventure, and even a little romance added. "The Diamond Head Deception" won a Finalist for Multicultural Fiction Medal in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Competition.
Tell us about your writing process.
I usually write about questions I have or characterizations I'd like to expand upon.
For example, my most recent novels, "The Diamond Head Deception" and "The K-Frost Caper", expand the role of insurance investigators, introducing, for example, a cosmopolitan, female Native American (Luna Nightcrow) in the role.
While the plot of "K-Frost" is more plausible (solving a complex case of identity fraud),"The Diamond Head Deception" narrative is based upon a question I had: Why doesn't Hawaii have diamonds (since the gems are most often the product of volcanic activity)?
For both books, I did lots of real world research that took the form of extensive outlining and character sketching. "K-Frost" introduced the recurring insurance investigator character Luna Nightcrow, and was a bit more literary; while I decided to blur the line between reality and fantasy in "Diamond Head", in order to present a compelling plot.
In both, editing the mounds of research I'd amassed was the most involving process. After I'd settled on what to keep, organizing it into a story was easy.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Many readers prize main character development in a story. In "fleshing out" at least my main characters, they obviously begin to grow and realize the situation they're in and "say", "I like/don't like this, or I would/wouldn't do that."
Who are your favorite authors?
I've amassed a sizable Kindle cache of self-published authors whom I like. For example: M.T. Albright's "The Guy's a Loser Detective Agency"; Englishman Roger Cave's James Bondesque Alec Fincham Series; Nigel Mitchell's techno-thrillers (like "Dead Links"); W.T. Keeton's various works (such as "The World of Erganna"); and an old-style, African American pulp fiction anthology called "Black Pulp" are a few.
Of the "mainstream" ilk, I usually follow the latest literary re-imaginations of Ian Fleming's James Bond (with Raymond Benson's take being the most fascinating). And, I still enjoy re-reading Raymond Chandler, many of Jack London's unknown stabs at science fiction and horror, and other "classics."
But for inspiration, it's usually current events and history that I glean writing ideas from.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I was a published high school and college newspaper journalist. So, I was used to being "published", and taking the praise and criticism that came with it. It was only natural that eventually I'd publish some of my fiction.
The problem was that I grew up without the e-book, self-publishing revolution. Self-publishing had a different connotation back then, namely being inferior. Paperback was king, and it took lots of time and money to produce and distribute them. Often, that meant achieving only local acclaim. So the advent of e-publishing greatly influenced my decision to publish fiction.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It's certainly bright, in terms of being more inclusive. But, it's still not something that many will find financially rewarding. Unless you're willing to follow trends and write what's popular or come into the game with a loyal fan base, it's hard building that niche audience or market that will sustain your writing.
For now, I write as a relaxing hobby. So, the reader is welcome into my world, but often doesn't influence what's in it. That is, I write what I like, how I'd like to see it. That means more diversity of characters and what some might call "offbeat" plots.
What genres do you write?
Mystery, literary, and action-adventure
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
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All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.