Author Bio:
My short fiction has been nominated for both Nebula (Cymodoce, May ‘95 Tomorrow Magazine) and Pushcart (The Weight, Nov ‘95 The Granite Review) and has recently appeared in Across the Margin, The New Accelerator, parAbnormal, serialized in The Piker Press, and HDP 3. My first indie novel, The Augmented Man, is getting 4 and 5 star reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes&Noble, and others. My two self-pubbed books, Empty Sky and Tales Told ‘Round Celestial Campfires, are getting 5 star reviews (and I have more books in the works). I hold patents covering mathematics, anthropology, neuroscience, and linguistics. When not writing, I spend time loving my wife, playing with my dog and cat, flying kites bigger than most cars, cooking for friends and family, playing and listening to music, and studying anything and everything I believe will help my writing.
What inspires you to write?
To give people a sense of awe, to help them escape into a world of possibility, to help them learn and grow.
Tell us about your writing process.
I create outlines for anything that's plot driven (genre fiction, usually) and definitely anything over 7,000 words. Flash pieces, character driven (more literary fiction, usually) and such I'll have an idea which I'll write down (usually an scene in the story) but then I'll just write.
Regarding outlines; I will write them down and may not stick to them 1-1 in the writing. Outlines are trailsigns in a wood, not mileage markers on a highway.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
All the time.
Who are your favorite authors?
AJ Budrys, Crichton, Homer, Verne, Wells, Capote, Mansfield, Craig Johnson (although his "Winter" book sucked. No idea how such a great writer produced such a major fail book), Frazier, …
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I self-published an anthology and a novel simply to get feedback from people who didn't know me or my work. Seeing that people enjoyed my work, I sought a publisher for my second novel. I'm currently seeking agents/publishers for the rest of my work.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Like all else, evolutionary theory applies. Indie/Self publishers are like craft brews. It's less about quality of product than marketing prowess regarding who'll survive (really don't like suggesting that as I'm a rotten self-marketer). The market bloomed (might still be) and at some point the environment's resources will be depleted, the market will collapse, some will adapt to the changed environment and survive.
It's a pity, me thinks, because there's lots of stuff out there that is amazing and won't survive – the market has lost it's ability to recognize quality over quantity.
What genres do you write?
science fiction, fantasy, horror, children's stories, thriller, poetry, creative non-fiction, probably others. My readers tell me my genre is "Joseph" and that's not easy to market when you're unknown
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Joseph Carrabis Home Page Link
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.
