The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn

2/19/2022

Amazon debut author, Rob Samborn introduces us to his first book, “The Prisoner of Paradise”:
A 400-year-old murder. A disembodied whisper: "Amore mio." My love.

Nick and Julia O'Connor's dream trip to Venice collapses when a haunting voice reaches out to Nick from Tintoretto's Paradise, the world's largest oil painting.

Though Julia worries her husband suffers from a delusion, Nick is adamant the voice belongs to a woman from the 16th century—his soul mate from a previous life. He discovers a religious order that has developed a method of extracting people's souls, which they imprison in Paradise. Over the centuries, they've judged thousands of souls and sentenced them to eternal purgatory.

As infatuation with the past clouds his commitment to a present-day wife, Nick must right an age-old wrong—destroy the painting and liberate his soul mate. But freeing her would allow all the souls to be reborn.

The order will never let that happen.

Such an amazing and intense story! I have read a lot of time travel stories. This is not that. It is a past-life story. Is that a spoiler? I hope not, I try not to let spoilers leak out in my reviews.
When Nick and Julia land in Venice, on a dream vacation, they have no idea that they are on a collision course with the past! This fast-paced adventure begins to pick up steam when they visit a renowned art museum in Venice. Nick thinks he is losing his mind when he hears a voice calling to him from a famous painting that is several hundred years old. His wife, Julia, doesn't know what to think. Things go from bad to worse as a centuries-old conspiracy is slowly revealed and the married couple does not know who they can trust. The Order seems to be everywhere all the time.
A rollicking ride that veers from the present into the past over and over. You are going to love this book! It is so hard to put down!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-Paradise-Book-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-prisoner-of-paradise
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-prisoner-of-paradise-1

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/RobSamborn
https://robsamborn.com
https://www.facebook.com/RobSambornAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/robsamborn

Here is the link to the review of the second book and the interview continues there also: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/painter-of-the-damned
Here is the link to the review of the third book and the continued interview with the author: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/master-of-the-abyss

Action, adventure, spies, religion, supernatural, travel, secret society

Copyright ©2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

54 Comments

Rob Samborn link

2/19/2022 03:39:35 pm

Thanks for this spectacular review, Mark! I'm thrilled you enjoyed The Prisoner of Paradise.

Mark

2/19/2022 03:57:25 pm

You are welcome, Rob. That was a thrilling read! I was on the edge of my Kindle much of the time.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

2/20/2022 12:57:49 pm

Thanks, Mark.

To summarize my bio for those who haven't read it, my background in writing is as a screenwriter. The Prisoner of Paradise is my first novel, which I adapted from one of my scripts. That script was optioned by a production company founded by Dreamworks execs. Unfortunately, it was never made into a movie but when the rights reverted back to me, I decided to adapt it into a novel. I'm glad I did because it evolved organically into much more than I had ever intended (thanks to characters who insisted on continuing the journey). I now have a three-book deal through TouchPoint Press. Book 2 will be released this October. I'm represented by Brower Literary & Management.

On the personal front, I'm originally from New York City but I now make my home in Denver with my wife, daughter, and dog. We moved to Denver about two years ago from L.A.

And finally, five fun facts about me:

1. As part of the Young Diplomats Program, I lived in Tokyo for a year with a Japanese family and went to a Japanese high school.
2. I survived a plane crash. Well, it was more like a plane fender-bender. Two planes collided on the runway at Newark Airport. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. This was on my return leg from a two-week trip to India, on which I contracted dysentery. I wasn't thrilled the crash added about 8 hours to the journey.
3. I was in a band in Florence, Italy. A bunch of friends and I spent a summer in Florence during college. To support ourselves, we worked in a leather market by day and played in a band by night. I sing and play guitar. I made my first trip to Venice that summer.
4. I founded my own tech startup that helped artists, art collectors and art galleries manage, track, buy and sell art.
5. I was an extra in three movies.

2/20/2022 02:41:24 pm

Those are fun facts. Thank you for sharing them. The Dreamworks thing is interesting and highlights how important preserving your rights as an author are. A screenplay and a novel are but two ways to license your intellectual property. There are so many more including, but not limited to, hardback, large print, audio book, video game, stage play, deluxe or illustrated edition, themed merchandise and foreign languages.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
What kind of work do you do? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.

2/20/2022 03:17:26 pm

Thanks, Mark. I currently write full time. Most recently I was VP of Business Development for Hive Diversity, a recruiting app for college students and recent grads from diverse backgrounds. Though I loved working there, I left to pursue writing... and promotion/publicity for my book, which is another full-time job.

2/20/2022 03:43:50 pm

Very good. You nailed that one on the head! Writing can be a full-time job and so can promoting and marketing a book. For most first-time authors, especially independent and self-published authors, this is shocking news.
Gone are the days when only the books deemed worthy by the publishers and agents of traditional publishing were published. Also large advances and extensive promotional campaigns have evaporated unless you have one of those big names and have sold many millions of copies in the past.
We have Amazon to thank for that. Now, anyone can publish a book. While most of those books will seldom sell more than a thousand or so copies, the market is flooded. A million new books are published every year.
The traditional publishers have seen their profit margins cut to almost zero. Most of the big and medium-sized publishers are gone, either bankrupt or swallowed up by a competitor.
Stepping off the soapbox now. We will talk more about promotion and marketing later.
New questions.
Does your work have any influence on your writing?
What inspired you to write this book from your screenplay? What inspired the screenplay might be the better question.

2/20/2022 04:05:23 pm

Thanks, Mark. Yes, the publishing industry has taken a turn, for better or for worse (and I do think it's both). I suspect we'll see a new evolution in the very near future.

The kernel of the idea for The Prisoner of Paradise was formed on a trip to Venice. I'm one of those writers who has too many ideas. Venice is one of those places where there's an idea around every corner - whether it's in a Renaissance building, in a canal or around the corner of a narrow alley.

The titular subject of The Prisoner of Paradise is 'Paradise' (aka Il Paradiso), a monumental work of art by Renaissance master Jacopo Tintoretto. It's the world's largest oil painting, located in the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Venice. It's about 80 feet wide by 40 feet high.

However, I was first inspired by a different Tintoretto painting - The Crucifixion, located in La Scuola Grande di San Rocco. This painting is also very large - about 25 x 15. While most paintings of the Crucifixion are focused on Jesus, this painting is remarkable in that it looks like a still from an establishing shot. Imagine if it were a movie, and you started the scene with a wide angle shot to establish everything going on in the moment, this would be a snapshot from that scene. And keep in mind it was painted in the 16th century!

The painting is filled with about 75 people from all walks of life, of a myriad of ages, genders, races, backgrounds, etc. Each one of these people is a mini lifelike portrait. I started wondering who they were. It's no secret that painters used models (and still do), but did Tintoretto have a line of models waiting outside his door? Not to mention this particular building is filled with Tintoretto paintings. Who were all these people? How did they become immortalized in his work?

That led to the idea that maybe it was their souls which infused into the work.

From there, I started researching Tintoretto's work and found Paradise, which couldn't have been more perfect. Depicting the coronation of Mary in Heaven, the masterpiece has HUNDREDS of people in it. It's so large, that it's impossible to view the whole thing with one glance. You need sweep your gaze over it, which is an emotional experience for many people... especially if your soul mate happens to be imprisoned within this ethereal purgatory.

2/20/2022 06:09:54 pm

Publishing will never be the same, though there will always be a remnant of traditional publishing. We are down to only five, big traditional publishers now. I say that because the proposed merger between PRH and Simon & Schuster, I think, is unlikely to happen due to government anti-trust claims.
The indie publishing industry has been growing for years. I am inclined to think the block-chain revolution may be the big nudge for indie publishers. In theory, when a book is block-chain published every person involved in the making of the book will get a percentage of the sale, if they want. If the book is resold to another reader then they get another residual payment. It remains to see if the claims are fulfilled. If they are, it will put the pirates out of commission. Few will want to buy an illegal copy of a book.
I love that story of the inspiration for your work. JT was a painter's painter it sounds like to me. Phenomenal talent.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent?

2/20/2022 06:14:41 pm

Very interesting about block-chain publishing. I could see it working if Amazon gets behind it and it's seamless to the average reader.

The cover was designed by Dionisio C. Manalo, Jr. The elements represent the different genres of the book and also allude to the overall plot. These genres are thriller, historical fiction and some magical realism. The idea is you're zooming into Venice and then brought to the past rather abruptly.

2/21/2022 07:57:21 am

Amazon won't likely support blockchain publishing until they see how it will make them more money. Time will tell.
I like the cover, the contrast of the old and modern caught my eye.
New questions.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

2/21/2022 11:53:43 am

Glad you like the cover!

I wouldn't say the title was hard to come up with but I did have a few alternate titles. I worked with my agent on which she thought was best and we went with The Prisoner of Paradise (which was the title I mostly used when I was querying agents).

Character names are very important to me so I spend a decent amount of time coming up with names that have some sort of significance, embody the nature of the character, or just "sound" like that character.

For example, the main antagonist is a very sophisticated man who is the head of a museum (11 museums, really). He's also morally complex, believing that the end justifies the questionable (and not-so-questionable) things he does. His name is Salvatore della Porta. The ring of his name fits the character perfectly. Beyond that, Salvatore comes from the Italian for salvation. Della Porta is the topographic family name for people who lived near a gate or portal, which is connected to his night job.

I also make sure no two character names are similar and I try to make sure character names don't start with the same letter (for the most part). For my American and British characters, this wasn't difficult but it was a bit tricky for my Italian characters, since so many surnames are two or more syllables and end in a vowel. It's become more of a challenge with books 2 and 3 as I add characters. Fortunately, the story moves beyond Italy.

2/21/2022 12:22:55 pm

A lot of authors spend time coming up with the perfect title. I have noticed that a lot of books have the same or very similar titles. I suppose that cannot be avoided easily now. With a million books published every year title issues are going to happen a lot.
Many authors research character names extensively. Especially when dealing with historical fiction. There are many websites devoted to names over the centuries. Frequently the websites are divided into the popular boy and girl names for each decade.
New questions.
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

2/21/2022 01:39:47 pm

And oftentimes people come up with titles that are intentionally similar to other books.

Yes, The Prisoner of Paradise has been entered into a few contests. It was a finalist in the American Writing Awards (thriller/adventure category).

For all the others it has entered, the winners haven't been announced yet.

2/21/2022 03:33:27 pm

I didn't think of people making similar titles intentionally. It doesn't surprise me, though. Considering the rampant piracy that is a cheap and easy way to try and cash in on the success of another author.
Congratulations on being a finalist. I bet there was a lot of competition. An author has to be very careful about entering contests these days, there are some shady competitions out there. Some just want all of the money in your wallet, others try to steal your intellectual property that you are submitting for judgement. Here is a copy-and-paste link about some of those contests: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests
Anne R. Allen is one of my favorite bloggers. I have links to many of her posts on my Highly Regarded Blogs page elsewhere on my website.
New questions.
I noticed that your book is not in Kindle Unlimited. Did you or your publisher make that choice and why?
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing, and why?

2/21/2022 03:44:35 pm

I'm sure some people create titles similar to other properties for nefarious reasons, but I meant authors also do it to fit in a genre. That helps with marketing and reader expectations from title alone.

Thanks for the congratulations, as well as for the blog info about the contests. I'll check it out.

Not being on Kindle Unlimited now is intentional and part of the marketing strategy. As you know, when you're on KU, Amazon requires it to be the exclusive e-book platform. My book is also on Apple Books and Kobo, so we wanted to make sure it has a broader reach. Also, it's only $4.99, so it's very reasonable. It'll go on KU a couple of months before book 2 is released.

Yes, I went through the query process for my agent. I never submitted to any publishers, actually. Once I signed with my agency, they submitted the manuscript to publishers.

I chose to do it this way since I was used to this process as a screenwriter (I had a separate agent and manager) and also because I believe there are a number of benefits. I'm a strong advocate of agents. They obviously run the gamut, but in my experience, they've been indispensable. I love my agent!

2/21/2022 04:13:09 pm

You are spot on. Reader expectations must be met in many genres. It's quite important for the title to be recognizable to the fans of that genre. Some sub-genres such as paranormal romance must have shifters or vampires or mer-folk on the cover if not in the title. Then there are also the harem and reverse harem sub-genres as well.
That makes perfect sense based on your background. Many authors are not so fortunate. I have heard more than one lament of dozens of inquiries and submissions to agents, some authors making more than 100 submissions over a period of time.
It must be really hard to be an agent because they don't get paid until you, the author, get a contract.
New questions.
How much time or how many submissions did you make to find your agent?
How long did it take them to find your publisher?

2/21/2022 04:26:30 pm

I don't recall how much time it took nor how many queries I sent but it was probably 6-9 months and 75-100 query letters. It took my agents 6+ months to find the publisher.

In both cases, one of the reasons it took so long is because I sent my queries out in waves, as my agents did when submitting to publishers. You can't know what's working until you get some rejections. Query letter writing is an art unto itself. Also, my success rate wasn't 1 in 100. Three other agents sent me contracts but I wasn't thrilled with them. And other agents had expressed interest, as well. One got back to me wanting to sign me a month after I had signed with my agent.

I often hear people lament about how long it takes, but it's part of the process. Agents receive 500-1000 queries a month. They may request pages from about 10-15% of that group (plus many agents request pages in their submission guidelines). Then they'll read whole manuscripts. That's all on top of the work they have to do for their current clients. The sheer amount of time it takes to go through a workload like that requires patience from writers.

And as you wrote - agents work for free in the beginning. Often for years.

2/21/2022 08:01:44 pm

You describe that process quite well. It is excruciating for the author, of course. But no less for the agent. That business requires extreme time-management skills. Some publishers accept direct submissions and some don't. They want to see only the best, so they are happy to let the agents do the footwork.
Both agent and publisher work on the thinnest of margins now. They cannot afford to invest time or money in anything that is not a clear winner in their judgement.
The odds are stacked against the unknown, unpublished authors. The odds are a little bit better for the indie author that is published, even self-published, at least they have some sales figures to show for their effort.
There are some publishers who won't talk with an indie author unless they have a solid social media following and a mailing list of one or two thousand, at least. That mailing list represents some guaranteed sales. At that point, a lot of indie authors have mastered the publishing side as much as they want. They are likely to have their favorite artists, editors and proofreaders. Quite a few of them decide they don't want to share anymore control of their books or the profits from their sales. Thus, they maintain the status quo.
New questions.
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?

2/21/2022 11:07:41 pm

Fortunately, I haven't experienced unethical publishing practices firsthand. Of what I know about, piracy and plagiarism are the absolute worst in my mind.

I'm also not a fan of vanity publishers, especially in this day and age of self-publishing.

It seems like there are more unethical practices on the marketing side. For example, I'm inundated with requests to pay for an Instagram post and things like that, when that type of marketing does nothing except lighten one's bank account. There seems to be no limit to the number of people who want to take advantage of writers. It's odd, since the vast majority of writers barely break even as it is.

I don't have a favorite book but I have a number of favorite authors in a wide variety of genres. My all-time favorites are Dostoevsky, Hemingway and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Of writers still alive, I love Amor Towles, David Mitchell and Neil Gaiman. I also read a great deal in my own genres, which are thriller, historical fiction and magical realism/fantasy. I've read quite a bit of Dan Brown and James Rollins's work, for example.

2/22/2022 08:03:37 am

Good to hear you haven't experienced piracy or plagiarism. Quite a few authors have suffered loss from these crooks.
Vanity publishers have been around for a long time. I think they will always exist. I wonder if the new hybrid publishers are the old vanity publishers. I don't know for sure.
Marketing is a tricky business. The field is wide open and there are so many ways to promote a book or a product.
Those are great authors.
New questions.
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one?

2/22/2022 10:54:23 am

I had lots of favorite books as a child! I was a big fan of adventure books, so I loved the entire Choose Your Own Adventure series. I also loved Tolkien, Heinlein, Kipling, Ludlum and many others, including the classics. I looked forward to my summer reading list.

I've read a number of books more than once. I think I read The Prisoner of Paradise a hundred times! :-) But besides my own, I re-read Dune just last month and I've read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell a number of times, as well as others. But by far the book I've read (or listened to) the most is Stein on Writing by Sol Stein, which is a renowned book on the craft.

2/22/2022 11:31:26 am

Tolkien, Heinlein, Herbert, those are all great names. For many years I read mostly science fiction. Asimov, Poul and many others. I was introduced to Tolkien's LOTR series in junior high school. I loved it and read it 3 times before graduating from high school.
A few years after that I was introduced to The Chronicles of Narnia and fell in love with that.
A few years later I found the sci-fi trilogy Out of The Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis. The protagonist in the series was fashioned after Lewis's friend, J. R. R. Tolkien. I enjoyed that quite a bit also. Lewis was quite a prolific writer in multiple genres.
Almost 20 years ago I reread Dune also. Then I read the rest of the series, another 8 or 9 books. The series was continued by his son.
I still love science fiction, fantasy is a close second and historical fiction is third. I find I enjoy magical realism quite a bit also. I have read so many other genres in the last number of years, I enjoy good writing most anywhere.

2/22/2022 11:37:14 am

New questions.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

2/22/2022 12:02:26 pm

Yes, I love sci-fi, fantasy and historical fiction, as well. Though these days, I tend to read more literary and historical fiction, but watch sci-fi/fantasy.

Writing definitely has a spiritual component and energizes me. I love storytelling and immersing myself into the world I'm writing about. I often get into a zone and to be honest, when I re-read the work a short time later, sometimes I forget I even wrote it.

Though I'll admit my daunting, never-ending to-do list is exhausting.

It's critical that writers tap into the emotions of the characters because it's the characters telling the story, not the author. For the most part, gone are the days of an omniscient author narrating the story. Readers want to connect with the characters and experience the journey with them. The best way to accomplish that is through emotion.

And it goes beyond writing that a character felt such and such. The emotion needs to be shown through active writing.

2/22/2022 12:13:16 pm

I agree, narration has a place but too much can insulate the reader from the story causing a disconnect.
I have found that a story told in first person point of view engages me completely in the events of the book. I enjoy this kind of writing when head-hopping is avoided. Keeping the characters separated prevents confusion and muddling the story.
Showing instead of telling is the answer for great reader involvement.
New questions.
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?
If you have, what kind of preparation do you do before it starts?

2/22/2022 12:25:49 pm

I completely agree with all that.

No, I haven't done NaNoWriMo. With deadlines for my next books, every month is writing month for me. :-)

2/22/2022 04:04:12 pm

You must be busier than a long-tail cat in a room full of people in rocking chairs.
Many authors join a NaNoWriMo group for fun and support. Some have group writing sprints, some merely report their daily word count. How hard can it be to write less than 1700 words a day? I will probably never know.
New questions.
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?
When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

2/22/2022 04:46:55 pm

I'm definitely an over-writer. I'm not only a fairly heavy plotter, I also create lists of things I want to include in my books. These lists are already very long and then while I'm writing, I always expand on subjects, especially internal dialogue, characterizations and emotion. I do this because my books have a good deal of action, so I want to make sure they're balanced.

So in that sense, you could say I over-write the plot and action but under-write inner dialogue, characterizations and emotional response.

The final published version of The Prisoner of Paradise is about 100K words. I think I wrote close to 200K words over different drafts - not all at once, but different versions of chapters or chapters I ended up cutting. The longest draft was about 118K words. At some point in the near future I'll post deleted scenes on my website.

Book 2, called The Painter of Paradise, is longer. It's already been sent to the editor at TouchPoint Press (my publisher). Even with it being longer, I ended up hacking a huge portion of the end of the book, which will go into the beginning of book 3, which I'm currently working on now.

I think The Painter of Paradise is stronger with that cut. Not only is it a more satisfying ending for the second book in a series, it'll leave readers craving more. Even I want to know what the characters will do! :-)

And now book 3 starts off with multiple bangs. They're some of my favorite scenes in the entire series and it just gets better from there. I'm really excited about the third book and where it may potentially go from there. I'm very proud of The Prisoner of Paradise but the next books are progressively better in a a number of aspects. I'm obviously biased, but advanced readers have also said they like book 2 even more.

2/22/2022 05:21:53 pm

The next two books sound very exciting to me. I am definitely going to want to read those. I thoroughly enjoyed Prisoner, so I am going to be on pins and needles for Painter!
New questions.
Have you ever used yourself or other acquaintances as a starting point for a character in a story?
Would they recognize you or themselves in the story?

2/22/2022 05:26:34 pm

Thanks! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on The Painter of Paradise.

No, all of the present-day characters in my books are fictitious.

I've written true short stories in the first person, but all my fiction pieces are just that.

2/22/2022 06:16:30 pm

Some authors have used themselves and others as models to create characters. Some have had success and others have not. One author, I can't recall who, used several family members as references for the characters in their book. The family members were thrilled. One person became unhappy when they felt the character was acting in an unacceptable way, in the family member's mind. They were in a tiff for a long time.
I think you are much safer making sure all characters are fictitious. The lesson here might be even if you did use a family member or friend as a model for a book character never tell them.
New questions.
What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories?
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?

2/22/2022 06:44:21 pm

The other thing is that characters become their own people and they're in situations the real people wouldn't be in.

To flesh out my characters, I create detailed backstories that often don't end up in the book. I know who these people are - where they're from, their families (including extended families), what they've done in their past that helps shape who they are today, and perhaps most importantly, how they react to situations and obstacles that are placed before them.

I tend to enjoy writing the antagonist more. The vast majority of fiction (and perhaps true stories) is antagonist-driven. Without the antagonist, there would be no obstacles and the protagonist would reach their goal very quickly. I particularly enjoy antagonists who are very complex people, with a good deal of grey area in their intentions. I love it when an antagonist thinks their actions are justified. That's the case with the main antagonist in The Prisoner of Paradise, Salvatore della Porta.

That said, I also love crafting protagonists who are able to rise to the occasion and tackle obstacles. Nick O'Connor, the protagonist, is not James Bond. Though he's athletic (he plays amateur hockey), he's very much a regular guy and fish out of water in an extraordinary circumstance. He makes mistakes and learns as he goes.

2/23/2022 07:21:24 am

Many authors create character sheets or a character bible. They develop the characters just like you do. They include likes and dislikes, hobbies, tastes and many other things to help their characters come alive. One of my guest bloggers, also a client in the past, has created a tool to assist other authors with character development. Here is a copy-and-paste link for his website: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/character-creation
Quite a few authors have said they enjoy writing the antagonist more. But you are the first to word it in the way that the antagonist is driving the story. That is very true. I agree that a well-written antagonist thinks they are the hero in the story they are writing.
Protagonists are forced into actions and decisions they would not normally make. Your man, Nick is a great example of this. He is trying to make sense of an unexpected change in his world.
New questions.
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?
Which is more important to a story pace or flow? How do you control it?

2/23/2022 10:55:14 am

Rick's character generator is great! I'm going to be using that.

Good questions! It's easier to answer about the antagonist. What I love most about him is that his moral compass is broken. He tells himself he's doing the right thing for a greater good but, in fact, it's for his own designs on attaining power.

There's nothing I hate about my protagonist. He's a flawed individually, but I don't hate that. We all have flaws.

I think pace and flow are equally important. One doesn't really work without the other. I have training as a screenwriter and I apply those lessons and techniques I've learned in my books. Pacing and flow is arguably more important in TV and movies since there's a finite amount of time. When it's done right, the audience doesn't notice. When it's off, people start getting antsy or bored.

There's more leeway with books but I think the principles still apply. I actively plan out chapters and section breaks. I make sure the lengths are consistent, chapter tones are varied, and perhaps most importantly for flow, that chapters and section breaks end on a moment that encourages the reader to turn the page.

2/23/2022 01:14:16 pm

Salvatore is a colorful and motivated individual. Yes, he has layers and on the surface he is all about caring for and advancing the Order. AS you said, he is looking out for himself also. The countess called him out on that and his discomfort was exquisite.
We all have flaws and Nick is no different. He is beside himself in much of the book, struggling with worrying about his wife and trying to figure out what is the deal with the voice in the painting.
Most authors have agreed with you, pace and flow are linked and work together when used properly.
It has been said that a book can be written, but a great book must be rewritten many times because easy reading is hard writing.
New questions.
What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?
Do you write in a straight line because you are a plotter or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

2/23/2022 01:20:54 pm

I don't have a routine since I try to write whenever I get a chance. I do like to listen to music, as that helps put me in the zone. And I should probably turn off all other distractions. I haven't been able to get myself to do that yet, LOL.

You could say I write in a jagged line. I jump around a lot. This is because my books are told from 3 or 4 perspectives and the chapters typically alternate. Therefore, when I'm writing a first draft, I may continue a character's chapters even if there's a different character's chapter in the middle

I like to think of myself as more of a maze builder, rather than a plotter. I create the maze with multiple starts, the finish and all the walls and traps and then drop the various characters in at their respective entry points. It's up to them to figure out how to get out and, of course, their paths will intersect. It's my job to make sure the camera is on the right person at the right time.

2/23/2022 03:13:41 pm

That sounds like a good system. Write out a character's arc as far as you can. Do that for as many characters as needed and then shuffle the pieces as needed.
You are following the advice of Rick's guest blog about non-linear writing. The same guy who built the psychological character website. Here is a copy-and-paste link if you are interested http://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/non-linear-writing or just put the blog post name in the search box below.
I love the idea of the maze! A very appropriate word picture.
New questions.
Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?
What did you do to launch your book, if anything, when it was first published?

2/23/2022 04:01:04 pm

Nope, there's nothing about I'd change. After signing a three-book deal with TouchPoint Press, I had ample time to work on the first book before it was released (in part due to Covid). This allowed me to make changes that facilitate things that happen in subsequent books, even book 3. There are a number of fun, almost invisible setups that will be paid off in the next books.

The publisher and I had a number of things we did pre-launch and at launch, and there's an ongoing marketing campaign. I still consider the book to be in the launch period and a new release.

2/24/2022 07:35:23 am

Marvelous. I love reading a series and finding fruit from a seed planted in previous books.
Have you ever participated in a book blog tour, why or why not?
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

2/24/2022 11:21:18 am

Yes, I've signed up for three blog tours. One just ended, one is ongoing, and one starts soon.

One thing that I hope readers will remember about the book is a great question. I love books that stay with you long after you've finished them. Then there are others sometimes you forget you've read! What about a book connects with a reader on a mental or emotional level so that it implants itself in their brain? Is it the characters? The plot? The ending? Set pieces?

I'd argue it's the theme. The theme of my book (and series) is "love never dies." Even though it's a thriller, it's core is a love story. I want people to remember how they *felt* while reading it.

2/24/2022 12:56:23 pm

It is interesting. A few books are imprinted on our minds forever. Most don't last more than a few days or weeks, especially if you read one after another.
I read Tolkien's LOTR and the Hobbit in high school. That was my introduction to epic fantasy. That set has stayed with me all of these years. C. S. Lewis's sci-fi trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet is another with lasting impact for me.
Both books for me have a similar theme, saving others from great evil, even at the loss of personal life.
With all that is going on in your book, the core of a love story is very evident. Two love stories for me.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

2/24/2022 06:06:12 pm

Yes, and to add to my previous comment, I'd say it's how theme connects with a reader on a personal level.

I use Microsoft Word to write. My publisher does the publishing, so I'm not sure what they use. I use MS Word because it's the industry standard and the best. I know some people prefer Google Docs and Scrivener. To each their own, but Google Docs doesn't hold a candle to Word in my opinion. I have very little experience with Scrivener. I think it has some nice features but it also has some limitations. When it comes down to it, Word is the best word processing program out there and has been for at least 30 years. Plus, when dealing with industry professionals, you don't have to worry about file conversions.

Don't get me started when someone sends me a .pages file.

To keep track of characters, I use a separate Word file that has all my character bios. I have another one for early narrative outlines but I also use Excel for a more structured outline that's more like a beat sheet. This way, I can put everything in a table, including the locations, characters, character/scene goals, lengths, etc.

2/24/2022 06:51:01 pm

Theme fulfills that role quite well. That connection is critical.
Almost every writer uses MS Word. It has a massive, user base. It is a standard for business.
Scrivener is an interesting and powerful program. I have heard that it has a steep learning curve. Those that conquer the learning curve love it. Some have said it is a plotter's dream.
I have edited a couple of Google docs and found the process to be difficult. It takes me a lot longer than Word.
You are well organized and that has paid you dividends I have no doubt.
New questions.
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?
I know there are many ways to build the outline. Do you do it all on the computer or do you get analog at some point, perhaps with sticky notes or note cards?

2/25/2022 10:29:52 am

The biggest shift in direction (which was absolutely character-driven) was going from a standalone to a series. I originally intended to write The Prisoner of Paradise as a one-off, but the characters refused to go quietly into the night! (Those how made it to the end, that is).

I used to do note cards and I do like the ability to see the entire story on one board, but I think I shifted to doing everything on my computer because note cards or Post-Its obviously have a confined space. My outlines get pretty in depth and it's easy enough to shift things around.

I used screenwriting software to outline my book, as well. Final Draft has an outline tool.

2/25/2022 11:46:23 am

That would be a big change! I imagine that involved a considerable amount of rewriting.
I have heard similar comments from many authors about the characters directing the story at different times. Most authors don't regret listening to what the characters are saying, usually quite the opposite.
Final Draft sounds like a good piece of software.
New questions.
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or would you be a coffee-shop writer, if we weren’t stuck in the covid mess?
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?

2/25/2022 11:34:25 pm

I'm fortunate enough to have a home office in which I write. I've tried writing in coffee shops but I get way too distracted.

I never write with the TV on but I love writing to music. I find it puts me in the zone, especially if it's music I've heard before.

I have a playlist for The Prisoner of Paradise, which I listen to all the time:

https://robsamborn.com/book-clubs-%26-playlist

2/26/2022 07:11:02 am

A lot of writers have a home office where they can write alone. Others like the ambiance of a coffee shop. Due to the pandemic isolation requirements some writers have downloaded sound effect tracks that are sounds of different coffee shops, busy office environments and other situations.
Many writers have playlists. Some have playlists for their book, characters, scenes or events. A few include those playlists in the back of their book.
New questions.
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?

2/26/2022 12:25:58 pm

I haven't heard of people using coffee shop white noise. That's funny.

I've been told my action writing is excellent but I find dialogue to be the easiest. That's not to say it's easy, since there's so much more to dialogue than just "talking," but it's the one area in which you don't have to worry about grammar and perfect sentence construction.

Of the five senses, there's no question that sight is the easiest, since that makes up 95% of any book. For hearing, taste and touch, I write with an active voice, so these come easy to me, as well. The only one I find difficult at times is smell and that's only because there's a limited number of synonyms for smell or odor. While the smells themselves vary, of course, I also want to make sure that my verbiage varies. I also think smell is the sense writers think of the least. I often actively need to remind myself, "What does this place or person smell like?"

2/26/2022 01:25:45 pm

I agree with you about dialogue. When I am proofreading I am far more lenient with dialogue because it's an effective way to differentiate between characters.
Most authors agree with you, sight or vision is the easiest of the physical senses to portray. Not many authors have a main character that is blind, but it can be done.
While taste and smell are closely related they are not easy to write about. You did a good job of 'smelling' in your book.
New questions.
Have you ever participated in theater in some way?
Do you think your experience in theater and/or screenwriting helps you as a writer and why?

2/27/2022 11:22:05 pm

I participated in theater in school. I enjoy acting and also performing quite a bit.

One of the best writing classes I ever took was an acting class, which I did for fun at Santa Monica College years after graduating from UMass Amherst. That class was amazing for both book and screenwriting and I often think of it to this day.

An acting class shows you how other people interpret the role and most importantly, what a character's motivation is - for each scene. When I outline, I include the motivation and goals for each character in each scene. It's especially important for the main characters, but I even do it for the side characters. Knowing a character's motivation and scene goals greatly enhances and elevates the work. It's even better when those goals aren't reached (or if a character has ulterior motives that aren't revealed).

2/28/2022 08:48:33 am

An acting class sounds like a great idea for writers. I have recommended authors take a screenwriting class in the past, but the acting class sounds just as vital. Motivations are the driving force for all of us whether we realize the motivations or not.
The journey the main characters go through must be epic. It's do or die time.
Last questions.
You wrote this as a screenplay first.
How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?
How long did it take you to write the first draft?

2/28/2022 11:29:10 am

It's a good question! I don't recall how much time passed between the idea and when I started to write the book, but it took about a year to write the first draft. I actually wrote the first draft of the manuscript with a writing partner of mine. The nice thing about having a screenplay is you can use it as an outline for the book. Though, as I mentioned, the book expanded and improved considerably. The published version of the book is very different from the original screenplay (and the first draft of the manuscript).

And as every author knows, writing the first draft is the easy part. Subsequent drafts, editing, and the submission process took an additional few years.

Since this is the last set of questions, I'd like to thank you for having me, Mark. This interview has been an absolute pleasure. And I'm thrilled you loved the book. I'd also like to thank all the people who have read the review and/or interview. If you choose to read The Prisoner of Paradise, I hope you enjoy it.

I'd love to be back here when book 2 releases!

2/28/2022 11:47:25 am

Though I never thought of it that way, because I am neither a writer nor a screenplay writer, A screenplay serving nimbly as an outline makes a lot of sense. A book should expand beyond a screenplay, lacking all of the visual and audio clues on the screen the vital information must be present on the page.
Yes, the first draft is supposed to be a pile of garbage! Unless you get it out of your head it cannot be edited and improved. The first draft is merely you telling yourself the story.
I am looking forward to reading the next installment of your story. It is wonderfully written and so much fun!
As long as the zombies don't march and the creek doesn't rise we will do this again.
Thanks for being a great guest!

2/28/2022 12:06:42 pm

"The first draft is merely you telling yourself the story."

So true! I love that.

This has been fantastic. See you in the fall!

The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn

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