The Terminus List by Stanley C. Straub

10/17/2020

Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Stanley C. Straub introduces us to his science fiction thriller, “The Terminus List”:
A Science Fiction thriller filled with realistic characters, aliens, politics, romance, hi-tech Flybots, Universal Transport Machines, and multiple universes. The main character is a mother determined to save her daughter at all costs. She is helped by her right-hand man, a humanoid that is almost more human than robot. The story begins at the year-end extravaganza held in 2998, where Tom Florin became a statistic. He was terminated by liberated punctuation, a fancy, made-up term by the government for killing people to keep the population under control. Two years later, in 3000, the names of the new chosen ones were published for all to see. Whose names will be listed and who will get to go to the extravaganza parade and then be led to the glorious extermination stations during the Super Sunday halftime celebration. Barbara Freeman, age 16 was one of the "supposedly" lucky names chosen for the 3000 celebration. During the show which will be broadcast for the world to see, Barbara and several thousand more are planned to be terminated. Most of them are willing and happy to be part of the termination process, but Barbara, her boyfriend, and her folks are not. Can Barbara escape her pending fate?

Mandatory population control has been turned into halftime entertainment. This dystopian-themed story introduces some new twists to the genre with multiple universes, talented robots and democratic elections.
I enjoyed this story, there was a lot of action and the dialogue kept the story moving at a good pace. Some of the technology was a lot of fun.
We finally get our flying cars! Set in the year 3000, flying vehicles are the primary mode of transportation for the populous. I hope I don’t have to wait that long.
I award 3.8 stars to “The Terminus List”.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Terminus-List-Stanley-Straub-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/the-terminus-list
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/the-terminus-list-stanley-c-straub

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/Renownedwriter
https://stanleystraubauthor.com
https://writerstar.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/stanley.straub.92
https://www.facebook.com/Stan-Straub-Author
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/76655467

tags: science fiction, sci-fi, dystopian

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

85 Comments

stan Straub link

10/18/2020 03:32:50 pm

Mark,
Thank you very much for the review of my book, The Terminus List. I appreciate all you do for writers. Stan

Mark

10/18/2020 04:42:04 pm

Hello, Stan. It's nice to chat with a fellow Oregonian. I live in the Portland area, the site of so much tumult and chaos. You do not live in the metropolitan area, lucky dog!
You are welcome, I love to read and feel blessed that I can help writers with proofreading and book promotions.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Stan Straub

10/18/2020 05:57:49 pm

I live in the small town of Lebanon Oregon about 80 miles south of Portland. I’m married to my beautiful wife, Donna. Together, we have seven children. We’ve been happily married for just two months shy of seven years. I was born in California and raised in Oregon. I spent my grade school years living in Walton Oregon. When I was 14 years old, my folks moved to Eugene Oregon. I graduated from Willamette High School in Eugene. When I was 18, I joined the Navy. After 4 years in the Navy, I got my first job at Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach California. After four years at Douglas, I started working at TRW in Redondo Beach California. I worked for there for 28 years and retired in 1997. My previous wife, Linda, and I moved back up to Cottage Grove Oregon. I lived there until my wife passed away in 2012. In 2013, I met my current wife, Donna, in an online dating service. We were married on 31 December 2013. Although, I spent many years in cities, I’m really an Oregon country boy at heart.

Mark

10/18/2020 06:13:34 pm

You do have a lot of Oregon in you. I have some California in me. My sisters were born in northern California. I met my wife in San Francisco, we were married there and our first child was born there. Each of our three children were born in a different state on the west coast.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
If you are, how long have you been a full-time writer, and how much time did it take you to make the transition from part time?

Stan Straub

10/18/2020 06:41:39 pm

I don’t consider myself a full-time writer. I consider myself a full-time family man that enjoys writing on the side.

Mark

10/18/2020 07:01:35 pm

Very good. That is an important distinction. Excellent placement of priorities.
New questions.
How long have you been writing fiction?
Are you in the writing business for love of writing or for money?

Stan Straub

10/18/2020 07:42:15 pm

I’ve been writing fiction off and on since I was in Long Beach Junior College in early 1960. Before that, I used to write a lot of incomplete fiction stories. I would start many stories but never finish them. When I wrote my first complete novel, The Killer Within, I had visions of becoming rich and famous but when it didn’t happen I decided that I was going to keep writing because I love doing it. My point of view has definitely changed over the years. If richness should ever happen, I probably wouldn’t turn it down but for now I write because I enjoy it. I guess you could say it’s in my blood.

Mark

10/18/2020 08:44:48 pm

I have heard of writers who would not declare a story finished, at some point. They always wanted to do one more edit. It seems that some of them were afraid to publish for fear their story wouldn't sell.
I am glad that you finally published a story. The Killer Within was pretty good.
I think every author harbors dreams of writing the next great American novel. It was never easy, but that goal is much more difficult now.
I have heard more than one author say they have to write, if they don't the voices in their head get too loud. I think a lot of authors are like you, they write for the love of it.
The creative urge is strong in people and there are so many ways to be creative.
New questions.
Does your past work/career have any influence on your writing?
What inspired you to write this book?
Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?

Stan Straub

10/18/2020 09:49:59 pm

As a writer, our work or past work and how and where we lived always plays a role in what we write. I've been blessed when it comes to writing. Most of my creations come out of nowhere. Maybe, like you said, maybe the genre chose me. I like Science Fiction and I just start thinking about writing and out comes a story. Once I come up with a story, I just start writing and let the story tell itself. I add to it as I write it. I'll be driving down the road and something will hit me that says I need to add it to the story. However, as much as I like Sci-Fy, the book I'm working on now is a Young Adult book. It could become a Sci-Fy book very easily but I'm not planning on doing it.

Mark

10/19/2020 10:16:12 am

It sounds like you have a great relationship with your muse. Stories come so easy to you.
I have thought about writing a book a few times. I have learned so much from authors in these interviews, I have a good idea about the mechanics of story writing. No ideas come to mind.
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?

Stan Straub

10/19/2020 12:14:40 pm

So far, I've designed all of my own covers. I get my covers free from "Canva.com". I go to their website and select a cover that most closely matches my book. Are they the absolute best cover I could get, probably not but they're free. I can modify the cover to have the elements that match the contents of my book. For example, when I went to Canva to get a cover for my new book, Bobby McDane and the Unicorn, there were no covers with unicorns but I found an appropriate cover and added a unicorn from their galley. Besides being free, I enjoy creating my own covers.

Mark

10/19/2020 12:54:51 pm

I didn't know Canva had covers. That is an interesting alternative. I used Canva for my Instagram account and I use a picture I made on Twitter also.
Using Canva that way certainly is a cost savings.
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?

Stan Straub link

10/19/2020 01:48:43 pm

No, it wasn't really hard to come up with the title. I think about what the book is about and then the title just comes to me. Same thing with the character names. Again, maybe I'm blessed but the names just pop into my head. I don't really have to think much for the title name or the names of the characters.

Mark Schultz

10/19/2020 02:05:20 pm

You are a lucky man! Many authors struggle with names. Sometimes that is a result of the genre or the time period their story is set in. There are websites on the web that are devoted to baby names. Some of them show the top boy and girl names for each year. Some of them going back for many decades.
There are also name generators available.
New questions.
Is this your newest book?
What other books and genres have you written?

Stan Straub link

10/19/2020 02:27:08 pm

The Terminus List is my latest published book. I'm now working on a new book, Bobby McDane and the Missing Unicorn. The only long and complete books I've written have been Science Fiction. I've written some short stories that were humorous. My new book will be Young Adult.

Mark Schultz

10/19/2020 04:15:57 pm

I do like science fiction and I have reviewed two other of your books. If a visitor puts your last name in the search box at the bottom of this page links will appear for those other reviews.
Why don't you list those other books including the one sci-fi story I haven't reviewed.

Stan Straub link

10/19/2020 04:28:55 pm

I’ve written and published four books, The first one was a medical mystery, The Killer Within. I followed it up with Three Science Fiction books, The Segmented Tail, The Trail in the Woods, and The Terminus List.

Mark Schultz

10/19/2020 05:46:42 pm

Very good.
Did I mention that science fiction is my favorite genre? I particularly enjoy stories about time travel. Fantasy is my second favorite and the subset of stories involving dragons are of great interest to me.
New questions.
What are the ten Amazon categories you chose for your book?
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Stan Straub link

10/19/2020 06:41:35 pm

There are only seven key words that are allowed on Amazon. The key words I chose for my book were Science Fiction, SyFy, Speculative Fiction, Adventure and Action, Hard Science Fiction, Thriller, and Dystopian. I did enter four or five writing contests a few years ago but I did not receive anything for them. I have never received any awards for my writing. I have only received the satisfaction of knowing that I completed a book and published it.

Mark Schultz

10/19/2020 08:48:13 pm

My mistake, maybe the 10 words were for different categories, I am not sure.
Completing and publishing a book is a big deal. There are so many millions of people who have started and never finished a book, much less publish it. Congratulations are in order, because you have done this a number of times. And you are working on a new book in a new genre now.
Every genre's fans have expectations about what they are going to want to read. Fans of cozy mysteries have a set of expectations that can differ greatly from the expectations of fans of hard-boiled murder mysteries.
What expectations do fans of the genre you wrote this book in, when you think of science fiction?
Why did you choose to write in a new genre? Why the Young Adult market?

Stan Straub link

10/19/2020 09:15:40 pm

I believe fans of my Science Fiction Books expect some humor, some interesting twists, and a surprise ending. Why am I writing a young adult book? I like Harry Potter books and figured that I could write one in that genre too. However, I wanted to write it with slightly different elements. It’ll have a boy and a girl who can fly and it’ll have an amazing dog that can talk and is very intelligent. The trio, Bobby, Sarah, and Milton are on a quest to find a missing unicorn named Flora and set her free. The unicorn was taken by an evil doctor, Dr. Vile, and is being held in a castle on an island in the Indian Ocean.

Mark Schultz

10/20/2020 10:07:36 am

Science fiction is a popular genre and has been around for a very long time. Many consider Jules Verne to be the father of the genre.
The Potter series has an enduring legacy also. So many grade school and middle grade kids read and loved the books. Many of those kids are now young adults.
Your premise has great promise.
New questions.
I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you? How many books have you put in KU?
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing or self-publishing, and why?

Stan Straub link

10/20/2020 10:53:35 am

The four books that I've published have been enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. I can't say that I've gotten much out of it, so far. On my first book, I submitted many many query letters and submitted many many letters directly to publishers. However, all of them were rejected, some gave reasons and many did not. I kept trying because I read that even famous authors/books had been rejected multiple times. So I didn't want to quit trying. Then I found Amazon self-publishing and decided to go that route. It was much more enjoyable to see my books on the coffee table than to see rejection letters piling up on the table.

Mark Schultz

10/20/2020 04:27:28 pm

If KU isn't doing you much good, it might be time to cut that loose and seek wider distribution. Amazon demands an exclusive contract to allow books into KU.
Amazon's takeover of the publishing world has been a blessing and a curse, de3pending upon who you talk to.
The traditional publishing industry has been decimated, there are only five large traditional publishers left, and a bunch of smaller ones. Their profit margins have shrunk so much, they cannot take chances on unknown authors anymore. If they think they can make money on a book, they offer much smaller advances, if any. They don't do any promotional work for the author. All advertising and promotions are on the author's shoulders. The collapse of the traditional publishing industry is an ultra-slow train wreck, it will never disappear completely, but it is rapidly becoming irrelevant.
Your joy in self-publishing and being able to hold in your hands the book you wrote is experienced by almost a million authors every year.
Have you noticed? Some traditionally published authors are moving into indie or self-publishing. They have realized that they can make a lot more money by keeping control of their intellectual property rights.
New questions.
What are the main advantages of being self-published as opposed to getting a book deal?
Do you think independent publishers can produce a book as good as mainstream publishers?

Stan Straub link

10/20/2020 04:48:46 pm

The main advantage of using a independent publisher is having a published book in your hands and not having to wait months or years for a traditional publisher to publish your book. It used to be that mainstream publishers would really promote a book but a lot of that has changed.
As far as independent publishers producing a book as good as a mainstream publisher, I think they can but a lot depends on how much an author is willing to pay. If an author is willing to pay, they can have beautiful covers, well-edited, and proofread books. If they want to spend the money, they can also have their book professionally promoted.

Mark Schultz

10/20/2020 05:14:26 pm

Time is a big factor. Sometimes, a trad publisher will wait months or more to publish a book, when they think the market is right for it to succeed. The trad publisher over orders the number of books they think they will need, to bring the price per unit down. The books that don't sell are remaindered to a company that sells the books for much less than the cover price.
You are right. For the author, a book that starts out as a creative endeavor changes into a business proposition. The authors that have the means to invest heavily in their book stand a better chance of recouping their investment. A professional cover can make a difference in catching a reader's eye, then the blurb has to attract and encourage them to look inside the book.
New questions.
Was it difficult to choose between self-publishing and independent publishing?
What are the three most important considerations for an independent author to be certain of when signing a contract with an independent or hybrid publisher?

Stan Straub link

10/20/2020 05:28:23 pm

For me, it wasn’t hard. I never even considered signing with an independent publisher. I’m not sure what the three most important things would be. I’d have to look into it a lot more if I was going to go that route.

Mark Schultz

10/20/2020 06:46:49 pm

It's something that you would want to check into carefully. There are scam publishers that wi8ll not only take as much of your money as possible, some will also try to grab your IP rights also. Before signing a contract, get a lawyer that is familiar IP rights and entertainment licensing to go over that contract.
The same thing for contest sponsors. Some of them will do a rights grab also.
There is a great website called Writer Beware, it is on the SFWA, here is a copy-and-paste link: https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/. They warn about publishers and contests to avoid.
New questions.
You are self-publishing at this time. Have you started your own imprint? Here is a good article about that idea: https://www.janefriedman.com/why-self-publishing-authors-should-consider-establishing-their-own-imprint
How was the experience publishing your book with Amazon?

Stan Straub link

10/21/2020 11:58:59 am

I have not started my own imprint. I will check out the article about it that you suggested. Sounds interesting. I have had great success publishing with Amazon. No problems and everything has gone smoothly. I couldn't be happier with the Amazon publishing experience. I've used them for all of my books. There may be many more better publishing companies but for me, I've been very happy with Amazon.

Mark Schultz

10/21/2020 04:21:37 pm

I am glad it has worked out well for you. Publishing on Amazon has worked out pretty well for several hundred thousand other people also. There are about a million books published each year now, and most of them on Amazon.
One of the things Amazon hasn't done real well is they promised to have a "store" for every country, a number of years ago. They have less than 20 stores in place, at this time.
New questions.
Is using Twitter and other social media part of your marketing strategy?
Did you use ads on Amazon or other platforms such as Facebook or Bookbub?

Stan Straub link

10/21/2020 04:27:56 pm

I use Twitter and Facebook for most of my marketing strategy. I also have my online website. I'm not sure that I've gotten a lot of sales from Twitter, Facebook, or my website though. I haven't used Bookbub for much. I've used ads on Amazon and Facebook but again I didn't get many if any sales from them. .

Mark Schultz

10/21/2020 05:18:00 pm

Sales are hard to come by. Getting people to read your book is hard. That is thanks to Amazon also. The downside of everyone being able to publish a book is that everyone publishes a book. The torrent of books being published every day is that there is a flood of books, each one wanting to be be bought and read. The hard nut to crack is getting attention for your book, making it stand out above the other 999,000 books. Up until the advent of the Covid crisis many authors relied upon book fairs, comic conventions, and author signings to meet the readers face to face. Much of that has been eliminated this year. The first half of next year does not look very promising.
What is an author to do? There is no easy answer. There never was an easy answer. Every undertaking has risk and expense. Many authors have taken to cultivating groups on Facebook or other social media platforms. They hold live, online events inviting fans to interact with them and offer prizes. Some escape the Amazon environment and go wide with their book, seeking as many platforms as possible to sell their book on.
Many blogs have been written about these ideas and more. No matter what course you take, it will take time. The only guarantee is that you will get nothing if you do nothing.
New questions.
You have a newsletter, which mailing service do you use? Is it the same one you started with or not? Why?
What kind of marketing are you doing or planning on doing for your book? Besides here on Word Refiner.

Stan Straub link

10/21/2020 06:20:44 pm

I started out using mailchimp.com but I have just started using my own mail service for now. So far, I don't have enough subscribers to mess with a mail service. It's easier for me to do it myself. I haven't really thought about marketing much. I may do some ads but nothing is planned yet.

Mark Schultz

10/21/2020 06:48:40 pm

I subscribe to a number of newsletters, and I see Mailchimp on quite a few. I have also seen other brands. Doing it yourself does save some money, no question about that.
I have read a number of blogs comparing different services in the past.
A newsletter is only one form of marketing. It might be time for more research.
Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur has been researching Amazon ads and come up with some good ideas. He says it's not a set it and forget it kind of deal. Buying ads on Amazon requires a lot of watchfulness and frequent adjustment.
New questions.
In your experience, which marketing avenues have been the most rewarding or profitable?
Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

Stan Straub link

10/21/2020 06:58:46 pm

Being perfectly honest with you, I haven't found any marketing avenues that have worked. I've tried many but nothing that I do on my own has generated any sales. I've gotten more sales from my friends and relatives than I have from marketing.
I picked you because I like what you do. You are very honest and helpful. I like the fact that you charge a reasonable amount and promote the books on Twitter and put it on other social media. In a nutshell, I trust you and have enjoyed talking to you on twitter and we're both Oregonians. :)

Mark Schultz

10/21/2020 08:40:30 pm

I appreciate your honesty. Your experience is not that different from many other authors. It takes a lot of work to generate sales, and an author has to take a long view. It is very unlikely that any one book will make a bunch of money. For most authors, buying ads on Amazon and Facebook don't pay off.
Most authors have to have a long plan and keep working it and investing in their books, keep writing also. Because the large back list is part of the key to long term success for some authors. A back list and going wide. That seems to be what works for some authors.
There are many moving parts to the successful machine, including groups on Facebook or other social media, offering a private group for people who are members of your email club. Creating special perks and events for the faithful fans can pay off in the long run. Contests, prizes, polls to vote on covers and titles, can help also to bond the fans to the author. All it takes is time and money. For most of us, one or the other are hard to come by.
I do try to be honest and helpful, I never guarantee sales from a promotion, only exposure; with more than 50,000 followers on Twitter that is a lot of exposure. I am glad to help a fellow Oregonian also.
New questions.
I see that you are offering a paperback version of your book, that is print on demand, I am guessing. How about a hardback or large-print version POD?
Have you thought about doing an audio book?
Who would you pick to do the audio book?

Stan Straub link

10/21/2020 09:00:50 pm

I haven't looked into POD hardback or large-print versions of my book. I've thought about an audio book but again, I haven't really looked into it. So, I'm not sure who I would pick to do the audio book. Someday, I'll have to spend less time writing and spend more time looking into these things.

Mark Schultz

10/22/2020 09:41:28 am

You typify the struggle of so many authors. Their deep desire to write is frustrated by the desire to sell books and find success. The creative hat is far more comfortable than the business hat. Unfortunately most authors experience a lot of tension between the two sides of the business. That's what writing truly is, a business. A story is the product and it can be packaged in so many ways.
Books in many different forms including audio and graphic novels, plays, screenplays for big and small screen plus streaming. There is also merchandising, physical items that represent different characters and aspects of a story. We have art work, small statues of characters, book marks, coffee cups, covid masks; that list is endless.
There are lots of blogs about audio books, including how to do your own. If you put audio in the search box below you will find links to a number of excellent blogs. I had the opportunity to include a book narrator in a review, put prophecy in the search box below. The name of the book is Heir to a Prophecy.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Stan Straub link

10/22/2020 11:28:59 am

One of my favorite books was Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clark. It was Science Fiction at its greatest and full of suspense.
When I was young, my favorite book was The Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton-Porter It was the last book she wrote prior to her death.

Mark Schultz

10/22/2020 03:04:31 pm

I read a lot of Clark's books when I was a young man. I may not have read that one. I cannot recall it. I need to rectify that.
The other book I am sure I haven't read.
New questions.
Which of your books is your favorite, and why? You have written humor and other genres.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

Stan Straub link

10/22/2020 03:18:58 pm

My favorite book that I've written would have to be my first one The Killer Within. However, with that being said, my new favorite book will be Bobby McDane and the Missing Unicorn. Of course, I'll have to finish writing it first.
I've never considered my writing having a spiritual or healing component for me. My writing does tend to energize me. It certainly keeps me busy and keeps me going.

Mark

10/22/2020 04:15:08 pm

More than one writer has given me a similar answer. Quite a few throw up their hands and say how can I ask a question like that. For quite a few, the current book is the favorite.
Doing something you enjoy can be tiring and energizing at the same time. I love reading and proofreading, but I am tired at the end of the day and I feel good about my progress. Tired but good.
New questions.
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
How does a writer ensure the reader will connect with the characters?

Stan Straub link

10/22/2020 04:54:21 pm

I feel that it's very important for writers to tap into the emotions of their characters. By tapping into the character's emotions,the writer can better portray the character and they can make the whole story flow better with more realistic emotions.
A writer should try to make the characters have the kind of characteristics that are believable for the reader and the characteristics should match the characters personality. The writer needs to try to get into the heads of their characters and understand their emotions so that they can get the characters to come alive.

Mark Schultz

10/22/2020 06:16:24 pm

As human beings, our lives are bound up in stories. We use stories to look at our past, we use stories to decide in the present and we use stories to plan or dream of our future. We want and need stories. We are surrounded by stories every day.
You are correct, emotions, relatable emotions, help us to identify with the characters and contribute greatly to our enjoyment of a tale told.
We all want a certain amount of control and congruity in our lives. We cling desperately to the illusion of control at times. The characters in the stories must do the same, their journey to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds gives us hope. We all need hope in one form or another.
Realistic characters are crucial to a story. In many genres the wounded hero is the most important character, the woundedness is part of what makes the hero relatable, because many of us feel wounded and the struggle is real, day by day, even though we don't want to admit it.
New questions.
There is a journey that a hero/protagonist must complete in a story. how do you frame the quest or challenge for your protagonist in this book?
What do you use to cause problems for the hero in this book?

Stan Straub link

10/23/2020 12:26:50 pm

I don't really think about it but in this book the protagonist, Judy Johnson, comes up with clever to beat her rival, the antagonist, Sara Chin. I create problems for my hero, Judy, by having Sara play mind games with Judy and to try to outwit her. However, Judy being the hero, outwits Sara.

Mark

10/23/2020 01:44:48 pm

We do like it when good triumphs over evil. That satisfies our need for justice and fairness. We all want equal opportunity, to start at the same place for a race. That has to be balanced against the desire to win, for some that becomes the most important thing and fairness goes out the window.
New questions.
What was your goal in writing this book? Did you achieve it?
Has your life turned out differently than expected or planned?

Stan Straub link

10/23/2020 02:13:51 pm

My goal was to write a good Science Fiction book that would capture the future and hopefully be believable. Did I achieve it, I think I did. :)

My life has turned out differently than expected. When I was younger and met and married my first wife, Linda, I thought that we would both ride off into the sunset together. Then, after nearly 53 years, I lost her and found out that life doesn't always go as expected. After losing Linda, I thought my life was through but then out of the clear blue Oregon sky, I met and married my current wife, Donna. We've been married now for almost 7 years. Life can be so full of surprises that our expectations are many times not met. However, life can give us so much more than we anticipate. I have so many wonderful memories and I wouldn't have changed any part of my life, even if i could. However, I have learned one thing about life, expectations are only that and things can go completely different than expected.

Mark

10/23/2020 02:33:43 pm

I love your image of the future, we have flying cars! Ever since seeing The Jetsons cartoon show, I have wanted a flying car. Your robot is far more capable than Rosie ever thought about being.
Life does turn our differently than we expect a lot of the time.
New questions.
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?
If you do participate, what kind of preparation do you do before NaNoWriMo starts?

Stan Straub link

10/23/2020 03:45:36 pm

I have never done NaNoWriMo. So, I can’t answer about any preps.

Mark

10/23/2020 05:02:24 pm

That is one of those take-a-chance questions. Many writers use NaNoWriMo to jumpstart a book. They join a group of likeminded authors for mutual support and encouragement. Writing 50,000 words in 30 days seems like a lot until you break it down and find it's less than 2,000 words a day. First draft only.
New questions.
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?
When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?
What type of material is that most often, description, action or dialogue?

Stan Straub link

10/23/2020 05:51:31 pm

I’m neither. I pretty much edit my writing as I go. When I finish, I read through the entire book again to make sure that the story flows okay and that I didn’t leave something out. I only read it once when I’m finished. I probably should read it several times but I’m too anxious to get started on my new book.
I try to have a good balance between dialogue, action, and description. This is something I’ve learned to do over the years. I had a half-sister a few years ago that commented on my first book. Her advice was, show, don’t tell. I have tried to incorporate that advice into all of my writing.

Mark

10/23/2020 06:42:10 pm

You are not the first writer to tell me that's how you write.
There is no one way to write a book. That much is for certain. At the oth3er end of the spectrum is the writer that completes multiple drafts. They might put the first draft away, for a few weeks and work on another project. Then come back to book A and edit it into a second draft. Then send that draft to several beta readers, three to six is an average number. When the betas return the manuscript with their comments, a third draft is completed. Then the author might send it to a critique partner, if they have one, or put it away again for a few weeks. Looking at the book with fresh eyes helps a lot. After another edit, off it goes to the editor. Working through all of those ideas creates another draft, then off it goes to the proofreader. When that is returned and corrections made, a lot of authors will publish at that point. Though some who are writing a series will hold off publishing until the series is fully written to take advantage of opportunities to hide clues and create foreshadowing. If I was a writer, this is the process I would be following. I know how I am wired.
Great advice from your half-sister, it has been echoed by many different people. Following that builds more excitement into a story.
You are correct, it is important to have a balance of dialogue, action and description or telling. Of the three, I think dialogue is the best thing to be heavy on. So much can be accomplished in dialogue and it can keep the story moving at a good pace, if the dialogue is meaningful.
New questions.
Do you prefer dialogue tags or action beats in your books?
What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories?
How do you give them depth?

Stan Straub link

10/23/2020 07:25:24 pm

I prefer dialogue tags because I feel that they best brings out the points of the story I’m telling. However, in some cases, action may be best. I usually look for dialogue or action that best portrays what I want to tag.

I try to have a character describe or mention a trait in another character that are having a conversation. I feel that is the best way to show rather than tell. I try to describe particular characteristics and then round those descriptions up with dialogue that talks about them. I like to have my characters showing a lot of emotions, such as smiling, crying, and different personal facial expressions.

Mark

10/23/2020 08:45:55 pm

They both have good uses and if mixed well keep the story moving along at a good pace.
I like the idea of one character describing something about another character. People do it also. Displays of a variety of emotions help create a full-fledged character. Without strong emotions the main characters will seem flat and uninteresting to a lot of readers.
New questions.
Have you ever used other acquaintances as the basis for a character, to the point they have recognized themselves in your book?
Have you ever used yourself as a character for a starting point in a story?
Would a friend or family member recognize you in the story?

Stan Straub link

10/23/2020 09:04:37 pm

I used myself as one of the characters in my first book. Almost anyone that knew me recognized me as the character.

However, since then, I have not used anyone I know, including myself, in any book that I’ve written. All of the characters I now put in my books are purely fictitious and any resemblances to any living person is a total coincidence. I feel it makes more original characters if I fabricate my characters and it’s more realistic to create characters from scratch.

Mark

10/24/2020 10:18:59 am

A lot of authors do the same. They make their characters up completely. A few writers admit to using bits and pieces of people they know. Very few use an acquaintance as a character.
There is a definite advantage to creating your characters. No one can claim that your characters are acting out of character.
Some writers go to great lengths to get to know the characters. They interview the characters about favorites and things they hate, places they have been or things they have done. Many authors have a picture in their mind's eye about the appearance of the character, they draw, paint or look for a picture on the internet that reminds them of the character.
Rick Hall, a client and guest blogger, created a tool to help a writer get to know their character. It's really cool and he talks about it in a guest blog on my website. Put character in the search box below to see the blog.
New questions.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?

Stan Straub link

10/24/2020 11:30:33 am

To me the protagonist is the most fun to write. The antagonist takes a lot more work. However, they are as much a part of the story as the protagonist. (Just a side note. I never think about protagonists and antagonists when I'm writing a story. They are there but I just write the story and let them develop. I don't spend any time at all thinking about them as being the protagonist and/or antagonist.)

The one thing I hate about my protagonist is that she doesn't believe that she's as good as she is. The one thing I love about my antagonist is that she is very smart and cunning.

Mark

10/24/2020 02:35:19 pm

It sounds like the story almost writes itself for you.
None of us are confident the first time we attempt something new. I remember how wobbly I was when I was learning to ride a bicycle. Years later, I was able to draw upon that experience learning to drive a motorcycle. The motorcycle was a little scary, but I knew that I couldn't go to slow with a serious risk of falling over and hurting myself or the machine.
You accurately portrayed the doubts your protagonist had when she was thinking about running for office.
New questions.
What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?
Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

Stan Straub link

10/24/2020 04:19:24 pm

The first thing I do is to see exactly where I left off and then I think for a minute or so to decide what I want to write to continue from where I left off, Once I decide what to write, I start writing.

I write in a straight line, from beginning to end. I stay focused on the story I'm writing from beginning to end until it's completed. While I'm writing the story, I try to come up with a good ending, better than the one I originally decided upon. Sometimes the better ending will come to me while I'm writing and sometimes it'll come to me when I'm just driving down the road. When we go for a drive, I am constantly thinking about my book. (PS. I do spend the majority of my time paying attention to my driving though.)

Mark

10/24/2020 10:10:56 pm

I think a lot of writers do the same thing. Review what was written and then build on that.
I did hear what sounded like a good trick a while ago. The blogger said they would stop in the middle of the chapter, especially when they knew exactly how they wanted it to go. They might make a note or two. Then when they came back to it, it was very easy to jump right in where they had stopped. By the time they got to the end of the chapter, they almost always knew what came next.
Rick Hall, I mentioned him earlier, he wrote a blog called non-linear writing. He made it sound quite simple. Write the parts that were the easiest to write first. I think that would be quote helpful if the ending was clear in your mind. Fill in the rest as you can, the hard parts will not be nearly so hard, he says, because you already know what else is going on. Not being a writer myself, I find it interesting. What do you think?
We, along with your passengers, are glad you spend most of your time thinking about driving. We want you to keep on writing. ;-)
New questions.
Which is more important to a story pace or flow?
How do you control it?
Did your writing process change much from your early writing to your current book or did it stay the same?

Stan Straub link

10/24/2020 10:46:37 pm

Non-linear writing doesn’t sound good to me. Maybe, that’s because I e never done it and I’ve never felt that I needed to do it. I think both pace and flow are important to a story. However, with that said, I lean towards flow being the most important. You control it with your writing. The words you use can make for a good flowing story.

My writing process hasn’t changed much from when I started writing. However, I have leaned to make a story flow better and I’ve learned to write better dialogue and to make my characters more believable. One of the best things I’ve learned is “show don’t tell“.

Mark

10/24/2020 11:05:20 pm

That is one of the wonderful things about writing, everyone gets to choose how to do it. Unlike, say, plumbing. There are correct ways to plumb a house and incorrect ways. If you want to pass inspection, the plumber better adhere to the standards the first time.
If a story doesn't read smoothly, the reader will feel uncomfortable. Too much description, or even the dreaded information dump, and the story will slow way down. There are times for the flow to change, let it be by plan rather than accident.
New questions.
How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

Stan Straub link

10/25/2020 10:22:09 am

I think that my book portrays a lot of the stuff going on today, especially the politics.

The one thing that I hope readers will remember about my book is that politics and the use of power can go far beyond the borders of earth. .

Mark

10/25/2020 11:05:00 am

Politics have taken a turn for the worse. No doubt about that.
In so many sci-fi stories, earthers don't fare very well against aliens. That is a very common theme. H. G. Wells' "War of The Worlds" is a prime example. Jumping up to "Close Encounters of The Third Kind" in which the aliens seemed benevolent. Unlike The Twilight Zone episode, "To Serve Man", we don't know what happened to the people who boarded the space ship.
New questions.
Do you have a classical author or poet, you admire?
What popular modern authors have influenced you?

Stan Straub link

10/25/2020 12:01:36 pm

Robert Heinlein.is a classical author that I admire. I loved his books, The Door into Summer and Stranger in a Strange Land. A classical poet that I admire is William Shakespeare.

The popular modern authors that have influenced me are Dean Koontz, J.K. Rowling, and Stephen King.

Mark

10/25/2020 12:22:19 pm

I remember reading quite a bit of Heinlein when I was much younger. Stranger in a Strange Land entranced so many people. He was a prolific author.
Shakespeare penned a lot of plays that are still very popular, after several hundred years. He wrote some amazing dialogue that still makes people laugh!
I recently watched the first Harry Potter movie. I can see why kids loved it so much.
New questions.
If you could meet your favorite author, what would you ask them?
What will a reader learn about you by reading your books?

Stan Straub link

10/25/2020 01:24:12 pm

If I could meet my favorite author, I'd ask them to give me pointers on making my writing better.

A reader of my books will learn that I have a sense of humor, a wild imagination, and the ability to encompass many new ideas into my writing.

Mark

10/25/2020 04:41:31 pm

Writing is a lot like golf. You can always get better, there are so many ways to write a book and different techniques to employ.
New questions.
What expectations do the fans of YA stories have and how will you satisfy those desires in your new book?
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

Stan Straub link

10/25/2020 05:38:07 pm

Fans of YA books expect the main characters to be teens or younger and They expect the story to be seen through the eyes of the young characters. My book will have a boy Bobby, and a girl, Sarah, both ten years old. It’ll also have a believable dog named Milton and the story will be told through The eyes of Bobby, Sarah, and Milton’s.

I use Word for my writing and Paint for any photos. I use Canva to create my book covers. I use Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing to publish my books. I’ve been using them for all of my books. I have found them to be very easy to use, straight forward, and with very good reader coverage

Mark

10/25/2020 06:41:32 pm

I have read several YA books, that use first person point of view. Sometimes they alternate the POV by chapter. Are you planning on doing that? I happen to really enjoy first person POV. It brings a greater intimacy to the story.
The Microsoft Office Suite is extremely popular with a huge installed fan base all over the world. A lot of writers use it.
I use it in my proofreading because it has a feature called Comment. I use that to mark and suggest changes to a manuscript. Other than removing or inserting necessary spaces, I don't like making actual changes to a book.
Canva is another popular program.
New questions.
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?
Are you a plotter, a pantster, or a hybrid?

Stan Straub link

10/25/2020 08:08:36 pm

I keep track of all the characters and events in my head. I’ve never had a problem forgetting either.

I’m basically a plotter with a little hybrid thrown in. I pretty much have the entire story plotted in my head before I begin. Once I have it plotted out, I start writing. I may make minor or even major changes as I write the book. However, any changes are usually minor. I’m constantly trying to think of a better, more clever ending. Many times as I get more of the book written and closer to the end, a new ending will pop into my mind.

Mark

10/25/2020 08:40:27 pm

You don't write the plot down, I am impressed. I don't think I could do that. I would have to put it down on paper or maybe Post-it notes.
I could also use Scrivener, those that conquer the steep learning curve love that program. It allows you to keep all your notes, research and sources organized as you like it. Characters, events, locations, are all supposed to be easy to deal with.
A lot of authors claim hybrid status. Some plot more and some plot less, but many authors do some plotting and write by the seat of their pants for the rest.
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?
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

Stan Straub link

10/25/2020 08:51:52 pm

No, I've never had a story swerve in a new direction. I guess it's because I feel I'm driving the story and not my characters.

For me, dialogue is the easiest to write. However, I have found that they are all fairly easy to write as long as you have a good idea of what it is that you're going to write.

Mark

10/25/2020 09:04:42 pm

You are a lucky guy! I have heard from a lot of authors that every once and a while, a character seems to balk, the words won't flow. Some fight it and try to push on through and the muse is silent. They start talking with the character or maybe several, and a change in direction or relationship between characters occurs. Many authors have reported that this has been a good thing.
Dialogue is what carries the story for me. It is useful in so many ways. It can eliminate a lot of telling also. Readers are more attracted to good dialogue than to lots of description.
New questions.
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or are you a coffee-shop writer, if we weren't dealing with the Covid thing?
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing at home, or do you need quiet?

Stan Straub link

10/25/2020 09:39:39 pm

I have a defined space, I call it my office or computer room. I like to use my computer because all of the software is on it. Also, I have my reference books in the office with me. However, now a days, I manly use the computer (Internet) for the reference tool. A few years ago, I used a Dictionary and Thesaurus extensively, which I still have but don't use as much now. I'm definitely not a coffee-shop writer.

I do not listen to music or anything else while I'm writing. The TV is sometimes on in the living room but I find that when I'm concentrating on writing, that I can tune out the TV.

Mark

10/26/2020 10:29:31 am

We are much alike. I tweet, read and proofread in my office. I am usually working in quiet. Sometimes I have a radio on listening to news programming. If I am proofreading the radio is off.
I have quite a few reference books also. The only one I use regularly is the Chicago Manual of Style. Everything else is on the internet.
New questions.
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?
Have you ever participated in theater in some way, acted, behind the scenes or written a play?

Stan Straub link

10/26/2020 11:18:00 am

Of the five senses, sight would be my easiest and smell would be my hardest. It is fairly easy to describe how a person looks but it is more difficult to describe how they smell.

I have never participated in theater. The closest I came to that was when I was in a Christmas play in church when I was about 8 years old. That was many moons ago and I wasn't the main character.

Mark

10/26/2020 12:07:43 pm

That puts you firmly in concurrence with many other authors. It is not a big surprise, we are so visually oriented in our lives. The interesting thing is that smell is such a big trigger mechanism for memories, good and otherwise. A lot of people mention that they remember their dad's aftershave or cologne long after their parents are gone, or a particular dish mom made. Smell contributes a great deal to our enjoyment of life in general, but it is hard to write about, according to many authors.
Christmas plays in church or some kind of drama in school, many of us have had that experience. I wrote a one-act play in high school, about how greed overcomes a group of bank robbers.
New questions.
How long does the research process take before you start to write a book or do you do the research as you write the book?
How did you know when your book was finished?

Stan Straub link

10/26/2020 12:48:23 pm

My first book, the Killer Within, was a medical thriller and I had to do a lot of medical research. However, as I have done with all of my books, I did the research as I was writing the book. I normally don't spend a lot of time doing research for my books. Only the first one took an extraordinary amount of time. I would say that overall I spent ten hours or more doing research. The book was about a field that I had almost zero knowledge in and I had to research a lot of medical terms and conditions that I talked about in the book.

I know that the book is finished when I write the words that I've thought about for the final chapter. Once I've decided on a final chapter and final scene for the story, I write out an ending in my mind. Then, it's just a matter of writing the words and reading it several times to make sure that it says what I want it to say. I know it's the final chapter when I think that the story is completely told and I don't need to add anything more.

Mark

10/26/2020 01:18:08 pm

I can imagine a lot of research was required for that book.
While Terminus List was set in the future with a lot of exotic technologies, not much research was required. There are so many speculative technologies already mentioned in many different books. All a sci-fi author has to do is not create any contradictions within his own book. As long as everything is congruent and logical, it's all good.
New questions.
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?

Stan Straub link

10/26/2020 04:12:40 pm

I started writing on the book the next day after I got the idea.

The first draft took me several months because I was delayed by a couple of unplanned events. I was diagnosed with cancer on the back of my head it was surgically removed and i underwent successful radiation treatments. The second event occurred when my wife fell at home and broke her hip. I recovered from the cancer and my wife is still recovering from the broken hip. Now, besides writing I’m being the sole caregiver for my wife. So, what would have normally taken me five or six months to write the book, took me over a year.

Mark

10/26/2020 05:13:28 pm

Life sure has a way of interrupting our plans. You did pretty well getting this book done.
It also sounds like the skin cancer is gone. I have heard that recovery from a hip fracture is a long and difficult process. Best wishes for the speedy recovery of your wife.
Last questions.
Do you get ideas for future books or stories while writing a book?
When did you get the idea for the YA book, your current WIP?
When does inspiration normally strike for you?
What do you do to preserve these ideas?

Stan Straub link

10/26/2020 06:19:10 pm

Sometimes i come up with a new story while I’m working on a book but usually not. I did however for my new book, Bobby McDane and the Missing Unicorn. But when I do, it makes it harder for me to continue concentrating on the book I’m writing. I could hardly wait to finish The Terminus List so that I could start on my new book. I got very excited thinking about my YA book and I actually made the cover and wrote the first couple of pages while I was finishing up The Terminus List.

Inspiration for a new book usually doesn’t strike me until I finish the book I’m working on. I try to keep my mind focused on the book I’m writing.

If I come up with an idea, I write up the idea and make some notes and put it on my computer.

Mark

10/26/2020 06:45:55 pm

Many authors have said they get new ideas while writing a book. I always encourage them to write the ideas down and a few notes while it is all fresh. Good for you.
I can easily imagine how excited a new idea for a book is. You have to write the book to know what it is going be. So it must be a lot like opening a birthday present, albeit very slowly.
I have a new promotion that starts tomorrow. I want to thank you for sharing your writing and publishing journey with us over this last week. I greatly appreciate the time you took to answer all my questions. I am pretty nosy, but inquiring minds want to know.
It has been a real pleasure, best of luck on the new book and keep on writing.

Stan Straub link

10/26/2020 07:07:44 pm

Mark, thank you very much for doing the interview with me. Believe it or not, I really enjoyed doing it. You asked some excellent questions and I liked to answer them because the questions/answers allow me to understand myself and my writing better. I was hurt to learn that Grizz had passed away. You and your wife have my deepest sympathy. In closing, I want to thank you and tell you it was an absolute pleasure doing the interview. Ps. I hope my new book, Bobby McDane and the Missing Unicorn gets me a chance for another interview. I’m already looking forward to it. Sincerely, Stan

The Terminus List by Stanley C. Straub

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