How long did
it take you from idea to publishing your novel?
For my
previous two novels it took me upwards of four to five years to complete the
manuscripts. Often I would work on one
section, perhaps later in the story, then jump to a section earlier. But for "Perfected By Girls" I
wrote from page one all the way through page three-ten without jumping around,
and I was able to complete everything in just over two years. I credit this change primarily to my
two-person Sunday morning writing group, which forced me to have new material
every week, and the fact that I had a very specific plotline in mind right from
the start.
That's great about the writing group and being willing to try different ways of writing a story. What are
you writing now or have forthcoming?
I've been
working on my novels for a number of years now, so I'm actually going back to
the short stories and novellas I wrote a decade or two ago. Some I want to polish; others I'm thinking of
expanding into longer pieces. When I
return to novels, since I've always been curious about the 1950s and 60s, I may
set my next one in either of those two decades with a coming-of-age tale.
The 1950s and 60s are an interesting time period. Good luck with your future novels. I always
find it interesting to learn what other authors are reading. If you could
recommend a book—not your own—what book would that be?
On a daily
basis, I read a lot--but much of it is in the way of political and news
articles. I enjoy the limited space that
reporters and essayists have to make an argument, or explain an issue, so it
still helps me learn how to be a better writer by examining how he or she turns
a phrase or uses certain vocabulary.
That's an neat way to look at articles. I wish you much success in your future endeavors.
For more about Alfred C. Martino, please visit his author page on Amazon.
