Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Michael C. Sahd to Chat About Books! 🙂Â
For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?
Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, I moved to Texas in 2008 to be with my lovely wife. I had been writing long before that, however, and I have piles of little shorts collected. I had always wanted to become published, but I have perfectionism issues. Recently, my wife, who is also a professional editor, harassed me into getting “something” published. “Assassin Marked” was complete, so we went ahead and self-published it through Amazon.
Where did/do you get your ideas from?
I am a prolific reader, and I enjoy good television/movies. These mediums provide me with a basis for many ideas. “Assassin Marked,” specifically, was inspired by Joss Whedon’s Firefly series and the anime Cowboy Bebop.
Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?
Most of them are, to some extent. Damian and Victoria, for instance, are modelled after some friends of mine living in Albuquerque. In real life, they are married, and “Damian” is a police officer rather than an assassin.
How do you pick your characters’ names?
Names are easy for me. If I can’t think of one off the top of my head, I will do a quick Google search for a suitable name.
Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?
My writing process has evolved over the years. When I first started writing, I would come up with an outline and research a ton. These days, however, I sit down and write almost a stream-ofconsciousness narrative. Then I go back like an artist and paint in the details. I like to do this in short spurts, too. To me, that is much easier than revising an entire novel all at once. I find that I like to get into my characters’ minds, figure out some scenarios, and then type up the actions and responses those characters will make when confronted by those scenarios.
Who are your top 5 favourite authors?
1. Stephen King
2. Michael Crichton
3. J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Agatha Christie
5. Alexander Dumas
If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Absolutely Stephen King. I am incredibly impressed with his ability to make believable and “real” characters, and I would ask him his method for doing so.
Were you a big reader as a child?
The first school I attended was a private school my mother insisted on putting me in. I completed kindergarten and 1st grade there. It wasn’t a good school. When my mother passed away, my father enrolled me in 2nd grade at a public school. They immediately tossed me back into 1st grade because I didn’t know how to read. After this, my father, as well as my 1st grade teacher, worked with me, and I was reading within a month. I read my first novel that same year, Stephen King’s It.
When did you start to write?
I started writing fantasy and poetry when I was in middle school.
If you could re-write the ending to any book, what would it be and what would you change?
This is a difficult question. However, off the top of my head, I would have to say Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I think I would make him a martyr. It would be sad, but a much better ending. I guess I like emotionally difficult endings.
Is there a book you wish you had written?
Firestarter! I really enjoyed the story, and the character is the type of character I typically like to write about.
If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?
I can’t say I’ve given this any thought. I have no plans to write an autobiography. The Man Without A Plan.
If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?
Gandalf, and I would take him to a café in Santa Fe.
What are you working on right now?
The continued adventures of Damian, and I am also introducing a new character into the series. The next book will not be a short story, either. I already have more written in two chapters of the new story than the entire word count of “Assassin Marked.” I am also working on a tragic fantasy story, of which I will not disclose too many details yet.
Do you have a new release due?
No specific date, but I will certainly publish another story before next October.
What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?
I’ve only had one. My wife and I smiled a lot.
How can readers keep in touch with you?
You can find more information about me and/or interact on:
• My Amazon author page • Facebook • Twitter
• Goodreads • Google Plus • LibraryThing • Author’s Den • Tumblr • My blog
Is there anything else you would like us to know?
I welcome interaction with my readers. If you have any questions, or anything you’d like to say to me, just send me a message through one of the listed sites, and I’ll try to get back with you as soon as I can. Thank you all for your support!
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Michael 🙂
“Damian DuFonte, a professional assassin working for the Crime Syndicate, just can’t seem to get past his need for revenge. So when the only woman he’s ever loved asks him not to kill one of their bosses, her pleas fall on deaf ears. Although Victoria may be willing to forgive this transgression, the Syndicate certainly will not.
To prove Victoria’s loyalty, the Syndicate tasks her with leading a group to hunt him down. Somewhere in the solar system, on the outs with his lover and on the run from trained killers, Damian is … an Assassin Marked.”
Michael C. Sahd grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From a young age, he read voraciously, particularly in the fields of fantasy and science fiction. Shortly after becoming a teenager, he learned to play and enjoy fantasy games such as Dungeons and Dragons. At around the same time, he began writing stories and D&D campaigns of his own.
As an adult, Michael attended New Mexico University, studying in the fields of English and literature. During this time, he honed his writing skills and expanded his writing portfolio. Although he has completed numerous short stories, “Assassin Marked” marks his debut published work.
Â
Currently, Michael lives with his wife and four children in a small town in Texas.
In addition to Amazon, you can also find me on Goodreads, LibraryThing, AuthorsDen, and my blog.
Chat About Books 