Let me introduce my friend and fellow author Bryan Powell. This is Bryan's fist time being on Sleuths and Suspects. Welcome Bryan! Without further ado let's get started with Bryan's interview. Oh, I forgot to say that Bryan is offering a free e-book to a follower who leaves a comment and email address.
Bryan Powell
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, my name
is Bryan Powell, I’m a 63-year-old white guy who sometimes writes from a black
guy’s POV, that’s point of view, for the writers among us. But before I tell
you why and how I do that, let me finish introducing myself. I’m a full-time
writer. To me, that means, I write all the time, and as a means of paying my
bills. This is not a hobby or an avocation. It’s what I do. Before that, I was
a full-time choir director. As a part of that position, I wrote music. I’ve
written over 80 choral pieces ranging from children’s songs to youth, choral and
adult choir numbers. Many of those, I’ve orchestrated and some have actually
been published. My wife is my biggest fan and first reader. She and I read (out
loud) everything I write, and we edit it together. We’ve done it that way since
my first book in 2011. Three of my seven grandchildren are my second biggest
fans. I tell folks, these are G-Rated books, meaning. The G stands for my
grandchildren. If my 16, 14,and 11 year old grandchildren can’t read it, I
won’t write it. But enough about me.
Tell us about your most recent book.
My most
recent book was one that I tried not to write. I write Adult Fiction/Suspense,
and to say I’ve read a Biography or Auto-biography would be a stretch. So when
my pastor approached me about writing his father’s story, I resisted. I didn’t
think there would be enough; conflict, drama or intrigue. I was wrong.
Reluctantly, I accepted the challenge along with 126 pages of handwritten notes
to read over the Christmas break. I found myself drawn into Mr. Gillis’s life,
and yes, there was plenty of conflict, and drama. Plus, there was a paycheck at
the end of the tunnel and that was exactly what I thought I needed at the time.
Little did I know, the lessons I would learn from this dear man. So I wrote
Faith, Family, and a Lot of Hard Work…the Grady Gillis Story.
Why did you choose this genre?
Faith,
Family, and a Lot of Hard Work…the Grady Gillis Story is way outside of my
usual genre. It’s a creative memoir, and my genre is Mystery/Suspense/Action/Thrillers.
I’ve written 16 of them. But this book took on a life of its own as I began to
see life from Mr. Gillis’s POV. For those precious moments as I wrote his
story, I actually became Grady Gillis. I began to speak and express my thoughts
as I might have. It’s called a Creative Memoir because I wrote it like a novel
rather than a straight Biography. It is chock-full of Mr. Gillis’ wit and humor
with enough wisdom for us all to learn.
What was your journey to publication like?
My journey
to publication began as I, as a raw-boned newbie, began to look for a
publisher. Sorry to say, at that time, I knew nothing of agents and traditional
presses. I looked up publishers and found a plethora of “For Fee” publishers.
After reading their various programs and statements of faith, etc. I settled
with Tate Publications, located in Mustang, OK. In 2011, submitted my
manuscript, Stranger in the Pulpit, and
to my amazement, it was accepted. Of course, it took a little under $4,000 to
lubricate the presses, but what’s that among friends. They did a great job of
designing a cover and layout, not so good on the marketing. So I learned really
early, if was going to get done, I had to do it myself. Thus, I became a
marketing guru over-night. My second mystery novel, Stranger in the White House, was submitted in 2012 and after
negotiating a better “Author contribution,” it was accepted and published in
late 2012. When it came time to submit book three in the Stranger Series, I
felt like I’d made Tate enough money for them to publish it with no
“Contribution.” That didn’t work out and so I sought another publisher. I was
at a big signing event down in Carrolton, GA, and met John Bell with Vabella
Publishing. I found out that we had much in common. That Vabella was a small,
independent, traditional press. I submitted The
Stranger Among Us, and again, to my amazement, it was accepted. It was
released this past October.
What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?
My wife and I have read all of the Joel Rosenburg novels, along with the Left-Behind Series, and I’ve got to say, Joel is my favorite author. That said, I just finished reading Don Brown’s Black Sea Affair and totally enjoyed it. Patty and I are reading (when I say reading, I mean, she is reading and I am driving the car…listening). Currently, she is reading Joanie Bruce’s thriller, Marked for Murder. It’s a nail-biter.
Can you give us a little peek inside what you are working on now?
Currently,
I am working on the second book in the Jared Russell Series. Book one, Sisters of the Vail, is a Kindle Direct
Publishing book. It has been widely distributed in an E-book, but is awaiting
its physical, soft-cover debut. Book two, Blood
Brothers, picks up where Sisters
left off. Jared Russell (a black, former Marine, turned architect) and his wife
Fatemah go to Lebanon. Xavier and Wright Architectural Group has contracted
with Lebanon International University to do their expansion and Jared is the
liaison. He is provided with a lavished salary and expense account. Fatemah
sees this as an opportunity to open the Harbor House, a “safe place” for new
converts. However, when a “Fatwa” is declared, they and soon find themselves
caught in a web of intrigue and deceit. The more they learn about Anita, their
housekeeper, the more they are drawn into an international conflict. When it is
discovered that Anita is Fatemah’s cousin and the daughter of the prime
minister, things begin to spin out of control. You will fall in love with
Anita, my feisty, out-spoken and endearing character, just as Habib did. Oh,
did I tell you there is, as in all my novels, a romance percolating. Yes, big
time. Guess who’s falling in love. To complicate matters, Anita has two
brothers, thus the name. You will have to wait to discover their plot, but
suffice it to say, America, watch your back, because the Blood Brothers are coming.
What advice would you give to those who are on their own journey to publication.
My advice
to aspiring writers is this. Buy Velcro. You may question the wisdom or sanity
of my absurd statement, but let me explain. Buy some Velcro, open the package,
and follow the instructions. Sew one side to your chair and the other to the
seat of your britches and sit. Don’t get up until you’ve written something. So
my advice is simple. Writers write. And after they’ve written, they re-write,
and re-write. Don’t get discouraged. Writing is a lonely business, so join a
writers group. They will be your biggest supporters.
Can you share any books or websites that have helped you with your writing?
Let me
recommend Renea Winchester’s book Stress-Free
Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author. For a fun read,
check out her book In the Garden with
Billy, as well.
Please give us some links where you can be found.
You can
find me by going to http://www.facebook.com/authorbryanpowell. My
website is www.newlifepublicationsonline.com with the
header Author Bryan Powell’s Books. I can be reached by e-mail by pasting in
authorbryanpowell@reagan.com.
Author Bio: Deborah Malone’s first novel
Death
in Dahlonega, finaled in the
American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was
also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She
has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine
“Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her
writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a
member of the Georgia Writer’s Association as well as Advanced Writer’s and
Speakers Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction
Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.
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