There are only 171,000 words in the English language. You don’t want to run out.

Rob Roy O’Keefe – 22 October 2022

The Back Flap

A little tale of trial and error. Okay, mostly error.

Duncan and Maya Small have just moved to an out-of-the-way town filled with odd characters, quirky customs, and a power-obsessed local official who one day hopes to be declared emperor. Duncan is sharp enough to know something needs to change, and delusional enough to believe he’s the one to make it happen. The only thing standing in his way are feral ponies, radical seniors, common sense, and Duncan’s inability to do anything without a list.

Small Stories: A Perfectly Absurd Novel, is a tale of power, bake sales, manipulation, the Welcome Wagon, and diabolical forces at work in the shadows (mostly because they can’t afford to pay the light bill), although the Smalls soon discover nothing is at it seems. One thing is certain, however – there’s something funny going on.

About the book

What is the book about?

Small Stories: A Perfectly Absurd Novel is a contemporary farce about life, power, and politics in a quirky little town. It’s about insecurity, anxiety, and deceit. It’s about crazed ponies and subversive senior citizens. It’s about the capacity we have for change. It’s about secret societies. It’s about vanishing bake sales.

When did you start writing the book?

About 15 years ago, which means on average, I wrote about twelve words a day. A blistering pace.

How long did it take you to write it?

After staring it, I put the book aside until about two years ago. I’ve always been a writer by trade, but most of my time and creative energy was spent on my job in advertising so it was challenging for me to give the book the attention it deserved.

Where did you get the idea from?

From living among the single most absurd species on the planet – human beings.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Not really. Once I gave the book the time it needed, it was always on my mind, even when I wasn’t actually writing, so the plot, character development, architecture, and style all progressed smoothly.

What came easily?

The writing itself. It was so enjoyable to write something that I had complete control over, unlike in the advertising trade where there are even more gatekeepers than there are in publishing.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I’ve borrowed from real life situations, but not real-world people. For example, there’s a group in the book called the Ponytailors, a handful of women who ride in carts being pulled by ponies, while engaging in the sport of competitive careening. The idea came to me while walking in a state park where I saw someone driving a cart pulled by a pony. Fortunately, they were completely in control of the situation so there was no careening of any kind.

I create profiles for each character. The more central the character, the more detailed the profile. Some characters are just devices I use for comic relief, so their profiles aren’t as deep (don’t tell them I said that – they’re a sensitive bunch). I imagine some of the traits exhibited by the characters come from either myself or people I’ve known, but it’s not a conscious decision.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

There are a number of authors that have made an impression on me. Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert Rankin, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett. And that’s the short list. What I learned from all of them is that there are no constraints when it comes to story-telling. Reality is merely an inconvenience that should be ignored at all costs.

Do you have a target reader?

Apparently, I do, although I didn’t set off with a specific audience in mind. However, based on the reviews the book has been receiving, it appears that the novel appeals most to fans of many of the authors I mentioned above, as well as people who like Monty Python, and other comic creations that push the envelope. And because humor is so subjective, people who don’t like the kind of comedy I just described don’t become great fans of the book even if they recognize the writing isn’t horrible.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I usually start with a noun, then move onto verbs. From there it’s all about adjectives and adverbs. But you have to be judicious. There are only 171,000 words in the English language. You don’t want to run out.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do outline. Thanks for asking. I go into a bit of detail about the major plot developments and each character’s role for each chapter. It’s all laid out nice and neat. And then I start writing and it all goes to hell. I find writing to be such an organic process that while I like to have an idea of where I’m going, I don’t want to shut out any possibilities along the way.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Both. The organic process I mentioned requires editing along the way. Otherwise, the story can get away from you. And of courses, once it’s finished you have to make sure it’s what you intended it to be. Or at least a close relative.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I do not. It helps that I can step away from the work and be self-critical. I’m also fortunate that I have friends and acquaintances who have the skill set necessary to offer editing advice.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I am streaming an independent radio station as I write this. One minute they might play Etta James, and the next minute they’re playing The XX. It’s quite eclectic, which I enjoy.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Oh, yes. Many, many agents. Over 100. I would say I heard back from more than half in one form or another. Some took the time to go beyond the standard language and offer encouragement. Quite a few were complimentary about the concept, plot, and writing, but the book just didn’t fit with their list. And that gets us to the next question.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

Because of my background, I was never in doubt about my ability to write. I’ve won numerous awards throughout my advertising career for creativity, so I didn’t really need validation from agents regarding that aspect of publication. What I wanted was to write the book that was true to my vision and to maintain creative control throughout the process. What I learned, not surprisingly, is that because I took that approach, my concept didn’t line up with the latest trends. Publishing is a for-profit endeavor and I respect that, but I wasn’t going to rewrite my book so that it would fit neatly into what is selling at this moment in time. And that, for me, required going independent.

The other factor was the time element. It might not be the same with all agents or projects, but many agents told me that I should expect two to three years between landing an agent and actually getting published. I didn’t want to wait that long. I have two more books in this series plus a concept for a totally different book.

If an agent had agreed to rep the book when I first started submitting, would I be saying something different? Probably, but this is my rationalization and I’m sticking to it.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I adapted a cover that was available on Canva. Like I said, my career was in advertising so I’m comfortable with basic design.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have a plan now. It includes review submissions, giveaways, interviews like this one, advertising to established networks that I have, and getting carried by independent bookstores. It’s going fairly well. I learn as I go.

Which reminds me, I’m running a free ebook giveaway for the month of October, limited to the first billion customers. Not sure if Amazon will get on board as I’m not on KDP Select. We’ll see.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

After reading all of this, why would anyone want advice from me? Okay, here’s some useful advice. If you’re ever lost in the woods, you can tell what direction you’re going in by determining which side of the trees moss is growing on. The side with the moss is north.

Or you could just look at the GPS on your phone. But if you had to throw your phone at a bear to keep from getting eaten, then the moss thing comes in handy.

Or just stay out of the woods. That works, too.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I’m not sure I’ve ever grown up, but I’ve lived all over the country – New York, Boston, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Florida, and on a ship. A gray one.

Where do you live now?

In a state of continuous wonder. Except when I see anyone using spray cheese. Then I just curl up in a ball and cry softly.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Don’t ever send me spray cheese.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the next book in the series. It’s titled Small Secrets: A Predictably Absurd Sequel.

Thank you.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Small Stories: A Perfectly Absurd Novel from Amazon US or Amazon UK.