““You have to ask yourself, why are you doing this? Are you looking to make money, or are you looking to do it because it would make you happy and get your name out there?” It all fell into place after that.”

Julio Angel Ortiz 7 January 2012

The Back Flap

Comic books. They are an old art form that transcends literary and social boundaries. A method of communication hinted at by the walls of cavemen and in cuneiform, the disparate remnants of these ancient arts have coalesced into a dynamic storytelling format today.

But what happens when one artist’s frustration transforms into a vision of “saving” humanity? Aided by a shadowy benefactor, as well as the rest of his newly-formed Youth and Beauty Brigade, Byron Foster, dubbing himself RetroLad, hatches a plan to save humanity and culture… and it lies almost 50 years into the past.

But they must get past Palequus, a retired Grim Reaper, and Peter, a discharged cherub who enjoys drinking and smoking a little too much. The ParaReality investigators must stop the fanatical foursome from disrupting history, even as the true threat lies in the machinations of… Supremo.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The Infinity, Ltd series revolves around two main characters. Palequus, a retired Grim Reaper and Peter, a discharged cherub who smokes and drinks more than he should, and the adventures they find themselves in.  Early on I used the term “paratemporal agents” to describe what they do, but the format is very flexible- they tend to confront unusual threats that threaten time, the world, or the multiverse.

“1963!” is basically a huge nod to the world of comic books and my love of the medium since I was very young.  It plays on some of the tropes of the genre, and there are a few references that I think fans would enjoy.

 When did you start writing the book?

The outline was around on my hard drive for a few years but I began writing this back in February 2011. I took a break while some Real Life™ things got in the way and finished it up earlier this fall.

 How long did it take you to write it?

In all, about 7 months. Actual writing time? About a week, not including revisions, edits, etc.

 Where did you get the idea from?

While the comic book inspiration was a huge part, there were other little bits that came from various sources. Fans of the band the Decemberists will get the Youth and Beauty Brigade reference. Supermo was a play off the typical bombastic comic book villain.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Balancing Supremo’s character. He’s supposed to sound like the stereotypical comic book baddie, but it’s all part of a faux-pastiche that is integral to the story. How do you make it come across as more comedic than cheesy? I hope I succeeded.

What came easily?

Palequus and Peter’s characters. I love developing them and finding out new things about them. There’s a dynamic there that is ripe with exploration and I can’t wait to continue doing just that.

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

It’s funny; I didn’t realize this until I read the question that Peter is lightly inspired by my childhood best friend. Other than that, not really.

 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?

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is my most obvious choice. I remember reading “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” back in high school and being floored by how easily he blended everyday scenarios with the fantastic. It led me to reading more of his work. Jamaica Kincaid’s “What I Have Been Doing Lately” was another mind-bender from high school- if you haven’t read that story, you really need to track it down and read it, then read it again and realize how it’s unlike anything else you’ve ever read.

Oddly enough, given the comic book nature of “1963!” I would have to include Grant Morrison as a huge influence. He’s one of the best writers out there, period, and his ability to continuously craft new and exciting concepts is jealousy-inducing.

 Do you have a target reader?

Not necessarily. I guess if I had to say, “science fiction” fans would be the most obvious choice. If you like comic books or adventure, you should like this too.  But I’m not discriminating. If you like slash fiction, bring it.

About Writing

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

I’ll generally write down notes when inspiration strikes me – usually, a title and a sentence or two about the core idea. I’ll let that simmer for a while; some ideas have been brewing for years.  It’ll marinate in my subconscious until I take it back out, flesh it out further, then begin writing in earnest.

I use Evernote for my note-taking just because I like having a backed-up copy somewhere in the cloud. For a while I wrote everything in Google Docs but as my process has changed, I reverted to a combination of Microsoft Word and Dropbox- again, I like keeping a copy out in the cloud. I’ve had a bad experience with losing works-in-progress to not just keeping things out online, safe and secure.

Also, Google Docs is great for smaller projects but chokes on larger ones, as I recently discovered.

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

I love outlining. It depends on the project with regards to how extensive I’ll get. For the most part, I am fairly detailed, sometimes adding bits of dialogue so that I won’t forget it down the road. For work such as webcomics, I don’t need to be as detailed, so I keep it simpler, almost like a solicitation out of a Previews magazine.

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

I wait until I finish. One of the best bits of writing advice came from (I believe) Kate Orman, who basically said for your first draft, just write it down as fast as possible and don’t fuss over editing it. Get the hard part over with and then go back and tweak it.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I haven’t yet.  For a novel-length project I probably will. But so far I have worked with various people who have provided great feedback and continuously tweaked until it feels right. I’ve even anointed one of them my consulting editor- poor woman.

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

No. I guess I’m weird, but I find listening to music while writing to be incredibly distracting. [Editor’s Note: No, not weird, it’s about 80-20, 20% being the group that enjoy listening to music while they write.]

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Not as of yet. My non-indie work has all been pitches that I was either asked to submit or saw a call put out and decided to try.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It was a little over a year ago where I was contemplating going the indie route and putting out my own eBooks. I kept fussing over my doubt and the sort of perception of “vanity publishing”, yet I have been reading eBooks for over 10 years and started to see it as a real “Wild West” for publishing, a new era akin to how indie music bands put out their own music online to be heard. Making my first short story sale gave me a confidence boost, but it was my wife who cemented it for me when she said to me: “You have to ask yourself, why are you doing this? Are you looking to make money, or are you looking to do it because it would make you happy and get your name out there?” It all fell into place after that.

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

For the Infinity, Ltd series (and others in the future), I have the good fortunate of having an artistic collaborator in K. Woo. She’s done both covers so far and has done a fantastic job.

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

Can’t lie, I generally wing it. I publish through Smashwords to get my eBook out to as many channels as possible, such as the Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Apple stores. I also publish through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. Aside from that, I get review copies to some people, and use my blog, Facebook, and Twitter to advertise.

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

Don’t be afraid to do it. But write and read a lot first, submit to some “traditional” sources first and get their editorial feedback. Don’t be defensive; learn to suck it up, take constructive criticism, and work at being a better writer. Read Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author. She has a lot of great tips in there. Be patient- don’t expect a lot of money at first. Or even after a year. And remember, you won’t please everyone. Don’t let a negative review get you down.

Oh, and buy my eBook. Maybe even two copies.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, about 45 minutes north of the city.

Where do you live now?

About 30 minutes further out.

What would you like readers to know about you?

No matter what you may have heard, the charges didn’t stick. [Editor’s Note: And the goat is okay and recovering.]

What are you working on now?

The next Infinity, Ltd story will be a novella called Forever Winter and it should be out around March. I’m also developing a new series of stories, a twist on the Old West, as well as another series that plays with the idea of eBook gamebooks, a la the old Lone Wolf series. I’ve also begun the very early stages of developing what I hope to be my first novel.

End of Interview

This interview was great for a couple of reasons, both selfish. First, Julio is a great guy and a good friend of the blog; 2nd Admin was born in 1963 so I had to buy to the book! Recommend it to you too. And just in case you think I’m being biased, here’s a link to a RedAdept review of Unnatural Time (4.5 stars) also by Julio.

Link to where the Book can be purchased or downloaded if free: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/107077