I suppose I would give the same very simple, very basic advice many others have given; stay true to what is in you. Otherwise, what do you have to offer that will be any different from anyone else?

F.J. Schurr – 21 October 2013

The Back Flap

Jim and Maudelyn are a retired couple still reeling from the loss of their daughter who ran away years ago. With both of them lost in the past, their marriage has all but disappeared.

Samson is a bodybuilder in pursuit of someone else’s dreams. Underneath a thin veneer of arrogance, he longs for unconditional acceptance and the permission to be himself.

Rachael is a homeless orphan who has been cheated out of her childhood. Forced to grow up too fast, she struggles to pattern her life after her dead mother’s example.

In this gritty tale about the harsh realities of life, a tapestry is woven together from stray threads of hope and brokenness that hang from the human condition.

Set in the heart of the once thriving city of Buffalo, New York, this is a story of love, loss, and redemption that will both break your heart and overwhelm you with joy.

About the book

What is the book about?

The overarching themes of the books are quite simple: loss, faith, and redemption. Not everything works out happily in the end, but I am hoping that the end is satisfying for the reader.

When did you start writing the book?

I sat down and started writing Mustard Seed Baby Doll a few days after Christmas of 2012.

How long did it take you to write it?

I had a finished rough draft by the end of April. So, it took me about 4 months to write.  It took me a little bit longer to pluck up the courage to show it to my wife, though.

Where did you get the idea from?

Like most authors, it never seems immediately apparent or clear just where a story comes from, or where it is leading, even until the very end for that matter. But if I had to give it a source, I would say that my experiences as a counselor had quite a bit of influence on this particular story.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes, Rachael, one of the main characters is a ten-year-old girl skipping straight into adulthood. She is an orphan trying to follow in her late mother’s footsteps. Unfortunately, those footsteps lead to prostitution, not acting, as she had hoped. This is not easy subject matter, but is definitely a topic I wanted to make a point with, without being overly graphic or letting the situation overshadow the personal emotions, desires, or dreams of Rachael herself.

What came easily?

Chapter 2 is the first time we meet Rachael. We don’t know what lies ahead of her just yet, only that she has her hopes set on something and that this something will require a sacrifice; the removal of her pigtails. I think I sat down and wrote that without even lifting my fingers from the keyboard for more than a few seconds. It really just flowed. She was so filled up with that child-like faith and naiveté that seems to spill out of kids. I have three children; I see that shiny-eyed faith every day. I dread the loss of that the most as I watch them growing up.

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

Entirely fictitious.

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 is a big list and a small list. The small list includes Ray Bradbury, Cormac McCarthy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William Golding, and C. S. Lewis.

Do you have a target reader?

Of course, I write to anyone and everyone who reads. Honestly, I’m not really much of a genre person, so I am not seeking out or writing to a specific fan base.

About Writing

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

My process is simple, much like Bradbury’s. I give an ear to the voice that is crying out the loudest and wants most to live on the written page. I write down just about everything that clicks through my thoughts and begin to put together the puzzle pieces of feelings and thought and motivation. I write a lot about what is going on inside of the person, as they are experiencing life externally. I am a counselor by training, and mostly we help people bring sense to their lives and at times aid change when it is needed. I do not counsel my characters, but I definitely get into their heads, walk around for a while in their shoes, and wonder how I might survive, both mentally and emotionally, the circumstances I place them in.

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

I don’t really outline. I’ve tried it once or twice, but I find it works better for me to let the story continue to percolate in my head and give life and breath and movement to itself without me trying to prod and push it into shape. My stories are kind of like children in that way. You can raise a child, but he or she will grow up to become their own person.

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

I suppose that I am always doing some editing as I go along. But I have also found if I try to edit smaller sections before the total work is finished, I started to get bogged down and lose my grip on the overall story.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No, I am lucky. My wife is a professional editor, and I have growing handful of beta readers. Between them, most of my story’s consistency and/or grammatical bugs are worked out.

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

Yes, I listen to a very wide variety of music, from Muse to Mozart, Nine Inch Nails to Johnny Cash. I have favorites, of course, everyone does, but usually my music preference of the moment depends highly on the mood of the piece of section of a piece that I am writing. Recently, I’ve been listening to Push Away the Sky by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did, yes. I believe I submitted my one novel to about thirty agents. So far I’ve had either rejections or silence. And maybe the response for that book is just. I still have some work to do on it. An agent might be a good idea in the future, but for now, I’ve decided to see how far I can go on my own.

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

Honestly, I went indie because I really don’t believe that there are enough publishing slots left open in big publishing compared to the number and variety of gifted writers that are out there today. Would I turn down an offer from a big publishing firm if it came? Probably not, but I no longer want to go that route, given what I know now about the options that are available to self-publishing authors today.

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

I actually tried to get in touch with a couple of graphic designers, but apparently they were all extremely busy because I still haven’t heard back from them. So, currently, I am designing my own covers to the best of my ability. Hopefully, I find that right artistic fit soon, because the future cover designs I have ideas for go more than a little beyond my current capabilities.

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

Winging it, I guess, and learning from my mistakes. Right now, I am trying anything and everything, and praying that one right person reads my book and gets the ball rolling for everyone else to follow.

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

I suppose I would give the same very simple, very basic advice many others have given; stay true to what is in you. Otherwise, what do you have to offer that will be any different from anyone else? True writers write because they have to, not because of the money, not because of the fame, but because they will have no peace if they fail to free the word-children growing inside of their minds.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small farm community outside of Buffalo, New York.

Where do you live now?

Currently, I live in a small township in eastern South Africa.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I would like my stories to speak for themselves. If you really want to know about me, ask my kids, they’ll tell you stories.

What are you working on now?

I was just talking to my wife about this; actually I think overloading her is a better way of putting it. I am working a young adult novel somewhat in the vein of the old Weird Tales stories. I am hoping to have this finished and out by sometime next year. I also have another literary novel rough draft finished and in the editing process. Besides that, I’ve got about 18-odd other children (i.e., books) mewing and crying out in my head to be held, fed, and have their stories told.

End of Interview:

For more, visit F.J. Schurr’s website or like his facebook page.

Get your copy of Mustard Seed Baby Doll from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords.