I had some idea that had something to do with people wearing masks that exposed themselves, and it sort of grew from there. 

Bryce David Salazar – 3 September, 2015

The Back Flap

Jacqueline Schuler sees the world in metaphors. Like, literally. Walking piles of excrement, censored nymphomaniacs, streets of violent rivers, and theatre props covering the burnt walls of a home make up the background to a life she tries to keep as normal as she can. But with the truth, comes the whole truth, and Jacqui finds herself having to cope with the mortality of those she cares about, time and time again.

About the book

What is the book about?

Exactly what the title implies. A young woman sees the world in metaphor. Beyond that, the story focuses on how the gift affects her psychology. Being able to see when people are sick or lying is useful, but when there’s no sugar coating life, chain smoking and excessive drinking are the only rational response so far as she’s concerned. But it’s also full of normal everyday living, sex, death, interpersonal relationships, and blatantly intoxicated delivery drivers. There’s even a car breaking down.

When did you start writing the book?

I started in early 2009 but, university and full time employment being the attention whores that they are, it wasn’t until 2012 that I actually began working on it seriously.

How long did it take you to write it?

I worked on it exclusively for a little over two years.

Where did you get the idea from?

I can’t remember exactly. I had some idea that had something to do with people wearing masks that exposed themselves, and it sort of grew from there. I couldn’t tell you anything beyond that. I have very little memory retention for where ideas start.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The very beginning was difficult. I could never decide how much to explain. Overall I did four drafts, but the very first chapter had more rewrites than anything else in the novel. Sometimes I explained the rules, sometimes I didn’t. I could never decide how much to give the reader. When I started writing what became the final product I knew it was the way to go, but getting there was the creative equivalent to Groundhog’s Day. I swear to God, I am never writing that first sentence again.

What came easily?

Everything that wasn’t the first chapter. Or a metaphor.

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

Fictitious, but stealing habits and traits from people I know helps when I’m stuck.

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?

My go-to authors are always David Sedaris and Glen Duncan. Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Irvine Welsh, and Bryan Fuller (even though he only writes for television) receive honorable mentions. With Sedaris and Duncan, I can pick up anything they’ve written, jump right into the middle of it and get lost. With the others, they create worlds and characters that are as foreign as they are addictive.

Do you have a target reader?

Even though I enjoy writing strange and often disgusting things, my mother. If I can write about something awful in such a way that she can still enjoy it, then I know I’ve done something right.

About Writing

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

My day jobs tend to have erratic schedules, so writing happens when it happens. I usually set a word or page goal each day and about one third of the time I meet it.

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

Sometimes I’ll jot down notes for what I want to happen in a chapter, but that happens rarely enough that I feel I can say no, I don’t outline.

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

I edited the last draft of She Sees Metaphors as I went through, but I still made a couple of editing passes when it was finished. I imagine my next project will be done the same way.

Did you hire a professional editor?

A few friends went through and pointed out grammar errors. Some of them were paid.

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

Of course. I’m an unapologetic fan of dance pop and electronic music, but I also enjoy alternative and indie music. I recently discovered alternative R&B, which is probably the most gooey and delicious genre I’ve heard in years.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, agents and publishers alike. I considered printing out the rejection letters and turning them into origami swans, but I never got around to it. They probably wouldn’t have been good swans, and my girlfriend’s cat would probably have murdered them anyways.

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

I had a publisher. Five months after She Sees Metaphors was finished, a small press down in Texas signed me and it was quite possibly the happiest day of my life that didn’t include Star Wars or Batman. Several months after the ink was dry I received an email stating that my novel was rushed through certain steps, and it should not have been accepted in the first place, as it violated their decency standards. They canceled my contract and that was that. Since I had spent months telling people that my novel was coming out in 2015, I figured I’d self-publish to keep that promise. I think the final product is better for it, but I’d be lying if I said there were no hard feelings. Pricks.

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

I have virtually no artistic talent, and even less of an understanding of Photoshop. Lori Weismantel did the art and her husband Jon James did the design. I didn’t make any requests or suggestions, outside of letting them know where the barcode was going to be on the cover. And it turned out fantastic. It blew away any ideas I might have had about it.

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

Planning has never been my strong suit, so I’m just figuring things out as I go. My next book will probably be a little more organized in terms of marketing, and the one after that will probably be on an actual plan of some sort. Maybe. I doubt it.

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

Do a lot of research. Ask a lot of questions.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Michigan’s capital city, born and raised.

Where do you live now?

I’m still a townie, despite all of my efforts to fix that. There’s nothing wrong with the city, but I wouldn’t mind stretching my legs a bit and diving into another city’s culture for a spell. The girlfriend and I have set a date for moving, and I’m hopeful that in a couple of years I can call the west coast my new home.

What would you like readers to know about you?

That I’m not the sort of man who knows how to answer a question like that.

What are you working on now?

An urban fantasy titled Tales of Timeless Springs. It’s only in its second draft, so I don’t have much else to give you besides that bit.

End of Interview:

For more from Bryce, visit his website or like his Facebook page.

Get your copy of She Sees Metaphors from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).