I would say that a reader who would enjoy my work would have to be open minded about language and sexual situations. That the reader would have to have an interest in recent American history and also have an interest in education. 

Ken Hart – 4 October 2015

The Back Flap

It’s the last part of the last year of the 1960’s in New Jersey. There is music. There are drugs. There is a war. There is a generation gap. There is much comedy.

About the book

What is the book about?

The book follows the lives of two friends who are moving in opposite directions. The first has just left work to go to college and the other has just left college to run away and live with a woman who is his first love. The backdrops for the book, which is set in 1969-1970, is a community college, a bowling alley, and several places in the northwestern part of New Jersey.

When did you start writing the book?

I began writing the book in the mid-1983, but was only able to work on it during the summer months.

How long did it take you to write it?

Because of my work schedule it took about 8 years to complete the first draft. There have been numerous drafts since then.

Where did you get the idea from?

I got the idea from my life. I have lived, as the proverb says, in very interesting times.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes, I struggled with the cutting back and forth from one character’s perspective to the other and how to blend those changes in perspective.

What came easily?

I found that the dialogue came pretty easily. I enjoyed writing it and it seemed like I could see my characters delivering it.

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

It is a blend of both, but I think mostly they were based upon real world people or composites of real world people.

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?

And odd combination of writers had the greatest influence on me. I would say that Henry Miller, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tom Wolfe, and Phillip Roth would be at the top of my list.

Do you have a target reader?

Oddly, I have never thought about that. I would say that a reader who would enjoy my work would have to be open minded about language and sexual situations. That the reader would have to have an interest in recent American history and also have an interest in education. That reader would also have to be able to laugh and want to laugh.

About Writing

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

I used to go through a cleaning ritual in my study and have everything exactly where I wanted it but I have gotten away from that ritual. I used to listen to jazz when I wrote to help block out any distractions but I no longer do that. I used to like to write at night and now I like to write in the morning. So I have had a variety of rituals and have not kept up with any of them. Now I find that I have an idea and sit down and get to work.

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

I have outlined for some short stories but never for the novels.

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

It is a combination of both, but there is extensive editing when I have completed a draft. I am terrible with typos and getting rid of them is kind of like trying to get rid of cockroaches.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I have not really done that, although Jessica Smith helped with the process of getting Reinforcements in shape.

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

Jazz, strictly jazz. Miles Davis and Bill Evans were my favorites.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, I never did.

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

It was when Amazon made it possible, which was the sole event.

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

I did it myself including taking the pictures which are on the covers.

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

I hired Jessica Smith and Create Forward and she developed the marketing plan.

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

Write about what you know. A good story should be about at least two things. Don’t be frightened.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, mostly in a two room basement apartment that would now be called a tenement.

Where do you live now?

I live on a lake in Sussex County, New Jersey surrounded by horse farms and dairy farms.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I was an educator. Being a teacher saved my life because I had no idea what I would do and bounced from one stupid job to the other until I found teaching. It was the job in the world. I form unusual attachments to places and to animals. I lost one of my dogs to cancer recently and the extent of my grief shocked even me. I love my home and where I live. I feel privileged to look out my windows and watch the seasonal changes on the lake. I feel connected to this two acres of land. I had never felt that before.

What are you working on now?

A combination of things. I am stalled on a short story called Dates and Cigarettes. I am a bit stalled on my fifth novel and I have been on and off working on a play.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Reinforcements from Amazon US or Amazon UK.