The book was going the way of Harry Potter. And I love Harry Potter books. But I wanted something original. Then one day it came to me.

Gee Williams – 12 November 2015

The Back Flap

Alex was your typical pre-teen nerd; intelligent, un-athletic, and afraid of adventure. But his life would change forever when he fell into a sewer located in the town junkyard. There in the sewer he would discover seven scrolls; each possessing a unique power that can cause amazement, danger, and destruction. Because of this, Alex, along with his best friend Karen, go on a journey where they encounter aliens, U.S. Government officials, and the Roman Catholic Church. Along their journey they meet an individual named ‘Christopher Topher’ who carries a special connection to the scrolls.

About the book

What is the book about?

The book is about a kid named Alex who falls into a sewer and discovers 7 powerful scrolls. The scrolls are owned by an alien race that has searched for the scrolls for many centuries. When they find out Alex is in possession of the scrolls they come to Earth thus causing a great war between the humans and aliens. It is discovered that the aliens weren’t the only ones after the scrolls, as the U.S. Government and Roman Catholic Church were after the scrolls. Also, Alex discovers a character named Christopher Topher who has a special connection to the scrolls.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing it in 2008.

How long did it take you to write it?

Well, if you count by years then 6. But it was an on and off endeavor. I actually took a couple of years off. If I had wrote it straight (meaning 8 hours a day, 5 days a week) I would say 2 years.

Where did you get the idea from?

Nothing in particular but I love science fiction and fantasy. I also like topics such as religion and history. I guess you can say that this book covers each of those genres.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Oh yeah. That’s when I took the 2 years off. I couldn’t think of anything original. The book was going the way of Harry Potter. And I love Harry Potter books. But I wanted something original. Then one day it came to me.

What came easily?

The character building. I think Alex is a fascinating character. That also goes for his best friend Karen. I think I did a great job in building the other characters like Christopher Topher, the Pope and aliens.

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

Besides Alex, his family and Topher I would say fictitious. But Alex has some elements of me when I was younger and his family was somewhat like mine. You’ll have to read the book to see whom Christopher Topher is similar to. He’s well known.

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?

J.R. Tolkien. To me there is no one better. He was able to take a fantasy world and make it come to life. From the characters, lands, languages, etc. I hope to create a masterpiece like him someday.

Do you have a target reader?

I’m capturing the reader aged from 12 to adult, which I think is a good target. Alex is 12 so the reader that age would be able to relate. Both teens and adults will love the story in general.

About Writing

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

I like to outline the entire story from beginning to end. After that I’ll fill in the gaps.

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

I outline extensively with bullet points. It helps me tremendously.

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

I wait till I’m done. I’ll edit it myself first, then I’ll get some friends to read it to make sure it makes sense, then I’ll get a professional editor.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Of course.

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

No. I’m a very vivid writer. Music would mess with my concentration.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No. But that doesn’t mean I would never submit my work to an agent.

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 wanted to get my story out to the world as quickly as possible. I thought that going the traditional route (agent, publisher, etc.) would take too long.

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

I did it myself. And as you see it’s quite simple. A perfect cover for the story.

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

Umm, combo? The best I can do to market without spending a fortune is to hit up blogs, do some interviews and get some reviews. I’m also seeking way to market that I may not know about. I also frequent book fairs, as I like to meet people and tell them my story.

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

Being an Indie means freedom. I don’t think there’s anything better than that. But being an Indie isn’t easy. It’s a lot of work. But you mustn’t give up. If you have something that you believe in, try and take it to the next level. If you believe you have something special, then others will too.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born in the Midwest but grew up in Hartford, CT.

Where do you live now?

Ellington, CT. A town not far from Hartford.

What would you like readers to know about you?

That I love science-fiction and fantasy. But mostly I like a good story.

What are you working on now?

A new book of course!

End of Interview:

For more from Gee, visit his website or follow him on Twitter.

Get your copy of The Secret of Christopher Topher from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).