I had the idea of an advertising executive who becomes addicted to the sodas in his new ad campaign, the novel built from there.
Lee Matthew Goldberg – 16 March 2021
The Back Flap
ORANGE CITY – Imagine a secret, hidden city that gives a second chance at life for those selected to come: felons, deformed outcasts, those on the fringe of the Outside World. Everyone gets a job, a place to live; but you are bound to the city forever. You can never leave.
Its citizens are ruled by a monstrous figure called the “Man” who resembles a giant demented spider from the lifelike robotic limbs attached to his body. Everyone follows the man blindly, working hard to make their Promised Land stronger, too scared to defy him and be discarded to the Empty Zones.
After ten years as an advertising executive, Graham Weatherend receives an order to test a new client, Pow! Sodas. After one sip of the orange flavor, he becomes addicted, the sodas causing wild mood swings that finally wake him up to the prison he calls reality.
A dynamic mash-up of 1984 meets LOST, ORANGE CITY is a lurid, dystopian first book in a series that will continue with the explosive sequel LEMONWORLD.
“In his compelling novel, ORANGE CITY, novelist LEE MATTHEW GOLDBERG, has crafted a unique dystopian thriller that manages to reveal our greatest fears about emerging technology and our anxieties at what the future holds.” – Raymond A. Villareal, Author of A People’s History of the Vampire Uprising.
“Lee Matthew Goldberg’s brutal, fast-paced thriller is a compelling reminder of how our society is always a few small steps away from a dystopia.” — Robert Repino, Author of Mort(e) and the “War with No Name” series.
“An ambitious dystopian series debut, this hair-raising science fiction novel is perfect for fans of layered conspiracies, altered realities, and eerie dystopias.”– Publishers Weekly, BookLife.
About the book
What is the book about?
The book is about a City, which may or may not exist in our world and bills itself as a refuge for outcasts, except once you come to the City, you can never leave.
When did you start writing the book?
A long, long time ago. It was originally a short story I wrote in college, then a screenplay, and finally a novel. It took that long to build this world.
How long did it take you to write it?
So, from start to finish about 20 years!
Where did you get the idea from?
I had the idea of an advertising executive who becomes addicted to the sodas in his new ad campaign, the novel built from there.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
A lot, I put this book down so many times and wrote many other books before picking it up again. It’s my first sci-fi and sci-fi is definitely the hardest genre to write!
What came easily?
Hmmm, not a lot of it. Usually writing comes very easy to me but this book was a slow process.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
For this one, all fiction. One character has many many arms so, yeah, fiction.
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 biggest influence was F. Scott Fitzgerald, no one writes sentences better.
Do you have a target reader?
For Orange City, anyone who loves sci-fi/dystopia.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I write everyday in Central Park under the same tree when the weather is nice, usually in the afternoons.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
This book was not outlined, but all my newer books are outlined. Some things wind up changing as I start, but I’ll never not outline a novel again.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Edit as I go.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Depends. I’ve never self-published, so all my books have editors, but I do have a separate editor that I give some of early drafts to see.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Sometimes, usually bands like Sigur Ros or Gregory Alan Isakov
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I’ve had the same agent for over a decade
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’ve had books with big presses and small presses. It depends. Some of my work is too out there (like this one) for big press so I went indie.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
All professional through my publishers.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I do a lot of publicity. With each book I learn about more things I can do.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
A lot rides on you to make a book successful.
About You
Where did you grow up?
NYC
Where do you live now?
NYC
What are you working on now?
I have my first YA series RUNAWAY TRAIN coming out this year too, which is about a grunge girl in the 1990s.
End of Interview:
For more from Mr Goldberg follow him on Twitter and check out his website.
