I always perceived myself as an indie author and stubborn renegade …

Andre Michael Pietroschek = 10 July 2021

The Back Flap

A one episode podcast turned short-story: A lesser practitioner of the myth-occult arts, eagerly delving in the dreamlands to reap secret benefits for his selfish existence, learns a lesson of horror, when unknown forces rip his dreaming self out of the dreamlands, and also make his physical body wake-up displaced, as inmate of a scary mental hospital.

About the book

What is the book about?

Dreamer’s Demise – A clash of cultists is about fun and feeling young again! In a Lovecraftian way, but without going into severe topics of horror, those more build the decoration for the jolly little tale.

When did you start writing the book?

If I remember it correctly, then it was my last finished work of 2020 before coronavirus did force so many of us into lockdown.

How long did it take you to write it?

Publishing excerpted short stories, the Smashwords idea, makes it more time-efficient. Inventing and writing the short story is 4 to 8 hours, proofreading more thoroughly than I did also takes another 2 to 6 hours, and working with a minimum of 3 critics (mostly grammar, awkward formulations, and inconsistencies to remedy) takes up to 14 days on schedule. Even for a mere short story. But, critics are so often worth it.

Where did you get the idea from?

I took inspiration from fantasy Action RPG, but wanted Cthulhu in it. I got that part done, the alchemy of the mind concocted just that, plus my fictional sexist remarks. `Hot chics stems from Hot Chicas NOT Hot Chicken, did you know?´

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Marketing and sales, if we are honest. Not being able to write the females more detailed, and more independent, due to the pressure of time (hurt my ego to be the loser-troll in this).

What came easily?

No more sadness about zero sales, no more hope to one day be the one funding younger artists. The author 101 more and more personified.

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

The starting shot, the first scene, is sometimes attached to occult researches or similar, which I did in RL (real life). In fiction I prefer mixed & made-up characters, though, to be honest on my failures: It also destroyed one of my other stories, as the character-generator figures defied the time-line, so the parents were too young to have kids aged 6 to 8, but the character stats of roleplaying Cthulhu were flawless.

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?

Writers, storytellers, podcasters, and film makers still inspire & influence me in a multitude of ways. One is my talent to give up and step out of the way, when I am clearly too poor to fund a solid version on my own (without bad blood or envy). Clark Ashton Smith and Thomas Ligotti should be named, when it is authors, who really showed me that one shall never stop improving! Because of the racist debate, factual, I do no longer hype the author H. P. Lovecraft, only the fictional Cthulhu topics.

Do you have a target reader?

LOL. Yes, exactly one! Me! Don’t ask me, where the billions of paying customers are hiding.

About Writing

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

When I am not purposely freestyling then I usually prepare a long writing session, aimed to get a story finished, so next day the proofreading means a first draft exists. Then the critics decide, and then publish ASAP (as soon, as possible). Or quickshots, the mini works I do, as they are so quickly produced as audio. Cost free example: https://www.thrillerteller.com/a-crowbar-and-some-dare/

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

Not yet. I keep it short to minimize the need, but I also strictly agree with novel authors being an advanced league, IF they really worked their way into that achievement. It is a hurdle I did not yet take successfully. Short fiction yes, audio adaptations yes, but full novels worth reading? No, not yet written by Andre Michael Pietroschek.

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

Both, fell asleep, really was dumb enough to believe critics & readers would never find out???   😉 I edit a lot, it is so many unpaid hours of extra efforts, but that is true on ALL artists & authors worthy of such titles, even amateur and hobby ones.

Did you hire a professional editor? I am ex-homeless, I cannot afford such services, so far.

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

Sometimes it is heavy metal, sometimes it is audio storytelling by my own betters or competition. Sometimes it is 180 bpm trance or workout music running in the background.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, never. I always perceived myself as an indie author and stubborn renegade, and I really think I still have to earn the degrees of readership AND the degree of quality produced, to be a worthy applicant to agents and publishing houses of good reputation.

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 in the painful aftermath of my university dropout and hospital times. Bit of a haze by now, but: Hey, did you know that I published more than 100 cost-free PDF files, before I ever attempted to sell my stories for money? Factual truism of my life.

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

My ebook covers are always done by myself. Some gladly with help of partners. But, if any artist I like would ever have the need, then I would go far to give them that chance. I remember my own share of rejection and foul play received, and yin & yang I daresay fighting back is not enough. We also must do the good, which makes all the infighting and competing worthwhile and civilized enough.

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

Cut low on money the smarter marketing is tricky and difficult. Still, I followed several drills, added a podcast, and focus growing my readership continuously.

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

Never neglect a mainstream job until your art pays the proverbial bills with ease!

About You

Where did you grow up?

Germany. Hessian forests full of castle ruins and in stark contrast the industrial wasteland we call the Ruhrgebiet (North-Rhine Westfalia). Now that mobile Internet exists, I so miss the village life and healthy animals around me.

Where do you live now?

I live in the apartment, which homeless me 2015 could pay for to end homelessness. Still so. It is in the city of my birth, Essen, in North-Rhine Westfalia.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I am not Hollywood, and certainly no J.K.Rowling either. But, like anybody else, I deserve a fair pay for all my work, and a fair chance to correctly pay those, who must be hired to get the job done. Be that ebook, audio & podcast, or later movie making.

What are you working on now?

With the expected debacle of my first two ebooks not selling at all, I focused some on audio storytelling, but also found some new joy in pure writing. I also started to learn about making my own APP, so I can sell at low price in another attempt to it all having not-only been a waste of my time and efforts.

End of Interview:

For more from Andre Michael Pietroschek check out his podcast.

Get your copy of Dreamer’s Demise from Smashwords.