I'd Like to Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed on my blog today. So, without any further ado let us get to it...
1. Q. Please tell us a little about you, the writer. Who is G. M. Masterson? What is your background? What do you do in your spare time when you aren’t writing?
I am a scientist by profession, working in the field of cancer research. These days, when I am not writing, I am doing research for the second novel in the Alexander series.
2. Q: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I have published extensively over the years in scientific journals. As far back as I can remember I have wanted to write a novel. About five years ago, I finally grasped the bull by the horns and started writing ALEXANDER: HALL OF THE GODS.
3. Q: How and when did you make this dream a reality?
As I mentioned, it all started five years ago. In the beginning I only wrote a page or so a week, with the main focus on researching ancient Egypt. After about three years, however, the novel suddenly seemed to take on a life of its own. It was almost as if it started to write itself.
4. Q. Are you able to write full time now? How long did it take you to become a full-time writer? How supportive was your family in the initial years?
Unfortunately I am not able to write fiction full time. Much as I enjoy the incredible realm of fiction writing, I need to pay the mortgage. The people that I know, both professionally and personally, doubted that I would finish the novel. It was such a radical departure from my scientific papers. They were pleasantly surprised when the book finally rolled off the press thanks to Starpublish.
5. Q: What's the most important lesson you've learned so far in your writing career?
Keep at it, come rain or shine. Try to write something every day, even if it is only a paragraph.
6. Q: Name some authors or books that have influenced your writing life in a positive way.
Dan Brown's writing has given me a lot of inspiration. He proved that you do not have to be Charles Dickens to author a great novel. By keeping it simple and writing compelling stories, stories based on fact, he has been able to achieve fantastic things. Other authors I admire include, Dennis Wheatley, Suzan Hill and Michael Crichton.
7. Q: What have you recently read or what are you reading right now that you would consider an outstanding work?
I am reading factual books at the moment in connection with the second novel that I am writing. They concern the Knights Templar, the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail. LOST SECRETS OF THE SACRED ARK by Laurence Gardner is an excellent book.
8. Q: What excites or ignites your soul?
Writing fiction. I never tire of what I write in this realm. With fiction my imagination soars like it never could before. I have to confess to liking fast cars also.
9. Q. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current project(s) What are you working on right now?
I am working on the second novel in the Alexander series. The title of the book is ALEXANDER: BLOOD OF THE PHARAOHS. It deals with Alexander's continuing attempts to unravel the secrets of twelve mysterious crystals, the hidden treasures of the Knights Templar and a plot by eco-terrorists to destroy the eastern seaboard of the United States
10. Q. I love the title of your book. How did you come up with the title?
Thank you. The principle subplot in Alexander: Hall of the gods involves a quest to unearth the fabled lost Hall of Records in Egypt. The ancient Egyptians believed it contained a record of the achievements and technology of a god-like race that existed long before the Old Kingdom.
11. Q: Tell us a bit about Alexander: Hall of the Gods?
The novel is about a boy called Alexander with a very high IQ who finds himself at the University of Oxford at age thirteen. Hall of the Gods was inspired by a true story and exciting recent discoveries in the fields of parapsychology and archaeology. Set between the late nineteenth century and the present day, it is a tale of obsession and revenge that revolves around the themes of the paranormal, the occult, Freemasonry and Egyptology.
Present day: Alexander, orphaned under mysterious circumstances, unearths a terrible truth. Here begins a fateful relationship with tempestuous accident-prone Irish academic Frank Malone. The Irishman's volcanic temper gets him into a lot of trouble. A road-rage incident leads to his abduction. Narrowly escaping with his life, he stumbles upon a deserted house and finds an object that will ultimately lead Alexander on a strange and disturbing quest. The boy manages to discover the location of his ancestral family home and journeys there with his tutor, Frank Malone. Breaking into the eerie abandoned mansion they stumble across the journals of a Victorian Baron. The journals tell a compelling story.
Nineteenth century: Baron Algernon Northgate learns of the fabled ‘Lost Hall of Records’ in Egypt. The Hall is believed to contain the secrets of a highly advanced civilisation, destroyed during the catastrophic global changes that occurred at the end of the last ice age. Determined to find the Hall of Records, the Baron spends many years in Egypt where he makes a number of remarkable discoveries. Unfortunately for Baron Northgate, his uncovering of an ancient Egyptian tomb unleashes a deadly curse. Ultimately, Alexander finds out that he is the last surviving descendant of the Baron, and must battle the curse or die. In a desperate race against time the boy must discover the origin of the curse and a way to defeat it.
On one level, Hall of the Gods is a fast paced action-adventure thriller. On another level, Hall of the Gods is a thought-provoking exploration of the mysteries associated with the enigmatic Gizza plateau.
12. Q. Do you have any tips for beginning writers?
Well, I'm stating the obvious here, but the best advice that I ever got was to try to write something, even a few lines, every day.
13. Q. Do you miss your characters when you are finished with their tale? Any that you wish you could write about again?
I am very fond of the Professor, Frank Malone and a female private eye in Hall of the Gods. But at the end of the day, in a fast-paced action adventure book, there is little room for sentiment.
14. Q. What is your favorite part of writing? What about your least favorite part?
Rereading what I wrote the day before, and editing it as required, is what I like best. Proof reading is what I like least - no surprise there!
15. Q. What about the one habit you have that you know you’ll never change?
Pulling my eyebrow, when I have to think hard is a habit I can't break.
16. Q. Every writer dreams about receiving “the call” from a publisher or agent. What will you do—anything special to celebrate?
It would have to be a very large publisher with a big publicity budget to get me excited. I am happy to be at Starpublish. Not only do they do a first rate job in producing the book, they work very hard to help you get it noticed in a very crowded book world.
17. Q. Anything you'd like to add?
Thank you very much for your questions and for hosting me on your blog.
1. Q. Please tell us a little about you, the writer. Who is G. M. Masterson? What is your background? What do you do in your spare time when you aren’t writing?
I am a scientist by profession, working in the field of cancer research. These days, when I am not writing, I am doing research for the second novel in the Alexander series.
2. Q: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I have published extensively over the years in scientific journals. As far back as I can remember I have wanted to write a novel. About five years ago, I finally grasped the bull by the horns and started writing ALEXANDER: HALL OF THE GODS.
3. Q: How and when did you make this dream a reality?
As I mentioned, it all started five years ago. In the beginning I only wrote a page or so a week, with the main focus on researching ancient Egypt. After about three years, however, the novel suddenly seemed to take on a life of its own. It was almost as if it started to write itself.
4. Q. Are you able to write full time now? How long did it take you to become a full-time writer? How supportive was your family in the initial years?
Unfortunately I am not able to write fiction full time. Much as I enjoy the incredible realm of fiction writing, I need to pay the mortgage. The people that I know, both professionally and personally, doubted that I would finish the novel. It was such a radical departure from my scientific papers. They were pleasantly surprised when the book finally rolled off the press thanks to Starpublish.
5. Q: What's the most important lesson you've learned so far in your writing career?
Keep at it, come rain or shine. Try to write something every day, even if it is only a paragraph.
6. Q: Name some authors or books that have influenced your writing life in a positive way.
Dan Brown's writing has given me a lot of inspiration. He proved that you do not have to be Charles Dickens to author a great novel. By keeping it simple and writing compelling stories, stories based on fact, he has been able to achieve fantastic things. Other authors I admire include, Dennis Wheatley, Suzan Hill and Michael Crichton.
7. Q: What have you recently read or what are you reading right now that you would consider an outstanding work?
I am reading factual books at the moment in connection with the second novel that I am writing. They concern the Knights Templar, the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail. LOST SECRETS OF THE SACRED ARK by Laurence Gardner is an excellent book.
8. Q: What excites or ignites your soul?
Writing fiction. I never tire of what I write in this realm. With fiction my imagination soars like it never could before. I have to confess to liking fast cars also.
9. Q. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current project(s) What are you working on right now?
I am working on the second novel in the Alexander series. The title of the book is ALEXANDER: BLOOD OF THE PHARAOHS. It deals with Alexander's continuing attempts to unravel the secrets of twelve mysterious crystals, the hidden treasures of the Knights Templar and a plot by eco-terrorists to destroy the eastern seaboard of the United States
10. Q. I love the title of your book. How did you come up with the title?
Thank you. The principle subplot in Alexander: Hall of the gods involves a quest to unearth the fabled lost Hall of Records in Egypt. The ancient Egyptians believed it contained a record of the achievements and technology of a god-like race that existed long before the Old Kingdom.
11. Q: Tell us a bit about Alexander: Hall of the Gods?
The novel is about a boy called Alexander with a very high IQ who finds himself at the University of Oxford at age thirteen. Hall of the Gods was inspired by a true story and exciting recent discoveries in the fields of parapsychology and archaeology. Set between the late nineteenth century and the present day, it is a tale of obsession and revenge that revolves around the themes of the paranormal, the occult, Freemasonry and Egyptology.
Present day: Alexander, orphaned under mysterious circumstances, unearths a terrible truth. Here begins a fateful relationship with tempestuous accident-prone Irish academic Frank Malone. The Irishman's volcanic temper gets him into a lot of trouble. A road-rage incident leads to his abduction. Narrowly escaping with his life, he stumbles upon a deserted house and finds an object that will ultimately lead Alexander on a strange and disturbing quest. The boy manages to discover the location of his ancestral family home and journeys there with his tutor, Frank Malone. Breaking into the eerie abandoned mansion they stumble across the journals of a Victorian Baron. The journals tell a compelling story.
Nineteenth century: Baron Algernon Northgate learns of the fabled ‘Lost Hall of Records’ in Egypt. The Hall is believed to contain the secrets of a highly advanced civilisation, destroyed during the catastrophic global changes that occurred at the end of the last ice age. Determined to find the Hall of Records, the Baron spends many years in Egypt where he makes a number of remarkable discoveries. Unfortunately for Baron Northgate, his uncovering of an ancient Egyptian tomb unleashes a deadly curse. Ultimately, Alexander finds out that he is the last surviving descendant of the Baron, and must battle the curse or die. In a desperate race against time the boy must discover the origin of the curse and a way to defeat it.
On one level, Hall of the Gods is a fast paced action-adventure thriller. On another level, Hall of the Gods is a thought-provoking exploration of the mysteries associated with the enigmatic Gizza plateau.
12. Q. Do you have any tips for beginning writers?
Well, I'm stating the obvious here, but the best advice that I ever got was to try to write something, even a few lines, every day.
13. Q. Do you miss your characters when you are finished with their tale? Any that you wish you could write about again?
I am very fond of the Professor, Frank Malone and a female private eye in Hall of the Gods. But at the end of the day, in a fast-paced action adventure book, there is little room for sentiment.
14. Q. What is your favorite part of writing? What about your least favorite part?
Rereading what I wrote the day before, and editing it as required, is what I like best. Proof reading is what I like least - no surprise there!
15. Q. What about the one habit you have that you know you’ll never change?
Pulling my eyebrow, when I have to think hard is a habit I can't break.
16. Q. Every writer dreams about receiving “the call” from a publisher or agent. What will you do—anything special to celebrate?
It would have to be a very large publisher with a big publicity budget to get me excited. I am happy to be at Starpublish. Not only do they do a first rate job in producing the book, they work very hard to help you get it noticed in a very crowded book world.
17. Q. Anything you'd like to add?
Thank you very much for your questions and for hosting me on your blog.
It was such a pleasure to have you here today - and thank you so much for your engaging responses to our questions. I wish you many sales with your book and the up coming one. Guaranteed if the second is as good as the first you will have people talking about your books and buying them the minute they hit the shelves.
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1 comment:
Very interesting interview, Billie. I have had the pleasure of working with G.M> Masterson in my capacity of Marketing Director at Star Publish. It's nice to get to see a bit of "the other side" of him.
Hmmm, fast cars, huh? LOL!
Janet Elaine Smith
http://www.janetelainesmith.com
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