Hello one and all! How are you today? I'm back and hope everyone is doing well and happy! It’s so great to be with all of you again. Welcome back to my writing blog page where I try to share whatever I think may interest you. Today I interview another fellow author. I love meeting other authors and promoting them. It's so much fun. Why talk about myself when there are so many wonderful authors out there and everywhere waiting to share with us.
With me this time is author Steven aka S. B. Redstone as he discusses writing and his latest release, Stardust Dreams, which was released on June 1, 2014 in both paperback and e-book.
Photo of Steve aka S.B. Redstone.
Steve began his career, after graduating
from Hunter College, as a caseworker for the New York City Department of Social
Services, Protective Services, investigating the horrors of the abuse and
neglect of children. After attaining master’s degrees in Social Work and School
Psychology, and then completing a post-graduate education in Psychoanalytic
Therapy, he became a School Psychologist in the New York City Department of
Education and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in his private therapy practice
on Long Island. treating adults, adolescents, children, and couples. Always
striving to improve his understanding of human nature, he researched and then
wrote a personal improvement book, Taming Your Inner & Outer Bullies:
Confronting Life’s Stressors and Winning, which offers remarkable insights into
behavior, societal institutions, and relationships. Steven has written articles
on the web concerning human nature, relationships and the abuses of societal
institutions, done lectures, and appeared on radio shows.
Always having a vivid imagination and a
desire to write fiction, he developed his writing skills by becoming a
successful writer of short stories, all of which have been published on the web
or in print. In the beginning, Stephen King and Peter Straub were Steven's
favorite authors and he wrote in their graphic styles. However, as an expert in
human psychology, he has been able to develop characters from the dark side of
human nature where his villains don’t aspire for happiness through personal
achievement, but rather from their demented narcissistic schemes. Many of
Steven's characters have been taken from his clinical experiences.
Welcome
Steve and thanks for joining us here. You’ve lead such a fascinating life. Shall
we begin to learn more about you and your writing?
His first novel.
SJ: From your debut novel in a mystery thriller with A Sinister Obsession to a
romance with science fiction elements with Stardust Dreams, why the change in
genres? Was it difficult for you transition from one to another?
Redstone: My writing
interest began with short stories, in the horror genre as it was fun to write.
Blood curdling scenes, language and sentences, fascinating evil characters, all
action. They were published in online magazines and I was thrilled. A Sinister
Obsession began as a horror novel, but I seriously toned down the violence and
it into a mystery thriller. In the novel, there is a sub-genre, my female
detective has a paranormal ability that is terrific to solve crimes, but a
disaster to her social life. The social recluse falls in love with another
detective and sparks fly! With all the violence in the world, I lost interest
in creating more. Learning that seniors read a great deal and like adventure
and romance, a story came into my head about a great adventure where the main
characters seek immortality and their dreams. Besides, I love romance. But, I
was scared to death making the change, so before I put a word on the computer
screen I must have read twenty romance novels to learn and design a style that would
work for me. The transition was hard and I became quite insecure. But, to know
me, I never give up on anything I do. Lastly, it’s far easier to create
emotional impact with violence than love. Romance is a warm, glowing aura
between lovers.
SJ: Obviously your
background in Social Service has to play a role in your stories. Can you
briefly tell us how that works for us? Was one genre easier for you to write
than another?
Redstone: Psychology and
social issues are my stories. I can’t separate my therapeutic self from my
creative self. And that was good and bad in my private practice. The kids I
treated couldn’t wait to come and see me and some adult patients imagined they
came to be entertained. As a Clinical Social Worker and School Psychologist,
post-graduate trained therapist, and author of a psychology book on human
nature and relationships, those educational experiences have enabled me to
create honest and realistic characters that readers can identify with. Some
characters are past patients. Like Dickens, social issues play a major role in
my stories. I thrive on creating powerful emotional impact. In a mystery
thriller, it’s the killer’s mind and the dread created by his or her narcissism.
In romance, the emotional impact is in the lover’s interactions. Each genre is
hard work to achieve my goals, they’re just different.
His latest release.
SJ: What was your
inspiration for your current release, Stardust Dreams? Can you tell us a little
bit of how the idea came about?
Redstone: As I said, I
was tired of writing violence. When I realized seniors, my world now, read I
did some research. Having enjoyed the romance between Detective Aubrey McKenzie
and Detective Joshua Diamond in A Sinister Obsession, instead of writing a
sequel, I decided to write a romance. I have always loved romance films,
watching them over and over again. Add another facet to me, I love science,
especially astronomy. The whole world wants to know if life exists on alien
worlds. Of course it does. That’s why there’s a universe. If not for
intelligent life, what’s the point of it being here? I have ten stories in my
head about friendly aliens. So, I put a mixture of what seniors care about death,
health, love, and attaining their dreams. And so, Lance Forrester and Sage
Saint Charles seek theirs in Stardust Dreams.
SJ: What do you love
most about being a writer? Least?
Redstone: Let me start
with the least. Selling myself and my work. No choice. If I don’t put myself
out there, and spend hours doing it, no one will find my books. What do I love
the most? Creating unique and meaningful stories. Creating great characters.
And creating great sentences. Hearing honest feedback from readers. Marketing
does have a great plus, I interact with so many fellow writers from around the
world. Wow! From the time I first put a sentence on paper, I never interacted
with another writer. It wasn’t my world. And readers? I never interacted with
readers either. To be honest, before I was published, few people even knew I
wrote.
Back Cover Stardust Dreams.
SJ: What writer inspired
you most and how?
Redstone: To name just a
few: Stephen King was an inspiration as his emotional impact with words were
terrific. Dickens in terms of social issues. And Shakespeare for his style of
presenting a powerful conflict and working it through to the end. However, my
inspiration to write didn’t come from them. My inspiration came from films. I
was a fanatic TV watcher and movie goer since childhood. From silent films, through
the 30’s, 40’s, and so on. The visual impact stirred my imagination. It didn’t
matter if it was a cowboy film, musical, drama, comedy, and science fiction, I
loved them all. I loved the passionate dialogue. I still do. And when I was
finally free of writing term papers, I began to put my imagination on paper. My
work exemplifies the 1940’s style of dialogue.
SJ: If you could give
just one piece of important writing advice to an aspiring writer, what would it
be?
Redstone: Don’t bore
your readers. Don’t be mundane. Trite. Confusing. Readers grab a book. They
read a page or two. You didn’t hook them. Book is tossed aside. At least that’s
what my wife does and so do I. I believe in emotional impact. It’s in my art
and it’s in my life. Passion fuels my work. And to achieve this, the writing
and the story have to drive home your passion. I grab the attention of the
reader on the first paragraph and I don’t let go. Never let them go.
SJ: In closing, Steve,
what is a favorite book you enjoyed reading and would recommend without
hesitation? Why?
Redstone: I’m having a
“senior moment”. There are so many. I really don’t have a favorite that stands
above all others. It’s in genre. Horror is Stephen King’s Carrie. Romance is Love Story
by Erich Segal. Science Fiction is Alien.
Comedy is Portnoy’s Complaint.
Thank you, Steve for allowing use to take some time out of your
busy schedule and interview you about your writing. Keep writing. Readers, take
note you may purchase a copy of Stardust Dreams or any of his books at on-line
book stores and direct from his publisher available as both an e-book and paperback.
But before we go, it
wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t share the synopsis for Stardust Dreams:
Lance Forrester is a dreamer. After a
celebrated career as an astronaut and engineer, he and a friend built a secret
spacecraft to seek their destinies in the stars. But, his friend died. Now that
Lance has terminal cancer, he hopes to convince Sage who he hasn’t seen since
high school, to join him on his quest to reach an advanced alien civilization
and immortality.
Sage Saint Charles lived
a wild and notorious life in Hollywood before she descended into obscurity as a
social recluse. Sage has regrets, more regrets than a person should have. When
her drowsy eyes open, in hospice care, an unfamiliar old man is standing at her
bedside.
Stardust Dreams is a
love story. This unique tale of hope and faith is so realistic you just might
feel you’ve gone along on their madcap adventure into the galaxy.
Unfortunately, true life is not a child’s fairy tale. If Lance and Sage are to
achieve their happiness, they must first overcome the emotional scars of their
pasts. With every turn of the page, you’ll delight in the fascination and
mystery of unknown worlds and destinies.
Interested? Then here’s
an excerpt from Stardust Dreams. Read on and enjoy:
I knew that the truth in my heart
reflected in my old, weary eyes. “Yes, I do. Look, I’m no slick-talking
salesman, as you can see. I’m just a scientist and engineer, but I truly
believe there is a statistical probability of success. But even if I’m wrong,
and our voyage ends up to be pointless, so what? Think of the fun you’ll have.
Imagine the excitement and wonders of space travel that come before our long
sleep.” I paused to dramatize my resolve and let a burst of quixotic energy
erupt from me. “Cherish the adventure!”
It wasn’t her fears that
I was battling against, but a lifetime of distrust. My confidence in a
successful mission collapsed. “Of course, you have no reason to believe a word
of what I’ve told you. You don’t really know me, except through my noted
accomplishments. But I can’t disappoint you because I’m only offering
friendship and hope.” I pushed my point harder. “Sure, we can die here on
Earth. We can die in space. Or we can awaken on a remote and caring world that
saves us! We are the captains of our fate, not the Grim Reaper—yet!”
Fascinated like I was?
Want to read more? Here’s the purchase links for your convenience:
For more about Steve and his writing,
remember to check out his website at:
Or feel free to connect
with him on social media:
Thank you all for visiting with us. Until
next month...every one please stay safe. Smile. Be happy. Show compassion. Be
nice to others. Put a little love into your heart. Please speak up for those
without a voice, whether it be a dog, cat, elephant or monkey. One person, one voice can make a difference.
Regards,
S. J. Francis
Advocate for the underdog, and cat, et al.
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About
Family." Coming soon from Black
Opal Books.
My Black Opal Books Author Page:
http://www.blackopalbooks.com/author-bios/bio-sj-francis
View My Shout Out:
http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
My web page:
http://sjfranciswriter.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419
Face Book:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006313201444
My Writing Blog: http://sjfranciswriter.blogspot.com
A Book Review 4 U:
http://abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View:
http://aconsumersview.blogspot.com
One for the Animals: http:// onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sjfrancis419/
Google Plus:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104831238907682620486/about
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33550975-s-j
And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2015 by S.J.
Francis. Opinions expressed here
are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and the guest author and are
meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
Congratulations on your second novel, Steve. May you enjoy success! Thank you, SJ, for the wonderful interview.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Carole for visiting and leaving your wonderful comment. I know Steve appreciates it.
DeleteCheers! S.J. Francis