Interview with Author Aramis Barron:
Hi Aramis. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
Roaming Cadenza is the first book in A Bard’s Folktale and was published back in April of 2011. Below is the synopsis of the first story:
Indie rock shows, secret ninja missions, and more love polygons than the drama llama can shake a stick at!
Summer after high school graduation and nothing but the open road before him, Kody Lehane takes off on a road trip to find out what this whole “adulthood” thing is all about.
In an effort to help his old co-worker Glenn overcome his traumatic past, Kody, along with his good friend Charisma and his ex-lover Alma, will do whatever it takes to help their mentally unstable buddy, and see some countryside along the way.
They’ll stop at nothing, even if it means breaking old promises, betraying those closest to them, and retracing the steps of the dead, to find what they think they’re looking for.
A good time, and a guilty pleasure.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m working on the second book in A Bard’s Folktale, and I’m planning it as a tetralogy. I’ve also written a few short stories, and plan to publish a compilation after I finish A Bard’s Folktale series.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
I post updates on my work as well as shorter writings on my website – http://www.glass-waltz.net
- Do you allow readers to contact you? If so, how do they reach you?
Absolutely. They can e-mail me at tyler@glass-waltz.net, and I’m working on adding a feedback section on my site so people can openly comment and feedback on my posts, much like a blog (it’s powered by WordPress).
- How many readers/fans contact you?
Only a few of my personal friends so far. Still working on publicizing and getting my work out there.
- What are some of the most memorable questions/comments?
I think the most memorable (without revealing spoilers) was some feedback I received while working on the first draft of Book II of A Bard’s Folktale. The overall dynamic changes quite a bit from book one, and the overwhelming positive response to two of the new characters was very refreshing.
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Definitely. Writing is my passion, but like any author my writing means very little without people who appreciate and enjoy reading it.
- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
Sadly I can’t say that I do as I haven’t had much fan feedback, but I certainly hope that changes in the near future!
- Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I was 17 when I first started working on what would become A Bard’s Folktale. Back then I thought my life, while hectic (I was raising two children), was pretty boring. So I start writing down glorified versions of my everyday life. What that ultimately broke down to was a sense of adventure, and romance, as I think those are really the pinnacle parts of most people lives. And once I started focusing on those two aspects, I found my writing really started to take off.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
I think a strong portion of my personality and experience is imbued in my writing. The core four characters (and the lovable narrator) are based on a composite of different aspects of my personality as well as those of my close friends. Also, since high school I’ve been in the military and moved a lot, which I think really helps with setting scenery for a lot of the different locations in the books. Nowhere is this more evident than in the desert scenes. They’re pretty much a reflection of my time in El Paso.
- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?
I’ve been writing ever since I was a little kid. Like elementary school little. I still remember one of my first completed drafts was re-writing the storyline to Breath of Fire II for the SNES. I think the reason A Bard’s Folktale stuck with me though is that it was first fully-developed storyline I ever finished, and the last thing I was working on when I joined the military. For the first few months afterward, I really only had that to think about and work on in my spare time, so I kept working on it until it was a completed MS. At that point, a good friend encouraged me to do something more with it, and I figured, “Why not?”
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
I can’t really say there’s a set duration. I’m a Soldier, so my “work schedule” is pretty sporadic. There are months when absolutely nothing is going on, and months where I wish I could find time to sleep. I will say that the final draft of Roaming Cadenza took about two-three months, but that’s only because I’d already drafted that entire story twice before, so it was just a matter of figuring out what I wanted to keep and the proper way to polish it.
- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
It really just depends. I’ve found for me that usually for the first quarter to the first half of a book that I write whenever it feels right (which is usually when a good caffeine buzz hits – caffeine is a writer’s best friend). Once I get a solid foundation going though, it’s usually mad scientist time until I finish up the second half. At that point it’s whenever I’m not working or spending time with family.
- What is your writing routine once you start a book?
Usually I’ll think about how I want the story to play out while I’m at work during the day (piece of advice I got from Jo Chen – always have a notepad around to sketch down ideas when they come – even near your bed) and then write the outline out at night. Once I have an outline done, it’s just a matter of finding time to write each chapter. I prefer to write at night because I don’t have to worry about running out of time – I hate leaving chapters unfinished because it can be hard to get back into a certain frame of mind. So usually my weekends end up being one long caffeine-binge of writing from “Friday night to holy crap it’s Sunday afternoon? Shower and eating would be good now”.
- Does your family bother you when you are writing - are there constant interruptions?
That hasn’t really been an issue until recently. I wrote the final draft of Roaming Cadenza during a deployment, so not many family issues there. But being recently engaged, I have found it challenging to get writing done. I’ve found the best practice is to have a completely separate time and place to write (i.e. an office so I can listen to some quiet music without interruption) and prepare for those times so I can have everything ready.
- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
Usually it’s been work. That sounds funny, but when I start writing I usually go from Friday night to Sunday night, only resting when I pass out from exhaustion or run out of caffeine and am too tired to get more. Working out is also essential though. Most writers don’t think about it, but being physically fit helps you think better, and I don’t think I’ve had more time to plan and draft stuff in my head than during a good run. Plus it helps out with that whole “stinky recluse” deal that can happen when you start becoming glued to your notebook or keyboard.
- What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?
I heard a quote once (and I really wish I could remember where it was from) that writers don’t accept the world as it is, so they write to create new ones. While that’s not true for everyone, I couldn’t agree more. Sure, the world is a nifty place, but aren’t there things we all wish were different? Maybe that things were a little more dramatic, or that our lives a little more interesting? Or maybe even a little more boring. For me, I love philosophical raison d’etre stories. As much as I love them, I can’t ever seem to find enough, so I have to settle for writing them instead. 
- Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere! Where don’t ideas come from? I’m big on quotes, and another one of my favorites is “About the most originality a writer can hope to achieve is stealing with good judgment.” I take that to mean that there really isn’t anything that hasn’t been done, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t new ways of applying already fantastic ideas. And of course, life itself is a never-ending source and inspiration. Just go outside for five minutes and see what happens – guarantee you’ll come up with something as long as you keep an open mind.
- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?
Oh entirely. I wouldn’t limit it to just women’s fiction though. Humor is vital! Life can be harsh, and really suck sometimes. If we can’t take a moment to step back and laugh it off, to try and enjoy what can often be an extended torturous freak show, then we’re in for a long hard ride in a pretty bad way.
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
I don’t know if I’d call them difficult, but I do think they’re a challenge. It was hard for me to write them because the original focus of my novel was just an action adventure novel – not to say there couldn’t be romance, but I wasn’t sure where to draw the line. The trick with romance is you have to make a deep personal connection both between the characters and with the reader themselves. To do this, you have to have strong, evocative writing which often means making it very sensual. For a straight romance novel this is probably what the aim is anyway so that works just fine, but for a more general audience the problem I found was “Where is the line between evocative romance and crossing into erotica?” because that can be an easy area to wander into. (Hey, think about how much readers enjoy reading those types of scenes – as a writer, it can be just as hard to cut them off or limit them because there is so very much that can be explored).
- What kind of research do you do?
So far I’ve had to do a lot of legwork on American geography. Roaming Cadenza is about a roadtrip through the states, and while I’ve traveled everywhere but the northwest, I haven’t always done it by car. So things like planning out road routes and travel time while properly accommodating for pit stops and all the mischief the cast gets into actually turned out to be a bit of a challenge.
- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
That’s something I’ve actually been asking myself for a little while now. I admit the thought feels a little weird just because I’ve always tried to focus on realistic stories (I like having stories people can honestly relate to), but I’m a fantasy nerd at heart so being able to cut loose with some mythology does sound exciting. That might be what I explore next after I finish A Bard’s Folktale series.
- What does your husband/wife/partner think of your writing?
My finance is very supportive of my writing, and even did some light editing and proof-reading before I published Roaming Cadenza. She’s been a real champ about how much time writing can take away from our personal time.
- Do you ever ask her for advice?
Of course! But she likes to go along for the ride as much as anyone else, so she just tells me what is probably the most fundamental advice any writer should follow: just keep writing.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
I have eight half-siblings, two children, a fiancé, two step-children, and a sweet 15 year-old puppy that lives with my mommy but I totally claim. It’s a weird aggregation of a family, but somehow we make it work. My hobbies (other than writing of course!) are listening to music – the original short story writers, watching good shows movies, playing video games, and working out. It’s hard to beat getting a good sweat on. Education-wise I’m almost done with my Bachelors in English and Psychology – have four classes left to go.
- Fill in the blank favorites –
Dessert: Chocolate chip cookies dipped in skim milk.
City: Ann Arbor (my hometown).
Season: Winter.
Type of hero: Comedic anti-hero.
Type of heroine: Strong independent heroine that saves comedic anti-hero.
- What are some of your favorite things or hobbies to do?
I like to mess around with my guitar, but between work, writing, and family, I just haven’t had the time for it like I used to. I mostly spend my time drafting or absorbing whatever stories I can regardless of the medium.
- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
I have a few, but my #1 is Demo by Brian Wood. It’s actually a graphic novel, but anyone who reads it will have no question as to why. Others would be The Book of the Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi or A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.
- Who are some of your other favorite authors and genres to read?
I really like Jack London and Robert Frost. They’re both amazing with nature. They just capture the scenery so well; the vivid imagery really blows your mind. Far as genre, anything regarding philosophy and different perspectives on life.
- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
Joss Whedon, hands down. At the tender age of 10 Buffy completely changed my life. Then Angel (my son was born during season 3, so any Angel fans can definitely appreciate that) then Firefly, the list goes on and on. Also, Robert Frost’s ability to capture scenery also played a strong impact, and Brian Wood’s emphasis on personal growth through quick one-shots really helped appreciate and focus on character development.
- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?
I’m a member of www.critiquecircle.com, which has really stepped up my game as a writer and helped me get in touch with many other writers so I could gain some better perspective. (as a writer it’s really easy to forget you aren’t the only person ever in the world to write something, and that your writings aren’t the most amazing thing ever)
- What do you think of critique groups in general?
I love them. I whole-heartedly support and encourage all writers to at least try one. If you give it a shot and it’s not for you, got it, but if your writing means anything to you then you owe it to yourself and your readers to at least give it a go.
- Do you think critique groups are a necessity to becoming a good writer?
I don’t want to say it’s impossible to become a good writer without them, but I can’t imagine there’s a writer who wouldn’t benefit from them.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Standing gloriously atop my tower of ARCs and galley copies! Really though, I’d like to have A Bard’s Folktale series done, and be well underway into my short story anthology. If I have a nice fan-base looking forward to it, wonderful, if it’s only a few dedicated readers, even better. Means they get all the special attention they deserve.
- Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Definitely. It hasn’t always been my career choice, since for a long time I didn’t know how to get into the field professionally, but it’s always been my hobby and passion.
- How long have you been writing and working to that goal of being published?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid, but I’ve been working on A Bard’s Folktale for the last six years. I didn’t really have a solid plan to publish it until little over a year ago.
- How many books have you written, and how many of those have been published?
I’ve written three so far (three out of four of A Bard’s Folktale series), but I’ve only published one, and I’m re-writing the rest of the series because there’s always room for improvement.
- After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?
I have a copy for my book shelf, and it’s always good to keep a copy on-hand for marketing, but I don’t think I could re-read it. Read it from start to finish too many times while drafting, and I’d end up spending the whole time revising it into another draft.
- Among your own books, have you a favorite? A favorite hero or heroine?
This is hard for to say, because I think most writers put everything that have into each piece they write. That having been said, I think the second book is my favorite (so far). It introduces the secondary cast, which I think brings some really exciting dynamics into the group. I think all things considered, Alma is my favorite character because she already has it rough, and even though she’s seriously flawed (and is openly aware of it) she is the one person that earnestly tries her hardest to be a better person, even when she’s falling and knows she’s making the wrong decisions.
- Which of your books has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
I think the first book was the easiest to write because I’ve drafted that one more than any other one. From day one I’ve pretty much had a solid idea of how the story is gonna go, and it’s mostly just been how to lay it out, dress it up, and take it out. The hardest will be the last one for sure. It’s always hard to say goodbye to a series or project you’ve been so invested in. It’ll be amazing when I finally finish out the series, but I’m not looking forward to it. I think the second book has been the most fun so far; the dynamic changes so much that it really just gave me a lot of freedom to play around and do some things I really couldn’t do with the first book because of the nature of the storyline.
- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
If there is one thing I’ve learned from Whedon, it’s that characters come first. If you don’t care about the people involved, then nothing else about the story matters. The most amazing plot in the world doesn’t mean much if the protagonist, with the emotionality volatility of a cheese burger, can’t even appreciate it.
- What part of a book has been the easiest to write? The hardest?
I don’t think any part is particularly easy, but I think the opening is probably the easiest because there hasn’t been any ground-work laid yet. There’s a lot of potential opportunity available. The hardest for me is probably the climax or ending, because I think most writers have a solid idea of what they want to do for these, but at the same time once you’re writing them there are things that are probably gonna get phased out, and things you want to include but just don’t work themselves in.
- What are the elements of a great romance for you?
The tragic lovers that are separated by some sort of great obstacle. But not only that, it has to be realistic. Love isn’t easy or finite. Even once a true romance has been established, it has to be maintained. Problems will arise, complications will appear. There has to be a constant struggle with a real possibility to lose. There’s no gain if there’s no risk.
- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?
The easiest is drafting/outlining. It’s just throwing out ideas and plans left and right. It’s almost like a playground. The hardest part is polishing up an idea just right; particularly if you hit a dry spell or writer’s block in a crucial section because that can just be frustrating. Just gotta keep writing or know when to take a break though.
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
I’d say it’s mutual, if that makes any sense. I have a rough idea of where I want them to go and guide them that way, but a good character has their own voice, their own ideas. Putting them all together in a situation can create some very interesting interactions and situations all of their own.
- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?
Usually I just drink lots of caffeine and force myself to write until ideas start flowing. Rarely that doesn’t help though, and at that point it’s just a matter of trying again tomorrow until something works. Working out almost always helps with that too. It’s nothing but time to think without any pressure and lots of adrenaline running.
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
Being able to share a world you’ve created with others who can enjoy and appreciate it. There’s nothing quite like it.
- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
I honestly can’t imagine. Even when I’ve taken breaks from writing I always ended up coming right back to it.
- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Don’t give up. Just keep writing. There are plenty of times when I thought my writing wasn’t good enough, or that it wasn’t worth publishing, but you just gotta keep going. Find encouragement and advice where you can get it, either from friends, other writers, or what have you. Writer’s circles are one of the best places for that.
Just remember, you can’t lose if you don’t quit.
Thank you very much for your sacrifice and service, and for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
Author Links:
Aramis' Website Publisher's Website Critique Group Email
RaH Links:
Bio Review Review
Purchase Links:
Buy Aramis Barron's Books at Amazon
Buy A Bard's Folktale at Amazon Books