L.A. Strawbridge
Two reasons. I tried traditional
publishing first because I thought there was this shameful or negative
association with self-publishing. However, I do web sites for a living, and
there was always a feeling of chasing an old medium to me. Why is everyone
trying so hard to get published in print when the momentum is moving to
electronic publishing? The second reason has to do with the content I write. I
like heavier, risky themes. This novel, for example, discusses religion and the
next one politics. Mainstream publishers won’t touch it, but I do believe
there’s an audience for it. The online component also allows me to interact
much more with that audience.
I think within the next three years it
will be available on most computers and wireless devices as a standard feature.
Just like you have a calendar and a clock, I think you’ll have an electronic
reader right in your computer or wireless device as well as online access to a
catalog of newspapers, books, magazines, etc.
Things that are available right now,
such as selling the ebooks as PDFs or even buying the Amazon Kindle are quick
fixes until the technology becomes standard. I don’t think people will
necessarily be buying a separate electronic reader. I think the screens of
general wireless devices will get bigger and you’ll end up with something in
between a Blackberry and a Kindle that does the functions of both.
Books that changed my perspective in a
shocking and immediate way are Women Who Run with the Wolves, Zen and the Art,
To the Lighthouse and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. I think you can see
the influence of those books in this novel. I’m also influenced very much by
the music I listen to. When I was writing this novel, I listened to a lot of
Murder City Devils, Perfect Circle, Pearl Jam, Doors, Lacuna Coil and Angels and
Airwaves.
It was my first novel, so there was a
high learning curve. A very high learning curve. It took eight years from draft
1 to draft 20. What I learned the most is that I am more of a contemporary,
experimental author. I tried to write it initially as a straight literary novel,
and it just didn’t seem right. I finally chopped it up into short, little
chapters and added all the extras like the song lyrics, the manifesto and the
movie scene. Then the story suddenly had a structure that fit its personality.
That was another influence from music. I like bands that have more complex or
interesting structure to a song. Old Metallica and also Sonic Youth I could
listen to just for the way the songs are put together.
It’s a dystopian, political thriller. I have the research done. I’m outlining it now. It shouldn’t take eight years this time. I’m hoping to have it out next year.