Robert Clark Selby is the author of Michael Hawk Adventures: Curse of the Last Moondragon (Click
here to learn more about the book.)
1. When did you first start writing, and when did you finish your first book?
I started the first draft in 2004. I made the final revision in 2012. Wow I’m slow.
2. How did you choose the genre you write in?
I’m naturally drawn to fantasy adventure. I like writing about magical or fantastic characters on an impossible quest.
3. Where do you get your ideas?
Everywhere. I’m an avid movie poster collector. One day I was looking at my poster of the John Wayne film Hatari, which is a terrific comedy adventure set in Africa about men who capture animals for zoos, and it made me think - wouldn’t it be cool if there was story about people who caught mythical creatures for a magical circus. Of course the story I ended up writing is not about that at all, but Hatari was definitely the initial inspiration. I didn’t abandon that idea entirely though. There is an important character in my book that does capture magical animals for the circus.
4. Do you ever experience writer’s block and how do you overcome it?
Yes. In fact, I’m having trouble answering this question right now. Usually, I tend to walk away from it and come back when I feel inspired. That’s probably the worse solution. Don’t do that. Just write. Even if it’s terrible. Even if it’s a whole page of curse words cursing other curse words. Keep writing.
5. Is there a particular author that influenced you while growing up or as an adult?
Beverly Cleary. Shel Silverstein. J.K. Rowling. Woody Allen. Quentin Tarantino. JD Salinger. Douglas Adams. The Beatles. George Lucas. Apparently a lot of people have influenced me, but I want to make this clear - I was not influenced by Herman Melville.
6. Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
Rejection. It sucks. But you have to keep working at it even if you have to publish it yourself.
7. If you had to do it again, is there anything you would change?
Yes. I would write a book about vampires falling in love in an apocalyptic future as they battle each other in a televised arena of death.
8. How do you market your work? Have you found some avenues to be more successful than others?
I’m just starting that process really. I have a website, facebook page and a new book trailer, but I’m just now starting to harness the power of the internet.
9. Is your book based on real life experiences or all pure imagination?
Pure imagination. Although, I would like to have some of the experiences in my book.
10. What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
I wrote a chapter with a very amusing fashion designer who creates a very outlandish outfit for the main character. Her design is quite bold. It’s also hideous. I never fully describe it in the book. I reveal pieces of it as other characters see it. Their reactions to it make it amusing … to me anyway.
11. How did you come up with the title?
I went through several variations on the title. It’s the first installment in a fantasy adventure series, so I thought this one conveyed that without also sounding like Harry Potter and the blah, blah, blah. Or Percy Jackson and the blah, blah, blah. Or Indiana Jones and the blah, blah, blah. Of course Michael Hawk and the blah, blah, blah is what it was called for about three years until I settled on Michael Hawk Adventures: Curse of the Last Moondragon.
12. What project are you working on now?
I’m tentatively working on the sequel, but I mostly trying to sell this one.
13. Are there certain characters you like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?
Since it’s going to be a series of books, most of the characters I didn’t kill off will be back. Of course, just ‘cause they’re dead doesn’t mean they won’t be back. One of the best things about fantasy is you get to make up all the rules.
14. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Quit now. No. I don’t mean that. Rewrite it at least 10 times. Give it to somebody who loves you and will tell you it’s great even if it isn’t and then rewrite it 20 more times. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but you’ll be amazed how your own writing will inspire you as you go back through it. It’s incredible how much it will improve.
15. Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and when realizing it, just said screw it?
I play a lot of golf, and I think I’ve ripped my pants all the way down the backside five times over the years. The first time was embarrassing. I couldn’t figure out why it was so breezy. I didn’t quit though. I powered through. Addiction is bad. And a golf addiction is the worst. But now - now I just make sure I wear amusing boxers underneath.
16. How does your writing process look? (Consistent with regular amounts of word counts daily/weekly, or more sporadic with a gush of words all at once and then you abandon it for a while?)
I’m definitely more sporadic, but I think that’s because I don’t do this for a living … yet.
17. What would you like your readers to know about this book or you in general?
It’s a fun, magical, adventurous ride. It’s definitely a book for almost any age or gender. I wouldn’t read it to a baby. They wouldn’t get it at all.
18. Why did you feel you had to tell this story?
I wanted to write something that I would find entertaining. I think it is. It has action, adventure, a budding love story, magic, monsters, ghosts, a zombie pirate, witches, dragons, a yeti, a mysterious island, the worst orphanage in literature and a circus that’s transported by a huge armada of airships and hot air balloons. If it’s not in there, I’m waiting to add it in the sequels.
19. How does your family and friends feel about the book?
My wife loved it, but she’s sorta required to. However, I was pleased to find out my brother and sister-in-law both loved it. My brother – being a brother after all – would tell me if it sucked. Since he was quite effusive in his praise, I take it as a good sign that it doesn’t suck. My teenage nephew really enjoyed it. I found that very encouraging ‘cause he’s a boy … in high school.
20. What types of books did you read as a child?
I read mostly books about kids who went on adventures.
21. If your book was made into a movie, who do you picture playing each part?
Michael should be played by a super talented undiscovered actor. There are too many characters to name, but I’d like my stepson to play the part of Andrew Shark. Lucy Liu would be terrific as Lotus Moondragon.
22. Do you prefer to write in a quiet room, or do you need noise to keep your creative juices flowing?
Quiet room. I get distracted by the noise rattling around in my own head. I don’t need more noise. Sometimes, I do write with instrumental music. I can’t write to songs that have lyrics, otherwise I spend all my time singing instead of writing.
23. How did you feel when you realized that being an author was no longer a dream, but a reality?
It feels great. It’s a major accomplishment to finish writing a book, but it doesn’t seem complete unless others are reading it. So please read it.
24. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I like to go on vacation with my wife. I’m an excellent travel planner … as long as you don’t want to relax. And golf, of course.
25. Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?
Never give up. I think that’s the most important message.
26. What books have most influenced your life most?
Probably the Harry Potter books because they inspired me to write a novel.
27. If you had to choose, who would be your author mentor?
J.K. Rowling. She seems very nice, very inspirational, and very encouraging.
28. Do you see writing as a career?
Yes. Definitely.
29. How did you become interested in writing?
I don’t know how I became interested exactly. I have always known I wanted to tell stories. Mostly, I wanted to make movies. But I do remember trying to write a novel when I was about 8. I wrote a book called Ralph the Rabbit Joins the Army. Unfortunately, I only finished the chapter titles, but it was a killer concept … to an eight year old.
30. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I find writing action sequences very tedious. I love writing dialogue, but the action scenes take a lot of effort. Action is easier to write if you listen to a John Williams score for an Indiana Jones or Star Wars movie. It helps with the pacing for sure.
31. What was the hardest part about writing your book?
The time it takes.
32. What advice would you give writers on the publishing process?
Keep trying. Never stop even if you have to self-publish. I would recommend trying the traditional route first, but I would definitely look into self-publishing if you haven’t been able to crack the door. But only as an e-book. It’s way too costly to self-publish an actual printed book. Save the money in printing and use all of it to promote your e-book.
33. What was the hardest thing to cut from your manuscript?
About 20,000 words. A literary agent told me I needed to cut it down before she would agree to read it. I did it. Taking out a few chapters was easy. But finding the other 12,000 words to take out was really hard.
34. What time of day do you write?
After I wake up. I’m a night person, but I don’t write very well at night. I find that I’m much more productive right after I wake up.
35. When you rip out a page from a spiral notebook, do you leave the tabby pieces or do you pull them out?
I pull them out. I get the strangest feeling I’m being analyzed.
36. If you were a superhero or villain, what would your power be?
I would be an immortal comic spreading the joy of laughter throughout eternity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert Clark Selby was born in Iowa City, Iowa on a reasonably decent December day in 1971. Sometime in the afternoon so as not to be too big of an annoyance to his parents. He was a considerate infant and the second of two only children.
Labeled a "Miracle Baby" by his mother, Robert went on to perform many original miracles such as dressing himself by 15 and chewing his own food. When he wasn't practicing for sainthood, Robert began creating fantastic stories that were never published. Miracle Baby - yes. Miracle Published Author by age six - no. It was harsh lesson in reality for the considerate grade school student.
At the age of eight he wrote his classic tale Ralph the Rabbit Joins the Army. Unfortunately, he only finished the chapter titles. Many of which contained Ralph peeling potatoes. It was another blow to his budding writing career. For you see, writing is hard ... and really, really, really, really time consuming.
After the disappointing sales of Ralph the Rabbit due to its lack of completion, Robert began experimenting in movie making. From junior high onward, there wasn't a school project that he could not ace with a video and some excellent title work. And mind you, these were the days when you couldn't edit a youtube clip from a cell phone. These were manly men days of cutting a movie together by recording from one VCR to another.
Although he used videos to get good grades at school, the love of storytelling is what truly stuck with him. After years of writing and directing his own movies and shorts, Robert began the long journey of writing his first novel. And for once, it turned out exactly as he wanted - fun, fast-paced, and magical. He hopes you will too.
Robert and his wife live in Fayetteville, Arkansas in a lovely two-story home that is transformed in the fall to a totally awesome Halloween House because his wife really loves Halloween and Robert really loves his wife.
