Good Morning friends! I’m happy to be back with another wonderful interview! Today I am introducing Western Romance writer, Peter Snell, a down-to-earth guy with a love of writing! If you want to learn more about him or his books, then check him out at Amazon, Instagram, and Facebook!
Are you an indie author or a traditionally published author?
I am an indie author. I enjoy the freedom that comes from being independent. Freedom over the entire creative process, timelines, deadlines, releases, promotions, etc. Yes, it is more work to wear that many hats, but to me, the trade-off for complete freedom over my chosen art form is worth it.
Tell me a little about your writing journey, thus far.
Well, I started writing short stories back in elementary school just for fun. I’ll admit they weren’t very good, but I did enjoy telling the story. I had written a published continuing education article for an emergency medicine magazine when I was a paramedic. I also wrote the original EMS Paramedic Field Guide that was rolled out by the government province-wide in Nova Scotia, Canada.
About six years ago, I began a fiction “Apocalypse” novel, that remains unfinished, but I do plan on returning to one day.
I also have a work in progress that is a collection of poems I have written over the years, and I add to it when my poetry mood strikes me.
Then in 2014, I got bitten by the romance bug and began work on my first novel, Wyoming Skye, a modern-day Western Romance set in Wyoming. Shortly after that was finished, I began work on the sequel, Turbulent Skye. After finishing that novel, I did not like it much. So I set it aside and planned to come back to it. That took four years, however, and I finally finished a complete rewrite and released it on Amazon for February 12th, 2019.
Do you write under a pseudonym? If so explain why.
No, I do not. I never saw a need to.
What genre do you write and why?
I write romance novels specifically, Western Romance. I am drawn to romance because love is universal. Regardless of all other factors that separate us; politics, religion, geography, orientation, color, etc. love is universally and uniquely human. I believe that love is the one condition that can unite us as a species above all other factors.
What are you currently working on?
I just recently completed the second novel in what I have dubbed the “Skye Series,” Turbulent Skye. I am currently working on the third book in that series to complete a trilogy.
What inspired you to write your books?
I am unsure, specifically. I just had an idea in my head that I needed to get out.
What are your top 5 favorite books?
Fate is the Hunter by Ernest K Gann
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
A Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach
Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
The Bible
What does literary success look like to you?
To me, literary success comes in the form of good reviews. A good review means someone enjoyed the story I told. They were touched, impacted, perhaps even changed, by the story. It touched their heart or made them think. Or perhaps, even allowed them to mentally escape for a little while. Like any artist, writers want their medium to impact people. I write because I enjoy telling the story, and it makes me happy to learn when a reader enjoys experiencing the story too.
How many hours a day do you write? What is your writing routine?
How does chaotic sound… LOL… I don’t have a “routine.” I write as time allows. I work on average 90-100hrs a week so I squeeze it in when I can. Some days I can write for 3-4 hours, sometimes I can go a week without putting a word in print. But if I do have spare time, I spend it writing, publishing, promoting, or interacting with readers and other authors.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it be and why?
Honestly, I don’t think I would have wanted to be an original author of any other book. The ones I have truly enjoyed, would not be the same if written any other author, and the ones I haven’t enjoyed, well I didn’t enjoy them for a reason and therefore would not have wanted to write that story.
What advice would you like to give to aspiring authors?
Write as much as you can, even if you don’t feel like it, especially if you don’t feel like it. Even if it’s garbage, WRITE IT!!! Write anything.
And think before you ask advice. I see questions all the time regarding, “How do you think this story should go?” or “I’ve reached this point in my story, what should I do next?” etc. No one can answer those; it is YOUR story. No one else knows your plot, your ending, your direction. Own your work and be proud of it. Your story doesn’t have to fit anyone else’s vision but your own.
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