This week we are chatting to Sidney Wood author of Path of Jen

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

When I was a young boy, about 10 or 11, I spent two summers at a remote gold mine in Alaska's Talkeetna Mountains. I had a Doberman Pinscher puppy named Claude, and we spent the long summer days exploring and fishing together. On most days we saw marmots and caribou, but sometimes, we were fortunate enough to see rock ptarmigan, moose, bears, wolves, or mountain goats. I still regard those days at my dad's gold mine as some of the best in my life.

What kind of books do you write?

Regardless of the genre, I want my stories to inspire and provoke deeper thought. I love the ideas of heroism, self-sacrifice, and personal courage, and I look for ways to showcase those attributes in my writing.

My first book, Thicker than Blood: Stronger than Bone, is a fantasy set in a made up world much like medieval Europe. It includes epic battles, zombies, vampires, and blood magic. The main character, Lynn Hayes, was modeled after my perception of the boldest and most heroic men on earth, United States Marines. He does what needs to be done and doesn't weep about the violence. The second book, Path of Jen: Bloodborne, is completely different. It is a thriller set in modern day Middle East, and focuses on women's rights, a potential viral outbreak, terrorism, and religion.

What inspired you to write?

When my children were younger we started a project together. They came up with characters, and I fashioned a fun bedtime story about them. I would read a little to them each night as the story progressed. After a few weeks, I realized that I enjoyed this writing thing. I began devoting more time to it, and a year later my first full length novel was complete.

What makes your writing stand out from the crowd?

I incorporate my own life experiences, loves, likes, and dislikes into my writing. I think any writer would say that is is hard not to. I don't even try to fight it. I allow that personal flavor to seep in an infuse itself into the characters. It is the spice that I hope readers will grow to like and eventually hunger for.

Another thing I try to do is add elements that like-minded people can connect with. For example, in Path of Jen, I describe Jen's introduction and experimentation with firearms. Everything Jen does in relation to the weapons is intuitive to a person who knows firearms. They will key in on the details, perhaps looking for mistakes at first, and come away feeling connected to a kindred spirit.

What is the hardest part of writing – for you?

The hardest part is not editing until I am done writing. It is so tempting to edit as I go, but that can stifle the creative flow. When I just let it out, my writing may not be as polished, but the overall story is better. There's plenty of time to edit when the writing is done, and no first draft is ever perfect anyway.

Where do you like to write – what is your routine?

My “spot” is in the living room at home on the love-seat. We have a full house, so headphones are a must. I'm forty, so an ottoman, my lap desk, and a tasty drink are must haves also! Someday, I would like to take a writing vacation, where my wife and I go to a remote location and just unplug for a few weeks, letting the creative juices flow. Someday.

What do you do when you are not writing – do you have a day job?

I spent more than half of my life in the military, both as a US Marine and as an Army soldier. I am currently in law enforcement. My real job; however, is being a fantastic dad to a whole passel of kids…all girls. I also enjoy riding my motorcycle, a silver HD V-ROD. Freedom!

Do you work with an outline or just write?

I admit that I totally winged it on my first book. I started by writing scenes to introduce each character, and then built relationships and a storyline from there. It was fun! I had no idea what was going to happen going in to each scene, and the story just moved to where it was going on its own. I had a general idea of where I wanted it to go, but I let it get there a scene at a time.

For my second book I made an outline. I made changes along the way, but I stuck to the original plan and found the structure helpful. I am currently writing sequels to each. Oddly enough, I am working from an outline for the sequel to my first book, and I am basically winging it on the sequel to my second.

What advice would you have for other writers?

Write as often as you can, and then let others read it. I am still learning, of course, and as much as I want everyone to love what I write, I know that I can't get better unless I open myself to criticism.

How important is marketing and social media for you?

Marketing is important to any successful business venture, and it's hard to beat social media for cost effective marketing. That is especially true for self-published authors like me. I have been working on expanding my online presence through Twitter and Facebook, and I purchased a couple of low cost social media marketing promotions for my books and website.

What's your next step?

Always writing! I am half way through my next two books. I want to finish them this summer. This time around I am going to invest in a professional editing service, and then begin with the query letters again. My goal is to eventually find representation, but I will continue to self-publish until that happens. I also have another book in the wings when these two are finished.

Path of Jen: Bloodborne by Sidney Wood is available here.

If you are interested in book promotion, please visit http://yourbookpromoter.com