Jon Schafer has traveled extensively around the world. In the past he has served in the Marine Corps, worked as an offshore fisherman, studied at numerous colleges, helped to design amusement parks, casinos, family entertainment centers and eventually started his own architectural design firm. He is an avid SCUBA diver and is a certified Master Diver and Dive Master through PADI.
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I know the beginning and the end of every book I write. Those are set in stone in my mind. The middle part just comes out. Sometimes I write something and I have no idea why I did, but then later on I come up with something else out of nowhere that ties it in perfectly. I think the whole middle of the book is there in my mind, it just has to come out one piece at a time.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
They are the story. I just let them run amok.
What is your favourite food?
Steak, prime rib, steak, pork chops, steak, hamburgers... Did I mention steak?
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I am forced to be a morning person, but I am a night owl.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
Europe and beyond. I am a fairly good artist and would love to see all the museums from England to Vladivostok.
Do distant places feature in your books?
Always. I have six other manuscripts waiting to be cleaned up and published and all of them take you to different places around the world including the Gaza strip..
Do you listen to music while writing?
Continuously. Thank you TuneIn radio. Alternative is the way I go, but 80's rock and classic rock are high on the list.
Immigrant Song came to me as I was listening to a friend talk about how he immigrated overland from Nicaragua to the states and I thought to myself, that would make a great story but it needs a good twist. I have traveled extensively through Central America, so I fictionalized his account with a dash of creative license and gave it a real good twist at the end.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
Volumes, and I'm still learning more every day. I had the good fortune to receive a two page letter from Mitchel Whitington at 23 House Publishing that, while it was a rejection letter, kept me focused and got me on the right track. I learn from my mistakes and revel in my triumphs.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Not get drunk and join the Marine Corps at seventeen, though the experience did give me tons of great material.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
I just love to write.
Never, ever, ever give up.
What are three words that describe you?
Creative, sarcastic, focused.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
Pillars of the earth by Ken Follett
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
Forced to flee the death squads in his homeland, Ricky makes his way through Central America to Colorado while dodging immigration patrols and a death sentence if he's caught and deported. Early on, he meets another immigrant named Maria and falls in love. Together they travel to a country that's not what it appears to be.
List of previous books if any
Dead Air, book one of a four book Zombie apocalypse series. Book two, Dead Calm, will be out shortly along with a humorous novel named, Normal is a Washing Machine Setting.
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
Smashwords.com
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Amazon.com
Or write me at jonscat1@aol.com
Additionally, I can be found at:
The booking website for the local jail
Americas most wanted
The wall of your local post office
Thank you, Jon and good luck with your books!
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