Keith C. Chase interacts with his readership on Facebook and will appear in person at locations in Western Massachusetts throughout the summer. Mr. Chase, a long-time military historian, and former Marine, was accepted by the elite Marine Security Guard Battalion in 1981. He guarded American Embassies in Cameroon, Africa, and Bonn, Germany. Keith left the Marines with an Honorable Discharge in 1989, having earned over forty decorations, promotions, and award certificates. Mr. Chase, a lover of nature, resides in a small community in Western Massachusetts. He is continually involved in several book projects and has recently begun collaborating on a project to bring Souvenirs to the big screen.
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
Thank you for your interest.
Most is a plan, 3 or 4 chapters, often I feel my story going off on its own,within reason of course.
Then I plan the next 3 to 4.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Sometimes I will let them if it is logical.
You see, in a way it is their world and era that we are visiting.
We do not belong there.
They must stay there forever.
I'm joking, I hope I am not scaring you.
What is your favorite food?
Fun! Corned beef, ham, veggies, potato,octopus, olives, fruit, etc.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Mostly of the night world since a young teenager.
Where do you dream of traveling to and why?
Back to Japan. France,Germany, Belgium, Scotland, England, New: Poland, Australia.
Do distant places feature in your books?
Oh yes! Very much. Even Heaven.
Do you listen to music while writing?
I love lots and lots of all sorts but never while writing.
Some music most certainly does influence my mind memory and soul.
Loreena McKennentt , Enya, Stravinsky.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
I wanted an emotional Cyclone! Believable human beings! Not just characters.
The locations, war, slang, weather, weapons, gear, hopes and the uncertainty of the situation these soldiers are in.
Aachen was the first Third Reich city to fall under American Army siege.
The outcome was very serious for both sides!
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
FEAR! FRUSTRATION! DESPERATION!
Oh, and intense isolation, like being back in P.O.W. training.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I would have learned computers sooner.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
A lifetime of books and movies!
The whole good against evil thing and of course Jesus!
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Please do not disregard absolute fear of failure!
Look, I barely graduated, received no education benefits from honorable service in the Marines, (none of us did under carter).
I had no choice but to keep fighting, to keep learning anyway I could.
There could be no quitting, no surrender!
It was what I wanted!
It was my only chance in this world to succeed in my way.
Grateful to my new boss Allison, my agents Michael and Tamara;...Beyond what one could imagine!
Friends, please remember to learn to love fear and use it.
Do not let it hamper your creativity but indeed let it push you around if you start getting too lazy.
We only have just so much time.
What are three words that describe you?
Sensitive, tough, careful.
What's your favorite book or who is your favorite writer?
FUN! Where do I begin friend?
First thought; Lost Horizon by British World War 1 veteran James Hilton.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
The book, Souvenirs, is set in the cold October of 1944, as the American Army struggles to capture the German City of Aachen. The hero, Sergeant Richard Grant, struggles desperately to keep his six remaining squad members alive. Every moment of their lives contains a new vision of the horror of war. Grant and his men sincerely believe the act of collecting souvenirs from German corpses and POWs bestows luck, granting them another day of survival. The men suddenly realize their luck may well be borrowed time, payable in full. Their sanity is stretched to the breaking point as their sense of protection withers.
List of previous books if any
The Forgotten Marines nonfiction.
Escape From The Ardennes, historical fiction.
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/keithchase
http://www.mountainspringpublishing.com/books/
http://www.amazon.com/Keith-C.-Chase/e/B00DQU3YD6/
No comments:
Post a Comment