Friday, March 9, 2012

Interview of Author John Preston Smith

Tell us about yourself…
I am an insurance agent in Huntington, WV, experienced in public relations, journalism and sales. I worked for the Military District of Washington and met President Kennedy before he was killed in Dallas. I handled U. S. Army press relations for the funerals of President Kennedy, General Douglas MacArthur former President Herbert Hoover and the inaugural of President Lyndon Johnson.  After graduation from Marshall University, I worked in press relations for Kent State University where I witnessed the killing of four students by the Ohio National Guard in 1970. Over the past 48 years I have trained more than 14000 dogs and I tell that story in one of my books.  

What genre do you write and why?
I am not genre specific.  I have written and published five mysteries, one book of inspiration, a book regarding my life with dogs and what I learned, and my most recent book, The Bog, a story of fantasy.
I am 69 years of age which I believe is the reason I am of multiple-genre.  I did begin my first book in 1963, but it was not completed until 1999, the same year I began living for the keyboard.  So I was not young when I began writing with a passion.  I had lived through the death of President Kennedy, the Kent State Massacre, the death of mom, dad, and my younger brother, night tremors; the raising of three children, dire financial circumstances, and near-death experiences. Therefore a single genre did not suit my experiences.     

Tell us about your book….
The Bog is a story of fantasy.  It occurs in a swampy grove of marshland infested by snakes, rats and mosquitoes…a place commonly believed to be where animals go to die.  It is the story of a man who enters this forsaken quagmire while following the cry of a wounded animal…and that is where he encounters a wolf named Napoleon.  This is the story of what happens after that meeting…
This book is for those of you dealing with an insatiable desire to have a dog at your side.  It is my answer to questions coming from deep within your heart that you have asked of me over the past 48 years… answers I have avoided expressing until now.

What was your inspiration for this book?
Having trained dogs for the past 48 years I have had to deal with certain questions that have been presented to me multiple times:  How were dogs chosen to be our best friends; Is it okay to talk to my dog; Does he talk to me; Do you believe dogs have a soul; Where do dogs go at death; Will I see him again; Do dogs have choices; Do dogs communicate with us?
It is, therefore, the questions of my former students that inspired me to put my thoughts on paper.

Do you have a favorite character and why that one?
Napoleon represents the history of dogs and wolves.  He represents spirituality, dreams, fantasy, and realism.  And he represents the one with answers, and the one connected to The One. 

Did you find anything particularly difficult in writing this book?
Making fantasy believable.

What project(s) are you currently working on?
My major project at this time is to get my book in front of as many people as possible.
Additionally, I am outlining another genre-buster.  Completing a story of horror rests within the belly of all writers…mine too.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks you want to tell us about?
I always fight with adjectives and adverbs.  It’s easier to write if the birds outside my window are happy…so I feed them just before sitting at the keyboard.  Many creative ideas come during nightmares.

Do you have any advice for writers out there?
Only share your ideas and thoughts with like-minded individuals.  All the others will tell you why you will never be a successful writer. 

Where can we find you? (facebook, twitter, blog, website, etc)
Face Book: Three Pages, John P Smith, 14000 Dogs Later and my author page John Preston Smith, Author 
Blog: www.14000dogslater.wordpress.com. 
Web  Site: www.jprestonsmith.com.  PodCast:  My topic is Dog Behavior.  My web site is being revamped, temporarily go to: http://www.jprestonsmith.com/PodCasts.html  

And of course we have to know, where can we find your book? (your website, publisher, amazon, etc)
My book is available on my web site, www.jprestonsmith.com through Pay Pal.
Also, it can be found on Amazon.com: under books type in The Bog by John P Smith.  It is also available through Amazon CreateSpace and is being formatted as an e-book.

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