Today’s spotlight is on S. C. Mitchell, author of SON OF THUNDER, SWIFTLY BEATS THE HEART, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS WEREWOLVES, THE FORSAKEN TEMPLAR, and SEEDS OF IMMORTALITY.
Thank you for inviting me to join you on your blog today.
Why do you write?
I’ve tried not writing, and it doesn’t work for me. Stories keep exploding in my head. I miss getting most of them down in the computer, but when I hook into one, it takes me for a ride and I have to sit down and at least start it. I have files of orphaned stories I hope to get back to one day, although the new ones keep pushing them to the back of the line.
What’s your favorite genre? Do you have a favorite author (if so, please tell us the name)?
For years I wrote fantasy and science fiction, though I never published any of it. My early influences were J.R.R Tolkien, Robert E. Howard and Anne McCaffrey. Anne McCaffrey has to be my all time favorite author, and she always had romantic elements in her books to drive the story forward.
One day my wife handed me ENCHANTED by Nora Roberts (You never forget your first romance) and I fell in love with the paranormal romance genre. It blends together everything I love in a story. I would have to say my new, favorite influence would be Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series.
To be successful as an author, what do you see as the main goal?
I don’t consider myself so much an author as a storyteller. My main goal is to tell the best story I can. I love it when people tell me they read and liked my books, but I don’t really write for other people, and I’m not really in this to make money (though I’ve never turned down a royalty check). I just enjoy telling my stories, and hope people will like them.
What advice can you give to aspiring authors?
Keep your day job. There are easier ways to make money than ripping your soul out and laying it bare before the public.
What advice would you give to the youth of today (not just authors)?
Do everything wrong the first time. It’s the only way you learn anything.
What’s on your bucket list?
It’s the silliest thing, yet something I think about every so often and is probably completely unattainable. I’ve never been in good physical shape, but I would love to have a set of washboard abs good enough to be a cover model on one of my books. I’ve recently gotten a gym membership, and started working out seriously for the first time in my life (it hurts).
Tell us about your book:
Son of Thunder is set in contemporary times, but in a world where the old mythical gods are real. War rages in the heavens between the pantheons, but the Norse gods have managed to stay out of it…until now. Thor has gone missing and his son, Jord, is determined to find him. His only clue is his father’s magical belt, Megingjörð, discovered in the hands of a mortal, museum curator named Meghan Larson. Meghan and Jord get swept up in an adventure full of danger, discovery and romance.
BOOK BLURB:
The man looked like a god. Then again, he was one. . .
Jord Thorson was a god– the son of Thor, the Norse God of Thunder. In his search to find his missing father, Jord seeks out the mortal, Meghan Larson, who is in possession of his only clue–Megingjörð, Thor’s magical belt of power.
But when the belt decides to take matters into its own hands, locking itself around Meghan’s waist, Jord and Meghan are plunged into the middle of a massive conflict that rages across the heavens.
Giants, magical artifacts, and a golden city in the clouds weren’t exactly what Meghan Larson expected when that amazing belt arrived at her museum. Now Megingjörð is stuck around her waist and talking to her in her head. She’s got to be dreaming, but with the wonders around her and hunky Jord Thorson at her side, Meghan’s not sure she wants to wake up.
What would you like people to know about you?
First off, yeah, I’m a guy, and I read, write and enjoy romance.
I grew up an avid reader of comic books, science fiction and fantasy literature. In 2010 I left my job as a computer desktop support specialist to pursue my passion for writing. I am a member of the Romance Writers of America.
My wife of thirty-four years, and I live in the wooded northlands of Wisconsin. We have two adult children.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy gardening, acting, reading, music and computer gaming.
My sites:
Blog – http://scmitchell.wordpress.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSCMitchell
Twitter – @AuthorSMitchell
Books:
Son of Thunder – http://www.amazon.com/Son-Thunder-Heavenly-Series-ebook/dp/B00BJ64GPY
There’s No Such Thing As Werewolves – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007KAE45A
The Forsaken Templar – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081S8LPO
Seeds Of Immortality – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AU5OZS8
Swiftly Beats The Heart – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077T6F06
> Do everything wrong the first time. It’s the only way you learn anything.
Great advice, S.C., and I’ll be passing that along! Like you, I won’t be turning down any royalty checks but I’m writing because telling stories is my favorite thing. My granddaughters have learned they don’t need a storybook in hand when I’m around. They just climb onto my lap and say, “Tell us one of YOUR stories, Grandma!” A good story is a good story in any genre, at any age. And, a gym membership, huh? I should do that, too, but I hate formal routines. I’d rather take a walk and smell the roses along the way. That’s discovery time for me. 🙂
Hi Jaye. Thanks for stopping by. I’ve been eschewing the formal classes and finding my own routine at the health club. It helps that I tend to be there when there is almost no one else around.
Thanks for being a part of my blog Steve. Have a great weekend.
Loved your advice and the fact that you consider yourself a storyteller. I can relate to Jaye’s comment about reading to family. When my sons had friends over for sleepovers or when we went on camping trips as a family,we would often play a game…I’d start a story then each person would add to it. It was a big hit with the kids. I’d always start with something that really appealed to young boys’ sense of adventure. They came up with some pretty creative things as well.
Good post, left a comment. 🙂 Jaye
* Jaye Garland* THE 25th HOUR ~ Debut Novel, Available now! by Soul Mate Publishing Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/ozexdjw
http://www.jayegarland.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/JayeGarlandAuthor https://www.amazon.com/author/jayegarland
“Ripping your soul out and laying it before the public…” So true.
We authors are gluttons for punishment, aren’t we?
Loved the interview.
So true, yet I still can’t wait to get to my computer each day. Gluttons indeed.
Steve,
You had me on Anne McCaffrey. I fell in love with the Pern series and those amazing dragons. And who can forget that ultimate leading man, F’lar. I recently got my girls hooked on her books and was saddened to discover that she died not too long ago. I met another male romance writer at RWA 2013, you are not alone in a sea of estrogen. I still keep in contact with him. He says the support of new writers is what led him and keeps him in RWA.
Thanks for stopping by Sarah. I’m finding I don’t mind the ‘sea of estrogen.’ There’s not a more supportive group than Romance Authors, even for us guys.
Funny, Steve, but you are right….I’ll keep my day job.
Val
Hi Valerie. Yeah, keep the day job, but never stop dreaming.
Love McCaffrey! Great to know you’re also a fan, as well. Great to know you have so many stories in your head. Get them down so you can share them with all of us!
Thanks for stopping by Lauren. Yeah, someday I want my own dragon.
Hi Steve! Great interview. Best of luck with the health club! I wonder why my body hates exercise so much when it knows how good it is for me? I think I just answered my own question. Son of Thunder is definitely on my TBR list!
Hi Brenda. All I can say about the health club at this point is that each day hurts a bit less. Thanks for stopping by.
Great interview! Good for you that you’re going to the gym. I’m afraid you’re way ahead of me. Can’t wait to see you on your next cover!
Becoming a romance cover model at age 58 seems like an impossible task…then again, at one point, so did writing a novel. Hope springs eternal.
I enjoyed the interview SC. You’re living the dream. Never stop!
Thanks Violetta. Every day is a new adventure…at least in my head.
Hi Steve, Excellent interview! And I like the advice you gave. When we become comfortable with doing it wrong the first time, it is astonishing how quickly we move forward in our lives.
Very true Joanne. Thank you so much for stopping by.