Interview with Author Derek Adam
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I’m back with another interview in the Meet the Men interview series! Today I have my interview with Derek Adam! Derek Adam just released Veil of Darkness, make sure you pick up your copy!
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What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t wearing your author hat?
It used to be video games. I’ve always loved gaming since we got our first Atari when I was like 5 years old. That was my regular pastime. Once I started writing my first book the author and indie world has been all consuming. I don’t really game much anymore. When I’m not working on my books I’m either spending time with the family, doing client work (I’m a freelance marketing writer) or I’m online engaging with my readers/fans.
My favorite downtime activity though since getting back into shape is hiking with the kids or playing outdoors with them. Next to that I’ll take a good tv binge sprawled on the couch with my wife 😀
What is the first book to make you cry?
It was one of the Dragonlance novels I read when I was a teen. A character that I had really grown to love over the course of several books was killed off and it crushed me. Almost to the point of not wanting to read them anymore. There were definitely tears shed.
What would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
A badger
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I don’t really struggle with it. I think there’s a tremendous amount of similarities in genders. In a way we’re all a lot a like. The challenge is in creating a character – of any gender – that is unique yet believable. It’s not just about the nuances of the gender. It’s not easy writing characters with depth. You have to give them depth of emotional, a real and believable voice, flaws, blemishes, scars. You have to create real people that come off the page and come to life in the imagination of your readers. That’s the most difficult part of creating any character – making them real.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I like to picture the character that I’m creating, thinking about all the things that give them depth and personality. Then I stand there firing names off at them in my head. I can almost see them visibly rejecting but eventually I’ll land on one that sticks. I’ll use it multiple times in my head and just know when the name is right.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
There are some Easter eggs in there for sure, and most of them are personal to me in some way. The most obvious one the recurring use of Tommy Burger in my stories which is an homage to one of my favorite go-to-for-a-laugh films – Grandma’s Boy.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Mass Casualty and Due Soldati we’re both written in about 3 weeks. Veil of Darkness was written in a week. It doesn’t take me long but I have to kind of wait until the spark goes off.
Have you ever participated in Movember?
Nope
What are you currently reading?
Nothing at the moment though my list is growing in size. I’m on a downtime stretch since I just finished Veil of Darkness. A brief break from words 😊
If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Happiness is always a choice.
