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| Artwork by Author J.Fredrick Clark |
My latest interview is with J. Fredrick Clark who is the author of “Across the Lunchroom.” He’s been writing for quite some time and just started writing for magazines. Learn about this incredible author who I predict will be on New York Times Best Seller List one day.
My chat with J. Fredrick Clark…
Maria– How long have you been writing?
John- I’ve been writing since I was a little boy. I recall reading Shel Silverstein’s “Where the Sidewalk Ends” in sixth grade and loving the goofiness of it. Shel seemed to wrap each poem in silliness followed up with a life lesson. I loved his style and still do.
At around the same time, my parents bought a computer program called Fine Arts or something like that. The software contained a segment that acted like a slot machine. It had three phrases and hundreds of them per slot. You’d click the lever, and it would give you a topic to write about. It was designed to help with creative writing in young people. Again, I loved the program and used it as much as possible. I wrote some really strange short stories using the program. One was about a Coca-Cola machine that sucked me into it and into another dimension.
Maria- What genre do you write?
John- My first published book is “Across the Lunchroom.” It’s a middle grades/juvenile collection of poems. I’m currently working on the follow-up to it.
Maria- Tell me more about your book “Across the Lunchroom.”
John- “Across the Lunchroom” is my first collection of poems that follows a young boy through one year of his middle grades. Being a young boy, he has a vivid imagination. In the beginning, he promises every story to be true. As you progress through the year, you’ll discover some stories are a little more strange than the others. Hopefully, you’ll also realize Johnny has a crush on a specific girl. At such a young age, he doesn’t know what to make of it. The follow-up will delve deeper into this relationship.
Maria– Who did the cover artwork and illustrations?
John- The cover artwork and illustrations were crafted by yours truly. I’m not really a good artist. I figured my drawing skills are about that of a middle schooler, so they make sense in Johnny’s story.
Maria- Where can your book be purchased and in what formats?
John- You can currently purchase it on Amazon in print and Kindle format as well.
Maria- How long did it take you to write ti?
John– It took me roughly seven months to complete. Some of the stories were taken from poems I wrote as a kid. Others I wrote recently. The illustrations weren’t too difficult, but ensuring they fit the appropriate format was a bit challenging.
Maria– Did anybody inspire you to be a writer?
John– Shel Silverstein inspired me as a boy with his goofy yet inspirational poems. J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert Jordan inspired me with “The Story of Strattin”. My mom has always encouraged my creative side, so she inspired me to expand my mind beyond the tangible world. My father’s unwavering work ethic has inspired me to work hard and be proud of my accomplishments.
Maria-Who is your favorite author?
John- My favorite authors are Robert Jordan and Shel Silverstein.
Maria– What are you currently working on?
John- I’m currently working on the follow-up to “Across the Lunchroom”, and I’m also working on more adult stories such as “Lucid Dream Girl” which is a psychological thriller where a man with a seemingly perfect life gets sucked into a dream world when he discovers his gift for lucid dreaming. I’m also writing a fantasy series titled “The Story of Strattin” that I’ll no doubt consider my life’s work. I’ve been working on it since 2010. Currently, I have outlined eight books to complete the series. It’s a mixture between Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Wheel of Time.
Maria– What’s your favorite movie?
John- My favorite movie is “Tombstone”.
Maria– Sum up in one word how you feel when you write.
John- Empowered
Maria– Who are your biggest supporters?
John- My wife, Ashlee, is no doubt my biggest supporters. Though, I’ve found much support in the writing community. Other writers/authors are so very supportive. We are all working towards similar goals and understand others’ struggles.
Below are J. Fredrick Clark’s social links. Follow him on Twitter!
Amazon link for “Across the Lunchroom” –http://www.amazon.com/Across-Lunchroom-1-Fredrick-Clark/dp/0990956008/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1421258251&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=across+the+lunchroom+j+fredrick+Clark
Twitter- https://twitter.com/JFredrickClark
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JFredrickClark?fref=ts
Website:http://jfredrickclark.wix.com/jfredrickclark
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| Author J. Fredrick Clark with his biggest fans-his lovely wife Ashlee and adorable daughter Amelia. |