Dean Lappi

I'm pleased to welcome Dean Lappi to this week's blog.  Dean is relatively new to the market, but he is already making a place for himself.  His book - Black Numbers - has a very interesting premise.  I'll allow him to tell you more about it shortly.

He spent some time shopping it before deciding to self-publish and is now working on a second book with a third planned.

One thing that has struck me since I began working with Dean on this interview is that he has a clear and genuine enthusiasm for his writing.  I hope you'll join me in supporting Dean and wishing him the best in his efforts.

 Dean has a blog here:

Dean's Black Numbers Blog

And you can read a little more about Dean HERE

Black Numbers is available at most major outlets including Amazon, Apple, Diesel, Barnes and Noble as well as others.

TAS: Let's get the plug out of the way.  Tell us a little bit about Black Numbers - who will be interested and why?
 
DL: Black Numbers is a dark Fantasy novel where true magic is created through advanced mathematics, and where sexuality is not only the key to the main character's power but also his weakness. I wanted to create a fantasy world that is different, and that pushes the boundaries of the fantasy genre. But despite the darkness of the material, I wanted to make real characters that readers could care about. I hope that readers will enjoy the fantastical and dark themes of a fantasy world populated with character that they can relate to.
 
TAS: What aspects of being an author do you most enjoy?

DL: The fame and money! :-) Okay, in all seriousness, I enjoy creating a world and populating it with characters that become real to me, and I want to see what happens to them as the story unfolds. I also enjoy connecting with other authors and learning what makes them want to write.  
 
TAS: What moment as an author have you experienced that you are likely to remember 20 years from now (good or bad)?

 DL: The first time I saw my novel Black Numbers on Apple iBooks, the first retailer where my book appeared. I couldn't believe I was actually looking at my name and book listed on iBooks. I knew I would never forget that moment for the rest of my life.  

TAS: What aspects of being an author do you least enjoy?

 DL: The fame and money! No, wait, I already used that one. Ok, I have to say that until I discovered Smashwords and eBook publishing, I least enjoyed sending out query letters and submission packages to large publishing companies and agents, only to get a generic form letter in return saying my book didn't meet their needs at that time. 
 
TAS: What bad habits do you have when it comes to writing/promoting your books and/or what do you wish you could do better?
 
DL: I don't write every day. In fact, weeks can go by where I don't write a word because I get caught up with the complexities of life in general. But when I do write, I often write 10,000 words a week. I don't let this bother me because I write when I feel the need, and that is when my best work comes out.

TAS: Do you have any authors that you try to emulate?  Why or why not?

DL: When I first began writing, I looked at some of my favorite author's books to see how they wrote. But I quickly realized that I didn't want to be like someone else, I needed to create my own style and my own voice, which I think I have done.

TAS: Do you prefer to write when the room is quiet . . . or do you like to have some background noise?

DL:  When I am home writing, I need to be in my office by myself, listening to music, preferably metal. Otherwise I can get easily distracted by the T.V., telephone, etc. But conversely, I can go to a coffee shop and write 5000 words surrounded by the din of strangers in conversation.

TAS: Do you think bestsellers are typically better books than books that don't sell as well?  Why or why not?

DL: I think bestsellers are books that appeal to a large audience, but they aren't necessarily better quality. There are great works of art that are bestsellers, and there are bestsellers that I wouldn't buy for a penny. I also think there are many little-known books that are brilliant but haven't found an audience yet.

TAS: If a movie studio intended to make a film of your book and you had a choice of $1,000,000, but you'd give up all creative rights, or $100,000 and you'd have a large say, which would you take and why?

DL: I know the 'best' answer is to take the $100k and keep your integrity. But to be honest, it would be tough to turn down a cool mil. I would take the million dollars for my first novel/movie deal, and use that as a way to gain power and take more creative control with future book/movie deals.

TAS: Tell us about the most interesting thing you’ve ever eaten.

DL: Oh man, that's a tough one. Since I'm a vegetarian, I don't have any good Food Gone Wild stories. I guess the most interesting thing that I have eaten is vegetarian steak.

TAS: If you could go back in time and spend a 24 hour period at the time of your choosing, what year or event would you choose and why?

DL: I would go back to the day before the Library of Alexandria burned, so I could save as many of the documents as possible. I can only imagine the knowledge that disappeared that day.

TAS: If space aliens landed and said you could come with them to their planet to see wonders beyond wonders . . . but you would never see earth or your friends and family again, would you go?

DL:  Who knows, maybe my family and friends would say "Thank God Dean left, we were sick of him." It would be a bit embarrassing if I turned down the aliens and showed up back at home only to have my friends and family say I was a douchebag for turning the aliens down.

TAS: Would you cut off your right leg for $500,000?

DL: This reminds me of Dr. Evil in Austin Powers when he said he was going to hold the world hostage for $1 million dollars, only to find out that $1 million dollars wasn't much money anymore. I think in today's money, all you will get from me for $500,000 would be a pinky toe. A leg would be worth at least $10M.