Wednesday, June 10, 2015

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: William Darrah Whitaker

An interview with William Darrah Whitaker, author of My Life as a Sperm, FREE from June 10-12.

 


Hi! Welcome to Zigzag Timeline. Can you tell us about your background as an author?

I started with film (having attended University of Texas at Austin grad film school), writing five screenplays, one which was actually made. You might catch it if you happen to be traveling in South America or thereabouts. We don’t really talk about that one too much. So about ten years ago, I became more interested in writing novels. That resulted in The Santiago Agenda, a thriller taking us from L.A. to Miami and the Caribbean. It hasn’t been published, but maybe one day. My second one, My Life as a Sperm, really went in a completely different direction.

What got you into writing?

Good question. I don’t really know. I always liked writing short stories growing up, but can’t say if they were any good. I don’t have any saved to check them out. However, I do remember that in college, since I was a Political Science major, I needed to take creative writing courses to find that release I didn’t get from writing formal policy papers.

What was the first idea you had for your book, and how did the story grow from there?

My Life as a Sperm started as a short story, published in the Writers Bloc III anthology put out by the Henderson Writer’s Group. All I can really say is that I woke up one morning and had the beginnings of the story left over from a dream. The rest developed over time. I can have some mighty weird dreams.

Among your characters, who's your favorite? Could you please describe him/her?

Well, it has to be my main character, Buddy Price. He can be a self-involved jerk, but you can’t help but love him. At least, I do. Enough to start writing the sequel.

What's your favorite scene from your novel? Could you please describe it?

My favorite scene has to be when Buddy recounts the night when he interrupted Reverend Hedgins in his office banging his supposedly prim and proper CFO Frances Manor and then Buddy has a painful conversation with her the next day. A close second was the poolside porn shoot (but, for those whose sensibilities are easily offended, that scene is funny, not gratuitous).

What's your favorite part of writing? Plotting? Describing scenes? Dialogue?

Dialogue, without a doubt. I guess from my screenwriting background, I always enjoy that. Plus the subject matter of My Life as a Sperm helped a lot.

How long does it take you to write a book? Do you have a writing process, or do you wing it?

About a year to write, another six months to edit. My process is get it down first and then rewrite. Sometimes I understand where I’m headed, other times, I find out when I’m finished with a section if I know what the hell I’m doing.

What is it about the genre you chose that appeals to you?

Well, this book is in the Fiction – Humor genre so it goes without saying why it’s fun. There’s more room to let loose.

Are there any books or writers that have had particular influence on you?

Stephen King, oddly enough. Not for the horror, but the way he works his characters. I think if you have the right character, they’ll take you places you never imagined. I like Douglas Adams as well.

Did you ever surprise yourself when you were writing your book? Characters who took on lives of their own? Plot elements that took unexpected turns?

Yes, and I’m not sure of any author that hasn’t had that happen to them. Believe me, a lot of My Life as a Sperm was unexpected.

Thanks for stopping by!


ABOUT THE BOOK

My Life as a Sperm : One Man’s Quest to Save the World


Hollywood agent Buddy Price dies in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. There, he discovers God’s had enough with people and will pull the plug if we can’t learn to get along - a 'love thy neighbor or else' sort of message. An unlikely hero as there ever was, Buddy convinces God to let him fix things and gets a second chance. From the first few lines of the book, we know that he’s probably the last person we’d want to depend on to save the world, but God’s got his plan. Our fate rests in Buddy’s hands… or, who knows, maybe he’s just crazy and needs lithium or something.

Find it online:
Amazon Paperback – http://www.amzn.com/0986268100


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


William Darrah Whitaker is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and holds two Master degrees (MA-Film/MBA) from the University of Texas. He has written fivescreenplays, one which was produced and another optioned. His shortstories have been published in the Writers Bloc III, IV, and Vanthologies. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers as well as the Henderson Writers Group in Las Vegas, Nevada servingon their Board of Directors. His novel, My Life as a Sperm, takes on notions of God and destiny in a most unusual way. He lives in Las Vegas where, despite the myriad temptations, he still finds time to write.

Connect with William

Blog
Don’t Look Down – www.wdarrahwhitaker.com
Price Talent Agency – www.buddyprice-agent.com

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