Author’s Bio: Randall grew up in a small Midwestern town in a midsized family. He had to deal with poverty and lack of proper education. That is, until later in life. On top of the hardships of working many low wage jobs, he had to figure out his place in life and seek out the riddle of happiness, as we all do. He joined the U.S. Army in 1997 and finished his military career in 2000. After that he still worked basic jobs and self-studied countless books and courses on success in many fields.
The author then discovered he was getting sick, and through many tests, found himself in the clutches of disease which caused him to be on disability. His heart was set on working on something however and he never gave up. He decided to use the power of his mind to study and become an author. It is his greatest hope to create values for society in one way or another.
His philosophy is to never give up and to remember that fear and insecurity are the epitome of failure.
What inspired you to write your book?
RM: Over the years, many people have told me that I should write about the many great things that I’ve experienced in my life. I wasn’t too sure about the whole autobiography thing though. It seemed a little cheesy to me. So I came to the conclusion that people wanted to hear more because I had the knack for storytelling. I also suddenly found myself on disability which gave me more time to experiment with writing. It seemed to come natural to me and I enjoyed it so much that the decision to write was an easy one.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
RM: Yes, the Neo-Think literature has influenced me more than anything as an adult. The author Mark Hamilton has quite the different approach to things than the status quo. It has opened up new and exciting avenues of thinking for me, and thus helped me to be more creative.
Is this your first book? How long did it take to start and finish your book?
RM: This is actually a series of books that has taken about four years to complete. It is a puzzle of short stories that entwine themselves in multiple genres until coming to a common end.
Do you write with an outline, or just let it flow organically?
RM: I usually create a series of notes and feed off of and build them up into the story. It sort of snowballs into organic writing once the basics have been established as the outline of the story or book.
Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, is there a theme song for this book?
RM: Sometimes I listen to classical masterpieces as science dictates them to awaken both alpha and theta waves to get both halves of the brain integrating thoughts. I haven’t put music to the theme of anything I’ve written so far. I suppose one could imagine the genre being filled with the typical matching styles I suppose.
What are the keys to success in getting your book out to the public?
RM: Be willing to put in some hard work and sacrifice a little money to get to the audience of choice. Marketing is the key to selling anything, even books. One thing to remember is that all things work on supply and demand. So the book must be marketed as something that people would want to buy from the start. Sales aren’t about your good idea; they’re about the needs of the consumer.
What advice would you give to new authors?
RM: Get some sort of help with editing. That second set of eyes before you go public is crucial. Also, keep in mind that perfect practice makes perfect. Perfect your skills by learning from the best sources. If you don’t feel that this is necessary then consider the following. You can be pro-efficient at doing it wrong. Campfire musicians do this for years while singing the wrong verses and thinking the whole time that they’re right.
How about sharing an excerpt from Music Lover, an anti-bullying story?
“And once again, Carrie everybody” Tim announced. Carrie was not ready for this and was a little shocked. She got up and made her way to the stage regardless. The usual patrons clapped and a couple of yells of encouragement drove her forward into the task.
The music started and the words came on the screen again. She began in a low tone and not fully giving her best. It was if she reverted back to feeling embarrassed about it a little. “You can do it” the bar tender yelled out between verses. Then she remembered what she was told about the nervous energy and how to make it work in her favor. The next verse appeared and she bellowed the words out like a real pro. Every eye in the place looked up and every mouth was shut. The audience was now hers and she was the controlling element in the room.
The only sound was that of the powerful sad song being sung by a young overweight girl who was exploding with passion inside. Eyes widened at the shock of hearing her voice. One woman was tearing up in the front row and shook her head as if feeling every word and every tone. The short and stubby girl sang with all her might and let out everything in defiance of the thought of enemies. She was in defiance of the one’s who taunted her in the back of the room. She was defiant against the lack of love of her parents, and she was defiant toward the rest of the world who judged her so mercilessly throughout her life.
She cried out in utter pain and mental anguish with such a passion that the point was clear for everyone in the establishment. The level of energy she put forth made her begin to sweat and a few beads formed on her contorted face. The song then came to its climax and then the final two words in hush tones as she finished. A couple of key notes from the sound of a piano ended the ballad and she looked down and placed the microphone back in its holster.
Not a sound came from a single person. The silence was deafening. She thought she had failed and began to blush as if exposing too much of herself and becoming embarrassed. A clap broke the silence and then another like the slow clap in romantic comedy movies she had seen. Then uproarious applause broke out with whistles and cheers. Everybody stood, even her foes from school.
Carrie took a slight bow with her head and walked off the stage. Tim had his microphone at that point and made the announcement. “Carrie everyone!” Another wave of cheers followed. She went to her table and sat back down. Tim announced the next singer. Carrie was short of breath and needing a sip of her drink. She looked down and placed the straw in her mouth and felt a feminine hand on her shoulder.
What’s next for you?
RM: Finding a new literary agent and continue writing novels. Aggressive marketing sounds like a fun thing to add here as well.
Where can readers find out more about you and your book(s)?
- Website: www.RandallMagley.com
- Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1ys0NY3
- Twitter: @magley_i
- Book buy Links: Kindle http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=Randall+Magley
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