This week, my guest is Al Boudreau, author of In Memory of Greed, a riveting page turner.

Thanks for being my guest this week, Al. Please, tell us a bit about yourself.

My pleasure, Molly. I first started writing about two years ago, and discovered that it was a real passion for me. Since then, I’ve self-published my debut novel, a mystery/thriller called In Memory of Greed, which is available in ebook format. My goal is to slowly transition from my current career in architectural design/construction to writing, full-time, hopefully within five years.

I’ve been hearing great things about your novel, In Memory of Greed. Can you tell the cool peeps all about it?

In Memory of Greed is a modern day morality tale that addresses what can happen when lust for power and greed take over man’s ability to reason. The message I hope people will take away after reading my work is “open your eyes to what is going on around you then become proactive in bringing about positive change.” My hope is that stories like mine will contribute to an increased awareness of abuses by big business, and government, as my fiction deals with real-world issues.

I know that lots of novelists love to imagine their work being turned into a film. How cool would that be? Tell me, Al, do you have a dream cast for IMOG?

If it were up to me, I would likely cast Bradley Cooper in the role of Murhkin Mocado, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the role of Joelle Barstow. I feel this pair would do my protagonists justice. Stuart Roth would be played by Robert Davi, Patrick Keegan by Kenneth Branagh, and William Graves by Albert Finney. Seeing In Memory of Greed made into a movie would certainly be a dream come true.

When we first spoke, you mentioned to me that you have a mind’s eye that works overtime, due to your training in architecture. I’m intrigued. Can you elaborate?

When I’m writing a scene, I can see it play out inside of my head as if it were a memory, or a movie recently watched. I believe it comes from my years in college, studying architecture. I can look at a two-dimensional drawing then envision it in three dimensions, and in color, in my mind’s eye. This ability easily translates to writing fiction. If a scene isn’t working from a movie perspective, in my mind’s eye, then it would likely end up being weak on the written page. I often use this ability to gauge whether or not the scene I’m working out is powerful enough.

I know that you are a huge proponent of pay-it-forward, something I think many peeps appreciate and admire. Can you talk some more about this?

I constantly marvel at what a giving group of people writers tend to be. I entered into this scene with so many questions, and was completely blown away by the grace and generosity of the online community that I was fortunate enough to discover. Many individuals virtually held my hand through the processes of developing a blog, getting started with Twitter, and creating a Facebook fan page. There were also many key conversations that took place, and words of wisdom offered, concerning writing itself.

Independent and self-published authors have their work cut out for them. Writing is the fun part. Getting an author platform developed, and a reader base built, is hard work. I’m very appreciative of all the assistance I’ve received, and therefore feel compelled to give other aspiring authors a helping hand, whenever I see the opportunity. And I believe there are many other writers out there who feel the same way. I’m proud to be a part of this wonderful community, and will continue to do all I can to help it thrive.

I’m always fascinated by the way people use (and misuse) social media. Sometimes, I think people just don’t understand what it’s all about. What have been your observations on the social media beast?

I really enjoy Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. The reason being, is I’ve made some fantastic friends online and communicate with many on a daily basis. In my opinion, social media should be just that—social. It’s a wonderful tool for promoting, but can easily be abused, if not handled properly. In regard to Twitter, I don’t feel that anyone minds when an individual mentions their work once or twice a day, so long as that person has developed relationships, and gets involved in conversations, assistance, and the like. The trouble starts when an individual simply tweets their work constantly without making any effort to develop personal relationships. Like most things in life, I believe there must be a balance.

Can you share with us your feelings about the ever-evolving publishing landscape. What are the pros and cons? Any predictions?

I’m a huge fan, and supporter, of indie and small press authors. I’ve been my own boss for decades, so I’ve grown accustomed to a high level of control in my work. My name is associated with every project I take on, so I strive to deliver quality. I maintain the same philosophy with my written work. I am willing to do whatever it takes to provide my readers with the best novels I can possibly deliver. My goal is to inform, and entertain, simultaneously. Having complete control over all that goes into my books allows me to achieve this end.

Word has it you have traveled to many exciting places in the world. How has travel enriched your life and your writing? Can you tell us about some of your favorite places?

In Memory of Greed takes the reader on a journey through a large swath of the Emerald Isle, as well as some exotic spots inside Kenya. I have traveled to, and spent time within, every location that my characters encounter in the novel. The journals I’ve written while touring abroad have allowed me to capture the true essence of these areas, and share them with my readers. By incorporating my personal experiences in my work, I believe the stories take on a more vivid aspect, due to the firsthand accounts of what an individual may experience in these breathtaking locations. The best part—it gives me a great reason to travel to many other areas of the globe, in search of fodder for future works.

If you could have a dinner party and invite your favorite fictional characters, who might we see seated around the table?

I think it would be great fun to have some spies over for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Jason Bourne, James Bond, and a few other heavy hitters of the espionage world would undoubtedly provide many hours of entertainment.

I’ve been forever called picky, but I maintain that we’re all picky creatures. What are you picky about?

I’m picky about clutter. I don’t do well within surroundings that have objects scattered everywhere, or junk piled up so high that you can’t pass without creating an avalanche. When my surroundings are neat and tidy, my brain functions much better, Cluttered surroundings, cluttered mind.

What do you know now that you wish you knew five years ago?

I’m happy to report that there is nothing that comes to mind.

What do you hope to know in five years that you don’t know now?

I hope to know that the decisions made, concerning my career choice to become a writer, were wise.

Can you tell us what you are working on now, or is it a secret?

My current WIP is a full-length mystery/thriller with a political slant, untitled as of yet. The story line deals with the breakdown of society in the US, and our government’s technological solution to deal with the unruly masses. Things go awry very quickly, and this one should be another page-turner.

I have a blog, and a Facebook page. I can also be found on Twitter (@threecifer) and I welcome people to chat me up. I can also be found on Goodreads.com.

Any parting words for the masses? Any shameless plugs?

In Memory of Greed can be purchased in ebook format for $2.99 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

On a final note, Molly, here is a quote that I often use as inspiration when it seems that things are at a standstill. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out,” spoken by Robert Collier.

Tags: abuse by big business, Al Boudreau, developing author platforms, In Memory of Greed, man's ability to reason, mystery/thriller, self-publishing, social media advice

Trackback URI | Comments RSS