Beyond Justice: An Interview with Joshua Graham

Joshua Graham grew up in Brooklyn, NY, where he lived for the better part of 30 years. He holds a Bachelor and Master’s Degree and went on to earn his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. During his time in Maryland, he taught as a professor at Shepherd College (WV), Western Maryland College, and Columbia Union College (MD).

Today he lives with his beautiful wife and children in San Diego. Several of Graham’s short fiction works have been published by Pocket Books and Dawn Treader Press under different pen names.

Beyond Justice is now available in Trade Paperback through Amazon.com as well as Barnes and Noble. It’s available at the Kindle store for $2.99 for a limited time, and can be purchased for other ebook readers at Smashwords, and is now available for the iPad and iPhone at the Apple iBooks store.

A member of the Oregon Writers Network, Graham is a graduate of the Master Classes and professional writing workshops held by Dean W. Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Dean and Kris and the entire OWN, have been a major influence in his journey to become a published writer. You can visit his website at www.joshua-graham.com, connect with him on facebook at www.facebook.com/j0shuagraham or twitter at www.twitter.com/j0shuagraham.

Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life, Joshua. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

It’s an honor to be here. In my various job interviews over the years, one question always comes up: How did you go from music, into Information Technology, into writing? All I can say is that I’ve been blessed with many opportunities to make a living doing what I’m passionate about.

I’ve been writing fiction since probably the first grade. My earliest memory was having my First Grade teacher bring to my parents’ attention a little story I wrote about a family on a cruise whose child falls overboard, and the dramatic rescue! I kid you not. Since then, I have always loved writing stories and scripts for school and church plays and movies. But I seriously started writing in 2002 and made my first three professional sales to Pocket Books between 2005-2007.

Q: Can you please tell us about your book and why you wrote it?

Beyond Justice is a journey into the most character defining moments of a person’s life. You don’t know your true character until you are put under extreme stress. The choices you make, the actions you take during these times are what reveal your true character.

I was listening to a sermon by Dr. Luke Chen once about forgiveness and he mentioned the story of Dennis Rader, aka the BTK serial killer, and how he had fooled everyone (even his family and church) that he was an ordinary, decent person. The story inspired me to delve into this question: Are there any limits to forgiveness, especially divine forgiveness?

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced writing it?

Dealing with the emotional pain that my characters had to face. I put myself in their shoes and try my best to imagine, picture, and feel what they are feeling. When you read the opening chapters, you’ll see why I was in tears as I wrote them. As a husband and father, this was one of the most difficult scenes I ever had to write. It’s a place you don’t ever want to think about, much less live out the details in your head. But for that reason, I had to write it.

Q: Do you have a press kit and what do you include in it? Does this press kit appear online and, if so, can you provide a link to where we can see it?

A: http://joshua-graham.com/?page_id=5

Q: Have you either spoken to groups of people about your book or appeared on radio or TV? What are your upcoming plans for doing so?

I have appeared on a podcast interview with Jeff Ayers of Author Magazine: http://authormagazine.org/interviews/interview_page_graham.htm

There are plans for me to be interviewed with Suspense Magazine’s radio show.

Q: Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/is is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?

I don’t have an agent at the moment. I might hire one in the future if the conditions are right.

Q: Did you, your agent or publisher prepare a media blitz before the book came out and would you like to tell us about it?

I’ve only done a bit of media publicity with my publisher (press releases, a few interviews and reviews on blogs.)

Q: Do you plan subsequent books?

In the works, I have another book (the first in a series) called Darkroom, in which the Daughter of Vietnam War photojournalist experiences visions of war atrocities and uncovers a forty-year-old conspiracy for which some are still willing to kill. I also have several stories and collections coming out.

Q: Thank you for your interview, Joshua. Would you like to tell my readers where they can find you on the web and how everyone can buy your book?

You are most welcome, thank you for the opportunity.

Beyond Justice can be purchased in trade paperback or for the Kindle at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Justice-Joshua-Graham/dp/0984452605/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281988173&sr=1-1

It is also available for iPad, iPHone, etc, at the iBooks store.

For SONY EReader fans you can buy it at the Reader Store
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/joshua-graham/beyond-justice/_/R-400000000000000256622

And for all ebook formats (NOOK included) you can purchase it at Smashwords.com
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18063