๐ A Bookish Chat with 'Half Moon Lake' Steve Brock | Author Interview | @brocknovelist #AuthorInterview #BlogTour #Interview
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I’ve been an author in search of a novel for just about forty years now. Writing was the first thing I ever wanted to do seriously. Over the years I’ve done quite a variety of things. My first real job, the kind where you have a schedule and get paid hourly, was as a cook at the local Sonic Drive-In. I’ve been a machinist, a forklift driver, a production worker, a computer programmer, an IT guy, an installation manager, a software trainer, and an education department manager. Those are just the employment highlights. Through it all, I was a husband and father, and I attended college at night to get my bachelor’s degree in technology management.
Before all that started, I wanted to be a writer. It just didn’t work out that way. Maybe that’s ok, I’ve had a good life and I have a wonderful family that I am proud to have. I don’t regret any of what I’ve done to support my family over the years. The desire to write has persisted, however, and I took a look at my odometer one day and it read 61 years old. None of us know how high our personal odometer will go, but I knew if I was ever going to be a writer, now was the time.
I’m bringing my lifetime of experience to my novel writing. Many of my characters are loosely based upon people I’ve known in real life. Some of my plot elements are also influenced by real-life experiences as well. As of this writing, my first novel, Half Moon Lake, will be published on Amazon in a few weeks. I have begun work on my second book as well. I hope you will take time to register your email address so I may keep you apprised of announcements and special offers. I’d be thrilled to count you as one of my first dedicated readers.
Steve Brock’s latest novel is Half Moon Lake.
You can visit his website at www.BrockNovels.com or connect with him at Twitter.
TWL: Welcome to The Writer's Life! Can you give us a short excerpt?
Brock: What would it be today? Indigo, purple, or maybe some shade of green? It was something he had grown to appreciate, even anticipate during the last few years. Depending on the season and the hour of the day, the color of the water in Half Moon Lake changed. Ripples on the surface glistened and danced in the sunlight as he approached from the east. Billowy cotton-ball clouds floated high against the evening sky. Pine trees, majestic and tall, surrounded the lake. They seemed to stretch to touch the belly of the plane.
He lingered one last moment to admire the vista, but eventually keyed the mic.
“TC8750 to Half Moon Flight Service.”
The familiar voice of Rose Larson broke a few seconds of static. “This is Half Moon. Is that you, Crease Williams? I hope this is an obscene radio call.” No one ever accused Rose of ridged formality.
“I’m afraid it’s all business today, Rose. I’m here to pick up the floatplane to fly a load of supplies up to that group of fishermen at Roudy’s Cabin.”
“Fishermen? Do you mean those four CEO types who were through here last week? I saw the list of supplies they ordered. I don’t know about the fishing, but it appears the beer drinking is going pretty well up there. The runway’s clear, Crease.”
To call what serves to land small airplanes a runway was generous. A strip along the side of the lake a quarter mile long and maybe one hundred feet wide, it was a grass field dozed free of trees and rolled to flatten some humps. Crease coaxed his little Cessna to the north, taking a wide loop to a course parallel with the landing strip.
Just as he was straightening his heading, pointing the nose toward the windsock that stood just past the end of the landing field, his life changed. At once there was deafening silence and a violent lurch downward. The engine had stopped, and he thought he must have dropped at least five hundred feet. A quick glance at the altimeter said no, but his testicles said yes.
A dozen thoughts fought for attention in his mind. He filtered through the “whys” and concentrated on the one thought that mattered: How do I land a plane without power? He knew it could be done. The space shuttle always lands without power, he thought to himself. Sure, that’s right. Of course, an astronaut pilots the shuttle, not a washed-out wide receiver with a few hundred hours of flight time. Still, he believed he could do it, and it wasn’t like he had a lot of options.
Just as he had convinced himself, the plane jerked forward as the engine started running again. It appeared that his heading was fairly correct, and the desire to touch the ground overwhelmed the urge to swing the plane around to line up perfectly. He eased it down and, with a bit of a hop, came into contact with the grass. He taxied forward, slowing, and came to a stop at the end of the landing area. He sat motionless until his mind and his gonads agreed he was on the ground.
TWL: What part of the book was the most fun to write?
Brock: I think for me creating the characters was the most fun. There were several passages in the novel that were enjoyable to write, but character creation was a pleasure. Starting with a blank slate I usually began with a name and then a general idea of what type of personality the character should have. Finally, I would think about what idiosyncrasies might make the character more interesting. In some cases, I applied personality traits that I have seen in people that I have known. I believe the result was a cast of characters that not only seem realistic but who bring flavor to the story.
TWL: What’s one fact about your book that would surprise people?
Brock: I like to think it surprises people who read it to learn this is the first novel, or story of any length for that matter, that I have ever written. I know it has surprised the people I have provided it to for critique. I believe my writing benefits from having lived a full life with a wealth of experiences. I also think I’ve honed my writing style over the years out of the necessity of the positions I’ve held in life rather than the typical trial and error of fiction writing.
TWL: What other books are you working on and when will they be published?
Brock: I have had several plot ideas since completing this novel. The one I have been focusing on the most is a story that is not easily labeled by genre. It involves history, mystery, and a bit of science fiction. The protagonist is a young man, raised by his grandfather alone on a large estate in Virginia. When his grandfather dies suddenly it is revealed to him that he is the latest in a long family line of ‘travelers’ who can go back in time temporarily. With this ability comes the obligation of correcting historical events that would otherwise lead to the devastation of humanity.
I don’t want it to be thought of as a science fiction novel. I intend to play that aspect down as much as possible while talking about time travel. I know that’s a humorous statement, but I really am going to try. I’ve begun writing while continuing to do research, and I hope to have it ready to publish in the autumn of this year.
TWL: Finally, what message are you trying to get across with your book?
Brock: I had no message in mind when I wrote this novel. This, being my first, my goal was to create a book that was an easy and enjoyable read. I have always been a bit of a raconteur. I like to entertain people with engaging stories that are also witty. I like to think that is what I have accomplished with this novel. As I become more experienced as a novelist, I think it’s possible that I would use my books as a platform of ideas as well as entertainment, but not just yet.
TWL: Do you have any final words?
Brock: Being an unknown author, I hope people with take a chance and read my book. I know it’s impossible to appeal to everyone, but my style of writing and characterization skills should be interesting to the majority of readers.
Title: HALF MOON LAKE
Author: Steve Brock
Publisher: Steve Brock
Pages: 187
Genre: Suspense / Conspiracy
BOOK BLURB:
Crease Williams lived a charmed life with a bright future. Only in his junior year at Texas Christian University, his skills as a wide receiver had already captured the attention of NFL scouts.
Then a tragedy cost him his family and his desire to play football. Personally devastated, he left his old life behind and got as far from Ft. Worth, TX, and football as he could get.
Keeping mostly to himself, he became a float-plane pilot in the far north of Minnesota. Flying fisherman and hunters into remote locations was how he spent his time. When a group he had flown to Roudy’s Cabin goes missing, he faces accusations and more turmoil than he could have ever imagined. To make matters worse, his quiet existence is upturned by an element from his past bent on vengeance.
Half Moon Lake is Steve Brock’s first novel. A suspenseful mystery written with likable characters and a lighthearted flavor.
Book Information
Release Date: March 30, 2022
Publisher: Steve Brock
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-0578391977; 187 pages; $9.99; Kindle Unlimited FREE
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3knaPfd
The Writer’s Life
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