B Fox Interview
The Indie Book Butler Interview.
Indie Book Butler: Let’s start things off with an introduction. Tell us a little about yourself for those not already aware of you and your work.
B Fox: I’m a person with a passion for stories. My favorite ones are those that can either make me laugh until my body hurts or cry until I die. I would have liked to be a filmmaker, but then I realized it’s all about the story, and I became a writer instead. Oftentimes, our options in life are limited. But with words, we can create entire new worlds.
IBB: You’ve got twenty words to tempt us to read your book(s). What would you say?
BF: There were things in my head that I needed to put somewhere, and stories were the only place I knew.
IBB: Where do you like to write?
BF: I try different places. I started at a coffee shop; then I moved to my desk, and ultimately, I tried every other room available in the house—except the toilet.
IBB: Is there anything you must have in order to write?
BF: Coffee. A whole lot of it.
IBB: What books have influenced you most, both as a person and as an author?
BF: As a person, it was Victor Hugo’s “The Man Who Laughs.” As an author, it was “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak.
IBB: What is the one thing that has helped you develop most as an author?
BF: Stories. Reading them, watching them, feeling them. I can go through the same story a million times, and every time I discover a different layer of it.
IBB: What do you want to achieve most from your writing?
BF: I want people to feel. Emotion, anger, joy, sadness; it doesn’t matter what. I want them to feel something. That’s all.
IBB: Have you received a favorite review of your work?
BF: Not yet. I published it only a few days ago. I’m curious.
IBB: Were there any particular parts of the writing/publishing process that you struggled with?
BF: Editing. I think writing is done with the heart, but editing is done with the head. And I find that a lot harder to do.
IBB: Is there something specific you do to improve your writing?
BF: Reading a lot. You can never learn enough. Every author has something unique they can teach you.
IBB: What is the ideal relationship between editor and author?
BF: In my case, both of them are me. But in general, I would say the editor is a collaborator. The author should always have the final say.
IBB: If you had a direct line to someone who loves or hates your writing, what would you say?
BF: I would thank them for whatever feedback they gave me, good or bad. That said, I think that no author should write thinking about what the audience wants to hear. There’s a reason why we have and need so many different authors. No story is fit for all audiences; no writer can please all readers while staying true to himself/herself.
IBB: If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?
BF: Don’t listen too much to what you are supposed to do. Tell the story you want to tell. There’s room for all kinds of stories and all kinds of storytelling.
IBB: What does your writing future hold for you?
BF: I am currently drafting my second novel called “Fiver”. I am very excited about that one.
IBB: How have you set about the task of creating enticing cover art?
BF: I was lucky enough to have a very talented friend who was capable of creating a cover that looked exactly the way I saw it in my mind.
IBB: How often do you read? What genre?
BF: I read all the time, except when I’m writing. I read drama more than any other genre. I also enjoy some biographies/autobiographies.
IBB: Before we let you escape, it’s your chance to name-drop. Anyone who you feel is deserving of more recognition at present or someone whose writing you have recently enjoyed? Now is your chance to spread the word…
BF: I will take the opportunity to mention a children’s book here from indie author Fin Dos Santos (@findossantos). The story is called “Freya the fox finds a family.” It’s a beautifully written and illustrated book. I gifted it to my niece, and she loved it.
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Best of luck in the future.
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