In our second edition of “Seven Questions”, I chat with author Charles Kelley, a fellow Indiana author. As always, my hope is that you’ll get to know these authors and check out their work.
You and I have never met in person. In fact, we had no connection at all until I sought out fellow authors to give me an “anti-pull quote” to add to my marketing campaign for Nondescript: Poetic Book of Non-poetry (That You Really Shouldn’t Buy). Whatever possessed you to help out a fellow writer you didn’t even know?
I love supporting fellow indie authors. I have built a really great network and enjoy expanding it with other creative, like-minded individuals. I saw your plea for help, and your humor spoke to me. I am super weird, awkward, random, sarcastic, and dry, so your request was right up my alley. The way I saw it, it was a win-win all the way around. I could help you with your need, try to put together something silly, expose my readers to you, and hopefully expose myself to your readers. (Am I allowed to say that??)
You’ve got a degree in criminal justice/criminology and have worked with criminal justice agencies, how much of that part of your life would you say makes it into your fiction?
My background in the criminal justice system influences a lot of my material. They say to write what you know, and I know murder and violence. You know, from the investigative side, not the first-hand experience part. It makes my writing more authentic, and it also means I don’t have to do a bunch of research into something I know nothing about, like, say, quantum computing. I don’t even know if that’s a real thing, but it sounds super complicated and probably not a lot of fun to research from a technical aspect. So I stick with motorcycles and murder. You know, path of least resistance and whatnot.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Was there one defining moment, or was it a series of events or revelations that brought you to that decision?
The idea struck me on a weekend getaway. I’ve always liked to read, and I found myself in the gift shop of the resort I was staying at. The book was a murder mystery that was set at the resort, and I couldn’t pass that up. As I read about the author, I found that he lived in the same town as me. Up until that point, I had always envisioned authors as living in high-rises in New York City, a cabin by a lake, or bungalows on the beach in the Florida Keys. Once the reality dawned on me that authors are just, like, regular people, I decided I wanted to give it a shot! So I started coming up with some ideas and working up some short stories, which led to my first series of novels (The Kings of Chaos Motorcycle Club Series).
Your Kings of Chaos Motorcycle Club series is your own creation, but I’ve read that you’ve collaborated with fellow authors on other projects. What’s the secret to a good collaboration?
I have worked with several other authors in various roles. I thoroughly enjoy a good collaboration, and I’ve been lucky so far with the folks I’ve been able to partner with. What helps is that we’ve been able to relate and bond over the subject matter. It’s exciting and motivating for all involved, which just fuels the fire to continue working and making progress. And there’s also a personal connection, where we’re able to offer honest feedback and not have each other take it personally.
I’m a Texan living in Indiana, whereas you’re a native Hoosier…as are several of our fellow Indiana-based authors. In your mind, for the sake of those who have never been here, what defines your home state?
Hoosier hospitality is a real thing. I’ve spent time in other areas of the country, and Indiana is just part of me. I grew up in a really rural area, where people just wave to each other for no reason other than they are both simply existing in the same place at the same time. People hold the door for you before you’re even out of your car. I now live in the biggest city, and while the small town charm gets lost sometimes, it’s still very different from other cities. And there’s no shortage of ranch or cheese dip, which isn’t always the case in other parts of the country!
You’ve been doing this a while now, what’s the one thing about writing fiction-either the process or the industry we work in—you wish someone would’ve warned you about or given you some pointers on?
I can think of so many! Here are a couple of the top things. You don’t have to know what you’re doing. If you feel compelled to write, then just start writing. There’s so many resources out there to help you learn what steps to take once the writing is done. The first step is just writing. Next: the writing is the easy part. Being an indie author really is equivalent to being a small business owner. You have to edit, design, and format, just to get a polished manuscript to publish. Once it’s available, you have to manage inventory, schedule events and appearances, market, and make sales. It can be overwhelming, but with the options that are available now to writers, the process is manageable and accessible, so don’t be scared to try. Last: build a network. Work with other writers that you can bounce ideas back and forth with. Offer to edit for others and ask them to repay the favor. Learn from their process as well as their successes and failures (and share yours too)!
Tell folks where they can find you online and what’s ahead for you bookwise.
My website is www.ckfiction.com. People can find a variety of short stories, a few poems, and articles about my writing process and projects. I’m also on Facebook, of course, at ckwriting or by searching Author Charles Kelley. Instagram is another option at ckfiction. And I can be reached directly at authorcharleskelley@gmail.com.
Thanks for the interview, Charles. If we get a chance to meet face-to-face, lunch is on me.
Thanks for the opportunity to ramble, and I’m always down for lunch!
