Ask the Author: Michael E. Henderson
Answered Questions (7)
Michael E. Henderson
Thanks for your question, Rachel.
My book "The Ghost of Caroline Wald" is a coming of age story about a boy just out of high school. Although I think the book would appeal to all ages, it should particularly appeal to people between about 16 and 20 who enjoy ghost stories.
"A Beast in Venice," on the other hand, is an adult story not intended for children. The characters are older, and the subject more mature, in that they are things probably of more interest to people over 40, such as the fear of death (a subject that has not occurred to a 20-something). There is cussing and violence that makes it inappropriate for anyone under 18.
Both of these books should appeal to fans of Stephen King. The stories are dark, and I try to keep the writing to a high standard.
My book "The Ghost of Caroline Wald" is a coming of age story about a boy just out of high school. Although I think the book would appeal to all ages, it should particularly appeal to people between about 16 and 20 who enjoy ghost stories.
"A Beast in Venice," on the other hand, is an adult story not intended for children. The characters are older, and the subject more mature, in that they are things probably of more interest to people over 40, such as the fear of death (a subject that has not occurred to a 20-something). There is cussing and violence that makes it inappropriate for anyone under 18.
Both of these books should appeal to fans of Stephen King. The stories are dark, and I try to keep the writing to a high standard.
Michael E. Henderson
Some people will tell you there's no such thing as writer's block, particularly if you've planned your novel from beginning to end.
I can't plan the whole novel. So, for me, writer's block is not knowing what will happen next.
Sometimes you can get an idea by taking a walk, or reading something else, or watching a movie, or whatever.
The best way, though, is probably to just write through it. Brainstorm.
Or maybe you write around it. I may not know what the next step is, but I know what happens after that. Maybe I'll just move on.
But there's no silver bullet.
I can't plan the whole novel. So, for me, writer's block is not knowing what will happen next.
Sometimes you can get an idea by taking a walk, or reading something else, or watching a movie, or whatever.
The best way, though, is probably to just write through it. Brainstorm.
Or maybe you write around it. I may not know what the next step is, but I know what happens after that. Maybe I'll just move on.
But there's no silver bullet.
Michael E. Henderson
It's a solitary and intellectual activity.
Michael E. Henderson
I see so many new writers, young and old, who have not bothered to learn the craft. It seems that they think all there is to it is to type words on a page. It's a craft that requires knowledge of grammar and punctuation, sentence structure, and story structure.
For young people, finish school, go to college, read a lot, take all the English and writing courses you can, and write every day.
For those of you beyond that, you still must learn to write. Read books on the subject, take online courses, whatever you can do to learn the craft. After that, the advice is the same as for young writers.
Another very useful thing is to join a critique group, such as Critique Circle. You'll learn a lot from that.
For young people, finish school, go to college, read a lot, take all the English and writing courses you can, and write every day.
For those of you beyond that, you still must learn to write. Read books on the subject, take online courses, whatever you can do to learn the craft. After that, the advice is the same as for young writers.
Another very useful thing is to join a critique group, such as Critique Circle. You'll learn a lot from that.
Michael E. Henderson
I'm doing a revision of my novel "Self-portrait of a Dying Man."
I've started a science fiction novel, the premise of which I'm keeping secret.
I've started a science fiction novel, the premise of which I'm keeping secret.
Michael E. Henderson
First I'll say that a writer has to write every day whether they feel like it, or are inspired, or not.
But what makes me really want to do some writing is reading other writers' stuff. Good writing inspires me to write.
But what makes me really want to do some writing is reading other writers' stuff. Good writing inspires me to write.
Michael E. Henderson
I got the idea for "A Beast in Venice" when I saw an article describing a skeleton they had found in Venice that had a brick jammed in its mouth. The skeleton was from the plague of 1576.
This was a "shroud eater," a creature they believed was eating through its buial shroud, eating other corpses, and would rise from the grave as a vampire.
This was a "shroud eater," a creature they believed was eating through its buial shroud, eating other corpses, and would rise from the grave as a vampire.
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