Creston’s Comments (group member since Aug 22, 2013)

Creston’s comments from the Creston Mapes Hosts Q&A group.

Hi Debra, there is a book published each year called The Writer's Market. You can buy it or get it at the library. It lists agents in your genre. Most have websites and submission guidelines for you to follow. You send them what they want and . . . hope for the best! Good hearing from you! Creston

Sorry to hear that. What kind of work do you do that has you so busy? Well, I appreciate you saying hey. Take care and don't work too hard! cm

Hey Karen, thanks for dropping in and saying hi!

Creston

Hi Kendra,

Great to hear from you.

It certainly does take time and dedication to build a following of fiction readers. I'm trusting this new series will really help us get the traction we need.

Actually, Everett and Karen will appear in book three in the new series, tentatively entitled Sky Zone. I hope you will tune in.

Best to you.
Creston

Hi Sheila,
Thanks for writing and for your kind words about The Rock Star Chronicles.

I am actually a freelance marketing copywriter and have been for more than 20 years. So I write my fiction in the mornings and my marketing projects in the afternoons.

I am a picky reader and do like to read novels written by authors who really know/understand the craft of writing great fiction. Therefore, I read a lot of the classics and I enjoy literary fiction very much. My favorite authors can be found on my goodreads page -- books I've read and given 5 stars.

JD Salinger and Cormac McCarthy are two favorites that have inspired my work.

I'm really glad to hear from you Sheila. I hope you'll check out my newest book/series. Keep in touch.
Creston

Hi Kendra,

Thanks for dropping by and for your comments.

When I decided to start trying fiction back in 1999, I immediately went to work and wrote an entire novel called HOOKED, which never got published. I got a lot of rejections for that one, but started right in to writing DARK STAR next.

Back then you could still shop proposals without an agent, which is what I tried for awhile.

Then an agent approached me, interested in representing me, and it took another 9 months to get my first 3-book contract with Multnomah. So, in all, it took me 5 years to get my first contract, from the time I started writing. Each book takes me 9 months to a year for the first draft.

On my characters, no, I do no character sketches before hand. As the book moves on each day, I learn and create more about each character. So it truly is totally seat of pants.

It amazes me how some people love Dark Star and Full Tilt most, others love Nobody, and still others are liking the new book/series....so I am happy with that! Everett Lester (Dark Star) will make an appearance in book 3 of the new series, by the way!!

Thanks again, Kendra. Blessings.
cm

Hey Kelly,

We are excited about Nobody the movie!! All my family members want parts in it.

The biggest challenge for me in writing fiction is finding the time to do it, and to build up my readership enough where I can do it full time. I am hoping this new 3-book series gets me to that point, but time will tell.

Most gratifying are the reader notes I get that tell me my novels have drawn people closer to Christ. I relish those letters.

Thanks much for dropping by!

cm

Hey Lisa,
I am procrastinating today so this is a good break for me. Thanks a lot for the praise....it goes straight to my head!

The inspiration for my books really comes from my past life. I didn't become a Christian until age 28, so I lived a long time in a very 'wordly' way....but I think God is using that in my books, because I can paint a very realistic picture on topics such as drug and alcohol use, the rock scene, the newspaper business, and the grittier side of life.

So I am inspired to tell contemporary, realistic stories that not only thrill readers and give them extraordinary entertainment, but also cause them to think about some thought-provoking issues. In the latest book those things would be fear, depression, use of guns, and bullying.

I really appreciate your comments and question! Stay in touch.

Dwayne....now that's a good story. How self-righteous we can be at times. Sometimes Christians are the worst in that category....hate to say it. Thanks Dwayne.

Blessings Adam

Man I am getting a complete interview here.
I love working from home and have done so for 22 years. Our family (4 kids: 23, 28, 26, 13) is very closeknit. They've known since they were little that daddy is working in his office, and not to disturb (too much).

Summers get a bit hectic and hard to concentrate, but I do love it. Only real con for me would be not being able to concentrate...but I have several doors that separate me from the rest of the house!

Adam, I do like it very much. But I only use it probably every third day, and then for a few hours a day. I sit TOO much, so I try to exercise early each morning....otherwise I would get no exercise!!!

To answer again though I do really like it....perfect size, height, etc.

Adam, as I continue to write the mss., the ending builds and builds. But only in the back of my mind. I let it simmer for the weeks and months leading to writing the end.

Also, I jot down notes at the end of the mss. with ideas about what 'could' happen at the end. By the time I get there, I have a ton of great ideas for the end and have subconsciously written in that direction leading up to that point.

So far I've finished 6 books this way and I've been pleased with each ending.

Thanks for asking.

c

Hey Sheri,
Feb 1, 2014!! Can't wait. I love the outcome. We have endorsements from Francine Rivers and Third Day, among others. Thanks for asking! c

Yes, Adam, seat of pants. Start with a main idea for novel, then take it day to day. As I learn what each character is like, that shows me what they are going to do and how they are going to react to the situations I throw them into. At end of day I try to throw out some ideas that can happen the next day, so I have some place to start in the morning, and not be staring at a blank screen!

Adam, when it's supposed to be, it will be....

And they certainly are 'challenges' Adam. I write from about 8 am to noon (fiction), then spend 1 to 6 or so on marketing copy. Good luck with it. I recall reading something you did and enjoyed it!

Hi Adam. Because I work full-time as a freelance writer (marketing), I needed plenty of time to write the first book. So my agent suggested we simply wait until it was finished, then she pitched it to publishers.

That is why there was such a big break between my third and fourth novels (6 years!). Then they also made the launch of book one a long way out so that I could write books 2 and 3 and we could release all 3 within 1.5 years. Get me?

Hey Chris Well...another great question.

In this new series, my publisher, David C Cook, got the entire manuscript for the first book (Fear Has a Name) and they decided they would like to make it a series about the reporter featured in the first book, Jack Crittendon (Hence the series title, The Crittendon Files).

I only had to give 1-2 paragraphs about what might happen in books 2 and 3 to kind of 'sell' the publisher on the series. They said those paragraphs could be very loose and we all agreed the ideas/stories might change as I got into the writing.

Interestingly, books 2 and 3 have turned out to be spot on what we suggested they might be about. What are you working on these days?

Hey Betsy,

Great to hear from you friend! It's been a long time since we did your book club with the rock star party theme!!!

It is early to hear of a movie deal on Fear Has a Name. However, I am THRILLED to say that NOBODY has been optioned as a motion picture. The screenplay is done and investors are being sought as we speak. I like the people spearheading the project and am hoping God moves in big ways. Based in Las Vegas....it lends itself to the big screen!

Hope to see you soon! cm