Writers On Wednesday: Stefan Vucak
Once again, it's time for Writers On Wednesday. This week, I put my questions to Stefan Vucak ...
Tell us a bit about yourself …
As a kid, I liked doing things
all other kids liked doing – until
I discovered books. After that, I was gone, lost in the universes those books
opened up for me and dreaming of writing my
own. I had a great time at school, even though English and its convoluted
grammar rules did give me some trouble, but those rules gave me a grounding how
to write. My first effort was pretty awful and I am glad it will never see the
light of day. That thing went through two rewrites, but it still isn’t
something I want to share. Call it my training wheels.
My first successful book,
although not perfect, a science fiction work, was presentable and I tried for a
long time to break into the traditional publishing market while holding down a
demanding job in the IT industry, which kept me very busy. But writing has
always been a passion and a drive, and I kept at it in my spare time. When eBook publishing took off, I at least got
my books out to readers. These days, I am no longer in the IT industry and I
spend my time writing, reviewing and being a hardnosed editor. It hasn’t been a bad
journey, enabling me to produce eight sci-fi books and four drama/thriller
novels. As long as that fire of creation burns within me, I will keep writing.
Tell us about your most recently published,
or about to be published, book?
Some years back,
still trying to break into the traditional publishing market, having written
seven sci-fi novels, I decided to branch into contemporary fiction, thinking it
will improve my chances of getting a traditional publisher. It was a productive
change and I wrote four novels, but I am still looking for that publisher.
Having spent a couple of decades writing science fiction, the characters I
created kept tugging at my soul. The last book in the series had opened a
window into a whole new adventure, and I simply had to tie up the loose ends,
not only for my own piece of mind, but also for all those readers who followed
the series. Having finished Strike for
Honor, I decided to bite the bullet. In Guardians of Shadow,
having destroyed a Kran invader, Terr, Teena and his brother Dharaklin, head
for Orieli space where they will begin their cultural exchange mission. In a
devastating Kran attack, Teena is taken and Terr seeks to rescue her,
confronting an implacable enemy. The Krans also attack Anar’on, the fabled
world of the Wanderers. In retaliation, the Wanderers seek to wipe out the
blight invading their space. Wielding the hand of Death, Terr is prepared for a
final confrontation.
Tell us about the first time you were
published?
Having written
three books in my sci-fi series, making submissions to traditional publishers
and agents and not getting anywhere, I wondered if I was wasting my time
pursuing an ambition to be a writer. After all, I had a successful career in
IT. When eBook publishers emerged, it opened a window of opportunity to get my
books out there. I made several submissions, and one day, I received an e-mail
with an offer from an eBook publisher. Reading it gave me a very warm fuzzy. I
made it, and I wondered why I hadn’t done this sooner. It really was a
highlight of my day. The first book I
published was With Shadow and Thunder,
a 2002 EPPIE finalist. This success provided an outlet for my books, and a
steep learning curve about the eBook publishing industry. After switching from
several eBook publishers, not satisfied with the deal where the publisher took
most of my royalties and did nothing in return, I decided to self-publish, and
haven’t looked back.
What books or writing projects are you
currently working on, if anything?
I am half-way
into a new political drama/thriller novel, and I am making hard work of it. Why
hard? Despite all my planning, research and writing a detailed outline, when it
comes to the actually writing, the story has a number of possible twists and
turns, which makes me pause. Of course, my characters sometime take me along a
path I did not intend going, and that can be both good and bad. Good inasmuch
this can enrich the story, and bad because of the temptation to stray too far
from the outlined plot. This tug of war always happens with my books, and I
sometimes allow my characters to fly, but I always set the course!
Without giving away
too much of the plot, Proportional
Response involves a foreign power setting off a natural calamity with the
intention of crippling the United States, leaving this power dominating the
world’s political and economic agenda. The plan is partially successful and the
power responsible now watches with apprehension as an enraged America seeks to
uncover the culprit.
Do you have a favourite place to write?
I have a study
with a window that faces the morning sun. On two sides are tall bookshelves
filled with all kinds of books, fiction and non-fiction. A traditional desk
simply wasn’t large enough to give me space to write and still hold my tower
computer and printer, so I had a specially designed workbench made. Now, there
is lots of space for everything. The window comes in handy, allowing me to
stare absently at nothing in particular, waiting for my thoughts to get
ordered.
I always write
using a writing pad. I tried composing directly into the computer, but it just
doesn’t work for me. Editing and everything else I can do on the computer, but
original manuscript must be done on my pad. I used to write using a pencil,
erasing stuff as needed, then transcribe the finishes pages into the computer. After
a while though, I found this hard on the eyes and switched to using a pen. The
problem with a pen is that I could not erase my mistakes, which left my
manuscripts full of strikethroughs, slashes and notations. That’s okay. No one
will see that except me. I prefer silence when I write the original manuscript,
but I don’t mind some background music when I’m on the computer.
Which do you prefer? eBooks or Paper
Books? Why?
Today, eBooks are
the rage, and they are everywhere. With tablets and smart phones, anyone can
download and read an eBook when they have a spare moment or are just lounging
on the sofa with a few minutes to spare. For me though, I prefer the tactile
feel of a real book in my hands with a tumbler of bourbon at my side to
lubricate the thinking processes. I get more involved with a real book: turning
the pages and the rustle they make, the smell of a new book, or an old one I
dug out of my library. These things cannot be reproduced by a tablet device.
Anyway, I found tablets hard on the eyes after a while.
Finally … is there anything you would
like to say to your readers in Australia?
Every writer
would like to see his or her books plastered in every bookstore, making
thousands of sales. I am no exception. However, the harsh reality is that most
of us will not achieve that dream, but I don’t write simply to sell my books. I
write because I want to share something of my vision, and hopefully entertain
my readers. If my books manage to open a new window and make readers think,
that is a bonus.
Links
Website: www.stefanvucak.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StefanVucak
Twitter: @stefanvucak
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