Welcome back to Mind Reader for my second stop of Absolution Tour. Today you will find out more about the man behind this very cool novel.
Louis Corsair
Louis Corsair is an eight year veteran of the United States Army. Currently, he lives in Los Angeles, CA and attends Long Beach State University. He also works at the Peninsula Center Library in Palos Verdes, where books have become his family. To him, writing is more than a hobby or a passion; it is the only way to exist—at times life itself.
Where you can find Louis
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Franny, thanks again for asking these very wonderful questions. I hope my answers will intrigue your readers and hopefully convince them to try out my debut novel, Absolution. Here goes…
Where did you find the inspiration to write Absolution?
From
the city of Los Angeles. The realistic elements in the story and future ones
are all around me. I see them every day and marvel. Most people here live day
to day. There is also that lovely reminder of something more mounted on a hill:
The Hollywood sign. Many struggle here trying to reach that hill, to glow a
little under its light for those fifteen minutes. Others want to be worshipped
by fans. Those individuals are trying to become gods.
Was there a scene on the book you found particularly hard to write?
One
of the first scenes in the novels involves Detective Adams having memory
flashes that explain that he’s dead and has been dead for a while. In the
narrative he explains a bundle of information the reader needs to make sense of
this particular world of fantasy. I had to re-write that sequence several times
to introduce just enough information without overloading the reader. Part of
the strategy to make this work was to acknowledge to the reader that it is an
awful lot of information to take in all at once, which is what Adams says in
the narrative.
Did you get inspiration from someone specific to write your characters?
I
don’t like to do that. Writing a person I know into one of my stories seems
like a breach of trust. But specific characteristics I’ve probably picked up
from the people I know. This is inevitable; a writer must live his life and
part of that is picking up on the rhythm of the world around you.
What would you do if you were a detective in the 40s?
I
would freak out. The 40s culture was radically different than today. The
sensibilities were different, but I like to think there were decent men and
women there too. There was also the Second World War to deal with. I think I
would become like Sam Spade and eventually get shot trying to perform some
social justice.
How did you become writer?
I wasn’t destined to become a writer. When I was younger I actually wanted to become a scientist. I even study Engineering at Long Beach State University in California. Writing is an outlet for me, a coping mechanism, which helps me diffuse pent-up energy. I’ve never had anyone tell me that I ought to write professionally. I more or less decided this on my own.
This is an important thing. I had written a sorry excuse of a novel while still serving and tried to sell it. That didn’t work out. When I left the Army, I had wanted to become a police officer, which didn’t pan out. So, I studied whatever I could at Santa Monica College to see what interested me. I decided to study Engineering at the urging of one of my professors. Writing is my only chance to do something that is better than me.
Do you have a writing process/schedule?
This is an important thing. I had written a sorry excuse of a novel while still serving and tried to sell it. That didn’t work out. When I left the Army, I had wanted to become a police officer, which didn’t pan out. So, I studied whatever I could at Santa Monica College to see what interested me. I decided to study Engineering at the urging of one of my professors. Writing is my only chance to do something that is better than me.
Do you have a writing process/schedule?
I
prefer to write between 8 AM and 2 PM. If I write at any other time it’s
because I didn’t get something done or because the mood grabbed me.
Is there a particular place you feel more inspired to write?
A crowded place full of people. The louder, the better. Good looking women walking about don’t hurt either. But seriously, what helps inspiration is a place where I feel welcome. If there is even the smallest amount of tension, it kills my creativity.
What is the most satisfying part of being an author?
That I am allowed to tell you a story. The best part of being a self-published author is that I get to tell you a story without worrying about the sensibilities of the agent or publisher.
What do you usually do when you're not writing?
Ingesting information. Reading news articles or books (a poorly read author is not worth his/her title), watching television or people as they live their lives, their every movement, their gestures, reactions--those meant for you to see and those not--and listening to everything said, in conversations with me and without me. Even when I sit in a café and look out a window to think, I’m taking in information.
Are you working on any new projects at the moment?
I’m always working on something new. I can’t stop the part of my mind that creates. I’ve tried so many different ways, but I can’t stop it.
One of the bigger projects I’m actively revising is called The Quantum of the Past: A Fantasy, which is about an Iraq war veteran who is trying to deal with survivor’s guilt. At the same time he struggles to fight off madness; why else would he see his dead comrades? Things get even more complicated when a Sprite named Kendra asks for his help in trying to figure out why everyone, including her father, wants her dead.
The other big project is the continuation of Detective Adams’ story, Ascension. The premise is basically the same: A dead detective is brought back to life for one day to solve a crime. But the differences allow me to have my fun. The story is much darker than the first; it revolves around a missing child case. I get to explore more of urban Los Angeles. I also get to further Raymond Adams’ story; he must come to grips with not being there for his daughter. And, last but not least, I get to reveal more of why this is called the Elohim Trilogy.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start writing?
I like to think that there are more qualified men and women who can answer this. Whenever I try to give someone advice it makes me feel stupid. I’m too honest to lie to someone by telling them that if they just keep writing, something will pan out. I don’t know if something will pan out for you. I haven’t read your work so I don’t know if you have any skill at storytelling. If I had to tell you anything it’s that you shouldn’t be asking for advice if you want to start writing professionally. Quite frankly, if you have a mind to write, you’re going to do it one way or another.
Well, thank you Louis for this great interview! And guys, don't forget that you can win a printed copy of Absolution and the coolest swag by entering the giveaway on Dark Mind Book Tours!!
Is there a particular place you feel more inspired to write?
A crowded place full of people. The louder, the better. Good looking women walking about don’t hurt either. But seriously, what helps inspiration is a place where I feel welcome. If there is even the smallest amount of tension, it kills my creativity.
What is the most satisfying part of being an author?
That I am allowed to tell you a story. The best part of being a self-published author is that I get to tell you a story without worrying about the sensibilities of the agent or publisher.
What do you usually do when you're not writing?
Ingesting information. Reading news articles or books (a poorly read author is not worth his/her title), watching television or people as they live their lives, their every movement, their gestures, reactions--those meant for you to see and those not--and listening to everything said, in conversations with me and without me. Even when I sit in a café and look out a window to think, I’m taking in information.
Are you working on any new projects at the moment?
I’m always working on something new. I can’t stop the part of my mind that creates. I’ve tried so many different ways, but I can’t stop it.
One of the bigger projects I’m actively revising is called The Quantum of the Past: A Fantasy, which is about an Iraq war veteran who is trying to deal with survivor’s guilt. At the same time he struggles to fight off madness; why else would he see his dead comrades? Things get even more complicated when a Sprite named Kendra asks for his help in trying to figure out why everyone, including her father, wants her dead.
The other big project is the continuation of Detective Adams’ story, Ascension. The premise is basically the same: A dead detective is brought back to life for one day to solve a crime. But the differences allow me to have my fun. The story is much darker than the first; it revolves around a missing child case. I get to explore more of urban Los Angeles. I also get to further Raymond Adams’ story; he must come to grips with not being there for his daughter. And, last but not least, I get to reveal more of why this is called the Elohim Trilogy.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start writing?
I like to think that there are more qualified men and women who can answer this. Whenever I try to give someone advice it makes me feel stupid. I’m too honest to lie to someone by telling them that if they just keep writing, something will pan out. I don’t know if something will pan out for you. I haven’t read your work so I don’t know if you have any skill at storytelling. If I had to tell you anything it’s that you shouldn’t be asking for advice if you want to start writing professionally. Quite frankly, if you have a mind to write, you’re going to do it one way or another.
Well, thank you Louis for this great interview! And guys, don't forget that you can win a printed copy of Absolution and the coolest swag by entering the giveaway on Dark Mind Book Tours!!
Great interview...I've never been to LA so books like this make me want to read them...sort of a vicarious visit. :D
ReplyDeleteFranny! Thanks for the great questions. I had a wonderful time answering them.
ReplyDelete