D.W. Raleigh was born in the Delaware
Valley and has spent most of his life in that region. He has attended multiple
colleges and universities collecting several degrees, including an M.A. in
Philosophy. After toiling away for many years in various unfulfilling jobs, he
began to realize that what he really wanted to do was write. Scribbling down
ideas and little short stories he eventually came up with something he wanted
to share with the world. Thus, Shiloh’s True Nature was born. D.W. currently
resides in Newark, Delaware with his longtime love, Judy, and their two cats,
Lovie and Cheepie.
About the Book
When 12
year-old farm boy Shiloh Williams is sent to stay with his estranged
grandfather, he discovers a mysterious new world inhabited by ‘Movers’. The
Movers live in symbiotic harmony with one another, except one extremely
powerful Mover who has stolen the town’s most precious artifact, the Eternal
Flame. Shiloh investigates his supernatural surroundings, makes new friends,
and begins to think of the town as home. However, just as soon as he starts to
fit in, he realizes his newfound happiness is about to come to an abrupt end.
One decision and one extreme consequence are all that remain.
Questionnaire:
Thanks
for letting us interrogate you! Can you
give us a go-for-the-gut answer as to why you wanted to be an author?
I
always wanted to be an author, just not of fiction. I was on my way to getting a PhD in
Philosophy and thinking I’d teach and write related subject matter. However, life pushed me in a different direction.
Tell
us (we won’t tell promise!) is it all it’s cracked up to be? I mean what are the perks and what are the demands?
I
don’t know what it is cracked up to be, but my life hasn’t changed much. The first novel is coming out now and I’m
working on the sequel. Perhaps if it
sells a million copies, I could answer that more colorfully. To date, I’m still
waiting for perks.
Which
route did you take – traditional or self-published – and can you give us the
nitty gritty low down on what’s that like?
I went the traditional route
after looking unsuccessfully for an agent to take on my work. I am pleased with how things have turned out
with Hobbes End, my publisher.
Tell
us for real what your family feels about you spending so much time getting your
book written, polished, edited, formatted, published, what have you?
My
family is 100% supportive of everything I do, writing or otherwise.
This
is for pet lovers. If you don’t own a
pet, skip this question, but do your pets actually get their food on time or do
they have to wait until you type just one more word?
I have
cats, Lovie and Cheepie…they have food and water available to them at all times
regardless of what I am doing. Now,
attention is another matter. I have to
keep the door closed while I am writing.
Otherwise, little feet will be traipsing across the keyboard while I try
to type.
This
is for plant lovers. If you don’t own a
plant, skip this question, but if you do, are they actually still alive?
My
houseplants are alive, but they never seem to thrive. They’re always over or under watered…and the
damn palm plants always seem to have those brown leaf tips. I need to read a book on plant care.
In
writing your book, how did you deal with the phone ringing, your family needing
dinner or your boss calling you saying you’re late?
The
majority of the book was written late at night, so none of those things really
applied. Now, that I’m writing the
second book, I seem to be working more during the day…but I’m dealing with
everything okay; ignore the ringing phone, order a pizza, and tell the boss her
watch is fast.
What
was the craziest or insane thing that happened to you in the book publishing
process? I got a rejection letter from a publisher a year after I had already
signed on with my current publisher, Hobbes End.
How
about the social networks? Which ones do
you believe help and which ones do you wish you could avoid?
All of
them and all of them. Social media is a
double-edged sword. It helps get the
word out, but it can also be an annoyance.
Book
sales. Don’t you just love them (or lack
of?)? How are you making the sales
happen for you?
Interviews, networking, and word of mouth…and hopefully some really
good reviews.
What
is one thing you’d like to jump on the rooftop and scream about?
The
fantastic set of interview questions from the good people at straightfromtheauthorsmouth.blogspot.com. If you couldn’t tell, I don’t have a great
answer for that question. However,
should I have something jump up on the roof and scream about, you’ll be the
first to know.
Okay,
too much sugar for you today! Here’s a
nice cup of Chamomile tea and come on over and sit under the cabana and watch
the waves roll in. Now…can you tell us
what you love about being a published author and how all those things above
doesn’t matter because it’s all part of the whole scheme of things and you
wouldn’t have it any other way?
I love creating stories and being published
just validates my Walter Mitty-ness.
And, the truth is, it is all part of the scheme of things and I wouldn’t
have it any other way.
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