F.W. Abel was born in the city of New York,
long ago enough to have not even been a teenager at the beginning of the Civil
War Centennial. He escaped from Fordham
University with a degree in psychology into the U.S. Army. The army had him function as a psychologist
for a while, until he escaped from that into “the real army” that is, the
infantry. After postings in Berlin,
Tokyo and the southern United States, he left and became a junior executive in
the insurance industry. He now labors
diligently for the American taxpayer as a federal bureaucrat. He currently resides in a Maryland suburb of
Washington, D.C. As many of the most
important battles of the Civil war was fought within a relatively short
distance, he has taken advantage and visited most of them, as well as several
in the so-called “Western Theater.”
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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 read a lot, mostly history and for real
pleasure, good (don’t be offended, but my local public library includes books
of the “bodice-ripper” genre on this shelf) historical fiction.
While I certainly don’t include myself in
the class of George MacDonald Fraser, Bernard Cornwell or Dewy Lambdin, I
thought I could write a piece of historical fiction that, if not as good as
theirs, at least not bad.
On the other hand, I also read authors like
Christopher Moore, but don’t have near the imagination to write what he
does. Historical fiction is easy be
comparison. History has provided the
plot line, and all the author has to is dramatize the dull parts and dress up
the already dramatic parts.
If nothing else, sometimes writing it down
is the only way to get the idea out of one’s head.
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?
First, let me say I’m not a writer. Beckett, Joyce – they’re writers. I’m merely a story-teller.
But to make any kind of writing more than
just a hobby (or therapy) takes some self-discipline. I wrote by first two novels which becane,
with much, much polishing, Deeds
of a Colored Soldier during the Rebellion, Volume 1, when I was between
jobs. If I could turn out five fairly
decent pages in a day, that, to me, was a successful day.
Of course, getting it published takes
writing to a new level. No matter how
many times I go over it, I will miss something that requires editing, either
just copy-editing or something to make what is clear in my own mind
understandable to the reader. So,
friends who are willing to read my stuff and don’t pull any punches in their
critiques are a godsend.
From there, we go to professional
editors. My publisher had two go over Deeds, and I appreciate the embarrassment
they saved me because, remember, I wanted to write good fiction.
Then there is further polishing, to
deadlines, because publishing is a business, not an art form. My publisher is a delight, not demanding, but
gently ensuring that I get things done in a timely fashion, and is gratifyingly
enthusiastic and encouraging.
So, a person who writes as hobby has to be
prepared for writing as a business, with all that entails, including criticism.
As for perks, well my book isn’t quite out
yet. However, I am of course expecting
the standard rich and famous status when it does.
Which route did you take – traditional or
self-published – and can you give us the nitty gritty low down on what’s that
like?
Traditional. It’s hard to break in. (If you don’t believe me, I’ll show my
inch-plus thick folder of rejection letters.)
Publishing is expensive, so just like Hollywood and Broadway, publishers
would rather deal with known quantities rather than take the chance on
discovering the “next new big thing.”
I was lucky in that a friend of four
decades, Scott O’Connell, published author of the Yankee Doodle Spies series,
gave me an introduction to Lida Quillen, publisher of Twilight Times Books.
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?
Sometimes they get annoyed. The writing can become obsessive. This was especially true when I started my
first novel, because it appeared to just be a hobby. Remember, I started on it when I was between
jobs. However, my wife, Kathy, held
things together financially and let me continue with it. It’s no wonder the book is dedicated to her.
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?
I simply ignored them all.
What was the craziest or insane thing that
happened to you in the book publishing process?
Nothing I can recall. I guess my life is just dull.
How about the social networks? Which ones do you believe help and which ones
do you wish you could avoid?
I am a product of my generation, and so
far, have managed to avoid them all.
However, I suppose that will have to change when the standard rich and
FAMOUS kicks in.
Book sales.
Don’t you just love them (or lack of?)?
How are you making the sales happen for you?
Hasn’t happened yet. But I’m willing to make someone “an offer
they can’t refuse.
What is one thing you’d like to jump on the
rooftop and scream about?
The present state of politics in these
great United States. I really want to go
up on the roof and push a few pols off.
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.
