James R. Clifford Author of Double Daggers
Author: James R. Clifford
ISBN: 089754217
The following interview was conducted by: NORM GOLDMAN: Editor of Bookpleasures
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, James R. Clifford, author of Double Daggers.
Norm:
Good day Jamie and thanks for participating in our interview. When did your passion for writing begin? What keeps you going?
Jamie:
Actually, my passion for writing came from my first love, reading. Although if you were to ask my wife about my reading habits she would probably describe it as some type of obsessive compulsive disorder, and I guess I would have to agree with her. I can’t stop reading whether it is books, newspapers, the National Enquirer, or the back of cereal boxes. As a matter of fact, I could probably tell you more about Captain Crunch cereal than any adult should claim to know.
My writing career began simply when one day about six years ago, I woke up and said to myself, I am going to write a book. Six years later I have had two novels and half a dozen short stories published.
Norm:
Are you a full-time writer and if so how does one survive? What's your advice to achieve success as a writer?
Jamie:
I have been a stock broker for fifteen years and I fit writing in when I decide to neglect my family, friends, work, paying bills and all the other things that tend to get in the way of literary pursuits. I have never been good at giving advice but I do have some ideas on how to improve the chances for success as a writer. First and most importantly, one of the best pieces of advice that was ever giving to me was when I was having trouble getting my first book published a regional best-selling author told me, “writing is an art but publishing is a business.”
This is important especially for writers trying to break into the business if you don’t at least recognize and try to understand the second part of that statement, the chances that your “masterpiece” even gets published, let alone becomes a modest commercial success is very slim. It is imperative to understand the industry, the business models, the different levels of publishing and how writers achieve different degrees of success and the roads they took to get there.
After that I recommend: continue to write, find ways to promote yourself and your books and have lots and lots of persistence but with equaled amounts of patience.
Norm:
What do you enjoy most about being an author?
Jamie:
I love the challenge and creative aspects of inventing characters, settings and stories and putting them down on a piece of paper to create a story that hopefully people will enjoy to read. Not to mention that I love reading a good review or talking with someone who liked one of my books. That is quite a thrill and it makes all the hard work worth it. I think all writers, no matter their level of success, enjoy what they do simply because of a passion for writing and a love of creating.
Norm:
Why did you decide to write Double Daggers and can you explain some of your research techniques? How did you get the inspiration for this book?
Jamie:
I collect ancient coins and I have always been fascinated with the history behind coins that were minted in the ancient world, especially coins minted during the reign of Julius Caesar because it was such a fascinating period in history. I originally wrote a short story that was published in the Dan River Anthology about a modern day Wall Street trader who buys a roman coin and subsequently falls under its curse. Then I got the idea that it would make a great book idea to go back to the assassination of Julius Caesar where the chief conspirator, Marcus Brutus mints a coin to celebrate his role in the plot. Today, that coin is known as the Eids of March or Double Dagger Denarius and it is probably one of the most famous coins in all of antiquity. My story is about what four men throughout history do to acquire the coin and what befalls them once they have it in their possession. The four men are Brutus, a knight traveling on the Crusades, an SS Lieutenant under Hitler and a modern day Wall Street trader.
Norm:
What is your idea of a good historical novel?
Jamie:
I love a great story first and foremost. Then if I can be catapulted through time and space to a different culture and time period and through the author’s words gain an understanding about the people of the time, specifically what motivates them, what are their fears, hopes and desires and if along the journey I learn some history too; well, in my opinion that is what makes a good historical novel.
Norm:
What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?
Jamie:
Without question the biggest challenge facing me is finding the time. We all live busy lives and I have a full time job other than writing and like most people it is hard to balance all your day to day commitments and find the time for other pursuits. But I do have to say it isn’t too difficult to overcome this obstacle because if you love what you are doing, obviously it doesn’t feel like work, but I do need to find some more time for sleep. This challenge is a work in progress and hopefully one day I can convince a publisher to give me a nice advance so I can concentrate my writing on a more full-time basis.
Norm:
What authors or books have influenced you? Why?
Jamie:
That is a tough question and there probably isn’t enough room here to list all the books and authors that I love to read or who have influenced me. I read all genres, all time periods and all authors. And to me, a good book is a good book no matter who wrote it, who published it or whether it is a commercial success or sold 73 copies. But I will say that from the enormous amount of books I have read since childhood they has collectively made me the person I am today—which could be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask.
Norm:
How do you come up with ideas for what you write? What methods do you use to flesh out your idea to determine if it’s salable?
Jamie:
This is a bad answer but I really don’t know -- I guess sort of happens. But on the second question, I can tell you that my publisher adheres to the philosophy of “if you build an audience, the publishers will find you.” So what I am trying to do is to create an audience, a base of readers and with each new book hopefully expand that foundation.
Norm:
What is next for James R. Clifford?
Jamie:
I am working with the publisher to help promote and sell Double Daggers. I am also hard at work on a new novel that I would like to have semi-finished by early 2007 because I have four year old twin girls and I just found out I have a new baby on the way! Did I mention the time problem before?
Norm:
Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?
Jamie:
I would just encourage people to read more. I love movies as much as anyone but I think there is a big difference when you read something compared to watching it on TV. Movies are great and watching them is a perfect chance to allow your mind to escape but there is little room for personal interpretation . . . what you see if what you get. But when you read a book, what the best authors do is give you a roadmap, a direction that allows you to create the characters, the imaginary and the scenes in your mind, even if you don’t realize you’re doing it. I really believe that reading is a creative process.
Also, the publisher is having a promotion for the second printing of Double Daggers: For every book purchased we are giving away a free reproduced Ides of March Denarius along with a book insert detailing the history behind the coin and automatic registration to win the new 1 oz Gold Buffalo coin just released by the U.S. mint (app. value $700). Double Daggers is available anywhere books are sold but this offer is for books ordered through JR Rutherford Books and the publisher. See www.jrclifford.com for details or call toll free 888-288-9248.
Thanks once again and good luck with Double Daggers.
