Interview With Author Harold Kruger

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?

Several factors were involved in my inspiration. Firstly, I had read many good books, including great books such as Dune and Lord of the Rings that inspired me, and I always wanted to write a good book. Intense life experiences and what I had learned inspired me. Then it is a matter of just having imagination, dreaming up a fantasy world and characters that wanted to be written about. Inspiration can simply strike and it is mysterious. Maybe inspiration has a spiritual source. As a writer I felt compelled to write.

 
2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for?

It is mainly about the life of a space pilot, Milton, who is haunted by depression and struggles with crippling addictions. Yet the book has many vivid characters with multiple, inter-weaving plot strands that come together in a final game-battle. In a vast universe of the distant future the Earth-type planets of both low and high technology are linked by a network of hyper-space portals, and Myron, the sorcerer Demon Lord sits on the sapphire throne. Quesha, the ruthless High Demon Lady is hell-bent on taking the throne. Rashalika, the High Demon Lord also seeks the throne for ethical reasons, yet he also aspires to reach the mystical garden of Sequa. Rashalika sees potential for Milton, and wants him to join his cult, and Milton is thrown into a fierce power struggle. He finds himself caught between the mechoid Karen, who has a mission to harvest his rare DNA, yet the relationship becomes something tender, and Carmelia the Demon Lady, who plays a hypnotic flute. Milton's personal struggles become part of the cosmic struggle. The book is not narrowly targeted and can be enjoyed by any adult reader.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

Firstly to be entertained. Secondly to be inspired both to write creatively and consider the self-help, ethical and spiritual themes. I hope they will discover wisdom within the pages and have something to think about after finishing the book.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

Flowers of the Demon Lord has significant meanings. Rashalika worships purple flowers to contact his Guru Sequa, who can manifest as purple flowers. Rashalika offers flowers to others at key points in the book. In addition, the Flowers of the Demon Lord can refer to the students of Rashalika, such as Milton, who play a central part of the game-battle. I drew the artwork especially for the book, and Austin Macauley Publishers did the lettering for the cover.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?

Firstly to persevere over the long term it can take to write a good book. Flowers of the Demon Lord took me ten years to write. Just keep working on your project at times when this is possible. It also helps to get professional assessments. I had both drafts three and four assessed through SA writers. This was really useful and educational. It may also help to study creative writing in university.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?

Although full-length books will be around for a long time, sadly I think the trend will be that they become less popular because modern technology is training people to have shorter attention spans. Paperbacks used to be the most popular format, but I think audiobooks are now becoming more popular. I know how to write a good book, but I don't know much about the industry.

 7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?

They were crucial. I have overcome several substance addictions and battled with mania and depression. These experiences helped shape the story of Milton. One meaning of Demon Lord is to master a demon or addiction.

I might add that in my earlier chaotic years of mental illness I struggled to escape reality in a fantasy world. I felt possessed by alien Demon Lords of great power to balance my feelings of powerlessness. I developed a personal Mythology, and, while I was later able to face reality more and channel the creativity into a book, it was in those dark and confusing years that built up the background of my fantasy world.

In terms of career, my studies at university in philosophy and biology helped me write the book. Philosophy in a more general sense, while I used my knowledge of DNA biochemistry for one of the chapters involving Milton's rare DNA.

MY training in karate and the sword came in handy for the fight scenes, and understanding the way of the warrior in general. The Demon Lords are great warriors.

MY career as a singer-songwriter came in handy, as Rashalika and Dravid both perform songs in the book, and lyrics are included.
 
8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?

My style might be described as dense, concise and fast-paced with some rich description. I write in an original style, and I don't know who else it would be similar to.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

With my mental condition and the mandatory medication, I often had a chronic lack of motivation to overcome. I was so often without inspiration, imagination and creative energy, with low moods, usually unable to write creatively and not interested in anything. I worked on the book slowly over time in short creative bursts. I found that often the only way I could write creatively was to firstly give up coffee for about a week, enduring the strong headaches, then to binge-drink coffee so I would stay up all night and be able to write creatively. I would then have to wait and repeat the pattern later in time.

There were also other challenges, since I was possessive about the story and characters of early drafts, yet the assessment taught me I had to make severe changes and sacrifices in order to create a better book.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

Because Flowers of the Demon Lord has something for all readers of books; fast paced action and adventure, romance and intimate scenes, self-help ideas and wisdom. It is both highly entertaining and thought-provoking.
Writing is about communicating in text, and I certainly have something to say.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.