Synopsis
Not all the good in the world is
known - the same can be said for the bad. People, places and events that seem
random, really aren't.
How are we to know whose lives will
be affected, or destroyed? Will one wrong move make the difference? Will one
bad decision end somebody's life?
No one knows what will be lost - or
who will be Found.
About the Author
Jason Smith began his career in
television production before becoming both a network TV and radio personality.
He has spent the last dozen years with ESPN, the NFL Network, and Fox Sports
Radio. He currently hosts "The Jason Smith Show", heard nights on FSR
and iheart radio.
His other highlights include an Emmy
Award for his work on 'Sportscenter,' marrying well, memorizing
"Caddyshack" and the '86 Mets. And not necessarily in that order.
And he's glad Revis is back.
Found is his first novel.
Connect: Twitter @howaboutafresca
1)
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I don’t know that I ever
thought I would ever be one, specifically. I had written for sports web-sites
before, but the biggest thing I ever did was a long-form magazine piece for ESPN.com that
was probably about 3,000 words. Once I had the idea for ‘Found’ it sort of
dawned on me that I might be able to do it. I still wasn’t sure I could, until
I had 7 or 8 chapters done. Then it felt normal. I’m already getting the itch
for my next book.
2)
How long does it take you to write a book? If I could just concentrate on
writing, I think I could write a book in a few months as long as I had the
ideas flowing. But being a TV and radio broadcaster during the week pays the
bills, so I have to parcel my time out. I would guess in my current schedule it
would take about a year.
3)
What is your work schedule like when you are writing? Usually I write one of
two ways - if I have a chunk of time in an afternoon where I can devote three
hours or so to it, or late at night after I come home from my radio show, I’ll
spend an hour writing what I’ve thought about during the day, which usually
equates to two or three pages worth.
4)
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I can write in many
different environments. A good chunk of ‘Found’ was written at an El Pollo Loco
close to my house. I would go there for lunch with my laptop, and emerge two or
three hours later with a bunch of pages. And about seven servings of Diet
Coke.
5)
How do books get published? The best way I can explain it is by relaying what a
literary agent told me a few years ago - you just have to get one person at a
publishing house to fall in love with your idea/manuscript. When you do
something “creative” for a living, there’s no black and white outcomes. What
people feel about a work is subjective - whether it’s a book, a piece of art,
or a television show. You can be told no by fourteen people but the fifteenth
will say yes. I was very fortunate to find someone who thought that way in
Linda Young at MaxQ.
6)
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? They come to me at
random times, which is how ‘Found’ came about. My wife and I were listening to
the radio while driving back to Los Angeles from a vacation. ‘Hungry Heart’ by
Bruce Springsteen came on the radio, and it starts with the line “Got a wife
and kids in Baltimore, Jack. I went out for a ride, and I never went back.” I’d
heard the song a thousand times in my life, but for some reason right then I
thought Hey, what if someone actually did that? Just left their life and
went on an adventure? What would happen? Then Pam and I started kicking
around ideas and she gave me one that became one of the backbones of the book.
I decided right then I would try to write this story.
7)
When did you write your first book and how old were you? I first started
writing ‘Found’ when I was 38. It probably took me six months or so to write
the first third of it. Then within the next year both my mother and my wife’s
mother passed away, and we had our first child. So life took over there for a
bit and the book took a back seat. When I got back to writing, I picked it back
up pretty easily, and it was probably five or six more months of writing to
completion. So a year total, but it was spaced out over three.
8)
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Pam and I are big pop-culture
junkies, so we’re never far from a movie theater or TV screen. I spend as much
time as I possibly can with her and our daughter Zoe. I get just as much of a
charge working as I do going out for donuts with them. I’ve always enjoyed the
mundane, every-day things. Did I forget to say sleep? Sleep.
9)
What does your family think of your writing? My family was surprised, because I
didn’t tell them I had written one until it was released. My publisher told me
if I haven’t said anything during the process, then just wait until it comes
out. Most of them have read it and their main feedback have been ideas of who
would play each part if it was made into a movie. My aunt likes Kyle Chandler
for the lead, one of my best friends says Sam Rockwell. I wish they were both
movie producers.
10)
What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your books? That
having one idea could bring about an entire novel. When I first started getting
chapters down, I wondered if this plot would be sustainable for 250 pages or if
I’d run out of story. But new branches kept forming as I wrote, including one
character I didn’t even think was going to be in the book, much less the
important part they turned out to play. That idea hit me in bed one night at
like 2am and it was a big kick-starter for the second half of the book. I also learned
I knew way less about punctuation than I ever thought I did.
11)
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? ‘Found’ is my first
novel, and I have ideas for a sequel that I will probably get down to sometime
next year. I have a rough idea of the story I want to tell, and how I want it
to begin, which is the most important part for me.
12)
Do you have any suggestions to help me be a better writer? What are they?
There’s three things that I would tell anyone. First, is read Stephen King’s On
Writing - which is a ‘How to write your own novel’ book. The best part is
it’s not overwhelming, and you’ll realize you probably possess many of the
things he feels you need to have to be able to write successfully. It will give
you confidence. Second, figure out the best way for you to actually write. Is
it in El Pollo Loco? Your computer room? On your couch? Wherever you’re
comfortable and able to focus is where you should do it. 3) Just sit down and
write. Don’t procrastinate, even if you don’t know what’s next in your plot.
Get in front of your computer, etc. and start writing. You’ll be surprised at
the ideas that come your way.
13)
Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say? I get a lot of feedback
on social media, and mostly it’s been positive, which I feel fortunate for. I’d
feel awful if someone paid for my book and hated it. I know I can’t control
that, but I would. And maybe plenty of people have, but they just can’t find me
on Twitter to tell me.
14)
Do you like to create books for adults? Yes. All the ideas I’ve had so far
translate to stories for adults, but Zoe has asked me twice now if I could
write a book that she can read. Right now she wants it to be about kid
detectives, a queen with super powers, a chemist and a ninja. So when I figure
that all out at some point I think I’m going to have to do that. Do you know
anyone in the YA genre who would be interested in that kind of book?
15)
What do you think makes a good story? A good story can take place in any genre
or style. The one thing good stories of all kind have in common is making me
want to turn the page and keep at it. I may hate the narration, the characters
or the dialogue, but if you’re spinning it good? It doesn’t matter.
16)
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? In order: a knight, then
a cowboy, then shortstop for the New York Mets. I realized those things weren’t
happening around the age of 12, so I had to change my dreams.
17)
What would you like my readers to know? Besides the web-site on how to get the
book? (http://bit.ly/foundthebook) That
I worked very hard to write the best story I could and am very happy with the
finished product. I hope you really enjoy it, and if you hate it, it’s OK to
find me on Twitter @howaboutafresca and tell me.
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