The Test by John Lansing Giveaway & Interview

The Test by John Lansing 

on Tour April 2015

 

Book Details Genre: Literary Fiction Published by: Tatra Press Publication Date: November 1st 2014 Number of Pages: 29 Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

A coming-of-age story set in 1950s, small-town Long Island, at time when suburban America is about to undergo seismic societal changes. With this backdrop, a teenage boy falls in love with one of the town's few black girls, a relationship that has repercussions leading to permanent transformations for the couple--and for the town.

 

Author Bio:

John Lansing started his career as an actor in New York City. He spent a year at the Royale Theatre playing the lead in the Broadway production of “Grease.” He then landed a co-starring role in George Lucas’ “More American Graffiti,” and guest-starred on numerous television shows. During his fifteen-year writing career, Lansing wrote and produced “Walker Texas Ranger,” co-wrote two CBS Movies of the Week, and he also co-executive produced the ABC series “Scoundrels.” John’s first book was “Good Cop, Bad Money,” a true crime tome with former NYPD Inspector Glen Morisano. “The Devil’s Necktie” was his first novel. “Blond Cargo” is the next book in the Jack Bertolino series. A native of Long Island, John now resides in Los Angeles.

 

Q&A Deal Sharing Aunt

1. I didn’t grow up dreaming about being a writer. It wasn’t even on my short list. But now in hindsight I do think writing books was a natural evolution from my time working in Hollywood.

Writing my first script was actually a fluke. I had committed to directing a short film and when the screenwriter dropped out due to illness, I was forced to pick up the pen. I never looked back.

After an extensive acting career, I switched gears and moved from working in front of the camera to behind, and started writing for television. I moved from interpreting characters to creating characters and it opened up a whole new world for me.        My acting career helped inform the characters I wrote for, and about, and created, in my television work. The craft of acting can help one understand the emotional roadmap needed to flesh out complex characters, characters that will hopefully be compelling enough to maintain a readers interest. It also gives you an ear for dialogue that rings true.

My television work taught me discipline, writing on a schedule, and collaboration. It hammered home the type of characters I enjoyed creating and wanting to invest my time with, and again, hopefully keep an audience reading.

2.  It takes me about seven months to complete a first draft of a novel. I have a few trusted friends who I then let read the work and share notes. Then I start my rewriting process. That goes on for about a month before I deliver the work to my editor, John Paine. Because of scheduling it might take him a month to deliver his notes, and me, another month to address them.

Working with an editor is one of the most important steps in delivering a final draft. A good editor makes the work better. When we’re satisfied with the results, the manuscript goes to a copy editor who corrects punctuation, formatting, spelling, word repetitions, and the corrected meaning of certain phrases. Then it’s off to the publisher, and art department to come up with the cover art.

It’s a full year from start to finish. From conception to completion.

And then the real work begins. Selling the book, doing blog tours and social media, while I start writing the next book in the series. It all goes with the territory and is an important part of delivering a book to a publisher and to the readers.

3.  When I’m knee deep in a first draft it’s a 24/7 experience. It’s impossible for me to shut if off at the end of the day. I go to bed trying to problem solve and wake up in the middle of the night worrying about it, and jump out of bed in the morning with the answer, or at least an approach that might lead me to the answer.

Then I sit down at the computer for an hour or two, walk the dog, eat some breakfast, and get back in the trenches, reworking my first ideas of the day. Then it’s off into unchartered territory.

I just keep cranking it out the same way, every day, until I’m finished. I’m very goal oriented and can’t really relax until I deliver the final manuscript to my publisher.

4. I have a folder filled with articles that I’ve collected through the years – news and current events that caught my interest, culled from newspapers, magazines, television and personal conversations. I’m always on the lookout for engaging stories. When I’m done with one project, I’ll open up the file and see if anything spurs my imagination and then proceed from there.

            Sometimes it’s a simple premise or a situation that I know would create conflict for my protagonist and draw him out of his comfort zone.

When I began my writing career, I’d spend hours combing libraries and researching articles and information related to whatever story I was writing at the time.

The Internet profoundly changed that process. Now I do Google searches for specific information that I need as I’m writing my book. It’s an incredible time saver and invaluable tool.

5. Writing “The Test,” was a true labor of love. It was a pleasure stepping outside the world of crime and suspense to tell a coming-of-age love story. I’ve always been drawn to that period in time, the early 60’s, when America was holding on to a 1950’s sensibility with tight fists, and we were months away from a social revolution.

            Many thanks to the Deal Sharing Aunt for hosting my book, and I hope you enjoy.

Tour Host Participants:

 

Join Us:

To Sign up either complete the form with your Blog Name, book format, requested date(s) and how you'd like to host or email me at gina@providencebookpromotions.com. Thank you for your interest in this tour.

 

Don't Miss the Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for John Lansing. There will be THREE U.S. winners of an ebook copy of The Test. The giveaway is open to US residents only. The tour-wide giveaway begins on April 1st, 2015 and runs through May 2nd, 2015.

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