Interview with Author Austin Murre
Author Austin Murre hated reading as a child, or so he thought. When he was fourteen, he was given a novel by the name of “Lord Loss.” It was written by Darren Shan and was the first part in a series of a dozen novels. Suddenly Austin found himself immersed in the world, but it was over too soon. When he finished reading the final chapter, he yearned for more, but there was nothing that quiet filled the itch.
Fast forward four years, he’s eighteen and living in Los Angeles. He’s working two jobs and attempting to go to school. Constantly exhausted and quite frankly, he hated life! “I knew it wasn’t supposed to be like this. I had the need to create, but I was broke and couldn’t find a suitable outlet. Well, to start writing, all you need is a pen and paper. The funny thing is, I was diagnosed dyslexic and always struggled with reading, so I never thought writing would become my ultimate outlet. In that moment, it was simply a means to an end. Now, at the age of twenty-two, I no longer struggle with dyslexia, at least now how I used to, and I look forward to reading and editing every day. Let me be a testament to destiny’s ironic ways”.
Because Austin struggled with reading, and is quite impatient, Titan has become a fast paced and easily digestible novel. With each chapter broken up into eight to ten pages, and booming with content. He wants Titan to be accessible to people who want to read, but don’t know where to begin. “So, I kept the promise I made all those years ago and Titan of the Shifting Sands is only a dollar on Kindle. Definitely worth a shot. Hell, if you don’t like it, let me know and I will personally send you the dollar right back!”, stated Austin in this introduction to this interview.
Tell me more about your latest book
Titan’s genre is impossible to pinpoint. Some people have called with dystopian-pirate-steampunk, while others have called it a futuristic-western-adventure. All and all, I wanted to go against the norms and bring a unique story in a world unlike any other I’ve seen. I wanted to build my world from the ground up while staying true to realism.
I took extreme care in crafting characters, keeping them true to their values and morals to make them feel alive. Because of this, the banter and chemistry is both organic and engaging. Jokes write themselves and philosophical discussions pop up out of the blue. In fact, some of the characters have values entirely different from my own, but after having placed myself in their shoes to represent them accurately, my beliefs and opinions in the ‘real world’ have changed!
What was the most challenging aspect of writing this book?
Nothing, I love it all. It excites me every day. I write for me, but I love getting constructive criticism. Writing is the faucet from which I let my creativity flow, and even if I never earn a dime, I will continue to sharpen my skills as a wordsmith. I love every flipping moment. It makes my heart race. Though that could just be music blasting from my headset or the fresh cup of coffee, I like to think I finally found something I was born to do.
What is your normal procedure to get your books published?
This is my first novel, so I don’t have a routine. I would love to say I have one, but right now I’m still figuring things out. I will have another response in the future.
Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
Definitely. Writing a novel is almost like keeping a journal. Especially since Titan was written between the ages of 18 to 22, I can see the way I used to think, and how much I’ve grown since then. You quite literally see your thoughts and emotions on paper. You are confronted by your anger and your insecurities in a safe and manageable setting. I wrote this short poem about what writing means to me, “I spill my soul onto the pages, where now my demons lie naked, covered only by the identities I have created.”
Writing is to me, what meditation is to a monk.
How many books have you written so far?
Titan of the Shifting Sands, Soursalt book 1
Kingdom on the Ascension, Soursalt book 2 (not yet released)
???, Soursalt book 3 (About to start)
A Slaver’s Redemption, Soursalt Prequel. (Planned in my head.)
What’s the best way to market your books?
No flipping clue! I suppose interviews are a good way to start. Maybe a shirtless picture will garner some traction. I worked hard for those abs after all. Might as well put them to good use xD
How hard or easy is it to establish and maintain a career in writing?
I wouldn’t want to. I don’t want my creative outlet anywhere near my main source of income out of fear it would corrupt the craft. I want to have a job that I enjoy, where I am acknowledged for my hard work and where I earn enough to live a good life. When it comes to writing, I will NEVER accept rushed deadlines or people telling me to appease a demographic. This will produce the most authentic and entertaining product for my fanbase. Be it a fanbase of ten men or ten-million.
With that being said, I have worked hard on Titan. I have put hundreds of hours of work into her, and I am proud of what she has become. I want to share Titan with the world. So again, I made her one dollar for the kindle so anyone and everyone can give her a try!
What is your advice for aspiring writers?
Turn the music up. Make the coffee fresh. And start writing!
In the beginning, there will be moments you don’t think you’re work is good enough, and news flash; that’s probably because it isn’t! AT LEAST NOT YET!!! You aren’t able to express yourself the way you want to, but given enough time, you will see improvement. You will become addicted to being able to express yourself! And eventually, you will love every single second of it.
Start writing. Never stop.
Even if you don’t make a career out of it, you will have found a life long companion. You will have found a puzzle with infinite possibilities and routes to explore. It’s an adventure that you can dream of at any moment in the day, and YOU are in full control.
Visit Author Austin Murre book links:-
https://www.facebook.com/austin.murre.1
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/titan-of-the-shifting-sands
https://twitter.com/AustinJJMurrehttps://www.instagram.com/austinjjmurre/
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