Bill Moody interview with David Alan Binder

 Short Bio from his website: A professional jazz drummer, Bill has played and/or recorded with Jr. Mance, Maynard Ferguson, Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, and Lou Rawls. He lived in Las Vegas for many years as a musician on the Las Vegas Strip, hosted a weekly radio show at KUNV-FM, and taught in the UNLV English Department. He now lives in northern California, where he taught creative writing at Sonoma State University, and continues to be active in the Bay Area jazz scene with the Terry Henry Trio and Dick Conte's trio and quartet. He is the author of five Evan Horne novels: Looking for Chet Baker, Bird Lives!, Sound of the Trumpet, Death of a Tenor Man, and Solo Hand.

 "The connection between playing jazz and writing crime fiction is a strong one for me. A jazz musician begins with the framework or the song — the chords, the structure, the form — but during a solo, he doesn't know what he's going to play or how until he reaches that part of the song. Writing crime fiction for me is a similar process. Working from the basic structure of the crime novel, I then improvise on a premise or motif, if you will, and I'm a fervent advocate of the 'what if' game during the writing process."

 Website:      http://www.billmoodyjazz.com/

 Amazon:     http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Moody/e/B001HMMNXC

 Good Reads:        http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/164875.Bill_Moody

 

1.     Where are you currently living (at least the state or if outside US then Country)? 

Vallejo, CA

 

2.     What is the most important thing that you have learned in your writing experience, so far?

Persistence in keeping to a schedule and in getting as much exposure as possible.

 

3.     What would you say is your most interesting writing, publishing, editing or illustrating

Quirk?  The fact that I write in a way similarly to music. I’m still a working jazz musician.

 

4.     Who is the name of your publisher and in what city are they?

I’ve had three publishers:

Walker, NY; Poisoned Pen, Phoenix; Down & Out, Florida. (eBook)

 

5.     Any insights eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?

Depends on the publisher and how much they support your work. Self-publishing is much more difficult to get exposure and into bookstores.

 

6.     Do you have any secret tips for writers on getting a book published?   

a.     Never give up, and there is always a certain amount of luck.

 

7.     How did you or would you suggest acquire an agent?  Any tips for new writers on getting one?

I’ve had two agents and both came about through personal recommendations from other writers after many rejections.

 

8.     Do you have any suggestions or helps for new writers?

Submit your best work possible to as many agents/publishers as necessary. Trust your own judgement. Editors are not infallible.

 

9.     What was one of the most surprising things you learned your creative process with your books, editing, publishing or illustrating?

How much promotion you have to do yourself if you’re not Stephen King.

 

10.      How many books have you written? 

11-Eleven

 

11.      Do you have any tricks or tips to help others become a better writer (please be as specific and information as you possibly can)? 

Study the best in your field of writing.  Learn how they do it and see why they are successful.

 

12.      Do you have any suggestions for providing twists in a good story?  Constantly play the “what if” game as you go. Sometimes it will take the story in a different and maybe better direction.

 

13.      What makes your or any book stand out from the crowd?

Thus far I am the only writer I know writing about jazz and turning them into mysteries.

 

14.      What are some ways in which you promote your work?

Bookstore readings/signings, Facebook, emails

 

15.      What is the one thing you would do differently now (concerning writing or editing or publishing or illustrating) and why?

Demand more from my agent.

 

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If you a published author or in a band with or without a book or an up and coming celebrity and want to garner following or get your message out there then  I’d like to interview you and feature you and your book(s) or message on this web site in one of my blogs.

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