Death & Mr. Fould by Alan Derosby - Book Tour

Book Blurb

A stunning gothic historical hybrid genre story perfect for Halloween!

Max Fould, an aristocrat from the Fould banking family, goes off to war under the leadership of Napoleon.

While stranded in Russia, he encounters a creature that sets his life on an unimaginable path based on Russian folklore.

Follow Max Fould from post-revolutionary France to the First World War, where his past and present come full circle.

Buy Link - https://geni.us/7JbkXVB

Author Interview
Favorite childhood memory involving books?
When I was younger, my parents made us read an hour a day during the summer. As a result, I read Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory over sixty times.

 What book do you feel is under-appreciated? How about overrated?
Under-appreciated: Stephen King’s short story collections. There are so many gems in there, including “The Jaunt”. I find equal enjoyment in quick reads as I do long, draw-out novels.

 Overrated: Catcher in the Rye. Reading it once was enough for me. No thank you.

 Did you want to be an author when you grew up?
No. Writing is a fairly new aspect of my life. I didn’t even start until my mid-30’s.

 What is your most unusual writing quirk?
I can stop mid-chapter, or even paragraph, if I have other things to do. It’s easy for me to pick up right where I left off.

 How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
This depends. Once I hit my stride, I can do it in six months. I wrote my debut novel MAN OF CLAY in four months but since I also teach, the timing has to be right.

How do you select the names of your characters?
It’s very random for me. Sometimes, I’ll look at a class list and mix the names of students. Other times, I’ll go to google and look up surnames from certain decades so I can be fairly accurate.

What fictional character would you want to be friends with in real life?
Roland Deschain from the Dark Tower Series or Miss Havisham. Who doesn’t like free cake?

 What are your top 5 favorite movies?
Empire Strikes Back

Tombstone

Jurassic Park

Dark Knight

Back to the Future

 Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Be patient. And have a tough skin. The initial reviews can be hard, especially bad ones. Remember, you can’t please everyone.

 What is your favorite genre to read?
I generally read non-fiction, though Stephen King is my guilty pleasure.

 When did you write your first book?
I did not write until I was 35 years old. It’s a new hobby for me.

 What sparks your creativity/how do you get your ideas?
I can’t answer this. It just comes to me, usually as short stories. Sometimes, I have bits and pieces and over time it grows. Many times,  I don't even know where things are going until I’m writing it.

 Do you listen to music when writing?
This depends. If the music fits the time, I will. I just completed a book that had parts that took place in the 1940’s. I had ‘40’s music in the background. Most times, if I do listen, it is classical piano.

 What’s one thing you’d like to say to your readers?
Thank you for giving my work a chance. It’s truly humbling to know you’ve dedicated personal free time to read my novels. 

Author Bio

Alan Derosby, a Maine native, has spent the past several years focusing on his passion: writing.  Alan has created original and spooky short stories, having several published in a variety of anthologies. MAN OF CLAY is his debut novel.

When not writing, Alan is teaching history at Messalonskee High School in Oakland, Maine, spending time with his wife and daughter, or watching the New York Mets suffer through another disappointing season.