Could You Tell Us About Yourself ?
My name is Lou Marich. I live in Cleveland, Ohio USA, married with three children and now in my sixth decade 😉 I founded Marlet House Productions back in 2005 as my own self-publishing label. I’m also a web developer, multimedia producer and illustrator. I have worked in Information Technology for the last 35 year and certified as a CISSP (Certified Information Security Systems Specialist) and been involved in a number of web, multimedia and ITS projects over the past decade spanning government, banking, and healthcare industries.
What made you write your book (s) ?
I have been a lifelong fan of suspense based historical and nautical fiction and hoping to appeal young and old readers alike with a penchant for sea exploration stories.
What is the first book you remember reading ?
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
What’s your favourite book ?
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Who is your favourite author and why?
This is a tough one. I have a favorites. I would say Jules Verne because of technical and engineering theme with extreme attention to details is intriguing to read. Charles Dickens for his unique ability to pull on the heart strings and Dave Stephens for his terrific “The Rocketeer” series back in the 1990’s
How many hours a day do you write?
I try at least an hour per day. More on the weekends.
What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?
Regular 40 hour work week for sure 🙂
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
I try to whiteboard the chapters and what I want to happen in each box. Acting it out in mind of each scene becomes the challenge.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
Music
What’s your favorite writing snack or drink?
Coffee
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
A glass of red wine, cheese and crackers.
Do you listen to music while you wrote your book (s) ?
Most of the time, but it may be specific to mood or scene I’m trying to work out.
Where do you get your idea (s) for your book (s) ?
Believe it or not, it was based off a nightmare I had. I talk about in the book intro.
What is / was your writing process like?
Just try to flush out the general folklore idea and couple it with American history.
Do you try more to be original or rather give readers what they want?
I try to be more original in my ideas and pull from history to create a “what if” scenario laced with disaster and the fight or flight mechanism we all have.
How did publishing your (first) book ?
I used IngramSpark. Not a very good experience and I’m not a fan. I’m looking for another solution for the sequels. If your audience has any good experiences with self-publishing, I’m all ears.
What kind of research do you do and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Probably about four months or research and nine months writing the drafts. The current version also has tried my hand at the illustrations, which is helping practice for the next two, maybe book four.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
I develop it from what I sometimes read, characters in film, real people I know, and try to grab the nuisance in there personality and create something new.
What’s your favorite and least favorite part of publishing your book (s) ?
Favorite – Building the outline and the story. Least – formatting and dialogue! Ha!
How did you come up with the title for your book (s)?
My own creative thought process in line with the mission idea.
Would you and your main character get along?
Probably. He has his flaws like most of us and he is relatable.
If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?
“Why didn’t you use the tools I gave you!!!
Which of the characters in your book (s) do you relate to the most and why?
Probably my main character. He is a bit detached to the need to play politics and it eager to get the task at hand. I can relate the most to him.
What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?
It was supposed to be a Childrens book, but defiantly tried into something else.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
Young adult reader but also older groups as well with an eye of illustration and art work.
What was your hardest scene to write?
The final scene. I had to envision it on the screen as well as in my mind. Hard to translate the action into words.
How long did it take for you to write a book ?
One year.
What do you hope your readers take away from your book (s)?
An enjoyment of the “what if” and an anticipation for the sequel.
What was the hardest part of writing your book (s) ?
Finding your focus gear and staying in tune with during a chapter.
Did you get some negative feedback on your book? and if so how do you deal with that ?
I did get some early on, but I used some of it in a constructive way and consulted with my editor. In the end most of the story remained from the first draft.
How did you feel when you first published your book (s) ? Scared ? Excited ? Nervous?
Pretty much all three. But I learned after the launch and talking to other authors, of course you want to sell 10,00 copies of your book but if you don’t sell any, would you still be satisfied with just creating and accomplishing your production.
My fear was calmed when I was awarded a “Peoples Choice Award” at the North Coast Indie Author Expo in May 2022. I really felt validated.
Where can people who are interested in your book, buy your book ?
Lou Marich Media Links
Politics, Books and Me 