Christopher Greyson: 1,000 Words A Day

Christopher Greyson is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of mystery and action novels. His love for tales of mystery and adventure began with his grandfather, a decorated World War I hero. He says that he will never forget being introduced to his friend, a WWI pilot who flew across the skies at the same time as the feared, legendary Red Baron. Christopher Greyson wrote the bestselling Detective Jack Stratton Series which includes Girl Jacked, Jack Knifed, Jacks are Wild, Jack and the Giant Killer, Data Jack and Jack of Diamonds due later this year. He is a well known self-published author. His title And Then She was Gone (2016) made the Shelf Awareness Self Published Best Seller List. His psychological thriller, The Girl Who Lived, has been awarded two of the most prestigious awards in the independent publishing industry. The Girl Who Lived won a gold medal for best mystery/thriller ebook of the year from the Independent Publishers Book Awards as well as the National Indie Excellence Award for best thriller of the year! Christopher Greyson’s background is an eclectic mix of degrees in theatre, communications, and computer science. Please enjoy my interview with Christopher Greyson.

When someone asks you ‘what do you do for a living?’ – How do you respond?

I say it’s difficult for a convicted felon to get a job and then ask if they have an opening where they work and can I use them as a reference. I usually don’t tell anyone I’m an author. Life’s much easier that way.

the hobbitthe hobbit

What are you reading at the moment?

How to get organized books!

When you think about your childhood, what book comes to mind?

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. I devoured it in the 5th grade.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienThe Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Can you remember the first story you ever wrote?

Not wrote but told. It was a lie when I was in preschool and I did a pretty bad job with it and got caught. After that, I was determined to do better but also realized that I should stop lying too!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Young. I’ve always felt like a little kid in a big world and I like it. I’ve wanted to be just about every exciting job under the sun and now that I’m an author I can be.

What do you think your school-aged self would think of the present day you?

He’d think I rock. I’ve got the best wife, kids, and my dream job. I’m crazy happy.

If you could wrap up a single book and gift it to yourself as you left education – which book would it be and why?

I’d leave a blank book with a note. I’d tell myself to listen to advice but follow my own and make my own rules.

Does your reading have routine? Is there a particular time or place that you like to read?

Anyplace or time. For some reason, I can block out things around me so it’s almost as easy for me to read in the library or at a football stadium.

Can you talk us through your writing process, from the first spark of an idea, to having your first completed draft?

My books are kind of like children and each one is different. Some start with a what if question while others stem from the title. Some begin with a character and others a situation. Once I do have that idea, I watch the book in my mind for a few weeks while I work on the outline. Once the outline is done (and I run it by a few people) I hit the ground running and write hot.

Which book has had the biggest impact on your career so far? How did it impact it?

I’m a big fan of the books on writing by James Scott Bell as far as the writing craft goes and David Gaughran for book marketing. They both were a huge help and I encourage writers to read them.

What two pieces of advice would you give a young aspiring writer?

See above but the biggest thing is to write. You can read about writing forever but always try to write at least 1,000 words a day.

Do you have any books that you strongly associate with someone important in your life?

Anything by C.S. Lewis I associate with my Mom. I love his work.

What book have you recommended the most to friends and family?

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienThe Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?

Fiction.

Do you think reading is important?

Absolutely. I appreciate ALL art however and encourage people to be well rounded.

What’s the best book you’ve read in the last 6 months?

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. I know it’s an oldie but it’s really good.

The Thin Man by Dashiell HammettThe Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett

Do you prefer real books or digital books?

Real. Unless I’m around water.

Name a book that you feel everyone would benefit from reading and explain why.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. It’s a children’s book but it shows such imagination and everyone still has that childlike spark in them to get creative.

What is the book that you feel has had the single biggest impact on your life? What impact did it have?

Besides the Bible, it would have to be The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis because it really lit the fire of my imagination. The dream of adventuring into a world created by someone else was so cool I wanted to make my own world and invite people to come there.

Are there any books you haven’t mentioned that you feel would make your reading list?

I’m a huge book fan and my likes are all over the map. I’ve suggested wondering into a bookstore and meandering down the fiction aisles. Don’t look at categories and grab one. Read a page or two and if it sucks you in, keep going! There are so many amazing books out there, don’t leave the best one out there undiscovered just because no one recommended it to you.

What books or subject matter do you plan on reading in the next year?

I’m actually hoping to do more writing.

If you were to write an autobiography – what would it be called?

Christopher Greyson: Part I – because there’s still a lot left to write!

If you’d like to learn more about Christopher Greyson, you can find him on his website and Twitter.

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