Author Interview: S. Kirk Pierzchala

A little word from indie author S. Kirk Pierzchala

Greetings, earthlings and welcome. Today I bring you another in a series of interviews from indie authors I have found in my travels around cyberspace.

This month, I wanted to bring you a word from author S. Kirk Pierzchala, writer of thrilling science fiction novels.

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Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? Where do you live now? What did you want to be when you grew up?

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and still live here. I always wanted to be a writer, but majored in art at the university. I am basically very creative, and have to express myself in more than medium.

What made you want to start writing? What motivates you to keep writing?

I grew up reading C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, and even though I don’t write fantasy (at the moment), I was very inspired by the way those writers expressed their worldview through storytelling.

What is your latest book about?

My most recent published book, Solitude Of Light, tends towards character-driven literary fiction. It follows characters that were introduced in the first book in my speculative fiction series, Echoes Through Distant Glass. Solitude is the story of two brothers who’ve lived through some serious sibling rivalry and who have to come to terms with their toxic relationship and the terrible things they’ve done to each other.

When did you start writing?

I started writing in earnest in junior college. I always got tremendously positive feedback from my instructors, but after I married and had kids, I put the thought of a writing career on the back burner, turned way down. In fact, it wasn’t even simmering---it was dead cold. Raising kids was so exhausting, I never thought I’d have the mental stamina to write again.

How did you come up with the idea for this book specifically?

As my children matured, I started to timidly approach the idea of fiction writing again. I had written an earlier version of what became Echoes Through Distant Glass, and found the dynamic between the brothers, Tomás and Francisco, to be intriguing. I wanted to find out what happened to them, so I wrote another draft novel. When I shared the manuscript with some beta readers, the response was overwhelmingly positive, but for some reason, I set it aside for a few years and didn’t think about it again until 2018.

How was this book different than any of your others?

This book was different from the others in that I was invested much more deeply in an emotional sense. It’s a very dramatic, personal and raw story that was often painful to write.

How did you go about publishing your book? Would you do it that way again? Why or why not?

I already had some experience self-publishing, so it didn’t take too long to get up to speed. What’s new this time around is that I am much more pragmatic about the marketing side of things. I am happy to continue self-publishing, as I like being responsible for the outcome, I feel very empowered, even when things don’t turn out the way I planned.

Are you planning on writing more? If so, what are you working on now? / When is your next book going to be coming out? 

I am currently working on the fourth book in my “Beyond Cascadia” series. The working title is “Harshest Dawn”.  It’s an action-heavy political thriller. I plan on publishing no later than early 2023.

Can you tell us about your other books?

The books of the Beyond Cascadia series (Echoes Through Distant Glass, Eclipse Rising and Solitude Of Light), take place in a disturbing, all-too-possible near future where government elites have partnered with corporations against the general populace, and religion is seen as a threat to the Progressive status quo. My characters must navigate a culture degraded by government sanctioned drug use, generational poverty, and the consequences of biotechnology, all while retaining their humanity and exploring universal concepts of good and evil, love and revenge.

What helps you to write? Music, pets, reading, specific pen, etc.?

Music is very inspirational to my creative process! I have various playlists dedicated to specific characters, and which really help define their arcs.

What has writing taught you?

To be patient and plan ahead, and to treat writing like a business.

What authors inspire you?

That’s an interesting question. I find the writing advice of Stephen King to be very helpful for the technical side of writing, but an author I love to read for sheer enjoyment is Diana Wynne Jones---even though her work very different from mine. I think that’s why she helps me relax and recharge.

Do you go back and reread your writing after it’s been completed?

Ugh! Not if I can help it!  The obsessive perfectionist in me would I’d be tempted to re-write every single line.

What is your advice for writers?

Try to write something every day, even if it’s just a to-do list or a journal entry.

Is there anything else you want to add?

I’d like to thank you for inviting me to share my thoughts and for asking me such stimulating questions!

You can purchase Solitude Of Light on Amazon now by clicking the button below!