Pump Up Your Book Chats with Christian Historical Fantasy Adventure Author Gary L. Doman

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Gary L. Doman, whose (pen-)surname rhymes with “roman”, the French word for “novel”, was born in Syracuse (New York) and has spent the majority of his life in Connecticut. He has degrees from Fairfield University and the University of Connecticut. He has developed an interest in just about everything, especially history, geography, religion, language, and the natural world. He began writing as a child and has never really stopped, although he does periodically need to eat and sleep, and also devotes considerable time to his other creative and intellectual endeavors; these include his “weblog” the Doman Domain and one of the items of interest found there, namely, “The Best Comic Strip Ever!”. Further, he has taught himself to sing and founded his own political philosophy. His greatest accomplishment may be remaining humble despite the preceding!

Visit Gary online at http://domandomain.blogspot.com/

———— INTERVIEW ———–

Thank you for this interview, Gary! Can you tell us why you wrote Vinland Viking: An Original Saga by Gary L. Doman?

I wrote it because I like adventure stories that incorporate fantasy, which this one does; and, more specifically, because of the convergence of three things. When the year 2000 came along, people spoke of “the” millennium, which prompted me to explore my imagination as to what kind of story might take place at the end of the first millennium AD. I had interest in the Vikings, but I didn’t want a pagan for a protagonist; and, I noticed the parallels between Norse myth and Christian belief. I can’t say any more, for fear of giving away the plot.

Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

Aside from the dedication—just kidding—the hardest “part” to write was probably the entire thing. As I write in the acknowledgement, I initially balked at the prospect of having to do all the research and other work that was necessary to realize Vinland Viking. I probably would have gone on to write it anyway, but I do appreciate the encouragement that I received from a couple of friends.

Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

I wouldn’t say that it has an underlying message, in the sense of that word as meaning “implicit”. I consider Vinland Viking‘s message explicit, although it doesn’t become completely so until the surprise ending. (On the other hand, perhaps I gave it a motif of which even I‘m not consciously aware).

Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

I would recommend that authors write for members of every generation, not just for those who have familiarity with the catchphrases of today that will be forgotten tomorrow. Be timeless.

Would you like to tell us about your home life?

I’m a bachelor and probably always shall be, because I like it that way. I even have a bachelor’s degree. (Being single gives me the prerogative of doing what I like to do; if I were to make some woman a good husband, I’d have to spend some time doing what she likes to do.)

What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

I hired PrimeStar Publicity, to help me spread the word about my words.

What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

The most frustrating part is the inability to write consistently, rather than in those “fits and starts” that one hears about.

What is the most rewarding part of being an author?

The most rewarding part is the ability to make up for what seems to be lacking in reality, by creating characters and their circumstances.

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

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