Pump Up Your Book Chats with Marty Weiss, author of ‘The Alchemist Agenda’

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ABOUT THE ALCHEMIST AGENDA

When Charlie Rocklin and his company Gold Diggers Exploration set out to recover a 17th century shipwreck, they discover an undocumented Nazi submarine with enigmatic symbols. Ariel Ellis, a femme fatale historian with a mysterious past, proves that the U-boat contains the key to a formula more valuable than any sunken treasure, and more deadly than any weapon that has ever existed. In this globetrotting international adventure, Charlie and Ariel uncover an accelerating tempest of secrecy, lies, and agendas, fighting not only for the truth, but for their lives. Weiss’s debut novel is a lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn, and shows us that our personal legends may be more real than we ever could have imagined.
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Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

It’s funny because I had originally envisioned this story as a movie. The action and adventure lent itself to great set pieces in some of the most scenic European cities. But because I wanted to explore the characters more deeply, hear their inner thoughts and delve into their back-stories, I had to write the novel.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

One of the characters is dying and reminded of his first exposure to the loss of someone he loved, a painful experience he had long suppressed. It was difficult to write because I had mined a similar period in my life that I had long buried.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about? There’s a theme that resonates about the real treasures in our lives being hidden within the experiences we have when we seek our treasures.

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

I’ve always had the bug. I just haven’t always had the time.

Q: Besides books, what else do you write? Do you write for publications?

I write screenplays and short stories. I also write a blog on my website so that people can monitor my projects and [hopefully] be amused by the process. (www.martinishotfilms.tv)

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

Don’t forget to break for lunch.

Q: Would you like to tell us about your home life? Where you live? Family? Pets?

I live in the Hollywood Hills with my wife and two young children. It’s a relatively quiet, tranquil neighborhood with great city views. We recently lost our brilliant Labrador who was an amazing writing (and hiking) companion. We’ll get more dogs when our children are a little older. And we have a sly little Burmese cat that sleeps all day and sneaks around our house (not so quietly) all night.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your childhood?

I grew up in Northbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and the backdrop of most of John Hughes’ movies. Matter of fact, his wife was my baby sitter. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club portray my childhood well.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

My office is in a guesthouse above our garage. It’s filled with books and art that inspire me.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

I’ve always loved running, swimming, and biking. I also go to the gym to let of steam. If I need to recalibrate, I go to the ocean. I love being near the water. If I really need to change my perspective, I travel. My kids are only 4 and 2, so we’re just starting to fly with them. It’s so great to see new places and experiences through their eyes.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

I post some press, articles, insights, and photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

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

I told my mother, who in turn told the world. Social loved ones are still more effective than social networking.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

There are many new ways to reach an audience, but there’s an upside and a downside to the democratization the Internet has provided. Anyone can promote anything but it’s harder and harder cut through the massive amounts of content.

Q: What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

I have the same frustrations with writing as I do with filmmaking: the space in between projects.

Q: What is the most rewarding?

It’s a cliché, but I really love the creative process. I love how stories form. When it comes to writing, there are many hills and valleys that are unexpected. Some days, things flow easily. Other days, it’s a struggle; just when you’re about to give up, you get a breakthrough, and everything seems right in the world, until the next day. It’s like having a multiple personalities… No it’s not. Yes it is. You over-sentimentalize everything. And you’re not emotional enough, if you ask me. Who’s asking you? I am! Ooops, sorry, what was the question again?

Q: How do you think book publishing has changed over the years?

Fewer and fewer people buy books at brick and mortar bookstores. More and more people read ebooks over hard copies. Self-publishing has blown up, grown up, and become more respected—often preferred and more profitable for certain authors. All media has changed so significantly in the past few years that it’s difficult to find any aspect of content creation and distribution that hasn’t changed. We used to be served a steady diet of the same books, movies, TV shows, and music. Publishers, studios, networks, and record labels were the gatekeepers. Now fans are the gatekeepers. And I don’t think things will settle down anytime soon; we’re going to have to get used to constant change.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

On the Amalfi coast, staring out at the Azure Sea.

Q: Your book has just been awarded a Pulitzer. Who would you thank?

My wife, of course

Q: Thank you so much for this interview, Marty Weiss. Do you have any final words?

The end.

ABOUT MARTY WEISS

Marty Weiss was born and raised in Chicago and decided that he wanted to make movies after spending a summer working on the set of John Hughes’ movie “Sixteen Candles.” After earning a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and an M.F.A. in film and television from New York University, he directed national and international TV commercials for major Blue Chip brands as well as TV movies. He helmed his first feature film, “Vampires: The Turning,” for Sony/Screen Gems Entertainment – an action/horror movie that evolved out of John Carpenter’s “Vampires.” It was filmed in Chiang Mai, Thailand and released worldwide in 2005. Weiss has filmed throughout North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, and Southeast Asia, and has garnered numerous industry awards. His screen adaption of his debut novel, “The Alchemist Agenda,” was the honored with the Best Screenplay award from Amazon Studios and is currently on their development slate for production. Weiss lives in Los Angeles with his wife Elisabeth and children Jasmine and Jake.

Visit his blog at http://www.martinishotfilms.tv

The Alchemist Agenda Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule

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Monday, July 1 – Book featured at Inside BJ’s Head

Monday, July 1 – 1st chapter reveal at Rainy Day Reviews

Tuesday, July 2 – Book reviewed and guest blogging at Rainy Day Reviews

Tuesday, July 2 – 1st chapter reveal at Bibliophila, Please

Wednesday, July 3 – Book featured at Book Journey

Friday, July 5 – 1st chapter reveal at Mom with a Kindle

Monday, July 8 – Book reviewed at Miki’s Hope

Tuesday, July 9 – Book featured at Tales of a Book Addict

Thursday, July 11 – 1st chapter reveal at Read 2 Review

Tuesday, July 16 – Book featured at My Cozie Corner

Thursday, July 18 – Interviewed at Review From Here

Tuesday, July 23 – Book reviewed at My Devotional Thoughts

Tuesday, July 23 – Guest blogging at Rural Mom

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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.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach