Introduce yourself; who are you and what types of books do you write?
My name is Lou Tambone. I have written for and have edited several pop culture anthologies based on franchises like Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Blade Runner, DC’s Hellblazer and the Joker, Universal’s monsters, and more. I have also written an original sci-fi novel called The Fringe.
What are your books about?
The Fringe is a sci-fi story about a clone named Avary Med-8311 who accidentally discovers a new and deadly scientific element. Her quest to hide it leads her to several others who want to help her, but the corporation that created her is out to locate her and the secret she carries in her e-brain. She feels the new element will be weaponized or used for evil purposes, so she decides to run.
There’s a lot of worldbuilding, lots of fun characters, a few non-distracting side plots, and lots of heart. People who meet Avary usually discover something new in themselves.
What was the inspiration behind writing your first book?
Firstly, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it; and if I could do it, then I could do it again. I felt that I had a decent premise and had built some solid characters around it. It took a longer time than I had hoped, but I’m proud of it. Now, it’s on to the next one.
Secondly, I love a good Sci-fi story, and if I could come up with a decent premise, I told myself I’d give it a go. I have lots of friends who write, some for a living, others for side work or fun, and I wanted to be part of that community. These are some smart, stellar people. I’ve actually edited the works of people whom I’ve read before and respect. It’s great.
What did you learn while writing your second book?
I’m about to embark on a sequel to The Fringe. Referring to the first book, however, I have learned the value of good proofreaders. I’ve learned the value of having someone do a great layout for you. I’ve learned that a good artist is invaluable when it comes to the cover. I’ve learned about self-publishing via Amazon KDP, which is a great service and makes the whole process easy. It also gives authors an outlet to sell their products. My author friends helped walk me through the process, so I’m going to continue releasing my works that way.
What is the most rewarding part of being an author?
I enjoy the feedback from people who tell me they really enjoy the things I’ve done. You can doubt yourself all day long but when people go out of their way to tell you they like something you’ve created, it’s a glorious feeling, and it inspires you to keep creating. Being a musician, it’s a similar experience. When you record a song or an album and people sing along to it or tell others that they should hear it, it’s a wonderful feeling. Writing and music are both art forms, and therefore the art is meant to be interpreted in various ways. Some will enjoy it, others won’t. That’s how art works. When they enjoy it, it’s very rewarding.
What elements do you think make for a good story?
For me, personally, I like avoiding formulas. That’s not to say I can’t be formulaic. If the story takes me down that road, then that’s where I’ll go. However, I like to break new ground, use unconventional dialogue language or dialogue, and try new or different settings. Sci-fi really lends itself to that sort of thing. If you want to create a planet that is half gas and half solid, for instance, you can totally do that in Sci-fi because you make the rules. You’re not bound to earthly things.
Departing from the usual formulas can be great, but at the same time, you have to be careful or you risk losing your connection with the reader. If things are too foreign or too esoteric, the reader might find themselves bored, confused, or just lost. I like to look at it from the outside and ask, “Would I enjoy reading this?” and that seems to help keep me grounded.
What is the hardest part of being an author for you?
I think just finding the time to write is my biggest challenge. I am not a full-time professional writer. It’s something I do in addition to my job and my musical endeavors. I have to sometimes schedule time for myself to write.
For me, writing is not something you do for 30 minutes a day, or an hour. Music is the same way. If I’m going to create, I know I’m going to be sitting in a chair for a few hours at the very least. That’s just how I work. Once I get rolling, I want to keep going. So, if I think I’m going to sit down to write, I have to make sure I’m not starting at 11:00 PM or something. I might never get to sleep.
What is your current writing project?
I’m currently editing an anthology filled with retellings of select works of William Shakespeare. They will be familiar stories told in different ways and in different genres by various writers, many of whom I have worked with in the past. We are calling it Shakespeare Adjacent Vol. 1. It’s an exciting project that is turning out very well. After that, I’ll move on to a sequel to The Fringe, although I’m working on an outline now.
What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t put down your abilities or your work. Let people read it and judge for themselves. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t worry about how or what you’re writing – just write. Fix it up later. When I was writing The Fringe, this was very much the case. I think the first draft was something like 64K words. The second went up to maybe 80K. The final was nearly 100K. I was pretty happy with the improvements.
Believe in yourself, even if no one else does.
Where can readers discover more about you and your books?
The Fringe is available at https://amzn.to/3TQ2nGG. My website is located at www.loutambone.com, and my amazon author page is located at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lou-Tambone/author/B013FAKZSI. You can find many other works there.
I’m very active on all the socials, of course. Contact me. I’m friendly! 😊