Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Wednesday Promo- Alan Nayes


Alan Nayes was born in Houston and grew up on the Texas gulf coast. After attending medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, he moved to Southern California where he divides his time and energies between medicine and writing. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed biomedical thrillers, GARGOYLES and THE UNNATURAL. His most recent release is BARBARY POINT, a love story.

An avid outdoorsman and fitness enthusiast, he is one of only a few individuals to ever swim across Wisconsin’s chilly Lake Winnebago. When not working on his next project, he enjoys relaxing and fishing at the family vacation home in Wisconsin.

Do you find your medical background helpful in writing your stories?
Yes, I find my medical knowledge helpful in many of my stories. It was especially useful in my first two novels, GARGOYLES and THE UNNATURAL—both biomedical thrillers. In BARBARY POINT it did not really come into play as this is really a love story which involves emotions of the heart and mind and not prescriptions or medical procedures. But it’s nice to have handy anyway—never know when a broken heart will need a bandaid—or more!

Everyone has a reason for why they write. Either to get on paper a story,exorcise demons, or because it makes them happy. Why do you write?

I write because of the feeling of satisfaction I experience when I complete that tough first draft of a novel. For me, it’s much easier to rewrite than write. It’s also such a challenge to create a story that people will actually spend their hard earned cash to read. Plus that little boost to the ego when you walk into a barnes and noble and see your title on the shelf. I’ll know I’ve made it when I walk through an airport and see a complete stranger reading one of my novels. Hasn’t happened yet.

What are you working on now?
Two projects: HEMLOCK POND is a horror story about a young woman who brings her terminally ill child back from the dead. THE LEARNER is a love story that I’m still in the process of developing. More to come! Thank you for checking out my interview.

BARBARY POINT Blurb

When Kelly English flies back to Oshkosh,
Wisconsin, to close out her father’s estate, the last thing on her mind is
falling in love. Again. Kelly is twenty-eight and engaged to an older man
who is quite wealthy. She’s happy, and only desires to make the trip back
brief, sell her deceased father’s place, and return to her stable life in
Los Angeles. However, while taking care of business in Oshkosh, Kelly meets
a fishing guide, launching her on an emotional journey she never could have
predicted or foreseen. BARBARY POINT is Kelly’s story of what happened that
one magical week in May on the shores of Lake Winnebago when the ducklings
hatch and the walleye run.

Excerpt

Mother always reminded me, “Kelly, love from the mind is nothing more than a pleasurable arrangement, whereas love from the heart lasts forever.”

I had listened to these same exact words beginning in junior high, again in high school, and throughout college. And it always worried me I might not be able to tell the difference.

A man I deeply loved once told me that a fish lunges after an artificial lure solely on instinct. He sees it, wants it, and zappo, he’s hooked.

Love is a lot like that. You see someone you want, the chemistry is there, and zappo, you’re hooked.

Available at www.xoxopublishing.com

3 comments:

susan said...

What an interesting article and it's so true as well. I love the sound of your book too and really was ready to read more. ha ha I have been going thru a rough time and I needed a book to side track me and your excerpt was a big help. I have been to more gravesites in the past month than I wanted to be at. Three friends passed away and my own brother passed away a week ago as well. It has been a sad time and I sure needed to reach for some books to get me out of the deep sadness I was feeling. Thanks for your help here also. susan Leech garysue@dejazzd.com

Kathy Otten said...

Hi Alan,
Interesting article. That's so cool that you swam Lake Winnebago. I find it easier to rewrite also. Barbary Point looks like a good read. I LOVE that last line in your blurb, "when the ducklings hatch and the walleye run." Takes me right there. Best of luck on your sales.

Unknown said...

Like always you manage to invoke interest in you as a person and your wonderful story. It's truly a labor of love. I wish you the very best of writing for years to come.