Monday, April 8, 2019

Interview with novelist/writer Jerome Mark Antil


Writer Jerome Mark Antil joins the blog today. He’s chatting with me about his new literary fiction, Mamma’s Moon: The Hoodoo of Peckerwood Finch.

During his virtual book tour, Jerome will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
Jerome Mark Antil writes in several genres. He has been called a “greatest generation’s Mark Twain,” a “write what you know Ernest Hemingway,” and “a sensitive Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.” It’s been said his work reads like a Norman Rockwell painting. Among his writing accomplishments, several titles in his The Pompey Hollow Book Club historical fiction series about growing up in the shadows of WWII have been honored. An ‘Authors and Writers’ Book of the Year Award and ‘Writer of the Year’ at Syracuse University for The Pompey Hollow Book Club novel; Hemingway, Three Angels, and Me, won SILVER in the UK as second-best novel.

Foreword’s Book of the Year Finalist for The Book of Charlie – historical fiction and TheLong Stem is in the Lobby – nonfiction humor. Library Journal selected Hemingway, Three Angels and Me for best reads during Black History Month.

Before picking up the pen, Jerome spent his professional career writing and marketing for the business world. In this role, he lectured at universities - Cornell, St. Edward’s, and Southern Methodist. His inspirations have been John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, and Ernest Hemingway.

Welcome, Jerome. Please share a little bit about your current release.
I never start my first sentence until I’ve exhausted my research on the times, the area, the topics. I conduct interviews. I also match my characters to living people or on screen characters – and then I use their voices.

What inspired you to write this book?
My editor was a several time worldwide bestselling author. He edited the first in this series One More Last Dance – and he encouraged me to write a sequel. When I had, he said it was a rich, strong next step. He said I had reached the Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams leagues. Hemingway teaches me to write what I know. My first chapter is nonfiction.


Excerpt from Mamma’s Moon: The Hoodoo of Peckerwood Finch:
“Old man you are a dead man the second you come out of this store—a dead motherfucker. You hear me, old man?”
With cold, gray eyes, the boy stared at Gabe and backed down the hall, pointing and cursing his threat.
Gabe turned to his left and went looking for the store manager.


What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m writing a trilogy. Tall Jerry – Legend One of the Delphi Falls Trilogy. Semi autobiographical tales about growing up in the shadows of WWII. I’m Tall Jerry (I was 6’3” at 12.)

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When my 8th grade English teacher wrote on the corner of one of my compositions – “This is the loveliest autumn I’ve ever read about.”

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I am in my writing studio, writing, every morning, 7 days a week, from 6:30AM until 1:30PM. I relax for an hour – then I handle my marketing, interviews – research on future books. Then I have a sherry with my wife and muse…

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I nearly always start on my last chapter first. (Sometimes there are more than one option) That way, I know where I’m heading. In one of my novels chapter 36 became my first chapter. It seems I write – and it’s all put together later, as a jigsaw puzzle.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Superman and Mark Twain.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
If you like my written voice, you would like every genre I have written in.

Links:
Thank you for being a guest on my blog!
Thank you for having me.

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7 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thanks for hosting!

Bernie Wallace said...


When do you think your next book will come out? Congrats on the release.

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a good book.

Cali W. said...

Thanks for the giveaway; I like the excerpt. :)

Dale Wilken said...

Sounds great.

Edgar Gerik said...

Great interview

Caryl Kane said...

Thank you for hosting.