Novelist R. Douglas Clark joins me today and
we’re chatting about his new sci-fi, Welcome
to Maravilla (pronounced
Mara-VEE-yah).
Bio:
R. Douglas
Clark was born in Vermont, grew up in Colorado, attended college in Chicago,
and received a Master degree from Brown University. Seeing no future for
himself in academia, he spent a year in the Oregon woods, living in a primitive
cabin, writing music reviews and cultural commentary for magazines and
newspapers. Next stop, Eugene, Oregon where he spent 20 damp years as a
bootstrap businessman, father and musician. On a vacation trip, he and his
wife, Shelley, fell in love with northern New Mexico and subsequently moved
there. After four years running a Boys and Girls Club in Chimayo and Abiquiu,
he retired to write full time.
Welcome,
Doug. Please tell us about your current release.
Welcome to Maravilla
tells the intertwined stories of the citizens of Maravilla, a small village in
northern New Mexico. As they strive to keep their identity despite the
pressures of commercialism and modernization, the characters find themselves in
a variety of predicaments—sometimes hilarious, sometimes grave. At the same
time, in an alternative story, a space adventurer seeks to fulfill a mission to
deliver a secret formula that can save humankind. In the end, the two stories
link up in a surprising ending.
What
inspired you to write this book?
I live in a
village much like Maravilla. The characters in the book are very much inspired
by my experience here.
What exciting
story are you working on next?
My next book
could be “ripped from the headlines.” It is about today’s problems on our
southern border. At first it looks like a simple case of blackmail, but when a
prize-winning journalist investigates, he finds himself in a thicket of drug
smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal sports betting in the treacherous
borderline of south Texas. Caught in a web of greed, lies and deceit, the
journalist must find his way out.
I first
wanted to be a writer when I started reading novels in high school. But as to
when I first considered myself a writer, well, I’m still working at it.
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?
Yes, I write
full-time, although that doesn’t mean I am always typing away on my computer.
For me, writing also means researching, reading other writers books and
thinking about things like plot, characterization and mood as it relates to
sentence structure.
What would
you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Even though I
write on a computer, I must always have half a dozen sharp pencils at hand,
just in case the electricity goes off.
As a
child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A comic
sportscaster.
Anything
additional you want to share with the readers?
My current
book, Welcome to Maravilla, is fairly short (200 pages). I think of it
in comparison to other short novels such as Steinbeck’s Cannery Row.
Links:
Thanks for
joining my blog.
--- Blog Tour Dates
October 14th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us as we celebrate the launch the blog tour for author R. Douglas Clark’s book Welcome to Maravilla. Read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
October 15th @ Book Santa Fe with Crystal Otto
Crystal Otto shares her thoughts about the sci-fi book Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark.
October 16th @ Bring on Lemons with Carmen Otto
Middle Schooler Carmen Otto reviews R. Douglas Clark’s Welcome to Maravilla and explains to her friends why this is a great book for even young readers.
October 17th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles reviews Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark and delights readers at World of My Imagination with an opportunity to learn more about this fast-paced sci-fi novel!
October 17th @ Selling Books
Don’t miss today’s author interview with R. Douglas Clark as Cathy Stucker finds out more about his latest release Welcome to Maravilla.
October 21st @ Memoir Writer’s Journey
Today’s guest author at Memoir Writer’s Journey is R. Douglas Clark with an article about _________. Join Kathleen Pooler’s audience as they learn more about Clark and his latest book Welcome to Maravilla.
October 22nd @ To Write or Not To Write
Sreevarsha reviews Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clarks and delights readers at To Write or Not To Write with her thoughts about this excellent novel!
October 23rd @ World of My Imagination
Learn more about R. Douglas Clark and his new book Welcome to Maravilla as he shares a few thoughts in an interesting interview with Nicole Pyles at World of My Imagination.
October 24th @ Look to the Western Sky
Visit Margo's blog today where you can catch today's author spotlight and learn more about R. Douglas Clark and his latest book Welcome to Maravilla.
October 25th @ A StoryBook World
Don’t miss today’s publicity post at A Storybook World as readers at Dierdra’s blog are introduced to “Welcome to Maravilla” by R. Douglas Clark.
October 28th @ Breakeven Books
Today’s Book Spotlight at Breakeven Books is Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark – don’t miss this great opportunity to add this lovely new novel to your collection!
October 28th @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interviews
Lisa Haselton interviews R. Douglas Clark about his latest novel Welcome to Maravilla . Readers will delight in learning more about this science fiction story with it’s courageous characters!
November 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina
Author Anthony Avina interview R. Douglas Clark about his latest novel Welcome to Maravilla
November 12th @ Author Anthony Avina
Author Anthony Avina shares his thoughts after reading Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark – don’t miss this review!
November 13th @ Bring on Lemons with Tara Forst
Wisconsin mother and book lover shares her review of R. Douglas Clark's latest Welcome to Maravilla with readers at Bring on Lemons.
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