The Juggling Writer

  • About
  • E-Books
  • Newsletter
  • Best Of
  • Contact
  • Credits
  • Evernote for Writers
my banner
You are here: Home / authors / Shawn Kupfer is Full of Fear and Anger — An Interview

Shawn Kupfer is Full of Fear and Anger — An Interview

October 30, 2013 by Christopher Gronlund 2 Comments

When we last left Shawn Kupfer, he was going Supercritical. These days, he’s still writing the 47 Echo series, with a big change in the way it’s being published (spoiler alert, but not really: he started his own electronic press). He’s also added a weekly podcast to his already busy schedule of blogging.

This time around, the talk is about his third book in the 47 Echo series, Fear and Anger, and what it’s like making the leap to being a publisher of other people’s writing. So here we go…

For those who haven’t read the first interview I did with you, please tell us who you are and what you do…

I’m Shawn Kupfer, and I write things. During the day, I write content for a Fortune 50 company. At night and on the weekends, I write about time travel, alternate universes, future wars, and snack cakes.

Fear and Anger is your latest book — What is Fear and Anger about?

Fear and Anger — the third book in the 47 Echo series — follows two friends as they try to stay alive in the midst of a war in Asia. Nick Morrow is trapped deep behind enemy lines, alone, abandoned by his government, and he’s trying every trick in the book to get out. His best friend, Christopher Lee, wants nothing more than to go back in and help his friend, but he instead has to step into Nick’s shoes and command their convict unit, 47 Echo. Snack cakes are not mentioned.

You’ve taken on a new role with Fear and Anger — you’re not only the writer, but also the publisher. Why the decision to become a publisher?

There were a lot of reasons, but the main one is this: I like sharing cool stuff with people. It’s like finding a new band, then immediately rushing to the Internet to tell everyone you know, “You have to check this out, it’s so goddamn cool you’ll shit yourself!” I like finding new voices, authors who can’t get their stories seen in the traditional manner, and releasing those to the world.

As a publisher, what are you looking for?

Almost anything with a good story, engaging characters — something where the writer wants to take all of us on a journey. Pretty much the only thing we’re not looking for is romance and erotica, not because we don’t believe there’s value in those genres, but simply because we admit we don’t know how to read for them.

During the last interview, I asked you the best thing about being a writer. This time: what’s the best thing about being a publisher?

It’s what I mentioned above — being able to find that awesome, cool story that people might not have seen otherwise, knocking the dirt off of it, and saying “here, look at this!”

What’s the worst thing about being a publisher?

Spreadsheets, contracts, paperwork — all the administrative stuff that goes along with being a publisher. It hasn’t bothered me too much, though, as my day jobs have gotten me well used to office work over the last decade or more.

Back to Fear and Anger…I love the the dual storylines between Nick and Christopher. How did you handle keeping things their own stories, but still serving the overall storylines and themes of all three books so far in the series?

There wasn’t a lot of plotting, a lot of flow charts to make sure I was in the right place. I basically thought about Nick’s story, then Christopher’s story, then wrote them each a chapter at a time. The order in which they’re in the book is the order in which I wrote them — I found it fun to switch off between their perspectives and give them some parallel experiences. As far as serving the overall series, I have a map in my head where it goes, and it’s been pretty easy not to go off the map — I know how and where it ends, and I know the larger points of how we’re getting there.

Let’s pretend this is a job interview for a moment. Shawn…where do you see yourself in five years?

/straightens tie, clears throat uncomfortably…

Well, sir, I hope to be doing much the same as what I’m doing right now. Writing books, publishing books I believe in. I just hope to be doing more of it. Also, do you offer comprehensive health and dental? I forgot to ask that earlier. And is it cool if I bring my dogs to work?

Where do you find your inspiration these days?

A lot of times, inspiration will strike while I’m in the car, usually on the work commute. I’ll be sitting in traffic and think, “hmm. That would be an interesting way to tackle time travel. Haunted snack cakes solve every plot hole.” Then, by the time I get where I’m going, I have a rough idea of what I’m going to write.

Off the wall question: If you could have one super power, what would it be…and why?

I’d take the ability to slow down time at will for everyone but me. Say you’re in a fight, and you can slow down to half-speed while you’re still moving at your regular speed. You’d win easily, no matter the opponent. You could, without too much training, walk on to an NFL team and be the best running back in the history of the game. Also, you could totally sleep in every morning, which is the best part.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently in the process of announcing Christopher Gronlund’s Old Man for pre-order on Eddington Press, as well as writing the fourth book in the 47 Echo series and the first book in the Braneworlds series.

Anything else you’d like to say before wrapping this up?

Snack cakes are the perfect gift to tell someone you appreciate them. Bring snack cakes.

Thanks for your time, Shawn.

/throws smoke bomb to the floor and disappears. As the smoke clears, a faint “No…thank you!” is heard, followed by the sound of wind…

The Details

Pick up Fear and Anger on the Kindle, Nook, or buy direct from Eddington Press.

Check out Shawn’s several-times-a-week musings about whatever falls into his brain on his blog. Listen to him talk weekly on the Men in Gorilla Suits podcast. If that’s not enough, follow him on Twitter or Facebook. And there’s always the Twitter Novel Project.

Filed Under: authors, Ebooks, Interviews, Publishing

Comments

  1. CMStewart says

    October 31, 2013 at 9:28 am

    I was afraid there wouldn’t be snack cakes. And now I’m angry. JK

    Congratulations on publishing your novel, and on your novel novel-publishing publishing house (yes, that makes sense, I triple-checked). I’m sure you’ll enjoy many years as a team member of this team of members. Snack cakes are in the break room. (Don’t mind the dismembered members, it isn’t called the “break” room for nothing.)

Trackbacks

  1. The Juggling Writer - I'm Not Good at Self Promotion says:
    December 20, 2013 at 9:28 am

    […] Anger, is just waiting to have your eyeballs move across all those exciting lines of text! I even interviewed Shawn when it came […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to the E-mail Feed

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Sign Up for the Newsletter

E-Books for Sale

The Hell Comes With Wood Paneled Doors Podcast

Follow Me On

Recent Posts

  • Process Series
  • Ninth Annual Writing Retreat
  • Some Additional Thoughts about AI
  • AI Writing
  • The End of Silence (2022)

Recent Comments

  • Ninth Annual Writing Retreat on Eighth Annual Writing Retreat
  • Christopher Gronlund on AI Writing
  • Christopher Gronlund on AI Writing
  • Paul Lamb on AI Writing
  • Lisa Eckstein on AI Writing

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • November 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009

Copyright © 2023 · eleven40 Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in