BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Out of Hiding

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author John Feldman to talk about Out of Hiding (22 March 2018, John Feldman, 266 pages), a Thriller.

|| Synopsis || Teaser: B&N Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to John Feldman; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

Here at BooksChatter we love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in Out of Hiding , or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"While no music really went into the book, it sure helped while writing it. Music has such an easy way of altering our mood—well, mine anyway. So when I need to write something really dark, but I’m in a bright and happy mood, I listen to something dark and depressing. Or vice versa.

For the most part, I listen to anything without lyrics while I’m writing. I feel like it helps me to concentrate and can also help with my mood. So while I listen to a wide variety of instrumental music, I find this one plays on my computer most. Why? It’s just so upbeat and energetic. It gets the blood flowing."

What was the inspiration for Out of Hiding ?

"Just the desire to write another book, really. I’d been fighting a bit of creativity block in just wanting to start another story. The idea for my first novel and everything within it came so easily for me and I’d gotten kind of worried when things didn’t go as smoothly with this one. But I’m so proud of the final result. Now I have to hope readers feel the same."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Out of Hiding - why you chose that concept.

"I’m the same way–a book cover is everything. It’s the attention-grabber. A reader can fall in love with a book cover from a single glance just like one person can fall in love with another at first sight.

Knowing that, I felt like my cover had to answer a question while asking another. What I mean by that is that it has to tell the viewer This is going to be a wild ride! while also asking Where does this ride go?

It didn’t take many revisions because my designer knew exactly what I wanted when I showed my vision."

Why should we read Out of Hiding and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Pass. Oh, we can’t do that? Oh, ok. Well I don’t really know how to answer this. I’m modest. But what I will say to all potentials readers out there is this: Isn’t it a great feeling when you take a chance on a book and fall head over heels for it? How exciting is it to find a new favorite author?"

Who would you recommend Out of Hiding to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Anyone who likes plot twists will like this. As a reader, I like to be thrown off guard, so that’s what I try to incorporate into my own writing.

But reader beware: there are a few parts—one chapter specifically—that are pretty graphic. How graphic, you ask? Well, it’s a flashback of when Herb murders his wife. And in Herb’s words, “It ain’t pretty.”"

What do you like to write about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones? Are there other genres you also like to read about?

"Well I once tried my hand in comedic writing and that turned out to be a disaster. One review of a humor book I’d written was titled simply: “Ugh.” And that review was marked as “Helpful” more than once.

I’ve been lucky enough to have slightly better reviews for my mystery and thriller writing. But I’ll write anything. Anything that can bring out emotion in people. Regardless of which genre, if I can make people feel something, I’m happy.

And as far as reading? I’ll read anything I can get my hands on. Unless the cover has a shirtless dude on it. Those ones somehow don’t really call for me. (I don’t think they’re written for me anyway.)"

What is your writing process?

"I’m a married man with two kids, a dog, and basically two full-time jobs. But I always find a way to squeeze in writing. So whether it’s done at 4 AM or 11 PM, or if I can even squeeze in a thirty-minute session midday while the wife and kids are out at the store, I write whenever I can."

What is in store next?

"I’ve just finished the first draft of a story about a writer who is so aggravated with his lack of success that he feels he needs to be more authentic to make his writing better.

How does he make his writing more authentic? He kills people.

But it goes even deeper, because he’s not the only one behind the killings."

Great! Thank you for sharing it with us.

"Thank you so much for having me!"

It's been sixteen years since Herb's hands had taken the life of another. But there's something about Emily that fills him with the rage he's been able to suppress for so long.