Interview with Steven
Manchester
Tell us about yourself
first.
I am the proud father of two
sons and two daughters.
When not spending time with my
children, writing, teaching, or promoting my works, I speak to troubled
children through the Straight Ahead Program and host a Comedy Benefit
each year for A Wish Come True, Inc.
Tell us about your new book, Twelve Months
Don DiMarco has a very good life
– a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep
him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the
case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders
if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t
always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies.
Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved
relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don
sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full. A
glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth,
as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, Twelve Months is
a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.
When did you start writing?
I’d just returned home from
Operation Desert Storm, and was working as a prison investigator in Massachusetts. Needless
to say, there was great negativity in my life at that time. I decided to return
to college to finish my degree in Criminal Justice. During one of the classes,
the professor talked about police work but nothing else. I finally raised my
hand and asked, “The criminal justice system is vast. What about the courts,
probation, parole – corrections?” He smiled and told me to see him after class.
I thought I’d finally done it! In his office, he explained, “There’s no written
material out there on corrections or prisons, except from the slanted
perspective of inmates.” He smiled again and dropped the bomb. “If you’re so
smart,” he said, “why don’t you write it?” Nine months later, I dropped the
first draft of 6-5; A Different Shade of Blue on his desk. From then on,
I was hooked. I was a writer.
What inspired you to write
this book?
My wife and children. They
inspire all of my writing.
Has the Internet helped you
in your writing career?
Yes—it’s hard to be successful
today without social media.
What are the major challenges
that you have faced in your career?
The greatest challenge for me
has been time. First and foremost, I am a Dad and my children come first. After
that, there are other responsibilities that need my attention. Yet, my passion
to write has constantly gnawed at my soul.
To overcome the obstacle of
time, I made writing a priority over watching TV and sometimes even sleeping.
Once my family is taken care of and the world closes its eyes, I’m up for a few
more hours each day – chasing my dreams on paper.
What do you advise new
writers to do?
Be true
to yourself, always.
Write constantly.
Keep the faith!!!
And NEVER, EVER, EVER quit. Most
people in this industry would agree that more than talent or skill or even
luck, perseverance is the one trait that will always get the job done.
Knock on every door you can, and
keep knocking. I promise that eventually someone will open and the warmth you
feel on your face will more than validate every hour spent alone in the
darkness.
Where is Twelve Months on sale?
Paperback & Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Months-Steven-Manchester/dp/161188053X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343826594&sr=1-1&keywords=twelve+months+manchester
