Author Q&A with Kevin Parham
Author Q&A with Kevin Parham
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1. Tell us about your writing / published books.
My entrance into the writing world occurred purely by happenstance. Unbeknownst to me, my uncanny ability to casually relate personal anecdotes to family and friends had, over time, morphed into a full-fledged campaign encouraging me to write a book—something that, in my mind, was an unrealistic endeavor.
However, after having given it some thought—though still not convinced I could accomplish such a feat—I began jotting down a few memories of my life on Martha’s Vineyard with my siblings, cousins, and our strict grandmother, Carrie White, from the late 1950s through the early 70s. It wasn’t long before I had compiled enough material for my first book, and, over the course of three years, I wrote a coming of age memoir entitled: The Vineyard We Knew—A Recollection of Summers on Martha’s Vineyard.
My second book, Keeper of the East Bluff Light is a whodunit murder mystery about a former sea captain, Sam Biggs, who becomes a lighthouse keeper. However, there’s something strange about the lighthouse, for it is used as a means to commit heinous crimes that Special FBI Agent, Max Landcomb is tapped to solve. There are many twists to the story, including an unknown family connection to Sam and the lighthouse that could be the key to solving the mystery.
The third book, entitled Westville, is an autobiographical novel about a young aspiring musician named Jimmy James and the vibrant community from which he comes. Jimmy follows his dream of becoming a famous bass player. However, as he pursues a career in the music industry, he soon discovers that the road to fame and fortune fraught with pot holes, U-turns, and dead-ends. In the end, he sees that what we travel the world in search of can oftentimes be found at home where it all began.
2. Have you always wanted to write?
No, I can’t honestly say that I’ve always wanted to write. In fact, it never really occurred to me. In addition to being a late bloomer, I had never considered myself as a writer (far from it!) While most writers begin their literary journey early on, the writing bug didn’t bite me until I was well into my fifties. But I’m pleased to be among many who enjoy the love of writing and sharing their stories with others.
3. Do you like reading the same books you write?
Since I choose to write in different genres (contrary to popular belief), there’s no specific genre that I enjoy reading. Consequently, the answer to your question is, no. I find that I learn a great deal by reading everything I can get my hands on. There’s so much to be gained by delving in to various types of literature that I might not have considered if I had read only one particular genre. That said, I can certainly understand those who choose to read only what they write, but, to me, that’s very limiting and can stifle any opportunity to expand one’s literary prowess.
4. What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?
Wow. Now that’s a good question! One important piece of advice I’d give to anyone wanting to write their first book is to take your time. Decide what you’d like to write about (though common knowledge states that you should write what you know). Also, it’s critical to do your research when delving into areas such as historical fiction, etc.
When you’ve finished writing your draft manuscript—and this is very important—you should work with a good developmental and/or copy editor that specializes in the genre you’re writing! A good editor has the knowledge and experience to make your manuscript shine and ready for publication. And if you’re thinking of indie-publishing and have the financial means, then consider hiring a professional cover designer and interior book designer. Doing so will put you ahead of the crowd in terms of having a professional-looking book that is readable and free of plot issues and grammatical errors. Even if you’re going the traditional route, it’s important to have an error-free manuscript when querying agents for representation.
5. How do you handle criticism?
Let me begin by saying that a review (good or bad) is only an opinion. It’s very subjective. To be honest, I have no problem with constructive criticism. If anything, a good critique only makes you better at your craft! All aspiring writers should develop a thick skin and accept the fact that not everyone is going to give you a five-star review. If you go in with that understanding and have confidence in your ability, then there’s nothing anyone can say that will rattle you. No matter what, it’s important to keep writing, regardless of the criticism received. That’s the only way to maintain a balanced perspective and improve as a writer.
6. Tell me about your current work.
My fourth book, M/V Islander—Resurrection, will be released in spring, 2021. It’s a paranormal novella about a man’s internal struggle with his superiors at his place of employment and revolves around his interactions with a ghost ship. The storyline involves a quest to restore a guiding principle that was lost to the ages.
You can find Kevin on Twitter.
