Author Interview: 10 Questions with Parker J. Cole

Our interview today is with Parker J. Cole. Thanks for being here today Parker, and for agreeing to doing this interview.

 

Question: What do you think prepared you or qualifies you to write in your chosen genre?

Answer: I don’t think anything prepared me to write as much as reading did. I think any good writer has to be an avid reader. For one thing, reading broadens your imagination on the feet of writers who have gone before you. Another thing to consider is that you learn how to develop your writing voice as you read. I read a ton of horror and romance books as a child which is what prepared me to write.

Question: Tell us a little about your “real” (Non-writing) life — family, job, church life. Does it give you inspiration for your writing? Does it get in the way of your writing, or are there times when you get help, from people or circumstances?

Answer: I am a radio show host for Christian/inspirational writers. My faith is a huge part of who I am as I seek out to help others in the same path as I do. I sing in the choir at my church and participate in other activities when I can. I see church work as a way of staying busy and grounded in what God wants us to do as we advance the kingdom. I have been married for six years and I have a four-legged daughter named Sarah who I adore!

Question: Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction?

Answer: I love knitting and cooking. I am an avid sci-fi fan and I diehard Star Trek fan.

Question: Tell us about your newest book. Make us want to read it.

Answer: My newest book is called Many Strange Women, book one of The Sins of the Flesh series. Solomon Greene made a deal with God – if he gave him an ugly wife, he’d marry her on sight and do right by God. Celeste Martin made a deal with Solomon – she’d be his ugly wife. After all, she’s in love with another man and couldn’t care less what her husband thought about her. Yet, in all this deal making, they both got more than they bargained for.

 

Question: What is the “message” of your writing? (For example, is your purpose to encourage old-fashioned values, encourage romance, or do you have different purposes in different books?)

Answer: I think everything I write should glorify the Lord. I have different purposes for each book but at the end of the day, I want the Lord to be satisfied with the use of the gift He gave me. In a way, it’s kinda like a tithe. When I write, I am giving back to Him what He blessed me with.

 

Question: Tell us one place you want to visit, or person you want to meet, and why.

Answer: I want to take a trip on the Virgin Galactic ship. I would love to see the boundaries of space and be a part of history. I’ve seen the videos and it looks so exciting! I hope I get a chance to one day.

Question: Share something that makes you laugh, with just plain humor, or happiness, or because it’s so stupid.

Answer: My favorite, all time joke in the world that always makes me laugh is this: “What do you call a fly with no wings? A crawl!” Never gets old!

Question: Share something that’s amazing, touching, or that makes you angry.

Answer: One of the most touching things for me is having my family and friends believe in me when I didn’t. I plan to, as long as I continue to write, to always acknowledge their belief in me. It’s very powerful when someone believes in you. It’s more potent than any drug. It’s more sustaining than any foundation. When they believe in your success before it happens, that is what keeps you going.

Question: What is your current WIP?

Answer: I have two WIPs in process. The first is book two of the Sins of the Flesh series. The second one is standalone book for NaNo tentatively titled “The Doctor’s Cure”. After I get off this romance kick, I plan to do some darker stuff so stay tuned.

Question: Are their characters/stories/scenes/etc based on anything in real life?

Answer: My very first book I self-published called Dark Cherub is based off an incident that happened with a friend of mine. I was shocked at what she did and the story bloomed from there. It took ten years to write but that one is close to my heart.

Question: What is your writing style?

Answer: My writing style is this: misdirection. I don’t want the reader to know what’s going to happen. I want them to think they know what will happen and then pow! Totally unexpected. I like to be surprised and I want my readers to be too.