When I Fall in Love by Clint Morey PLUS author interview

About the Book

Amy has many things on her plate: keeping out of trouble, getting her boyfriend to tell her he loves her and being accepted at Harvard. Then her grandfather has a stroke and her life is turned upside down. 

This is a very sweet and touching story about the ties of family and friendship. 

About the Author

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself 

I was born and raised in L.A. but fortunately my wife and I were able to relocate to Montana, which has been a wonderful place to raise a family and be a writer. I was a classroom teacher for a couple of decades and for the last eight years I’ve been a full-time writer. I’ve optioned three screenplays, had a short film produced on the internet, have several works available on Amazon.com, had a play published, and even published some articles in national magazines.  



2. Tell us a little bit about WHEN I FALL IN LOVE 
Writers who’ve been in a war often want to tell war stories. Having served in Vietnam as a medic and having a brief experience in the Division Psychiatrists Office, there were some "glimpses" of the behind-the-front-lines Army life I wanted to share. But stories about "old wars" aren't all that popular, and I wanted to tell a war story without any killing.  I also wanted to tell the story of three generations of a family that have difficulty relating to one another. The grandfather feels like he's failed to teach his own children the values he holds dear and has one last chance to pass those along to his granddaughter.

3. What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on two projects right now. I’m finishing the first draft of a Sci-Fi novel and I’m working with a co-writer (who still lives in L.A.) to revise a thriller script.

Can you believe my wife and I were willing to give up the concrete, smog and traffic of L.A. to live in a place like this? What hardships the true artist must endure to pursue his craft. 

4. Have you always considered yourself a creative person? 
When I was young, my dad gave my brother and I an 8mm camera (you have to be old to even know what one of those things are). I used to organize my friends in the neighbourhood to make short movies. By short I mean two minutes because that’s how long you could record on one reel of film and sound was not an option. It required in-camera editing because we didn’t have editing equipment, but that forced me to plan and create each scene in my head before pulling the trigger on the camera.  

In high school, I considered pursuing acting as a profession but there was one major problem with that life goal – I was a terrible actor.  I sincerely apologize to those judges at the Shakespeare Festival who had to watch me perform a scene from King Lear.  Please don't give up on the author of that play.  I understand he was really quite good. 

After I became a history teacher I realized my strengths were those of a storyteller and it was a logical step when I finished my teaching career to focus on a storytelling career.

5. Do you have a ‘day job’ as well as writing?  
I am a full time writer.  I have great respect for anyone who can do a full time job in another field and make the time to write.  

6. How do you write? 
I write about 6-8 hours a day and then spend a couple of hours working on marketing – querying, promotions, etc. I have an office at home where I do most of my work but there are several spots around town that I use when I need to change locations. The local Barnes & Noble coffee shop is a sure fire solution whenever I am struggling with a scene.  

My wife and I at one of my writing spots in Missoula, Montana.

7. What, if anything, influences your writing?
Knowing that God loves people, I try to have the possibility of redemption built into a story even for the really, really bad guys who populate some of my creations.

8. Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
I grew up reading Steinbeck and Hemingway, but Harper Lee (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) was a major influence in setting an example for telling a beautiful story. Boy, I wish I could write like that! As for telling captivating stories, writers like Michael Crichton, Vince Flynn, and John Grisham have been good examples of creating interesting plots and characters.

9. Can you name three things you’d like to achieve in life?
I want to please God in how I live. I want to be an example and help to my children (all six of them and their families). I want to make a difference for good in the lives of people who cross my path.

10. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
It may seem trite but the best advice is to write.  Write.  Write.  WRITE!!!  

Then read.  I’m amazed at the number of writers I’ve met who don’t read.  

And finally, learn to take criticism. When I was a storyteller in the classroom, I could tell right away if my story was working. When I saw the eye lids drooping, the conversations increasing, and students working on assignments for other classes, I knew that I WAS FAILING AS A STORYTELLER, but I could make adjustments in the classroom setting to try to capture their interest. Believe me, it was exciting to see a room full of high school students “captivated” by a story I was telling. It’s much more difficult writing novels and screenplays because you don’t get the immediate feedback from an audience. So, if you have people willing to evaluate your work, listen to what they say.  It will help you improve your story.

Available at Amazon.com  $2.99 ebook   $7.99 paperback

http://tinyurl.com/When-I-Fall-in-Love

Web: http://www.clintmorey.com

Blog:  http://montanawriter.wordpress.com/blog/ 

Twitter:   http://twitter.com/clint_morey

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8767722-clint-morey

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