Author Interview Lost on a Page

July 20, 2021

Author Interview

What inspired you to start a writing career?

My first serious writing was in college. I was involved in the local community theatre. I regularly participated in their Shakespeare in the Park productions. I wanted to put on some of my own productions, so I started writing scripts. We had a lot of success with some of my original shows, and writing has just been a major part of my life since. Since then, I have published several short stories in various anthologies. Lost on a Page is my first novel.

Is this book stand-alone, or part of a series?

I wrote Lost on a Page as a stand-alone, but I left it open-ended in case I wanted any sequels. It turns out, I did! So, now it’s a series. I am happy to report book 2 is well underway.

How does your book stand out from others?

Lost on a Page is a loving homage to genre fiction. I am an avid reader, and I have too many favorite genres to count. Sometimes when I read a mystery novel, I wonder how characters from a recent sci-fi novel would interact in a scene. Or what would happen if I dropped a hardboiled detective into a period romance? The idea of a comedy adventure romp in which archetypal genres get thrown together in a glorious train wreck of mishaps was something I just felt the world needed.

Are any of the situations/characters in your book inspired by real events?

They couldn’t be more fictional. Though, I did draw from the classic hero’s journey popularized by the works of Joseph Campbell. If fictional characters really could travel to the World Where The Books Are Written to murder their authors, I might not be here today.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

My advice would be to set goals but be careful how you measure success. I have done my best writing when I focus on enjoying the craft. Always looking ahead to the next achievement for validation tends to leave you feeling not good enough. My favorite authors all talk about struggling with imposter syndrome. If their major success doesn’t dispel feelings of inadequacy, then what will? I just don’t worry about it anymore.

I set my own goals, and I celebrate when I achieve them. I love the writing, so that’s what I focus on. If I had no aspirations to ever publish, I would still write. So, I get to decide when I have achieved what I set out to do. Nobody else.

But you should also know that publication is not impossible. Keep trying. Keep improving. Learn from your mistakes. Don’t take criticism as a rejection, but use it as a chance to learn. If you are persistent and willing to grow in your craft, you can take your writing to new places. And be sure to celebrate the small victories along the way.

About the Book

Title: Lost on a Page

Author: David E. Sharp

Genre: Fantasy / Science Fiction

Some genres were never meant to cross.

Joe Slade is a detective with a hot lead and a warm gun. He no longer believes in happy-ever-afters, but his faith in plot twists is devout. Good thing.

He is about to discover the biggest twist of all.

Joe Slade is not real.

He is a character in a series of mystery novels. And when he discovers all his pain has been in the name of book sales, there will be hell to pay. Vowing revenge on his author, he will set off for the World Where the Books Are Written. The road will take him through genres foreign and treacherous: High Fantasy, Bodice-Ripping Romance, Intergalactic Sci-Fi, and others even more awful and terrifying.

But what if this new life is about more than just living? And will Joe still come out on top when all the rules have changed?

Get the book today from:

Amazon

Black Rose Writing

Author Bio

David E. Sharp is a noisy librarian. He is fond of theatre and got his start in writing by producing original plays in his hometown. He has also published short stories in various anthologies. David is a member of the Northern Colorado Writers and frequently contributes to their blog. He lives in Greeley, Colorado with his wife and family.