Interview with Clint Adams

www.clintadams.com

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

Hey, Jen. How’s it going? Well, you started off with the absolute perfect and most relevant question, thanks. I’ve been asked this every time (I’ve been interviewed), and having been asked it actually led to my reason for quitting writing. Yes, you heard me correctly.

I never ever wanted to be a writer. In 1992, inside me, there was an overwhelming need to tell a very particular story (that was actually a well-kept secret). Finding someone else (a writer) to tell it, never happened. So, I learned all I could about writing, and I’ve been doing it ever since. It seems like this latest novel I’ve been working on for the past 15+ years was the hardest to complete, and now that I finished it and it’s been published, my (own personal) story’s finally been told. My story no longer lives inside me now; it lives on someone else’s bookshelf. Whew! I became a writer for this sole reason, to get my story out.

Again, because of being asked this question and the four teen novels I wrote, I’m now launching a student-led, after-school storytelling program for secondary school students here in the U.K. It doesn’t promote literacy or creative writing; it’s created to give time and attention to teens that have something to say, something they need to say. Rather than internalizing their emotions, they are now offered an opportunity to “tell all” and “get it all out.” I feel the need for this here, and elsewhere, is tremendous. To learn more about this program, please visit: http://StoriesAboutFacingFear.com.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

It’s been a rather long and winding one (road, that is). The quest to publish and market my teen novels has taken me to many interesting locations. But, overwhelmingly, the greatest reward was meeting such a variety of interesting teens and learning about their lives…they’re incredible. Now, I have moved on, and I no longer write teen novels…instead I’m left with fantastic memories. More than all else though, I now owe these teens my eternal gratitude for having led me to my true purpose in life; helping them to tell their own stories, now that I’ve (already) told my own.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

My latest novel is a thriller for adults: The Seventh Ritual: a race for survival. It’s a book about a horrifying discovery…the truth. Yes, in my opinion, the truth sets you free but it’s nowhere near as powerful as what you decide to do after you’ve learned it. I’m hoping readers will find this book helpful so they will want to discover the depth of their own power that lives inside them.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

The realization that life is all about learning the lessons that come with it. It’s your choice to learn them or not. This inspires me daily. I love seeing obstacles as opportunities…to learn. Lessons provide great meaning for me and that’s why I appreciated being able to share them with others via my writing.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

I love, appreciate and understand my family a whole lot more after having written this last book (The Seventh Ritual). I love having been able to transform family secrets into fiction (a story that ends up being told by a fictitious “me”). I’m sure my family is proud of me and the extent of the journey I’ve been on.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

Tzaziki! I put in on everything (vegetables when I’m dieting) and I’d eat it with every meal if I could.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

1. I’m too impatient to meditate, but I do take a deep breath or two. Even this relaxes me a bit before I begin the day.

2. I realize that soon I get to eat my cereal with bananas and kiwi on top OR my runny scrambled eggs. I LOVE this. Yes, I AM a geek.

3. I look in the mirror to see if I’m still me, that I haven’t actually turned into who/what I was in my dreams/nightmares. Yikes!

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

I own almost nothing. I think you’d be surprised that I have so few belongings. I tend to move around a lot and this keeps my life very simple. Of course, as a former writer, the things I value most are my laptop and my printer.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

Black. It’s not only slimming but mysterious. I like this combination.

Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?

My favorite: Fred Flintstone. Most like me: I wish I could be as gregarious, cocky and confident as Bugs Bunny, but Charlie Brown is closer to my reality.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

Duh. The easiest question of all. I’d spent years writing about heaven…so that’s got to be where I’d like to go most. I’d want to see if it’s all it’s cracked up to be. I’d be humiliated if what I’ve written ends up being horrifically wrong.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

Without question, anything from the 80’s. Favorites: Pat Benatar, Blondie, B-52’s. Yes, I’m lost in time. In the U.S., country: Martina McBride, Patty Loveless, Terri Clark. I used to listen to classical when I write, not anymore. Now, I just listen to the noise coming from inside my head. Maybe I should meditate after all.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

Mama’s Family, Friends, The Golden Girls, Roseanne. Movies: The Color Purple, Shine, any movie where the protagonist has huge obstacles and overcomes. Yippee! I could watch To Kill a Mockingbird a million times over (a lesson each and every time). Eek, it’s been a while since I’ve been to the movies. I think the last one I saw was Precious; it was OK. I normally like movies like this, but the writing could have been a bit better.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Always believe…no matter what!!! Especially when no one else does! Do it yourself!!! You’ll only be let down when you expect someone else to help you, when you’re fully capable of doing/accomplishing “it” yourself.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

After The Seventh Ritual anything else would be a piece of cake. It’s the ‘biggie’ of my lifetime. Something much lighter next time, for sure. Without a doubt, I’d want to return to writing if I could put together stories told by teens, a non-fiction book, Stories About Facing Fear: The (Teen) Interviews. I feel that everyone chooses to overcome fear and obstacles in different and unique ways. By sharing stories about others that have done so, may help and inspire those that haven’t quite yet.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!

Thank you, Jen! You and your site are great resources for teens/teen readers and I’m thrilled that you’ve expanded to include adults as well. Good luck always.