INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT BURY, AUTHOR OF THE BONES OF THE EARTH

Scott Bury is a journalist, editor and writer living in Ottawa. His articles have been published in newspapers and magazines in Canada, the US, UK and Australia.

His first published fiction is “Sam, the Strawb Part,” a children’s adventure story. All royalties from sales of this story go to Children at Risk, an Ottawa-based charity that supports families of children with autism spectrum disorders. 

He has also published a short story for free download as an e-pub, Dark Clouds, which is also available in e-book format.

The Bones of the Earth is his first novel to be published.

He has two sons, an orange cat and a loving wife who puts up with a lot. You can read more of Scott’s writing at scottswrittenwords.blogspot.com

and scottstravelblog.wordpress.com, and on his website, http://www.writtenwords.ca. 

Follow him on Twitter @ScottTheWriter.

What is the main premise of this book?

The Dark Age, eastern Europe: the earth has decided to rid itself of humanity with earthquakes, volcanoes and new plagues. Civilizations, even the mighty Roman Empire, crumble under the pressure of barbarian waves that are fleeing worse terrors.

Rejected by his own people, pursued by a dragon, young Javor heads for Constantinople, the centre of civilization, looking for answers to the puzzle of his great-grandfather’s dagger and the murder of his family.

On the ancient, crumbling Roman highway across haunted, deserted Dacia, Javor rescues the beautiful Danisa from a human sacrifice. He cannot help falling in love with her. But Danisa has her own plans, and when she is kidnapped again, Javor has to wonder: what is the connection between his dagger, his lover and his enemies?

How long did it take you to write it? 

From conception to completion, probably about 9 years, but there were long hiatuses (haiti?) in there.

Who’s your favorite character in it?

Javor, the MC, of course; but beside him, I like Vorona, the village shaman, who is a character I will reuse in other, unrelated books.

When reading, do you prefer eBook or paperback?

I find ebooks easier to read. When I read on my iPad, I don't need glasses and I don't have to worry about there being enough light on the bus. However, I loathe to bring my iPad to the beach. With a paperback, I don't worry about getting sand into it.

What projects are you currently working on?

There are a couple of writing challenges and so on that I'm contributing to, including Lyn Midnight's Grim 5, an anthology of stories about the end of the word. My next WIP is a novelized memoir of my father-in-law's escape from a German POW camp in Ukraine during the second world war. Following that, I want to finish a story for children aged 6 to 12, called The Last Tiger, about the last free Siberian tiger.

What is something that surprised you about being an author?

How I have more ideas than time to write them.

Who designed this cover?

Lisa Damerst, also known as Lisa Street, a talented graphic designer and author from Florida.

Do you ever write in your PJ’s?

Never wear them, so no.

What are your pet peeves? 

The way Microsoft Word randomly changes my formatting.

What’s your favorite beverage?

Coffee.

So do you like to cook? 

Occasionally. I prefer to cook in the same way that I write: I want to get all the ingredients and implements I need together, organized, and I like to do it myself, without help.

Do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?

I usually eat cereal and coffee, in front of my computer, answering emails and setting up tweets.

What is something you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)?

Travel coffee mug.

Do you sleep in or get up early?

Get up early.

Which do you use most for writing on, laptop or desktop?

I prefer the desktop, but the iPad with the bluetooth keyboard-case is mobile. I have been experimenting using it for mobile blogging, with mixed results.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I prefer to do my writing on my desktop computer in my office, after I've tidied it up. Doesn't happen very often, though. Still, a wide, clean desktop, my notes on one side, cup of coffee on the other, music playing and words flowing through my fingertips to the screen—that's ideal.

What are your thoughts on receiving book reviews - the good and the bad? 

Any review is better than no review. The best are those by reviewer that actually get it—like Elie Stokes, who figured out the MC's disability, or others who noted the historical research that went into the book. To tell the truth, the only bad reviews I have received are from an author whose book I did not review well. All the other reviews have been very positive, for which I am very grateful.

Where can readers find this book?

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Bones-Earth-Part-ebook/dp/B006ARUEYE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335051458&sr=8-1

Barnes and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bones-of-the-earth-scott-bury/1108930690?ean=2940033024339