HEADLONG: Growing Up Recklessly received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author James Schultz.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
HEADLONG: Growing Up Recklessly. July/2021.
What’s the book’s first line?
“Life with brother Rob was a series of adventures and misadventures, and those who knew us wondered how we survived to adulthood.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
HEADLONG: Growing Up Recklessly, is the captivating story of Jim, a young guy growing up in the ’50’s, ’60’s, and ’70’s, whose creative imagination and impulses, provide us with an anthology of hilarious, poignant, dangerous, and adventurous escapades. The transformative journey of this sensitive, fun-loving, likeable miscreant, who appears immune to consequences, reflects the trauma he endures at his own hand, his soulmate, yet bullying brother Rob’s, and his abusive, authoritarian, Father’s, each shadowed with an ever-present nudge from fate’s misadventure.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Having shared anecdotes and stories with others, I realized that many of my experiences were beyond the normal, and in the telling, provided fodder for a receptive and engaged audience. The death of my brother, my compatriot in crime, made me realize I didn’t want to lose our stories, and once the process of writing the memoir had started, it provided a springboard to re-live and recount characters and escapades I’d forgotten.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The book is for anyone who wants to laugh and be entertained. It would have strong appeal for an older demographic who could re-live the evolving, turbulent culture of the time, jogging memories of their own. At the same time, the main character could be a soulmate for anyone who is struggling with their identity.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Although a Memoir, both the reader, and the author, objectively, see the main character as fictional, one who, because of his creative imagination, acts out his impulses, resulting in mayhem in both his escapades and relationships. Tom Cruise in ‘Risky Business,’ and Holden Caulfield in, ‘The Catcher in the Rye,’ reflect some of same character traits as HEADLONG’S main character.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I believe Noah Centineo or Tom Holland could play the main character, but each would have to add a bit of the devil to their portrayal.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I have always enjoyed writing humorous satire, whether it is recounting an experience, or re-writing rock operas for the stage.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Once the process has begun, the only thing that stops me are the intrusions of life’s exigencies. Even the re-reads and editing are stimulating because one is just playing with language.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part is the joy of writing the manuscript before you give any thought to chasing down a major publicist, or following the indie self-publishing route. The positive aspect to being an indie is the incredible proliferation of publishing services and advice offered on-line, the greatest negative is wading through it to identify what is truly helpful.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Enjoy the process of creating a personalized work of art.
It is also necessary for the indie author to extensively research every aspect of the self-publishing process: formatting the manuscript, knowing what is ‘in’ for ‘cover’ and ‘interior,’ BISAC and metadata, distribution, levels of marketing, author website, mailing lists, etc. etc.
There are paid companies that will provide services in the self-publishing process, but you have to know what you want at each step.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
That’s a tough question. Which ever way you answer there’s a ‘Catch-22.’ I would go traditional for the ease of having all aspects of book production and distribution handled by professionals, but, at the same time, one loses one’s autonomy, is still expected to market the book, and in the end, makes about one dollar per sale. If you go the indie route, you’ve almost got to take ‘Indie Publishing 101,’ but you get to make the decisions regarding your book.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
My motivation is the fun of sharing a truly gripping or humorous experience with others.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
‘A Gentleman in Moscow,’ by Amor Towles.