Get the best author info and savings on services when you subscribe!

IndieReader is the ultimate resource for indie authors! We have years of great content and how-tos, services geared for self-published authors that help you promote your work, and much more. Subscribe today, and you’ll always be ahead of the curve.

  • |

Advice from IR Approved Author Bo Bancroft: “Write for your own satisfaction and creative outlet.”

Make America Beautiful Again received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.

Following find an interview with author Bo Bancroft.

What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Make America Beautiful Again – September 16, 2021

What’s the book’s first line?

Not that he was a bad dad, he just knew his limitations and one more day visiting Disney World would not end happily ever after.

What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.

At the core, Make America Beautiful Again is about the importance of friends and family, particularly during times of personal turmoil. The protagonists are under extraordinary pressure as they face eco-terrorists, manipulative politicians, and white supremacists, all while dealing with their own demons and insecurities. Their challenges are addressed satirically and humorously, hopefully in a fashion the reader will find entertaining. It’s a character driven novel, with each striving for their own version of justice, their own sense of belonging.

What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?

As our political and societal world grows more complicated, it becomes more difficult for an individual to have a voice that cuts through the noise. Writing the book gave me the opportunity to have a voice, to express my opinion about issues of concern. I chose satire and humor as I did not want to be just another, ranting, angry voice contributing to the disfunction.

What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?

For fun. With all the seriousness in the world, my one true desire is for the reader to have fun at the expense of our current problems. The characters are relatable, and the story makes multiple, often amusing turns before coming together in the end. It’s an escape novel or beach read.

What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?

He’s a normal human just like us. No superpowers, ridiculous wealth, or incredible initiative, just a working man who’s trying to do his job while dealing with self-doubt and life’s disappointments. He has his prideful ego, yet that is offset by the lumps he’s taken in life. In many ways, he is a compilation of the people we interact with every day.

When did you first decide to become an author?
As an avid reader, the thought percolated in my mind for years. I had a rough outline and certain characters written down on various scraps of paper. The seclusion brought by COVID gave me the opportunity to act.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes…a sequel is in the works, and another is still in the scraps of paper phase!
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I work for Habitat for Humanity International as a member of the Corporate Development team. I am the liaison with global corporate donors, helping to marry their resources with the need to address the affordable housing crisis.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
That depends on the day and my inspiration. My goal is to set aside a minimum of one hour early each morning…that grows or shrinks depending on the circumstance.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
I enjoy the freedom and flexibility to work with my hand-picked support team based on my own timeline. On the flip side, marketing and gaining visibility is the biggest challenge of being an indie. Without a publisher, many avenues, including local independent bookstores, won’t give you the time of day.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Write for your own satisfaction and creative outlet. Be true to yourself, don’t mimic or strive to be someone you’re not. Be joyful for those who find your work entertaining and surround yourself with positive influences. Pursue your dreams with tempered expectations.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Yes. Writing is enjoyable, even the detailed fine-tuning necessary during the final drafts. Doing all the other stuff associated with releasing a book is not nearly as fun.
​
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
The creative process of crafting a story and the thrill/dread that accompanies the reader feedback. When I find out someone laughed, or was amused by a passage, my motivation is stoked.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Too many authors to name. My tastes cross many genres and respective authors.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Anything by Carl Hiaasen.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that IndieReader may earn a commission if you use these links to make a purchase. As an Amazon Affiliate, IndieReader may make commission on qualifying purchases.