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Advice from IR Approved Author Cam Lang: “If you’re struggling to find an idea or advance your story, go for a walk and just study everything you can.”

The Concrete Vineyard received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.

Following find an interview with author Cam Lang.

What is the name of the book and when was it published?

The Concrete Vineyard, December 2020.

What’s the book’s first line? 

When Edward Mitchell saw the uniform, his mug lit right up with the biggest smile you could ever imagine on the face of a dying man. In a perverse way, he had hoped for such an end to his long and interesting life, yet earlier today he’d expected that this, his final day, would be quite routine.

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

I like to call this a “Murder Mystery History”…and a book about urban planning! The story takes place in the historic First Capital of Upper Canada (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario) just a short, picturesque drive from Niagara Falls. It’s ironic that I used the term “drive” because the primary message of the novel is to convince people to get out of their cars and to start using their feet. If we all do that, everything about where we live and how we live, gets better.

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

In 2017, one of the largest and most historic estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake was clear-cut of its mature trees by a relatively new land developer in town. It infuriated the townsfolk. That event, along with 20-30 years of poor neighborhood/subdivision planning elsewhere in town had begun to erode much of the colonial charm of this historic Mecca. As an urban planner living in a distant city, I could only watch from afar and grind my teeth. Because nobody reads non-fiction planning books, I wanted to figure out how to teach people important planning principles and lessons (in and for my hometown) and the only way I figured I could do that was by writing an interesting and provocative book.

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

I tried to compose the most educational murder mystery ever written and I tried to expose those facts and tidbits in a fun and interesting way. Like I said, reading about “urban planning” can be very boring, but I think it can be spiced up with a good murder.

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

My main character (an urban planner visiting his hometown who ends up helping his best friend detective in a murder investigation) is fanatical about walking, running and cycling everywhere. There is a reason he hates combustion engines, particularly cars. This conveniently comes in handy. He’s also a jokester and a bit of a “smartass”. I can’t think of another character like him.

If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (with long hair) as Kris Gage, my urban planner.

Ryan Gosling as my unenthusiastic detective, Bryan Dee.

Robert De Niro as Tony Belucci, my antagonist land developer.

Sharon Stone as Caroline Simcoe, the temptress.

Is this the first book you’ve written?

Yes. I might write another if I can find the right inspiration.

What do you do for work when you’re not writing?

Urban Planner.

How much time do you generally spend on your writing?

Usually 4 hours a day, right in the morning but if it’s flowing, keep going. I will spend 12 hours a day if the ideas are there and the story is writing itself.

What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?

If you’re struggling to find a spark, an idea or to advance your story, go for a walk and just study everything you can. An idea will likely hit you out of nowhere.

Which book do you wish you could have written?

The Devil in the White City, but I’d be happy to have written any novel by Erik Larson. His ability to weave two seemingly disparate storylines and have them merge right at the end makes for incredibly entertaining reading.

 

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