Interview With Harold Fischel
Reading is a series of human emotions. Writing is the gift of sharing these emotions.
Question & Answer 1:
Q: Is Harold Fischel your real name? If it is, what made you decide to use your real name instead of a pseudonym?
A: I never considered hiding my real name. For me writing is a hobby. Like telling stories around a campfire where everybody knows who is telling the story.
Question & Answer 2:
Q: What inspired you to pursue a writing career?
A: I never actively aspired to be a writer. Writing for me is a hobby and the idea of publishing the stories was an afterthought.
Question & Answer 3:
Q: Most of your books are either a romantic drama or a mix of action suspense and romance. Which genre are you most comfortable to write?
A: My stories cover a wide range of topics. These social relevant topics are dramatized by an underlying love story. I hate to be bound down by the requirements of a particular genre.
Question & Answer 4:
Q: Which genre do you find the hardest to write?
A: I cannot write a story in a genre that requires a set formula.
Question & Answer 5:
Q: Do you base your characters from real people? If yes, why?
A: All my characters are purely fictional, but they do have certain character traits and/or life experiences of people I have known.
Question & Answer 6:
Q: Which of your books is the closest to your heart and why?
A: That has to be “Anthony”, the first book I published and had the readers urge me to keep writing.
Question & Answer 7:
Q: Which of your books took the longest to write and why?
A: I don’t really know. It might be my last book which I started and did not get back to until I finished a whole lot of other activities I got involved in.
Question & Answer 8:
Q: How long does it take you to finish a novel?
A: I write as a hobby so there is no set time that I do my writing. The time it takes to finish a book depends on what other activities I am involved in that take up most of my time.
Question & Answer 9:
Q: What is your most favorite book of your own? Please explain why.
A: As I explained before my favorite is “Anthony”, the first book I published, and the readers urged me to keep writing.
Question & Answer 10:
Q: What is your most favorite book by another author? Why?
A: I used to love the books by John Grisham, but then his plots started more or less repeating themselves and he used co-writers.
Question & Answer 11:
Q: Are you a plotter, or a pantser?
A: I am neither. A news item might give me an idea for a story. Once I start writing, the characters lead the story. They seem to tell me where the plot goes, and I just follow.
Question & Answer 12:
Q: Which character from any of your books can you most relate with and why?
A: My characters are fictional, and I don’t really relate to any of them. If anything, I can relate to the relationship between the dogs in my stories and their owners.
Question & Answer 13:
Q: What/Who inspires you to write a new book?
A: A story that dominates the national news.
Question & Answer 14:
Q: What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
A: The characters in my imagination seem to tell me where the story is going.
Question & Answer 15:
Q: We all know we can’t please everyone. How do you react to negative feedback?
A: I do not preach, but all my stories do have several important social issues embedded in the story line. I do get annoyed when readers fail to grasp the importance of these issues.
Question & Answer 16:
Q: Does your family and/or friends support your writing career? If yes, how do they show their support?
A: Since writing is by no means a career for me, I do not depend on strong support to keep writing as a hobby.
Question & Answer 17:
Q: Do you believe in writer’s block? If the answer is yes, how do you overcome it?
A: I don’t have writers’ block. When I sit down to write, my characters dictate the story. Trouble is, they sometimes get ahead of my typing.
Question & Answer 18:
Q: In what kind of environment do you feel most inspired to write?
A: Sitting in my office in front of the window, looking out at our pond and the wildlife around us.
Question & Answer 19:
Q: Please tell us about your upcoming novel.
A: The book I’m about to publish is about two soul mates and overcoming addiction, handicaps & setbacks.
Question & Answer 20:
Q: What would you like to tell your readers?
A: Make a habit of following local, national, and international news. Pick an issue, any issue, just get involved.
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