Today on Books, Life and Everything, I am thrilled to have the chance to interview author Brysen Mann whose novel, The Xeno Manifesto was published on December 12th 2017.
Welcome, Brysen. Would you like to start by telling us a little about
yourself and how you started as a writer? When did you first realize you were
going to be a writer?
For me, it was not about being a writer, it was about things
coming to a point in my life where I needed to tell my story and I was surprised
how much I had to learn to put this down on paper.
If you didn’t write,
what would you do for work?
Like one of the characters in The Xeno Manifesto, I have
been offered a number of challenging opportunities in my life and have accepted
most. I always have options.
What are you interests apart from writing?
Many of my interests align with the main character(s) in The
Xeno Manifesto.
What is your favorite
childhood book?
They would be Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Les Miserables
and Rikki Tikki Tavi.
Where were you when you heard your first book was going to
be published? How did you celebrate?
My first book is self published and I completed everything
from cover design to web design and content with individuals I had hired to
assist in the process. I had tried the agent/publisher route but my tale cannot
be interpreted in the first ten pages or first four chapters, which is the
limit that most want to see, so I elected to do this on my own.
Tell us three
surprising things about yourself.
If I told you three surprising things about myself, you may
be more than surprised. ☺
Tell us about your
latest book without giving the plot away.
The Xeno Manifesto which was released December, 2017, is the
first of a trilogy with a lot of twists and turns and many surprises within
this tale. I have been fortunate to the fact that many have commented that this
is a unique, fast paced story and the reviews to date have been strong.
How do you plan to spend publication day?
I spent that day, as I do spend so many now, primarily
marketing and working with as many reviewers as possible on The Xeno Manifesto.
It is the reviews, in my opinion, that will determine the success/popularity of
my novel.
What are your writing routines and where do you do most of
your writing?
I am very goal driven so my days are dedicated to a variety
of tasks from marketing to writing. I enjoy writing most where I have a view of
the outside world, directly from a deck or a view with lots of outdoor
exposure.
How many hours a day do you write?
On my writing days, six to ten hours but it is more about
putting down on paper what is already in my head. I let the story flow almost
as if it’s a memory. ☺
How do you go about researching detail and ensuring your
books are realistic?
Mmmh, not too much research required…this answer I would
prefer to leave to the imagination of the writer.
Which aspects of your writing do you find easiest and most
difficult?
I find the dialogue the easiest, as if I am simply repeating
conversations. The most difficult aspect is making sure the story unfolds so
that the reader does understand it because it is a complicated tale.
In the first book, The Xeno Manifesto, I found it necessary
to go into a lot of details to provide the general back story for a lot of the
characters. The foundation of the story. I will not have to ge to as much
detail as things progress.
How difficult was writing your second book- did having one
published change how you went about it?
I am having no difficulty writing the second book. It is
simply a continuation of the story that could not be told completely in the
first. Having one published did make me
decide to complete the second as soon as it was possible so that it was ready
for release in 2018.
Were there any scenes which you had to edit out of your book
which you still hanker after?
There were no specific scenes, just details I found
necessary to leave out.
How do you select the names of your characters? Are they
based on anyone you know?
The names of my characters are, of course fictional and I
chose names that I believe reflect the character. Not sure how to expand on
that. Most individuals in my book have
traits from my life and those I have met along the way.
How long on average does it take you to write your first
draft?
Because of the learning curve initially, The Xeno Manifesto
took me about a year, the second installment which I began this month, should
be completed by June, 2018.
Are there any secret references hidden in your books?
Yes.
Do you have any
guilty pleasures which stop/ help you write?
For me, going to the gym which I do five to six days a week,
allows me to shut off the thinking process and just let things flow which then
allows me to continue with the writing process.
Does writing
energize or exhaust you?
I find it to be a cleansing process and very personal at
times.
Do you or have you
ever considered writing under a pseudonym?
Anything is possible.
Do you have any
other writers as friends and how do they influence your writing?
No, nothing there. I do not have a social circle, more of a
loner. Although I read a lot when I was younger, I have chosen not to read
anyone else for a few years. Initially because of time restraints and then
because I want my writing to be my style, my story to be told my way.
If you could tell
your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
There would be or could be no younger writing self. It is
the experience of life and the wisdom garnered along the way that have given me
the ability to tell my tale.
Do you believe in
writer’s block? What do you do to break its spell?
There is nothing in this that I can relate to.
Can you give any hints about any upcoming books you have
planned?
As I had mentioned, the second of The Xeno Manifesto trilogy
is well under way. It will answer a lot of the questions left unanswered in the
first book and take the reader on an another interesting ride, in a direction
that I believe most will enjoy. I hope this will add to increased interest in
the third. It will continue to be fast paced and a story that does not
encompass years but only weeks.
I would add that the reader needs to keep an open mind as to
what is possible in this world and what is not. What fiction is and give
consideration that it can be based in reality.
Do you have any unfinished or unpublished books hidden away?
Only the second installment of The Xeno Manifesto.
Thanks so much for answering my questions and good luck with your writing!
Deputy Frank Smirnov wants a peaceful life but fate has
chosen a different path. He could never have imagined a course
that not only gives him insight to his past but to the true
origins of the human race.
NSA Agent Zachariah Allmass’ job is to eliminate those
who know
too much, and those “Beings” with powers untold that have
elected to remain hidden for all these millenniums, now
possess
evidence he needs for his true employer, the Committee.
But Allmass has an agenda of his own. Meanwhile, Roman
Petrov
is a violent man who puts his retirement on temporary
hiatus after
being left with collateral damage that leaves him no
choice but
to eliminate the “thorn in his side”.
When these men’s worlds collide, secrets that were never
meant
to be exposed will shake the very foundation of mankind’s
existence.
Book links Amazon US
The Author
At what point, in a person’s life, do you say enough is enough? For me, that time has come.
I am at a juncture in my life where I can’t keep it locked inside anymore.
I mean when will it end?
What price will have to be paid?
There is too much at stake. I, for one, have to speak out but will anyone listen?
Things are not what they appear. The veil that hides these secrets has to be lifted and let those that wish, read what is written and then give consideration to the plausibility of this saga.
This is all I can offer and hope for. The rest is up to you. It is time for you, the reader, to be judge and jury. But you must know, my tale does not end here… there is more to be revealed.
There are 10 excerpts which you can read on Brysen's website. To take a look at them, just follow this link here.
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