I'm not really sure to be honest. But a couple of those that have read some advanced copies of my current trilogy have said it reminded them of Dean Kootnz. Seems like high praise that I haven't earned yet, but that is their overall impression.
Yes, not so much in the current works I am putting out. But in future books that are being planned have many things that are derived from real life situations.
I'll be able to answer this a little more thoroughly later as the books are not out just yet. But, I did produce the first book as an enhanced audiobook podcast. I received about 100 comments. Only a few had some minor negative comments. I don't give negative reviews on art much weight. Opinions vary so much. What one person enjoys another does not and vice versa. I never give a negative review on any artform because of this reason. I would not want to take away the possible enjoyment of something for someone else simply because I don't like it. I think negative reviews should be reserved for services or businesses, government etc.
The question doesn't specify if they are living or deceased nor real or fictional. I'll assume they are real or at least, were a real person and not a character. So based on that premise I would start with Adam West. I met him once at a comic book convention, a few years before he passed. He was very gracious and kind to me and his fans. I would have liked to talked with him more. The second person would be Larry David. I always admired his comedy and when you are at a dinner party you need to have somebody lightening the mood. I image I would be laughing the entire time. My grandfather. I would like to have heard more of his stories.
It's a lot easier to carry 100 books on a Kindle than in a backpack. This allows readers to enjoy more books in a wide range of places. The story is the same, but I think there is a loss in the overall feel of a book when it is in an electronic format. The artwork isn't quite the same and for me that quality of the work is lost. Comic book being the best example or perhaps an illustrated book.
These are very important pieces to the overall marketing of the book. For me, if I have no knowledge about the author or story itself, then the cover and title draw me or repel me from the art. They draw new readers in along with a good blurb, then the story has to up to the task in keeping them there. I love artwork. I enjoy working with the artists and designers to create the covers. I always remember the lesson of Conan the Barbarian. The book did modestly well at first. It wasn't until they put Frank Frazetta's rendering of Conan that the book took off. The importance of these elements cannot be overstated. It's hard to know what will tickle the masses, it can be something simple or sophisticated. Sometimes you just have to experiment.
I listened to stories from my grandfather and grandmother about their lives from the time I was little. My maternal grandfather was in the Navy in WWII and at Normandy. My grandmother worked in a potato chip factory. My paternal grandmother grew up in a coal mining town and later moved to Manhattan with her sisters right after the Great Depression. They all told humorous and gritty tales of their lives. I am sure the love of storytelling came from them and their adventures. Although they would just call it living. This sparked my imagination and I found myself telling stories from an early age. From the time I was 10 years old I would be weaving imaginative journey's over multiple genres. Most I never published until now.
Although it is probably a bit cliche, I truly do feel a sense of accomplishment when someone reads one of my stories and enjoys it. I would like to cover the costs of my production but if readers find themselves lost in the story and enjoying themselves for a short period of time, that is success to me.
I would tell him to edit, edit, edit early. Save often, save early too. And get all the pieces assembled early too. Finish the story. Get the cover, artwork, marketing strategy, promo's, all done early so when you decide to launch it is all there and you can pick a date without rushing. The second thing would be, save your money to hire a professional editing and layout designer under one banner. Having a really good editor will make the product look that more appealing and professional. Reader deserve a good story and professional looking book. They are not promised a best seller or the greatest story ever told, but it is reasonable for them to expect a professional job even if they don't like the story itself.
