NK Chats To… Don Waitt

Hi Don, thank you for joining me for a chat today. Can you tell me a little about your book, The Revelation of Chester Fortunberry and what inspired the book?

You come into this world alone and you leave this world alone, which got me thinking about whether that world even existed before I came into it and will it exist after I leave it.

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you prefer silence? Lots of coffee?

I like to write in the afternoon. I prefer total silence, no distractions. I write on a desktop computer with a huge screen. Can’t do it on a laptop.

How do you approach the writing process, from idea, to planning, to final draft? How much prep do you feel you need to do before you feel ready to start writing?

For me, it all starts with the first paragraph of the book. Once I get that down on paper, then it’s off to the races. As all authors know, I don’t write the book; the book writes itself and goes in whatever direction it wants to. Kind of like a runaway train.

What is your favourite word and why?

Really. It’s a noun and a verb and an adjective and even an exclamation point.

What songs would feature on a playlist for your novel?

“Old Man” by Neil Young.

Which fictional character would you like to meet and why?

Holden Caulfield. To compare notes on life.

Do you think plot or character is more important when creating a story and what other elements do you feel are important?

Character is more important than plot. And for me, dialogue is more important than character.

What’s next for you?

Another book, titled “999’s Report”

Which fictional world would you like to visit and why?

Tomorrow every day.

Any advice for new writers?

As the Nike ad says, “Just do it.”

About Don Waitt:

Don Waitt had been writing for many years, first as a daily newspaper reporter for The Shreveport Times and The Orange County Register, and now as an industry trade magazine editor and publisher.

He self-published a novel, Leaving Early, and a chapbook, Police Stories, a few years ago, and has had stories published in New Pop Lit and Spork Press.

His new novel, The Revelation of Chester Fortenberry is available on Amazon UK, Amazon US and Lulu.com.

Say hello on Twitter. 

About The Revelation of Chester Fortenberry… 

At age 52, Chester Fortunberry has the revelation that he alone exists on the planet. He embarks on a journey to discover if his revelation is true.

Along the way he is kidnapped by a Master Chef, befriended by a disappearing hitchhiker, served tea and cookies by a Korean War vet, counseled by his scotch-swilling Uncle, smokes a cigar with his dead father, survives a gun battle, and finally finds his answer on a desolate beach talking to a young boy who can not speak.

All while attempting to unravel the mystery of time, and the questions of where do we come from, why are we here, and where do we go next?

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.