Indie Interview with @AuthorGNykanen, author of The Point #PointTour #GIVEAWAY
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Meet G. Nykanen
Book: The Point
Publication: May 30, 2014
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Well traveled thanks to her husband’s government career, she has lived in Europe and many of our United States over the last twenty years. She has recently returned home, moving back to her beloved Upper Peninsula where she resides with her husband and three children.
With The Point now completed, she will continue working on her next novel, Accumulation, along with continuing to develop other stories in the works.
Connect with G. Nykanen
Thank you for joining us today!
What drew you to start writing?
I have bored my husband with book ideas for the last two decades. Getting a publisher seemed impossible, and with so many books out there, it didn’t seem worth the hassle. A couple of years ago, my sister-in-law self published a few books and my husband said, “If she can do it, you can do it.” So, here I am writing down all those ideas, trying to claw my way out of obscurity through all of the other indie books. (Which is hopefully easier than trying to get published)
Are you an early riser or a night owl?
I’m a night owl at heart, but I’ve been trying to break those bad habits. I’m not a kid anymore and late nights tend to impede my productivity during the day. Although I do like to be up alone at night with no one to interrupt me while I’m working.
Do you have an atypical place that you like to write?
I have converted the closet under my stairs into a tiny office my kids lovingly refer to as the chokey. (Making reference to the Dahl book Matilda)
It’s cramped, and Creepy, and wonderfully strange, just the way I like it.
Do you take story notes long hand or on the computer?
I write all my notes long hand. I have a small, leather bound notebook my husband purchased for me when I started writing The Point. I would have an idea at the strangest time and be desperately searching for a scrap to write it down on.
What author's work made you want to become a writer?
Stephen King has been an inspiration to me. He is twisted and creative and wordy as hell. I love how his stories are driven by the character’s shit. It’s their behavior or neurosis or flaws that drive the story and are an integral part of whatever creepy thing is going on.
Are your characters or plots ever based on real people or events from your life?
Yes. I have used phrases my father would say to me, or traits from characters that have passed through my life. Iron Bay is a fictionalized version of my hometown, Marquette MI. Nora’s relationship with Dane was inspired by a relationship I had when I was in my late teens.
Who controls your books: you or your characters?
I was surprised, when I started writing, how the characters took charge, the plot ever changing as the characters led me in directions I hadn’t intended to go. The result was a book that ended differently than I had planned for in the beginning. I thought I would write more of a romance, but as I wrote, the story got darker, and Dane became more than a bad boy. It was too much fun to write him as the sick f - - - he turned out to be.
Are you a plot/outline writer, or by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
A little of column A, and a little of column B. I jot down notes and ideas, but I’m usually unsure of exactly what will occur until the typing starts. I live most of my life by-the-seat-of-my-pants. It would make sense that I’d take the same approach when writing. Besides, I always hated when the teacher wanted an outline. It feels good to buck the establishment and do it however I want.
What would be your strategy during the zombie apocalypse?
Funny that this was a question. My current project is called Accumulation and it’s a book about an apocalypse of a zombie sort. I don’t want to give away what the characters do, but my kids and I have tossed around some survival ideas and the consensus is that we should get to Lowes as quickly as possible. It has supplies available, such as gardening equipment and tools that could double as weapons. Most importantly, the security provided by the concrete structure of the building and the ridiculously high chain link fence that graces its perimeter creates a fine stronghold.
I have bored my husband with book ideas for the last two decades. Getting a publisher seemed impossible, and with so many books out there, it didn’t seem worth the hassle. A couple of years ago, my sister-in-law self published a few books and my husband said, “If she can do it, you can do it.” So, here I am writing down all those ideas, trying to claw my way out of obscurity through all of the other indie books. (Which is hopefully easier than trying to get published)
Are you an early riser or a night owl?
I’m a night owl at heart, but I’ve been trying to break those bad habits. I’m not a kid anymore and late nights tend to impede my productivity during the day. Although I do like to be up alone at night with no one to interrupt me while I’m working.
I have converted the closet under my stairs into a tiny office my kids lovingly refer to as the chokey. (Making reference to the Dahl book Matilda)
It’s cramped, and Creepy, and wonderfully strange, just the way I like it.
Do you take story notes long hand or on the computer?
I write all my notes long hand. I have a small, leather bound notebook my husband purchased for me when I started writing The Point. I would have an idea at the strangest time and be desperately searching for a scrap to write it down on.
What author's work made you want to become a writer?
Stephen King has been an inspiration to me. He is twisted and creative and wordy as hell. I love how his stories are driven by the character’s shit. It’s their behavior or neurosis or flaws that drive the story and are an integral part of whatever creepy thing is going on.
Yes. I have used phrases my father would say to me, or traits from characters that have passed through my life. Iron Bay is a fictionalized version of my hometown, Marquette MI. Nora’s relationship with Dane was inspired by a relationship I had when I was in my late teens.
Who controls your books: you or your characters?
I was surprised, when I started writing, how the characters took charge, the plot ever changing as the characters led me in directions I hadn’t intended to go. The result was a book that ended differently than I had planned for in the beginning. I thought I would write more of a romance, but as I wrote, the story got darker, and Dane became more than a bad boy. It was too much fun to write him as the sick f - - - he turned out to be.
Are you a plot/outline writer, or by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
A little of column A, and a little of column B. I jot down notes and ideas, but I’m usually unsure of exactly what will occur until the typing starts. I live most of my life by-the-seat-of-my-pants. It would make sense that I’d take the same approach when writing. Besides, I always hated when the teacher wanted an outline. It feels good to buck the establishment and do it however I want.
What would be your strategy during the zombie apocalypse?
Funny that this was a question. My current project is called Accumulation and it’s a book about an apocalypse of a zombie sort. I don’t want to give away what the characters do, but my kids and I have tossed around some survival ideas and the consensus is that we should get to Lowes as quickly as possible. It has supplies available, such as gardening equipment and tools that could double as weapons. Most importantly, the security provided by the concrete structure of the building and the ridiculously high chain link fence that graces its perimeter creates a fine stronghold.
Thank you, G. Nykanen!
Bella
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