Crime thrillers adult, MG, & YA - E.R. Yatscoff
Website:
Visit the site
What inspired you to start writing?
Reading a very poor book to my 8 year old son. I knew I could make a more exciting and readable young readers story based on my boyhood
Can you describe your writing process?
Undisciplined
What’s the most challenging part of writing for you?
Editing , although there are very good writing programs these days that make it much easier. Nothing beats a few Beta readers, though
What’s your favorite book that you’ve written, and why?
The Rumrunner's Boy. My grandfather was a rumrunner in the Detroit Windsor area. I did a lot of research on it and discovered a fantastic area of Canada that few knew was a smuggling route. The novel is for all ages and was a Canada Crime Writers YA Finalist
Who are your biggest influences as a writer?
James Lee Burke Dan Fesperman
What do you hope readers take away from your books?
Enjoyment
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Join a writers group and get Beta readers who aren't related to you
What do you enjoy most about being an author?
Tax write offs for travel
What are you currently working on?
My first sci-fi tale. Very little in the way of ray guns or crazy futuristic things. Just a good old fashioned survival story on a remote planet - with primitive aliens, not the big-headed, skinny, big eyed ones we all think they look like
Do you have any quirky writing habits?
I used to carry a notebook in my uniform jacket pocket at work. When a colleague took my coat home he called me about it and asked me if I was okay . The notebook was my Madman's Diary - jibberish about characters and stuff in no order.
What’s your favorite genre to write, and why?
Crime because I've seen plenty of it during my firefighting career
How do you balance writing with the other aspects of your life?
I'm retired so my slots for writing are larger than they used to be
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your work?
"I stayed up half the night reading it."
What’s your writing kryptonite?
Computer crash or document saving issue
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through writing?
I can focus my thoughts better and speak intelligently
How do you handle negative reviews or criticism?
Blow them off
If you weren’t an author, what career would you have pursued?
At one point the Coast Guard appealed to me. I settled, after dozens of jobs, on a firefighter
Do you write by hand or use a computer?
Computer. I started off freehand because my slow typing couldn't keep up with my thoughts
What’s your favorite piece of writing advice?
EDIT EDIT EDIT
How do you name your characters?
Phone book. Hockey players. Newspapers
Have you ever based a character on someone you know?
Many. Especially in my MG crime story ARCHIE'S Gold
How do you stay motivated to write?
Ideas burst in my head.
Which book of yours was the most difficult to write, and why?
The RUMRUNNER'S BOY. A lot of research and scoping out the loctions along Lake Erie
What’s a fun fact about you that most readers wouldn’t know?
I like a good non-fiction story
How do you celebrate your book launches?
Around a campfire or a dinner
Do you believe in writer’s block? How do you overcome it?
I never had it. If I'm stuck I mull it over during a walk or in the hot tub
If you could live in one of your book’s worlds, which one would it be?
I have lived in all of them
How do you decide on a book’s title?
I look at a pivotal point and voila. In The NIKE Birds, the sneakers around a high branch ( like birds on a wire) above a jungle trail mark a hidden trail to a human trafficking camp.
If you could co-write a book with any author, who would it be?
I know a Paramedic who was a doctor for the CCP army in Afghanistan. He's reluctant to share his experience in print but his stories are awesome
How do you keep track of your ideas?
A special area in my brain
Do you write with a specific audience in mind?
No. The story and the character dictate that. It's magic
What do you love most about connecting with your readers?
Talking about the story and how I created the characters.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Start writing earlier like I said I would way back when
How do you choose your book covers?
Me and my two sons
How do you approach world-building in your stories?
Travel. Google Earth. My life experience and living in different areas
How do you handle balancing multiple projects at once?
Whenever I'm near the end of a project, another is demanding to be heard. I fend it off by just keeping brief notes in my head on it.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever researched for a book?
The fishermen and rumrunners who died in shipwrecks along Lake Erie
Do you read reviews of your books? Why or why not?
Sometimes.
How do you prepare for book signings or public readings?
I give out bookmarks if they don't buy right then and their, as a reminder.
Which of your characters do you relate to the most?
Underdogs and tough guys
Do you prefer writing standalone books or series?
Standalone. Two in my firefighter crime series have many of the same characters although the story is quite different
What’s the most rewarding part of being an author?
Claiming travel expenses
What’s the hardest decision you’ve had to make while writing a book?
Leaving my publisher.
Do you outline your books, or are you more of a ‘pantser’?
Pantser
What do you do when you get stuck on a particular scene?
Set is aside for few days
What do you think makes a story truly unforgettable?
Imaging. Readers remark on the crocodile scene in TEETH OF THE COCODRILO even though the scene is only a half page, yest a pivotal point of no return for my protagonist
What role does research play in your writing process?
Research adds realism, giving the novel texture and imaging
How do you decide which idea to pursue when you have multiple story concepts?
Write brief outlines of each
How do you find the perfect balance between dialogue and narrative in your books?
Can't bog down the story with info dumps. The story and the info should unfold as the tale rolls along
If you could add a new skill to your writing toolbox, what would it be?
Super editor
Do you have a favorite writing quote that inspires you?
Everyone wants to write a book but few ever put pen to paper
How do you celebrate small writing milestones?
A shot of rum