Exclusive Author Interview: B.C.R. Fegan

Buy B.C.R. Fegan's book, The Grumpface: Amazon

Read my review of The Grumpface

This week I'm sharing my exclusive author interview with B.C.R. Fegan, author of The Grumpface. And in case you missed it, you can CLICK HERE to read my review of the children's book. Enjoy the interview!

Tell us a little about yourself...
I was raised on a small hobby farm only minutes from some of Australia’s greatest beaches. I have great memories in my early years of surfing, reading and writing. Looking back, I probably didn’t realise what an ideal lifestyle that was. When I graduated school, I joined the Army which unfortunately took me away from the beach. However I continued to read and write. This passion has continued right up until this day. About one year ago, I made the decision to begin publishing these tales, and here we are!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
The journey has actually been quite intentional. As a child I was always interested in reading and writing. I loved the idea that fiction had no boundaries but our imaginations. As I grew older, my fascination extended to poetry and to classical prose. To me, a writer wielded a pen like an artist held a paintbrush. With each stroke, worlds could be created, minds expanded, emotions could overflow and beauty beheld. In the hands of a master, writing could grip the heart and envelop the mind like any piece of music or motion picture. Sentences held such humble power. Laying on a page and calling out to no-one. Yet to those who choose to read them, like magic they can release upon the mind such inspiration, that they change a person completely. It is this love of words that has led me to write over the course of my life.

Can you share your journey to becoming a published author?
Before I graduated high-school I had written quite a few stories and had filled many notebooks with further ideas. As time went on, I began to build such a large collection of stories and ideas that I decided I should begin the process of publishing them.
As many authors would be aware, the world of publishing is huge. Navigating the right path can be as perilous as a ship sailing in treacherous waters. It doesn’t matter how good your vessel is, it often comes down to your skill as a sailor. I spent considerable time researching the publishing process and making sure the book was as good as it could be. Then I spent even more time making sure that I had a solid platform from which I could provide exposure for the book.
At the end of the day, the path I took to becoming a published author was rooted in decades of creative writing followed by years of technical research. It has actually been an enjoyable adventure!

What do you find to be the biggest challenge, as an author?
I think the biggest challenge for most authors is getting exposure for their books without losing too much writing time. Most authors of fiction write because they love writing. I’m sure I am not the only writer who constructs sentences with that exciting flurry of butterflies deep within the stomach. It’s the anticipation of exciting or inspiring a reader that makes writing so enjoyable. So when time must be carved out of these moments (and it must) to spend on marketing, it can be challenging.

What do you find most rewarding, as an author?
I think first and foremost, I enjoy crafting the story itself. I thoroughly love imbuing each moment of a tale with rich ambience and emotion. Sometimes this flows beautifully and other times I have to work at it a little more. I get a great deal of satisfaction as characters begin to take over the story and their responses to situations become intuitive. Often in these moments I cannot write fast enough as a moment naturally unfolds and leaves me having to ponder the inevitable implications.

Share with us a daily habit of yours, that helps you reach your goals.
I have always had very clear long-term goals. I guess the most potent habit I have developed, is a daily persistence in pursuing those goals. Life has a great way of providing distractions and roadblocks, but if you believe strongly enough in the direction you are heading, determination and creativity tends to keep you focused and get you through. Coffee also helps! 

What is one piece of advice you would share with an aspiring author?
That’s tricky. I see myself as an aspiring author so I’m not sure I’d be comfortable offering any advice at all. I think I would appeal to any aspiring author to focus on writing tales that are transgenerational rather than the lifespan of a cultural issue. We need more imaginary and well written tales that will inspire generations to come.

Finish these sentences…

I am most grateful for... my incredibly beautiful and talented wife.

If I could give my 18 year-old self one piece of advice it would be... start publishing sooner.

My favorite thing about being a writer is... being able to forge breathtaking worlds and inspiring tales that can grip a reader’s imagination with such force that it changes the course of their life.

My least favorite thing about being a writer is... there is apparently no room for the mysterious and reclusive writer these days.

My goals for the future are... to complete the final two books of an upcoming YA fiction series.

I love living a creative life because... often those who are creative are the trailblazers of any society. We stand at the frontier of uncharted territory and call out to others to help us explore these new and exciting lands.

The last book I read was... Magician by Raymond E. Feist.

My favorite book, ever, is... The Bible.

Outside of writing, my favorite hobby is... boxing, although I love traveling as well.

The most important thing to do if you want to achieve your goals is... to be relentless; be prepared to sacrifice a lot; but never compromise your values to get there.

Tell us about your books (genre, where we can find them, etc.)
The Grumpface is a children’s picture book that harks back to the days of more traditional fairy tales. It will be available in hardback, paperback, kindle and ePub from May 1 2017.
Official Page – http://www.thegrumpface.com/
More information – http://www.taleblade.com/books/the-grumpface/
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34546012-the-grumpface
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Grumpface-B-C-R-Fegan-ebook/dp/B06XFFK7VZ/


Where can readers find you (i.e. website, social media, etc.)?
Author Page – http://www.bcrfegan.com/
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16559956.B_C_R_Fegan

Anything else you'd like to add...
My debut children’s picture book, The Grumpface, has been about two years in the making. It is the kind of tale that I would have enjoyed reading in Primary School, and it is my hope that it stirs the imaginations of children and adults alike. I welcome any feedback and honest reviews on the book.

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Stacey Ritz is a bestselling author and award winning writer. An empathetic and compassionate storyteller, Ritz wrote for a plethora of local and national news outlets, magazines, blogs, and websites (copywriter), prior to becoming a novelist. Her book, Covered in Pet Fur  has gained attention from RIVA Media and Animal Planet. She is the Executive Director and co-founder of Advocates 4 Animals, Inc. – a 501(c)3 non-profit animal welfare organization that has saved more than 11,000 lives (and counting). She currently resides in Ohio. Ritz is published through Rockville Publishing. You can interact with Stacey online via Stacey's Book Blog, on Pinterest, andInstagram.

Ritz writes the following genres:
Non-Fiction:
Motivation/Inspiration
Writing/Publishing
Animal Welfare
Fiction:
Love Stories

Click here to view Stacey's fiction books.

Click here to view Stacey's non-fiction books