I
met Author George Graft a year ago. What a blessing it is to know
him. He is super laid-back, humorous and intelligent. I could go on
and on but let us hear from George himself. He graciously agreed to
an interview; honestly, I didn't have to twist his arm too much. So,
without further ado, let us begin.
Me:
Hi
George. Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little
about yourself and your background?
George:
I am George William Graft. My friends call me Bill. I write under
George Graft.
Me:
So what were you like in school?
George:
I played sports but spent a lot of time reading. Not necessarily
school books. (See
About
the Author following interview).
Me:
Were you good at English?
George:
Not really. I like solid rules. The English language has too many
exceptions.
Me:
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
George:
Have fun. Keep my mind occupied. Entertain others.
Me:
Which writers inspire you?
George:
Lots. I enjoy clean (non vulgar) fiction from many great authors. I
have never read
a book
where I didn't learn something.
Me:
So, what have you written?
George:
Six books, some short stories and poetry. I like the ballad genre of
Robert Service
for
poetry.
Me:
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do
that is so
special?
George:
My characters tend to get a little far out on the credibility gap.
After all it is fiction.
Me:
What are you working on at the minute?
George:
I
am writing a SciFi novel about an abducted Earthman. It's a common
theme.
Me:
What genre are your books?
George:
Adventure,
Christian, Historical, SciFi, so far.
Me:
How much research do you do?
George:
Very little I rely on a lot of personal experiences and stories I
have heard over the
years.
Me:
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
George:
I try to write every morning 5-6 days a week. No Sundays.
Me:
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to just see where
an idea takes
you?
George:
I go where my story takes me with a rough outline in my head.
Me:
I know you have written a series with a character named Hattie. What
are your
thoughts
on writing a book series?
George:
Never again. It's too confining.
Me:
Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do
that for
you?
George:
Both. You can never do too much proofreading.
Me:
Did you format your own book?
George:
Yes.
Me:
In what formats is your book available?
George:
Paperback and Kindle.
Me:
What advice would you give to your younger self?
George:
I would tell myself to begin writing sooner.
Me:
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
George:
Get a couple of good how to books. Do a lot of reading (other works
similar to your
favorite
genre). Jump in and get going.
Me:
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t
included?
George:
Give some time to help others. You always learn something by doing
that.
Me:
A great big, warm thank you for allowing me to interview you. I
appreciate your
time,
George.
George:
You may call me Bill.
Me:
Thank you, Bill.
You
can find George Grafts' books on Amazon in paperback and for Kindle,
or by contacting him directly. Be sure to read the following “About
the Author” to learn more about him and his contact information.
Also, I have read his novel “Door 101”. My review for it will
close this interview.
He enlisted in the U. S. Navy after High School graduation and later attended the University of Nebraska where he received a B.S. Degree in Physics and Mathematics. Forced to take some liberal arts courses in order to graduate, he elected courses in English and American Literature. Required reading of novels became pleasant homework assignments.
After a career in the operation, test and development of military weapons systems, where he wrote technical manuals, proposals and test plans, he filled his time with travel and volunteer work spreading God’s word. With free time on his hands he once again began to read novels. His wide span of interest in Science Fiction Stories, Mysteries, Westerns and High Technology thrillers dominated his reading palette. That interest and enjoyment faded with many of his favorite authors as they began to fill the pages of their books with vulgar language and vivid sexual encounters.
Several incidents came together enticing him into writing his own novels. He felt his grandchildren needed to learn many of the lessons that he had discovered the hard way. He wanted to leave a legacy for them to enjoy with some interesting inserts relating to their ancestors. Maybe they would read a little at a time—within the limits of their attention spans. He enjoyed the opportunities to write during his working career and wanted to write a novel as one of his life’s objectives—sometimes called a “Bucket List.” He felt that a good story did not need to rely on sex and vulgarity. He planned to prove his point. He made up a story to generate interest while teaching a group of High School age young men and women. Several people approached him after the class wanting to know where they might obtain a copy of the book on which the story was based. When he explained that the story came from his imagination, many said, “You need to write that story.” So, he did.
Mr. Graft has published four novels so far and has two more in the works. Three of his books deal with the life of the character developed while teaching the class mentioned above. The fourth and last book in that series based on the life of the girl called, “Hattie,” will become available by Christmas 2013.
Books are available from the author: call 417-255-0328 or e-mail bgraft2032@aol.com
Books may be ordered from Amazon.com [search] George Graft/Hattie Rising/ Door 101/
FIRE Walking/Stone Music. Paperbacks and e-books (Kindle) may be purchased.
Door 101
I was
fantastically amazed by Door 101 by George Graft. Door
101 is definitely a book for today. How tangled up we become with all
of our technological gadgets and the fast lane seems to never slow
down. George Graft brings a fresh look at our society's dependence
with technology through the eyes of "Sammy" in this epic,
futuristic story. Every sentence flowed magically to the end. I was
stunned by George's knowledge about so many diverse fields;
agricultural, mechanical and military disciplines make this story
realistic. The author pulled me into Sammy's shoes and I was there,
in this Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic world. I wanted to be Sammy
because of his vision for a better tomorrow. This is without question
one of the better stories I have read in 2013.
