Author Interview~ Aaron Thiel

Aaron S. Thiel graduated from the University of Florida with a finance degree and received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law. He is currently a member of the Florida Bar.

Apart from the pursuits of a successful estate planning practice and career in the trust department of a large banking institution, he holds a private pilot's license and is an avid Space Law enthusiast. This "hobby," coupled with his experiences as a young attorney who came to rely on God's direction for his life and practice, serves as the backdrop for his writing.

www.aaronsthiel.com


Plug time. What book or project is coming out or has come out that you’d like to tell us about?

The second novel in the Dutch Bennett Series is set to release January 2006. In The Foreigner, Dutch Bennett fights for justice after discovering the U.S. government’s attempt to cover-up the crash of a nuclear powered satellite into an elite group of Russian soldiers on the Israeli border.

Tell us about your journey to publication. How long had you been writing before you got the call you had a contract, how you heard and what went through your head.

My first novel, The Payload, took me six years from the first word on the first draft to publication. The idea for the novel came to me when I was in law school. I was taking an aviation and space law class which sparked my creative engine and gave me enough material for an entire legal thriller series.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

At times. I was told from the beginning that a legal thriller series dealing with space law would not work in the CBA marketplace where the readership is mainly women. But I have learned not to listen to everyone. Many women have enjoyed my first novel and can’t wait to get their hands on the second one. I’m convinced that God has bigger plans for the series and that it would indeed transcend the ranks of CBA into the secular world. But don’t ever think that your book doesn’t have a space on the bookseller’s shelf.

What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

Never take the reader where the reader wants to go.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve heard?

Make sure your genre and theme are something that the publishing houses believe will sell in the marketplace.

What’s something you wish you’d known earlier that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

I spent too much time trying to get an agent. During the time I spent trying to get an agent, I could’ve been published and on my way to developing a readership.

Do you have a scripture or quote that has been speaking to you lately?

God can do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think.
Eph 3:20

Is there a particularly difficult set back that you’ve gone through in your writing career you are willing to share?

The death of my father caused me to stop writing for a number of months. But what I’ve come to realize is that my writing is now stronger and more relationship orientated than ever. I no longer want to write just a great story. I want to write a great story that really moves people emotionally.

What are a few of your favorite books? (Not written by you.)

The Firm, by John Grisham. The Trial, by Robert Whitlow. Directed Verdict, by Randy Singer. The Great Divide, by T. Davis Bunn.

If your authorial self was a character from The Wizard of Oz, which one would you be and why?

The lion. Things aren’t always as they seem on the outside. We all have battles within just like the lion.

What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

Not to plug, but I am most proud of The Foreigner. I started writing it around 9/11 in an attempt to address why bad things sometimes happen to good people. Drawing out those types of questions, feelings, and emotions through the characters in this story was very fulfilling.

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?

In general, traditional publishing house contracts pay royalties twice a year. Enough said.

Can you give us a view into a typical day of your writing life?

My writing life often begins in the evening after my day job, playing ball with my son, and enjoying dinner with the family. I try to get about two to three hours of writing or marketing completed each night. On the weekends is where I can get in a bit more writing depending on whether I have a book signing or family event.

If you could choose to have one strength of another writer, what would it be and from whom?

I admire authors who write character driven novels. Since my novels are so plot driven, I have started to concentrate on character driven novels to help with my character development.

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?

I would like to set my standard of writing at the Christy Award level. I take my craft very seriously and dedicate many hours to perfect it. The Christy Award would be one of the highest marks of recognition. But then again, if just one person came to Christ because of my writing, that would be the highest honor.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

Once. But it was for all the wrong reasons. Writing is like eating. You can stop but eventually you’ll get hungry again.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?

My favorite part of being a writer is creating. The least favorite part is the amount of time it takes to create.

How much marketing do you do? Any advice in this area?

I spend about 10-15 hours a week on developing a readership. Get a website, write a blog, schedule book signing events, speak at libraries and community groups, publish articles, go to writers conferences and book fairs, join author newsgroups on yahoo, schedule radio/newspaper/blog interviews in conjunction with all your events, and last but not least, donate your books to public libraries, retirement communities, hospitals, and vacation resorts.

Parting words?

Christian fiction was not meant to replace the gospel but to express it through the experiences of its modern day characters. These experiences become a part of us. That is the true life changing power of fiction.