Interview with John Schork

Author of The Flames of Deliverance

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

Reside in Sammamish, WA. Grew up as a Navy kid and lived around the world.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

Father was in the Navy, then I was in the Navy, which resulted in travelling a great deal of the world. Retired from the Navy to Sammamish, WA just outside Seattle

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

Lifetime reader and lover of history, wondered if I could write a historical novel.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

Historically accurate with fictional characters woven throughout the story. All books focus on a particular war, WW2, Crimean, U.S. Civil War, etc.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Fascinated with history, conflict and how people deal with the range of emotions war produces.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

How much enjoyment an author can get from putting down a winning story.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Start sooner, I was in my 50’s before I started writing.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Never thought about it, if one person gets something out of it, fine with me.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Once I went the self-publishing route, there was very little frustration. The challenge is to keep at it.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

The writing is the only thing, I have a partner who does all of the nut and bolt work of actually fielding a printed copy.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

No effort to self promote my books.

When do you think you will write your next book?

Working on number nine now.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Self