Interview with Abraham Moreno

Author of Baptism of Fire

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

I am originally from San Antonio and still live in the Alamo City.

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

N/A

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

Since elementary, I had always wanted to write an inspiring story. It wasn’t until 2002 that I came up with the idea that eventually became the story of “Baptism of Fire.” Coming up with an ideal story took on many iterations until I finally realized that I wanted to write a story that not only inspired people, but one that would also instill hope.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

Simply put, I like to describe this story as a Spiritual Journey. The story takes you on an adventure filled with doubt, fear and the many questions we encounter in life, as well as real evil in the world. When faced with overwhelming odds, the characters are motivated by the spiritual themes of faith, hope, and love.

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

I feel that this story has many universal themes, so it may appeal to anyone who has felt emotions of self-doubt and fear, love and hope, sprinkled with many moments inspired by faith.

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

Writing a story takes a lot of work! It involved a lot of commitment considering I still had to take on a full-time job and raise my daughter while working on this project. The publishing process was very exciting in the fact that, after all the writing I had done over the years, it was amazing to see it in its final product. It was a surreal moment to see the story I had devoted so many hours working on, and something I was very passionate about, go live.

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

Don’t give up! Keep going because you never know who you are going to inspire or who may need to be inspired by your story.

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

I have always said that if this story inspires just one person, then I have accomplished my mission. To God be the glory, for this story is His.

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

The biggest challenge I would have to say is making sure that the right people are in your corner. It ranges from having people in your inner circle who support you to having a publisher that really cares about their authors. Being new to the writing world has taught me to be selective in who I do business with and at times, that can be frustrating trying to figure out who to trust with your work.

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

I feel that one of my biggest strengths is being able to write with passion. One of my goals was to have the reader feel what the characters are feeling in the sense that they are alongside them during the tragedies and triumphs. As far as publishing, I love working with the publisher to get the book exactly the way I want it to give the readers the best experience. Marketing on a local level has been amazing! Book signings all over town have really been a blessing. These events have brought out San Antonio locals that I would’ve never met if it weren’t for the art of writing.

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

As a writer, one of the biggest weaknesses is self-doubt. Wondering whether you have produced your best work is something that I think every writer goes through. I feel that, because I am new to the writing world, at times I rely too much on the publisher for ideas in regards to the design of book covers and layout. Marketing has been a challenge due to the fact that it takes a considerable sum of money to reach readers on the national/international level. As a full-time teacher, the budget does not allow for high-end marketing. If in fact, this story reaches people across the globe on its own merit, it will simply be because of God’s will.

When do you think you will you write your next book?

I am actually working on the sequel right now to “Baptism of Fire.” “River City Rage,” will continue the spiritual journey by introducing spiritual warfare to the main character and the daily struggles it brings. It will definitely be a darker story and new take on what the main character encounters.

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

I used a hybrid publisher for “Baptism of Fire.” I am happy to say that Stratton Press Publishing will re-release “Baptism of Fire” at the end of 2019 and will also be the publisher for the sequel, “River City Rage.”