Interview with Gordon Mathieson

Author of Beijing to Boston

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

Quincy, Massachusetts, Now reside in Palm Coast, Florida

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

Retirement.

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

Long story short. Invented an educational trivia board game about Cape Cod, Marthat’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. After research, and the national launch, I decided to use my past magazine publishing skills to craft a mystery novel using data from the game’s research.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

American mysteries, but folded in my Mandarin language skills in Young Adult mysteries ala a Chinese American “Nancy Drew” storylines.

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

Young Adults, adults including those of Chinese background. Latest title Beijing to Boston is published in English and Chinese languages both between the same covers. (never been done before for a novel)

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

I find writing much more relaxing than my past career in IT at Yale University. The Creativity is still present and needed, but the pace and demands are controlled by me.

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

I should have begun it sooner, when my Chinese language skills were better honed and would have been more prolific, since I have never had a writer’s block in the last twenty years.

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

Most Chinese people in China, Taiwan and other countries and westerners to learn and laugh at cultural differences and similarities. Especially the similarities.

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

Rejections, early on. But after publishing with two bonafide publishers, I prefer self-publishing with Amazon. I met with Stephen King once (sorry for the name drop) and he told me he’d prefer that too. He also told me that in today’s market, he doubted any publisher would pick up his genre. I disagreed with him, but he still advocated the POD market for any writer.

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

All of the above, otherwise nobody would read the books.

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

Marketing is very time-consuming and takes away from writing with creativity.

When do you think you will write your next book?

Currently writing a film script (TV series) for Beijing to Boston. It is impossible to write a book and a film script at the same time.

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

Used both Traditional publisher 2X. See above.