Story Orgy Presents: Interviews With Xavier Axelson

Story Orgy Presents: Interviews

What is your favorite quality about yourself?

I’m a resourceful guy.  I have inner resources.  J

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?

“To be a star unto yourself you must follow your own path, shine your own light, and ignore the darkness.  For that is when stars shine brightest.”  Anonymous

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?

Getting Published.

What inspires you to write and why?

I don’t know who said, “I don’t write because I want to, I write because I have to.”  But I believe that to be true.  I feel compelled to write.  I told a High School English teacher of mine “I only write when I’m inspired.”  He replied, “Good luck with that.”  He was right of course.  I have to write everyday.  My muse is a fickle bitch.  If I fuck with her, she fucks me right back.

Who or what influenced your writing over the years?

Stephen King, Anne Rice, Peter Beagle, Richard Adams, Peter Straub, Dean Koontz, Sidney Sheldon, Tennessee Williams, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Miss Read, Beatrix Potter, Tolkien, Lloyd Alexander and on and on.  Nature inspires me; creation, destruction, animals, plants, magic.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?

Writing is a singular pursuit.  It’s a lonely job.  I can’t write unless I’m alone and when you are writing thousands of words a day you are alone a lot of the time.  I have come to understand why people think writers are crazy…it’s because we are.

Tell us your latest news?

Let’s see.  Well my latest novella “The Incident” was released last month with Seventh Window Publications and will be followed by “The Birches” sometime in November and then a print collection of my three novellas “Dutch’s Boy,” The Incident” and “The Birches” all with Seventh Window in time for this holiday season.  I will then have “Lily” released with Silver Publishing this January.

Can you share a little of your current work with us? 

Excerpt:

the incident

Michael leaned towards Angel, the cold pie plate the only thing between them. Michael's heart was pounding and he could feel Angel’s breath soft on his face.
“No, it’s like right by your mouth, on the right,” Michael said.
Somewhere a night bird called out and the only reply was the incessant symphony coming from the bugs in the trees, but Michael didn’t hear anything except his own tormented thoughts clashing against his physical desires. Sweat had begun to run down his back and he shivered as he felt his spine twitch with excitement.
“Did I get it?” Angel asked, making another swipe at his face.
Michael leaned in, his hands shaking, the pie plate feeling slippery in his other hand. “Here,” he said as he pressed a shaking finger against Angel’s cheek. “Right here,” the last word was more a pant as he wiped the offending chocolate from Angel’s face. 
Michael thought he saw something in Angel’s eyes when he touched him but he wasn’t sure. Although he wanted Angel more than words, he was terrified that what he thought he saw wasn’t real.
“Mikey,” Angel breathed, coming closer.  He put a hand on Michael’s arm and pulled him close. “Do it, whatever you’re thinking, do it.”
“I can’t,” Michael whispered.
Angel leaned so close that their lips were just about touching. “I’ll make it easy on you.” Angel ran his tongue over Michael’s lips. “Just do it.”
Michael felt the world beginning to slide sideways, and somewhere he heard the sound of something breaking.
Was this real? 
His mind screamed for him to stop, to pull away, but Angel’s smell, his breath so close was making it hard to move, to breathe, to think. Before he could answer his raging thoughts, he found himself kissing Angel.

Can you tell us about your main character?

The main character of “The Incident”  is Michael Carmac a flawed and guilt ridden small town cop.  He is the agony while his love interest, Angel is the ecstasy.  Michael is complex and broken.  I am protective of his spirit.  I hope he fares well out in the review world.  I hope people identify with his need to find forgiveness.

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Where can we purchase the book?

http://www.seventhwindow.com/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Incident-ebook/dp/B005HB1JF2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1314489327&sr=8-4

           

            Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

 I hope people walk away from “The Incident” with an appreciation for what cops endure in their personal lives.  My brother is a cop and I relied heavily on his experiences while writing this.

           

            How important do you think villains are in a story? 

            Villains are like garlic, life is nothing without it/them.

            What are your current writing projects now?

I just finished my 7^th novella “Earthly Concerns” and am thinking it’s about time I handle these two massive horror novels I have completed.  I gotta get those two in ship shape and send them on their way. 

            Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?

I just finished reading Jenna Jameson’s autobiography and have to tell you, I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was.  I also didn’t expect to take as much from it as I did. She tells a brave story and it is a quick, fun read. 

      How do you deal with rejection letters?

When I first started submitting my work my sister (who has no imagination at all) said, “so this is all about rejection?”  Luckily I have thick skin and believe in my writing.  I always say that one day those who didn’t will wish they had.

         

            Do you have any advice for writers?

Write everyday.  Read Carolyn Sees “Making a Literary Life” and sit your ass down and write.  That’s what it’s all about.  Write through the writers block.  It’s the only way out.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I love a spa.  I can spend an entire day in a spa.  There’s a day spa in Santa Fe called Ten Thousand Waves and it may just be the most perfect place on Earth.  When I went, my family sent a search party I was there so long.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

Having my writing on Amazon was really exciting for some bizarre reason.  I’ve also gotten to interview some amazing, albeit off-beat celebrities because of my column over at the examiner.  It’s been one hell of a first year in the publishing world.  I am here to write so everyday I get to do it, is exciting.

If you could leave your readers with one bit of wisdom, what would you want it to be?

Pressure makes diamonds.

 You can find Xavier out and about at:

www.xavieraxelson.com
www.examiner.com/la-in-los-angeles/francis-xavier
www.facebook.com/xaviersaxel
www.twitter.com/xaviersaxel