Paul Lubaczewaski
Pre-Interview: Before deciding to take writing seriously Paul had done many things, printer, caving, the SCA, Brew-master, punk singer, music critic etc. Since then, he has appeared in numerous science fiction, and horror magazines and anthologies. Born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, he moved to Appalachia in his 30s. He has three children, two who live in his native Pennsylvania, and one at home. Married to his lovely wife Leslie for twenty years, they live in a fairy tale town nestled in a valley by a river. Author of over 50 published stories, his Amazon Best Seller debut novel “I Never Eat…Cheesesteak” is available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and fine stores everywhere. His novella “A New Life” is available both as a Paperback and on Kindle from St. Rooster Books. His new kaiju comedy novel “Cult of the Gator God” released on April 28th of 2020 from 50/50 Press. Upcoming The Manor House “All the Ledgers Balanced” Weird book “Some Battle Cannot Be Won”
St. Rooster Press: The Last Dance
Author Writer Interview 1.What inspires you most to write? At the end of the day my own imagination. I keep having ideas of what I'd like to read, and the fastest way to do that is to write it. 2. What is your favorite genre? I can't say I have one specific genre. I've read a ton of horror, horror comedy, fantasy, sci fi, but also Beat stuff, Russian classics, and existentialist books as well. I happily quote Camus in a horror-comedy. 3. Who is one author you admire if any and why? There are a bunch. But for a current working writer, I can't help but admire Jeff Strand, he has done everything the hardest way possible, but he still makes a tidy living. He's funny, his output is tremendous, and he has solid horror chops when he isn't being funny. Probably the only guy who can write slapstick in a way that is legit funny. 4. How do you overcome blank writing spells? I usually have at least three or four projects going at any one time, if I get stuck on one thing, I just go work on something else for a while. 5. What legal publishing advice can you give? Read every contract carefully. Then read it again. 6. How many books have you written, are any a bestseller yet? Written and published are different animals. I have four books in the pipeline, two collections and two fantasy novels with Dreaming Big Publications and three out currently, “A New Life” with St Rooster, and “Cult of the Gator God” and “I Never Eat...Cheesesteak” both with 50/50 Press. “I Never Eat...Cheesesteak” hit the Amazon best seller list repeatedly, making it as high as #2. Since #1 at the time was buying ads and I wasn't I feel pretty good about that. 7. If you had the opportunity to rewrite one movie script which would it be, why? Current whipping boy for that is “The New Mutants”. I read the comics when they first came out, there's a deep vibrant set of story lines already there, there was absolutely no reason for them to stray as far as they did making the film. 8. What are some difficulties you've experienced in your writing career; how do you handle book critiques/criticism?
Getting published the first time is always a slog, dealing with rejections is no fun at all. It just comes with the territory and you have to keep muscling through it. If I get a bad review, if it's one that humors me for whatever reason I make sure to share it with friends and fans. Not everyone is going to like your work, it's the nature of the job, but occasionally someone will dislike your work in an unintentionally hilarious fashion. 9. What are your best experiences in your writing career? Having the afore mentioned Jeff Strand give me a blurb. Coming in second in the Critters Readers Poll. The first time I was in Weirdbook. Those are all favorites. 10. Do you prefer to write in silence and or have some sort sound in the background? Stone cold silence. I'm a former musician, and music to me is never background noise, so it drags my attention away from what I'm working on. 11. What are some encouraging words you'd give to another author/writer? Keep plugging mainly. Almost nobody gets there overnight, and my “there” started where other people find themselves now. Also, try and enjoy your successes, it's way too easy to focus on the latest rejection, take time to enjoy every good review and every publication. 12. How did you decide the pricing of your material; how did you go about promotion/advertising and distribution of your work? Strictly on my publisher as far as pricing. I'm a relentless ad agency for my own work. You must have, Facebook, Twitter, your own web page, interviews, podcasts, book signings, people won't read your work if they don't know about it. 13. Why should anyone read your book?
Well, the upcoming collection is as enjoyable a collection of horror as you're going to find, I'm quite proud of the work. My most recent book, “Cult of the Gator God” is flat out funny. The reviews for it have been more or less beaming. It is my farewell to Florida after a year of living there, along with Kaiju, and lots and lots of jokes. 14. Did you have a book coach? No. Generally, when something has reached the point where I think it's done I have it beta read by a group of readers. Some, like Edward Mignot have been with me for every novel, some rotate in and out depending. That way they go in having a good idea of what I'm going for and have a solid idea of where I might have a tendency of overusing words, etc. 15. What was your favorite subject in school? Art first and foremost, I almost went to college for it. After that it was the literature sections of English. 16. Are you self-published or have an established publishing contract elsewhere?
Traditionally published. Two novels are with 50/50 Press, my novella was with St. Rooster, and I have four books signed with Dreaming Big Publications who also publish Piers Anthony and Barry Nelson among others. It's well worth it to me for the expanded distribution, the editing and the cover service alone. There's a lot of things that go into putting out a good book, far more than just writing one, and frankly, the less of that I have to do the happier I am.