Ripple Library: Author Chat With...Terrance Layhew

How do you get inspired to write?

 

You know when you read a good book and it makes you want to write? That’s what usually happens. Sometimes it comes from watching a good movie too. When I feel the pull of the grand narrative, I want to write.

 

How do you deal with writer’s block?

 

I try to get my body moving. Taking a walk, lifting weights. I like to strength train. If that doesn’t work, I let my brain wander. Usually when I get writer’s block it’s either Pressfield’s Resistance or just being stumped how to present an idea which is supposed to move the narrative forward.

 

When it’s resistance, I try to push through it. Give myself a goal to just put some words down, even if it’s only a hundred.

 

When it’s a puzzle to solve, I write it out like a math problem and wander around the idea on paper until the idea clicks.

 

What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

 

Fortunately, my life has not accrued many mysteries unsolved. When I think of how my life could be used for a book, it’s usually seeing the absurdity of a situation or people and thinking, “If this were a book, this would happen.”

 

When my wife and I went to her brother’s wedding, I couldn’t help but start plotting a murder mystery based on what would happen if he was poisoned at the wedding. In my defense, I had to drive to Arkansas for the wedding.

 

What are you currently working on?

 

I’m writing a series of novella’s about a pilot in the roaring twenties. The first one Unwanted Passenger: A Mitch Mayhew Story won the Men’s Adventure Fiction May contest by Veritas Entertainment and now I’m writing the sequel.

 

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

 

Mitch Mayhew’s adventure has been circling in my mind for a while now. I read a book called Empires of the Sky which touched on the early era of aviation. It mentioned how mail pilots frequently wore pistols in case their planes went down in the wilderness. It was the germ which grew Unwanted Passenger.

 

What kind of research did you do for this novel?

 

I read a lot of books about the golden age of aviation. I also read biographies about Hemingway and Fitzgerald to get a better sense of place for the 1920’s.

 

In general, what emotions do you usually wish to elicit with your writing?

 

Thrilling adventure! I want people to feel the warmth of a good story. To revel in good dialogue, crafty characters and intriguing settings.

 

Best advice on writing you've ever received?

 

Know what you want to write before you write it. The more of the story you know before writing, the easier it is to write it.

 

What is the weirdest/wildest topic or fact that you’ve had to research or uncovered in your research?

 

Luxury yachts for One Man’s Treasure. A portion of the climax required having a working knowledge of the layout and I watched several YouTube tours of boats I am unlikely to ever step on.

Can you tell us a two-sentence horror story?

 

You spilled my coffee. It was the last cup.

 

What else would you want readers to know about you? Where can readers find you online?

 

In addition to writing, I host Suit Up! With Terrance Layhew a Podcast about stories and storytellers. We recently had a fantastic interview with TD Severin about Deadly Vision which I look forward to everyone listening to. Unwanted Passenger: A Mitch Mayhew Story and One Man’s Treasure are both available on Amazon in physical and digital. Follow me on Instagram @suitup.author and checkout my website https://terrancelayhew.com