Author Interview: Behind The Scenes with Alex J. Cavanaugh

November 10, 2014 by Caffe Maggieato 20 Comments

For this edition of Behind The Scenes, I’m excited to have a chance to interview the Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh. He is the best-selling author of the Cassa series and founder of Insecure Writers Support Group.

 

1. Tell us a bit about your writing journey. How did you get started, and how did you get to where you are now?

I knew I should’ve taken a left at Albuquerque… I started when I was a teenager, inspired by Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, and author Terry Brooks. My first book, CassaStar, was a complete rewrite of a story I wrote during that time. My wife prodded me to submit the manuscript and Dancing Lemur Press LLC picked it up. I only wanted to write the one book, but my fans wanted more. So here I am, still writing…

 

2. Anything you would’ve done differently if you could do it all over again?

I often wonder what would’ve happened if I’d never submitted that first book. I would’ve missed out on the amazing friendships I’ve made over the past five years, though. I wish I could go back and fine tune that first book just a little bit more…

 

3. What advice would you give to new and aspiring writers?

Consider all avenues. And prepare for your life to change forever.

 

4. Is there any book you’ve written that is particularly special to you? Which one and why?

That first one, CassaStar, will always be special. It was the story that had been with me for over thirty years. CassaStorm is also special. Everything came together perfectly. I juggled three points of view and the greatest crisis the main character, Byron, had ever faced. Most readers fell in love with Byron’s son, Bassan. Considering I don’t have children, I feel blessed I was able to convey the thoughts of a ten year old boy so well.

 

5. Who would you say is your favorite character(s) from your books, and why? What is it about this character that makes him/her tick?

My Cassa series follows Byron, so he’s obviously my favorite character. Why? He’s just been with me for so long. We share little in common outside of perfectionism, but I understand him best. What makes him tick? His drive for perfection and to be the best starts the journey. But he has walls that few are allowed to cross. Connecting with others is his greatest struggle throughout the series.

 

6. Tell us about your latest project. What are you working on at the moment, and what can we expect from it?

I recently submitted my latest manuscript, a stand-alone space opera, to my publisher. And… they accepted it!! Dragon of the Stars is slated for a spring release.

 

7. Are you self-pubbed or traditionally published? What made you go for this model? What advice/tips can you share with writers working towards the same goal?

Traditionally, through a small publisher, Dancing Lemur Press LLC. I never even considered other options. Besides, I knew I couldn’t land an agent. My advice for other writers is to consider every size publisher and every possible genre for their book.

 

It’s a great pleasure to have you over in my blog. Thank you!

Thank you!!!

 

Author Bio: Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm. The author lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

Where to find Alex:    Blog      Twitter     Goodreads

 

Would you like to be featured in Behind The Scenes? I’d love to hear from you! New interviews every second and last Monday of the month.

You can also find me on Twitter: Follow @CaffeMaggieato