When did you realize that you wanted to become
a writer?
When I was in 4th Grade I won a little
literary contest going on at my school. I had already written a few little
short stories prior to that one but they had not won anything or really
received any recognition from anyone. After seeing that people, including
teachers, found my 4th Grade story to be not only good, but
containing a solid message, writing became something I thought could be
something really amazing in my future.
Is being an Author all you dreamed of, or did
it just happen? The best and worst thing about it?
I suppose it just happened. I self-published a book
when I was 20 years old and have two more in print since. There’s not too much
of a difference to me because I don’t introduce myself like “Hi, I’m Michael
Pritsos, author.” The best and worst things about it would be reviews, I
suppose, whenever they’re good or bad and if they’re from typical readers or
experienced reviewers. A great review is always a great feeling, and a poor
review feels just as bad as a great one feels good.
What was the very first thing you ever wrote?
When I was in elementary school I wrote several
little stories, including my contest winner, but also one piggybacking off of
the movie Top Gun, a short story I called The Dimension Tree, and a longer story about a couple fighter pilots
that could have easily lived in a Star Wars universe.
What made you create (your book)? How did it come to you?
Severance was a collaborative effort between my friend Jessica
Mastorakos and me. The two of us wanted to write a book together but could not
for the life of us decide on a time period. At almost the same time, we both
practically exclaimed “Let’s just make a time period up!” and so Severance’s fantasy time period came
about. After a few days of collaborating on an outline and where we wanted this
tale to go, we started writing and so the story was born.
Who is your literary hero?
Bernard Cornwell is my all-time favorite author.
Almost every work I’ve read of his is phenomenal.
How much of your characters are based on your
traits or someone you know personally?
I believe that every writer incorporates a big
portion of themselves in their characters, whether they know it or not.
Characters are a reflection of what writers think of themselves or want to be.
This can also be true of people that writers know. Our experiences and
personalities mold how we write.
Describe your main character in six words.
Brave, resolute,
cunning, strong, determined, and moral.
Describe the world you’ve created in six words.
Massive, broad, uncharted, beautiful, lush, oceanic
What scene was your favorite to write?
There was a particular murder scene that, even
though I clearly knew what was coming, was incredibly tense to write. I did not
want to pull the trigger, quite literally, on a certain character but it had to
be done in order to further the story and create this world. I don’t know if
that was my favorite one to write, but it has certainly remained indelible in
my mind.
What scene was the hardest for you to write?
Any death of an integral character, whether they are
good or bad, is typically difficult to write. Sometimes it’s a situation where
it needs to happen to further the story, but that does not make it any more
difficult to kill off one of your creations.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on two different projects.
One, entitled The Cost of a Crown, is
a historical fiction novel about the year Norman Conquest of 1066. Cost is approaching its final editing
process right now. My writing project at the moment is the sequel to Severance. The sequel is entitled Dissolution, Book 2 in The Sovereign.
Goals? Accomplishments? Improvements?
My goals are fairly solid and just include getting these books out during
the year 2015. Dissolution will
probably come out first as The Cost of a
Crown needs to be shopped around to some literary agents, but who knows
what the future has in store for my books? In terms of improvements, that’s
sort of a constant goal that I have for myself. I’m always going to chase that
dream of being better, crisper, and stronger as a writer and a person.
What is on your nightstand?
A lamp
and a book. The Empty Throne, by
Bernard Cornwell.
Are there any authors or books you recommend?
If you have never read it, which I kind of doubt,
read Lord of the Flies. It’s
phenomenal. If you have, then read The
Warlord Trilogy by Bernard Cornwell, starting with The Winter King.
What's your favorite thing to do when you're
not writing?
I love the gym, practically at an obsessive level,
but also love watching movies with my wife, reading good books, and playing the
occasional video game.
