Max Elliot Anderson Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

A: Most of my life has involved the production and marketing of films, back when                churches used to rent films, client video productions, television programs, and television commercials. This has allowed me to travel all over the world for these productions. I shot Pilgrim’s Progress which was the first feature film in which Liam Neeson had a staring role. Over a number of years, I shot, produced, or directed over 500 national television commercials for True Value Hardware stores. And a PBS television special, Gospel at the Symphony, earned Emmy and Grammy nominations. I grew up in a family of seven children, have been married to Claudia for nearly fifty years, we have two children and four grandchildren.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A: My father was the author of over seventy books during his lifetime, but I never read any of them as a child. That’s because I grew up hating to read. I think it’s the primary reason I moved toward the expression of ideas through audio-visuals. But shortly after 9/11, most of my commercial client productions dried up. I began searching for another creative outlet, in case that work didn’t return. It was at that time I decided to explore why I hadn’t enjoyed reading. Based on that research, I began writing action-adventures and mysteries for kids that I would have read as a child.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?

A: Over a period of three years, I wrote thirty-five middle grade mystery and adventure manuscripts almost nonstop. This was without a contract, agent, or publisher. When I began to explore publishing opportunities, I found a lot online. My first publisher came from one of my online writing groups. They published my first six books. Since then I’ve placed thirty of those earlier projects with five publishers. Some recent titles include Snake Island, Shadow, Funny Money, The Cat Burglars, and many more. I’ve also had the opportunity to place three stories with Chicken Soup for the Soul, one with Guideposts Magazine, along with several other anthologies, short writings, and a book for adults, The Sense of Humor.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release THE ACCIDENTAL ADVENTURES OF KURT BENSON AND HIS FRIENDS RILEY AND JORDAN?

A: It’s actually a six book series, but I’ll focus on the first installment, The Cat Burglars. In this story, Kurt Benson could hardly believe there had been a burglary, and right in his own neighborhood. He was helping out his friend, Riley Pletcher, whose parents owned Pletcher’s Bed & Biscuit Kennels.

Kurt thought it was odd that his neighbor’s cat, Buffy, had been staying at the kennel while the family was away on vacation. But, when he found out the houses of four other Pletcher’s customers had also been hit, his head started spinning.

That was before he saw the copier repairman do something odd. When he thought no one could see him, the man took a sheet of paper from a clipboard on the wall, made a copy, and quickly returned the clipboard to its hook.

Kurt wondered if it was possible the repairman had something to do with all those burglaries, were they getting ready to strike again, and could Kurt figure out the mystery in time?

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for THE ACCIDENTAL ADVENTURES SERIES?

A: I thought it would be fun to develop a series where the main characters didn’t go out looking for trouble, trouble kept finding them. In the case of The Cat Burglars, trouble began right in Kurt’s own neighborhood. I also wanted to do something related to identity theft. But in this story, records about customers’ vacation schedules could provide information about houses that were unoccupied on specific dates. Other titles in this series include Funny Money, The Secret of Grandmother’s Grandfather Clock, Summer Camp Trouble, Danger Mountain, and Shadow of the Fat Man. This is a link to the Youtube video for the series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzJP7cvB9KI

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this series?

A: Looking at the series in total, I hope young readers will come away with a better understanding about honesty, greed, friendship, following the law, character, and personal responsibility. The Cat Burglars looks at why stealing is wrong, and demonstrates how important it is to notice when you see something doesn’t look right and then do something about it.

Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?

A: It would probably be the opening scene when Kurt has just found out about the burglary in his neighborhood. Here’s how the story begins.

Eleven-and-a-half-year-old Kurt Benson burst into the kitchen, skidding to a stop right before slamming into the counter.

“Mom!” he shouted as his bright, blue eyes flashed. “You aren’t gonna believe what just happened.”

His mother stopped chopping the mound of carrots in front of her, looked up and asked, “How many times do I have to tell you not to scare me like that…especially when I have a sharp knife in my hand?” She slowly placed her knife on the counter. Kurt watched as bright sunlight through the window reflected from its razor sharp edge.

“I know…I know, but I really couldn’t help it, honest.”

“All right,” she said in her usual understanding voice. “What is it this time?”

“Well, you know the Taylors just down the street?”

“You know I do. We’ve carpooled with them for the last three years.”

“I know, but did you know they were on vacation?”

“You know that, too.”

“Oh, yeah, watering their plants and stuff.”

His mother nodded.

“Well, they just came home from vacation, and guess what?”

“I give up,” she sighed.

“Somebody broke into their house and took a bunch of stuff.”

His mother gasped. “No! Really? I told Marge they needed to get an alarm. Oh, I can’t believe this.”

“I said you wouldn’t believe it.”

“But in this neighborhood?”

“Yeah, and in the same block. The police are there right now.”

Her voice turned to sadness. “What a terrible thing, and after such a nice vacation.”

Q: What inspires you to write?

A: Since most of my work involves books for young readers, I approach each project with a picture in my mind of a young child who isn’t interested in reading. I ask myself, what is it about this story, or these characters, that would cause that child to open the book, start reading, and not quit until the end? If the writing doesn’t pass that test, I know it won’t reach my intended audience.

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession?

A: Earlier in my father’s writing career, I noticed how it seemed easy for him to get his work published. At that time, he had a strong platform as a speaker and filmmaker. His mot successful book, Where to Find it in The Bible, sold over four million copies and he received excellent royalty checks. But toward the end of his life, people no longer returned his phone calls, or responded to his letters, and book proposals. If I’ve learned anything from being published, it’s how quickly the landscape changes. It isn’t enough simply to write a great story. Now, the hardest work for an author is in promoting and marketing the finished product. In addition, the publishing field, with the growth of self-publishing and eBooks, has expanded to a point where it’s difficult to be heard by the market.

Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?

A: There are a couple of things. If you feel called to write, don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t. At the same time, you don’t necessarily need to have everything all mapped out in front of you. The publishing business has a lot of twists and turns so stay flexible. Be careful not to try and sound like another writer. Discovering your own voice is critical. Above all, have fun, work hard, and enjoy the process.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A: Because I wrote so many un-agented manuscripts early on, I’ve spent most of my time in recent years polishing and updating them, locating publishers, and getting that work out there. Now, with so many books in print, and more due out soon, I’ve been concentrating on marketing and promotion. There are still many projects I’d love to write, but much of that can wait as I continue establishing as firm a foundation as possible.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?

A: My wife and I are blessed with four little granddaughters ages five down to one year. Two of those live in town, so I care for them ten days a month. Our daughter is a teacher so we get our summers off, too. We are committed to this arrangement until the girls are in school. The rest of my time is spent on the marketing side of things through my blog, social media, mailing lists, and other outlets.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

A: If someone were to type Max Elliot Anderson into their browser, there are tons of links that pop up. Specific links would include:

Blog http://booksandboys.blogspot.com

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=max+elliot+anderson

FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/max.e.anderson

Twitter https://twitter.com/MaxEAnderson

Others include Linkedin, writer’s groups, and a number of book trailers on YouTube.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?

A: Much has changed since I began writing. I expect that trend only to accelerate. So it’s important for writers to keep up. Writing can be discouraging at times, you may want to give up, and rejection is a fact of life. But when I hear back from young readers, their parents or teachers, it makes any of the negative experiences fade away. Keep in mind that no one will be as interested in your work as you will. And today, it’s up to authors to be actively involved in the marketing and promotion of their work.