James McCann was born in Manitoba. This author has four books in print and co-hosts a podcast series. In this interview, you will get to learn a little more about him and what he does.
Cendrine Marrouat: Hello James, thank you for answering my questions. For those who do not know you, who are you?
James McCann: I’m a Winnipeg-born, now Vancouver resident who spends much of his time writing about things that go bump in the night.
CM: When did you know you wanted to become a writer?
JMC: To be honest, I think being a writer is just an excuse to spend my life playing for a living. I very often forget that this is a job, as “work” is not supposed to be enjoyable. So, if the question then becomes, “When did you know you never wanted to grow up?” I’d say it happens on a daily basis when I hear other adults complain about their daily grind. We go through this life once, so I say find a way to do what you love.
CM: Why did you choose to write stories geared towards teenagers and young adults?
JMC: The stories kind of chose me. I was working in the kids’ section at Chapters, when I discovered a series called, “Everworld” by K.A. Applegate (now out of print). It hooked me from the beginning, and by the time I was done with the book I knew I wanted to write for that age group. There’s a willingness to discover the unbelievable in teenagers that we lose as adults.
CM: Tell us a little more about your books. Do they have a common theme?
JMC: The common theme in my books, whether I am writing urban fantasy or realistic fiction, is the battle between good and evil. More so that the battle is not external, but exists within all of us.
CM: Would you share a short extract from one of your books?
JMC: “Man has tried to define good and evil since the dawn of his first sin. It seems to me that with every definition mankind only succeeds in furthering himself from the truth. Even after an eternity of debate the question still remains: Is good and evil a perception of the mind, the result of a single action, or a combination of the two? From my experience this is what I have learned: Mankind spends far too much time philosophizing what evil is, and far too little ending what is corrupted in himself.” - From "Rancour," Be Read Books 2011
CM: Where can people purchase the books?
JMC: They are available everywhere books are sold.
CM: Do you have a daily routine or do you let inspiration guide you?
JMC: I treat my writing like a job, even though it feels like play. Mechanics and doctors don’t wait for inspiration to hit before they work, so neither should a professional writer. I don’t have a “routine” where I sit and write at a specific time, or try and hammer out a certain number of pages, but I do try and be consistent in that I make time a few days a week (between other jobs that pay way better) so that my manuscript in progress is always growing.
What I do make sure of is not to rewrite a manuscript in progress until it is finished a first draft … even if a later chapter suddenly changes ones I have written before. My goal is to create a finished product, give myself permission to write it badly, and then edit it until it is the best I can make it.
CM: You have performed in local festivals. How different is performing compared to writing?
JMC: I am a trained actor, and have no reservations about performing. Not every writer should speak in front of an audience – I’ve seen some dreadful performances. I like the immediacy of the audience while performing. Right away I know if I have their interest, and the gratification at the end has no delay. With a book, you never know if the book is a success until the sales numbers start rolling in.
CM: You also teach creative writing in schools. What are students' reactions?
JMC: Depends on how you mean this. Reactions to my books, or to my classes? I’d say both are hits. Students like my “non-traditional”-style to writing, in that I tend to focus on “living” the story rather than writing it. If you have a character that is into martial arts, take a martial arts class. Want a scene with a potter, take a pottery class. The more experiences a writer has, the more rich his or her writing will be. As for their reaction to my books, students love feeling a part of my creative process. I show them my research, how much I’ve written, and often select students to preview the book and offer me advice.
CM: Finally, you co-host a podcast series, Authors Like Us. Would you tell us a little more about it?
JMC: Unlike other author interviews, Authors Like Us has no set questions. When Lee Fodi and I set out to create the series, our goal was to create natural conversation just to see what would happen. This works well with most authors, and it’s amazing what we’ve learned about them. Website: AuthorsLikeUs.com
CM: What is next for you?
JMC: I’m currently working on a post-apocalyptic novel and enjoying the research.
CM: How can people find more about you?
JMC: JamesMcCann.info and Facebook.
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Cendrine Marrouat is a freelance writer/reviewer, blogger, published author and translator living in Canada. Official Website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com
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