Name:

Hometown: Aubrey (Dallas) Texas

Book Title: The Alaska Chronicles

Genre: Nonfiction/Adventure

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Keith A. Nelson (KAN): A young man just out of High School travels to Alaska.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

KAN: I thought that it would be a good idea to write all of this down while I still remembered the details.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

KAN: It was intermittent….a chapter at a time over about 18 months.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

KAN: This book used mostly real names of the characters. In other writing, I look at things such as age, region, personality, demographics, etc.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

KAN: I try to think through it….tweaking the plot if necessary so there is a better flow. However, before I write I usually have put it together in my mind.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

KAN: I like writing epilogues. It can be used to explain things and give a different time perspective to what has happened in the story.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

KAN: The hitchhiker George Heath. I’d love to talk to him after all these years.

b. One fictional character:

KAN: Mr. Spock in Star Trek (you said fictional).

c. One famous person (living or dead):

KAN: Elon Musk…what a bright guy. I’d love to pick his brain.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

KAN: Reading (obviously), current events, target shooting, photography, collecting various things.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

KAN: No…but I should have. I’ve always relied on my memory, which was excellent in my youth but not so much these days.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

KAN: I’ll wait until I get encouraging information on sales before I celebrate….but even then I’m pretty stoic.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

KAN: A casting guy I am not, and I don’t know too many young actors now. I would hope they were realistic and appropriate for the parts.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

KAN: They were very patient with me. I am a bit particular about my writing and they rolled with it and didn’t complain.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

KAN: This is a tough one…so many books, but I will list 5 that had an influence on me.

Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

When the Lion Feeds – Wilbur Smith

The Old Man and the Sea – Hemmingway

The Gods Themselves – Isaac Asimov

The Green Berets – Robin Moore (Robin became a friend of mine)

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

KAN: Keep working your craft and don’t get discouraged by rejection.

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