Today I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Patrick Hodges, author of Joshua’s Island. 

How did you get the idea for your book?

In January 2014, I started to get nostalgic about my middle school years.  There were a lot of great memories, but some bad ones too.  I began to fantasize about what it might have been like to relive those times, but turn them into something better. It started with standing up to the bullies, and doing so in a way that also earned me the respect of my peers.  And of course, there had to be a girl involved.  So I started writing chapters in my head, and then, nearly a year later, the entire story is out there for the world to see!

How long have you known you wanted to write?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I never harbored a single thought about writing fiction until the idea for Joshua’s Island came into my head.  Now, the sky’s the limit!

Do you have any children?

No, just a cat and a dog that THINK they’re children.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Winning the school spelling bee in the fifth grade.  A moment of pure exhilaration.

Were you bullied as a child?

Yes, but it was mostly mental and emotional, not physical.  Joshua gets it so much worse than I ever did, poor kid.

Do you have any literary influences?

I really haven’t read all that much in my lifetime, mostly novelizations of my favorite sci-fi franchises like Dr. Who, Star Trek and Star Wars.  But if I had to name my favorite authors based on their literary styles, I’d say Douglas Adams, Timothy Zahn and Terrance Dicks.  Always entertaining and easy to read.

Are any of your characters based on people you know?

Most of them are, in fact. Joshua is, of course, based on me, and all of his school friends were based on classmates of mine. The only completely made-up characters in the book are Eve (and her family) and Kelsey.  I even kept the names the same.  My friends Rick and David, for example… I am still friends them with to this day.  Thank God for Facebook!

What would you like to tell other aspiring authors?

Be yourself, and don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have the right to tell your own story.  But always remember that readers have certain expectations when it comes to basic things like spelling, grammar and punctuation, and its up to you to meet those expectations.  To that end, a competent editor can be worth their weight in gold.

Is there a way that anyone who loves your book to keep up to date with your writing?

I’m working on getting an author website set up, but until that happens, they can always send me a message on Facebook or drop me a line at [email protected]. I can also be found on Twitter at @Shrykespeare.

What is your favorite spot for writing?

Anywhere in my house that’s distraction-free.  Which includes the “kids.”

Do you listen to music while writing?

No, but I do love to listen to it in between spurts of creativity.  It helps relax the brain!

Do you have a favorite snack that you eat while writing?

Anything with peanut butter.

Do you write longhand or do you just write on your computer?

Oh, on the computer.  My handwriting sucks, and I would never force anyone to read it!

Do you have a website?

Not yet, but hopefully very soon.  I’m so bad at things like that, and I have a friend helping me create one. He’s a pro at it, but he’s also got a very busy schedule.

Patrick is also competing in the Young Adult category in the Book Bzz Writing Competition. Click here to vote for him.

Thank you so much, Patrick, for being my first author interview and good luck on your future writing ventures. You can find my review of Joshua’s Island here.