Paul:
Although I’ve lived in California since the early 1970s, I grew up in Pennsylvania. There, I took advantage of my closeness to Pennsylvania State University, majoring in meteorology for three degrees. My entire career has been with the Navy, where I’ve been a research scientist, working in areas as diverse as weather modification, numerical weather prediction, and artificial intelligence.
I came to California when the facility I was working at in Norfolk, Virginia closed. I retired from the Naval Research Laboratory in 2001 to write fiction fulltime. You’ll notice that the two principal characters in my thriller novels, Victor Silverstein and Linda Kipling, work where I did. In fact, Silverstein has my old office. I try to interject one other interest of mine into my novels. Early in my career I spent two years studying magic so that I could pass the professional magician test for joining the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Whenever I can, I weave magic into my stories.
My wife Becky is originally from Kansas. She puts up with my writing by tolerating my strict schedule and agreeing to go with me to locations important to my book. For example, we spent a week in Bermuda finding the locations for various chapters in my first novel, Category 5 (someone had to do it). For Prophecy, we did the same in Washington, DC and Pennsylvania. When we locate suitable locations for my chapter scenes, I take the GPS coordinates. If you go to my web site, you’ll see Google Earth pictures for most locations in my books.
Norm:
What do you think over the years has driven you as a writer? What made you want to change careers from a scientist to a writer?
Paul:
In terms of my job as a research scientist, I wrote all the time. However, that writing was technical writing (which uses passive voice a lot—one of the habits I had to break when I began to write fiction); in comparison to fiction, technical writing is not much fun.
In terms of a career change, when I had the opportunity to retire and change jobs, I did so—even though, at the time, I was doing some of the most interesting research I’d ever done. I figured that unless I made the leap then, that I would miss my opportunity to pursue my dream. Looking back, I realize that I always had an interest in writing. Early on, however, I also realized that I didn’t yet have the maturity to progress in that area. I chose science as my first career choice.
Norm:
Could you briefly tell our readers about your two books, Category 5 and Prophecy?
Paul:
Both books are of the thriller genre, featuring a government scientist who must face down either people out to do the world harm or, in the case of Prophecy, a scientific discovery that could cause a lot of havoc.
To make things interesting, you need characters that are bigger than life. Dr. Victor Mark Silverstein, my principal protagonist, is one such person: a black Jew with a fascinating background. Further, he’s a genius, knows it, and has the arrogance to prove it. The secondary protagonist, Silverstein’s colleague, Dr. Linda Kipling, holds her own and, in many scenes, outshines Silverstein. In fact, she has become so dominant that I have decided to make her the principal lead for my third book in the series.
Here are the one-sentence “hooks” for my books. For Category 5, “A Navy scientist confronts his past—and the mastermind who threatens the U.S. with an environmental catastrophe.” For Prophecy, “A U.S. Navy scientist becomes entangled in a discovery that threatens the world’s religions—a “prophecy” gene that has lain hidden since the Creation.”
Norm:
Can you tell us how you found representation for your books? Did you pitch them to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish these types of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?
Paul:
I pitched each book to well over a hundred agents (and a few publishers) and came up dry. In fact, I did have an agent for Category 5, but I later found out that she wasn’t the best of agents. Later, I figured that with the minor success I had with Category 5, that it would be easier to land an agent for Prophecy. Not true.
Even though I thought I had a killer query letter, not one agent asked to see the Prophecy manuscript. Those who would talk to me said that, in today’s environment, it was nearly impossible to get a publisher interested in a new, unknown author. As a result, I’ve published both books with print-on-demand publisher, iUniverse. Although I would have much preferred using a traditional publisher, I must say that the process with iUniverse was smooth and ended up with a product that I am proud of. I’m hoping that with further success with the sequel, Prophecy, that I will have a better chance in snagging an agent with novel three.
Norm:
Do you have a mentor, if so, who and why?
Paul:
Yes. When I first started to take writing fiction seriously, I hooked up with Arline Chase, a prolific author and a publisher. I did this by way of my short story writing. As you can imagine, writing short stories is an excellent way to learn the art of storytelling. I wrote short stories for years before I retired, and full time for an entire year after I retired. In those early days, Arline would critique my stories, introducing me to the concepts important in fiction. I still go to her for advice.
Norm:
Do you have a local writing community or fellow writers that you look to for support and advice?
Paul:
Actually, I do not. Arline was my mentor, and I learned most everything from her, on my own (self-help books, magazines, etc.), and from writing conferences. That said, I have a stable of readers who review my books. More important is that I have a primary reader, Robin Brody, who reviews my work chapter by chapter and keeps me on the straight and narrow. If there is a problem as I develop a chapter, he finds it. Besides Robin, my wife Becky reads my work as it develops. (My answer to the next question is relevant here.)
Norm:
How do you approach the work of writing? As a follow up, how do you come up with ideas for what you write? What methods do you use to flesh out your idea to determine if it’s salable?
Paul:
In terms of the basic concept for each book, it takes months of brainstorming with my primary reader, Robin Brody. The goal is to come up with an idea that is interesting, a little far-fetched (but still plausible), and one around which a story line can be developed. Beyond that, I should address the way I write.
At writing conferences, you discover that fiction writers fall into one of two camps: those who completely plan out their story ahead of time (creating outlines that sometimes run to 40-50 pages), and those who make it up as they go.
Those who outline say that this approach avoids false starts and produces a better story, and is the only way to go. On the other side, the make-it-up-as-you-go writers say that the outliners lose spontaneity, which creates much of the interest in a novel.
Because I am a planner by nature (my wife says that I am not a spontaneous person), you’d expect that I’d fall on the side of the outliners. As it happens, I do not. Once I have the basic concept down, and I have a vague idea of the ending to the book, I let things evolve. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this approach to new writers, but it has worked for me. In terms of the last question above, whether my concept is salable, I guess that’s just part of the developmental process. If the overall concept is interesting, the book will be salable more because of the story (that the author creates) that connects the first page to the last.
Norm
Do you recommend other writers find a niche or specialty? What have been the rewards for you?
Paul:
The first thing a writer needs to decide is whether to write fiction or nonfiction. Assuming that the writer chooses fiction, I would piggyback on my suggestion earlier: start with short stories to find your niche.
During the years that I wrote short stories, I tried different genres: humor, fantasy, young adult, romance, mystery—and thriller. I found that I had the most fun, and success, writing thrillers. I enjoyed the fast-paced, “clock-ticking” concept. The rewards for me are that I have written two thrillers that, hopefully, keep readers on the edges of their seats.
Norm:
How important is it for aspiring writers to go to conferences? How do you know that a conference is worth your time and money?
Paul:
Good question. I went to the Maui Writers Conference twice. It was expensive but I had the chance to meet other authors, listen and learn from many great seminars, and pitch my novel to an agent.
I’d say that aspiring writers consider going to at least one or two—for the reasons I just mentioned. Beyond that, I’m not sure that there is much payoff. There are numerous regional conferences (close to home) that a writer might be able to take advantage of.
Norm:
Many writers want to be published, but not everyone is cut out for a writer's life. What are some signs that perhaps someone is not cut out to be a writer and should try to do something else for a living?
Paul:
I will answer this for those interested only in fiction. The obvious first sign is that the aspiring writer, after numerous tries at putting together a short story, has no success. Even if those first stories are no good (like my first ones were), the new writer must have the perseverance to see each story through.
As has been said many times before, people often like the idea of being a writer more than they really want to be a writer. And I think that success has less to do with talent than it does with discipline and determination. I think that I have a smidgen of talent but not much more. But, I took the time to learn the craft of writing by repeating the writing process many times with short stories. Short stories are “bite-size.” Tackling something like a novel is best left to when the writer has mastered fundamental skills.
Norm:
Any unique ways you'll be marketing your books that are different from how others authors market their books?
Paul:
One thing that I learned (with Category 5) is not to spend a lot of money on print ads. In my experience they provide little payback. For Prophecy, the sequel, I used that same money to create a professional-looking web site and to hire a publicist.
One avenue of sales that I’ve had good success with—which many authors avoid—are book signings. Borders Books in the San Jose area of California have been very good to me, having me in for dozens of signings. At my first signings, I considered myself doing well when I sold upwards of 15 books. Now, I routinely sell between 25 and 40. And one addition I made fairly early was to ask for each buyer’s name and address. With that list, I’ve built up a database. In my marketing for Prophecy, I am writing to some 500 of those who bought my first book.
One other thing I might mention. In both of my books, I start with a Prologue based upon an historical event. For Category 5, that event was the Arab-Israeli War of 1973.
Prophecy starts prior to one of the most destructive environmental disasters ever to befall the United States—the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, flood of 1889, in which over 2200 people perished. In fact, what occurs in the Prophecy prologue carries through the entire book. Because of this association, I sent a copy of my book to personnel at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial; they want to include the book in their gift shop. In conjunction with my publicist, I’m hoping to get a positive review from a newspaper in the Johnstown area.
Norm:
How have you used the Internet to boost your writing career?
Paul:
Importantly, my publicist, Penny Sansevieri of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., believes whole-heartedly in Internet promotion. That was the reason I decided to upgrade my WEB SITE; if she drives potential buyers to my site, she says that it is important that the home page be attractive, interesting, and draw them in. (I’ve had a web site all along but it was hardly an appealing one.) As time goes by, we will see how successful the Internet approach is. The way I see it is that the Internet is just one aspect of a rounded publicity program.
Norm:
How do our readers find out more about Paul Mark Tag and what is next for you?
Paul:
I feel good about my new WEB SITE (designed by Jeniffer Thompson of Monkey C Media). I would ask those interested to visit me there. There are short articles about writing to read, a biography, Google Earth photographs for most of my chapter locations, and synopses of, and excerpts from, my books. If something is missing that you need, my address is there for you to write. I’d love to hear from you.
In terms of what’s next, Robin Brody and I, after months of discussion, have come up with the concept for novel three (there is no title yet). You probably noticed that novel one, Category 5 (which refers to hurricanes), plays off my profession of meteorology. I deviated from meteorology in novel two, tackling instead the genome and genetics. Because of my training, however, I’ve felt guilty in ignoring my discipline in Prophecy. So, to make amends, I’m returning to meteorology in novel three—and will tackle global climate change. This subject seems to be the topic of the decade, and I’d be a fool to ignore the possibilities. And, by the way, in case you’re wondering there will be no subtleties in my version—sinister forces much worse than anything you’ve heard in the news are at work.
Norm:
Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?
Paul:
I just want to thank you for this opportunity to address your questions. Please refer to my WEB SITE to find out more about me and my novels.
Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.
The above interview was conducted by: The Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com, Norm Goldman, B.A. LL.L, Retired Title Attorney: Norm is also a travel writer and together with his artist wife, Lily, the couple meld Norm's words with Lily's art. To check out their travel site click on Sketchandtravel.com Click here to view Norm’s Reviews & Interviews.
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Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com, is excited to have as our guest, Paul Mark Tag, PhD, author of Category 5 and Prophecy. 
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