Wow, it's been a week already. As my great-grandmother used to say, the days are long but the years are short.
Today's tribute in my Author Q&A series is Steve Sierer, author of the Kindle Vella: Squared Circle. Squared Circle is a unique serial that takes a look at the behind-the-scenes lives of wrestlers, producers, and all the people who bring the spectacle on the mat to life. It jostled a lot of memories of the Attitude Era. I've watched many clips of old matches long since forgotten, but still dear to my heart, since opening the first Episode a little over a month ago. It's certainly not your typical Vella romance or gory urban fantasy. If you're looking for a change of pace, I hope you check it out.
My review of it will be live tomorrow. With that, let's meet Steve.
1. Tell the world a little bit about who you are. Open format. This can be about where you’re from, your favorite food or place to vacation, how old you were when you had your first kiss, or even what your pet peeves are. You’re a writer. Take it away.
I was born in Ohio but have been a proud Alaskan for 42 of my 52 years of life. I have a wife of 30 years and two young men I am pleased to call my sons. I have always been an introverted extrovert. I can be outgoing and such, I would just prefer not to most of the time. I started off drawing comic books when I was a wee lad. That was my chosen artistic path until I was in my 20s. Seeing little improvement in my abilities and doubting any career possibilities, I abandoned drawing. I was and still am always full of ideas for stories. That seemed like a good avenue to go down, so I began writing. I am finally brave enough to share my writing. My hope is for some level of success in life from writing.
2. We all know writing is a marathon where many stories don’t make it across the finish line. Tell us about the story you were writing when you stopped and thought to yourself “Hey, I like this and kind of want other people to validate my soul.”
For me, it wasn’t so much my revelation as it was a close friends. I was dabbling with writing assorted stories and genres and she read some. Then she shared one with a published Author. He loved it and my style and suggested that if this wasn’t what I was already doing, I ought to pursue it.
3. Why do you think it is so hard for writers to showcase their work to people they know, yet they crave the unsolicited opinions of strangers?
I don’t necessarily crave other people’s opinions. I write what I have in mind to write. Most of my friends and relatives are not at all attracted to the genres I write in, so I don’t write with them in mind. I write for myself.
4. When did you start fabricating the life events and thoughts of individuals in your head?
I was not even 10 when I began creating a comic book world filled with characters and history. I pursued that into my 30s when I actually published a comic book. Unfortunately, it gained no traction because small press publishing wasn’t a thing yet, so it died a quiet death.
5. What makes a story good?
If the characters are good, they can carry almost any story. Characterization and dialogue.
6. What genres and types of endings are you partial to?
I am partial to fantasy and soft sci-fi. Not sure about endings…
7. Give your take on the publishing industry vs indie publishing and why you’ve chosen the specific routes you have for your various works.
Just getting started. Traditional publishing seems like some insurmountable mountain to climb. Self-publishing gives me more control over my destiny. Vella is an experiment that, for me, merited the effort. I think since I was already used to writing in a comic book format, episodic storytelling felt like and easier avenue to start on.
8. Have you ever written something that has made you laugh/cry? What was it, why did it make you laugh/cry, and where can other people find it?
Episode 5 of Squared Circle brings me to tears every time I re-read it. And definitely when I was writing it. There are a lot of personal elements inserted in the episode that I dealt with in therapy. It may be a disjointed episode, but for me it was a necessary one.
9. Tell us about the worst experience you ever had with a peer in the writing industry. Is the situation resolved or ongoing? Why?
I haven’t had any negative experiences yet.
10. Give us all your thoughts on Kindle Vella. Why did you choose this route for your stories? Do you think opening it up to an international audience will hurt your Vellas or help them? Do you wish there were more long-form serial publishers available to you? Do you see it as its own thing or just an avenue to cultivate stories before going to the traditional self-publishing route?
Vella is an experiment that, for me, merited the effort. I think since I was already used to writing in a comic book format, episodic storytelling felt like and easier avenue to start on. I feel that opening Vella up globally would be a great thing, especially for niche stories like mine. A broader audience with varied tastes can only be a good thing, IMO. I know there are a couple of other avenues to take my serialized works, but Vella is the easiest to work with for me at this time. I feel that Vella can be it’s own thing, and it is an interesting way to write, but ultimately, I see it as a preview of what to expect out of me in long form novels I plan to self-publish.
11. Give us a rundown of your Vella that you would like others to read.
Squared Circle is a gripping novel that delves into the world of wrestling, revealing the lives of the wrestlers behind the glitz and glamour. Squared Circle offers a unique perspective on the world of wrestling and is a must-read for any wrestling fan. This book will transport you to the world of wrestling, where you will witness the training, the backstage politics, and the intense rivalries that make up this world. The characters in Squared Circle are more than just wrestlers; they are individuals with their own aspirations, longings, and anxieties. Through an intimate exploration of each of them, you'll come to comprehend the driving forces that underpin their behavior. You’ll be on the edge of your seat from start to finish. From the dark corners of backstage to the bright lights of the ring, Squared Circle offers a glimpse into a world that is both fascinating and incredible.
12. What five Vellas, not your own, do you think readers should check out?
N/A
13. No one ends on 13 questions. They’re too scared. We’re going to tempt fate. Why do you write?
I write simply to clear some of the traffic in my mind.
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