Frequently Asked Questions
Twenty Questions
Over the years, people have sought out Byron Edwards for his advice. He is constantly being asked his opinion on certain topics. And, at book signings in particular, specific questions seem to pop up with a degree of regularity. The following section, in question-and-answer format, in no particular order, is an attempt to address some of the most frequently asked questions that Byron receives:
1. I too would like
to write. What suggestion do you have for a beginner writer to get started? I
seem to have trouble getting started?
Take out some paper and something with which to write and begin. Or crank up the
computer and begin. Start with “Once upon a time” if you can think of nothing
else. But the main thing is simply to begin writing something.
2. What is your favorite novel?
Lost Horizon by James Hilton.
3. What is your favorite comic?
Uncle Scrooge by Walt Disney.
4. What are your working on now?
Another novel.
5. Have any of your books been made
into a movie yet?
I appreciate the “yet.” I had an option on one book,
Secrets of Lost Atlantis,
but the movie never got made. It was due to some political
infighting among the producers. It had nothing to do with my book. As “yet,”
none have been made into a movie. However, I do not need a book to be made into
a movie to validate myself as a writer. My readers do that for me and I
certainly appreciate it. I would like for a book (or two or three) to be made
into a movie but am not losing any sleep over it if it does not happen. I have
recently signed a contract with a literary agency that has a Book-to-Film
Division. They are extremely confident that they can convince a movie production
company to make a film from my book, Lips.
As soon as something definite is signed, I will announce it here on this
website.
6. Do you ever write anything other than books?
Yes. My most recent published writing was in the Winter 2010 issue of
Designer. Designer is a quarterly academic journal published by the
University and College Design Association. This publication goes primarily
to colleges throughout the United States and Canada. With my article, they
also published two of my photographs. The title of my article is Art?
How do we define what our imaginations reflect? It is not available
online until a year after the publication date. I used to write articles for
magazines under a pen name. But I don't do that anymore. I am currently
concentrating on my next novel.
7. What is your IQ?
Over 140.
8. Are you married?
Yes. I am a fortunate man in that I have married my best
friend, Vivian. Not only am I in love with her but I actually like her. At lot
of men can't seem to say that about their wives these days and I am sorry for
them. People have told me that only a man who clearly and completely understands
genuine love could have written my novel Dawn.
I don't claim to completely understand love, but I do know that it is the most
powerful force in the universe.
9. What is your opinion of politicians
in America?
I think the majority of them are crooks and about 98% of them are liars. I do
not think the Constitution ever intended that people make a career out of being
a politician. A Legislator (both at the State and Federal levels) was supposed
to serve his term and then go back to his real job. I have an extremely low
opinion of politicians.
10. What is your favorite large city?
Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.
11. What is your favorite state in the
United States?
I love nature and for pure natural beauty, Maine. Standing on the top of Mt.
Battie and looking out on Camden Harbor and the Penobscot Bay can be a spiritual
experience.
12. What is your favorite Canadian
province?
Prince Edward Island. The green of PEI is stunningly beautiful. The people there
are wonderful.
13. What is your opinion of the public
schools in America?
I think, primarily, they are disgraceful. If I were a parent today, I would do
everything I could to get my children into a private school. That is not always
possible and, consequently, parents need to supplement the public schools with
their own resources as much as possible. Public schools have been, in the past
thirty years, devastated by a combination of political correctness, local and
state politics, teacher unions, a general lowering of standards and mediocre
education schools at the collegiate level.
14. Do you sell autographed photos of
yourself?
No.
15. I have read
Lips and found it to be a deeper book than it appears to be on the
surface. And it has a touch of something that is not like other novels. I do
like that “something.” Your publisher describes it as “quirky and unique style.”
I’m not sure what that means but I do like it. Are your books “quirky?”
In a way, yes. For example, Dawn is,
in some ways, a historical novel. But it takes place in the future.
16. Do you do public speaking
engagements and chat room interviews?
Yes. For details of how this can be arranged, please click on "Speaking
Engagements" or "Chat Rooms" at the top of the page.
17. From where do you get all the ideas
for your books?
From my imagination.
18. Would you mind if I sent a sample
of my writing to you to get your opinion of it and, perhaps, to make some
suggestions?
Please don't send me any of your writings. First of all, I do not have the time
to review them and give you my opinion. And, even if I did, what would you have?
Another writer's opinion. If you sent the same material to another writer and
got his opinion, it would probably be different than mine. I have found that
writers do not make good reviewers of others' works. One reason for this is that
they see a concept and immediately think of how they would write it. When
someone doesn't take the same approach, well then, their writing style is
suspect.
I'm afraid that any material that is sent to me I have to
dispose of without reading it. I hope you understand.
19. How has the Internet changed the
book business?
I love bookstores but I have drastically cut my book purchases in bookstores
over the past three or four years due primarily to the Internet. I think the
Internet is wonderful. You can go, for instance, to
www.bn.com (Barnes & Noble) and find information and reviews on every
book that is in print and many that are no longer in print. I especially enjoy
the section where they allow people who have read the book to write in and
express an opinion about it. I have found this helpful. When you are ready to
order a book, a few clicks and it is on its way to your front door. There is no
traffic and you never hear, “I’m sorry, but we do not have any copies of that
book in the store right now. We can order it for you and it’ll be here in a
week.” With the Internet, we can all order it ourselves and it will be delivered
to our homes in a few days. Internet prices are usually less than a bookstore
and that certainly helps. I think that the Internet will soon account for more
book sales than bookstores and eventually will take over the market.
20. Let me take this spot to thank everyone who has read one of my books. I am extremely grateful to you for taking the time to do that. I hope you found the time to be well spent.