By way of introduction, here is William’s bio:
William has been writing for more than thirty years and enjoys the cathartic release of diving into a good story with a flawed hero.
He began his military service in the US Army, retired in 1993, and took a job teaching high school in inner-city Baltimore, Maryland for the next thirteen years.
He is happily married to a true southern belle. They have been married fifty-one years. They have four grown children and seven grandchildren. William lives with his wife in a beautiful small home on a quiet waterfront in northeast Florida.
Hello, William, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
Thank you for having me.
When did the writing bug ensnare you?
I started writing fiction in middle school, but I didn’t become serious about it until I deployed overseas. We worked twelve-hour shifts, 12 on and 12 off. So, when I got a few hours to myself, I wrote my first book.
While researching and interviewing subject-matter experts for the story, many of them told me they had always wanted to write a novel, or they had started writing, but had not finished it.
I decided during that period in my life that I would not be one of those people who never wrote or never finished their books. So, I wrote furiously and finished my third draft one year later.
Is writing your full-time profession?
No. I am a retired military officer and high school teacher.
I have a lot more time to write now than I did during my career, so I am enjoying the experience of retirement and hobby writing. Not that I don’t take it seriously.
I try to spend several hours on my computer each day. But my full-time work now is taking care of my disabled wife.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing since 1989, so that would be over 35 years.
How many published books have you written?
I have self-published seven books but haven’t broken into the traditional publishing arena.
Which genres do you write?
My first book was a Men’s Military action/adventure novel. I wanted to write using my experience and wrote about men in combat and their lives afterwards.
My second book was an Espionage thriller. In the early 2000s, a friend with spina bifida inspired me to write a series of books about a young boy born with spina bifida who got suckedinto an adventure game on his computer.
I recently rewrote the three books and published the first one called The Farnsworth Chronicles. Each time he goes inside the computer, he has to give up something in order to walk. It is a Middle Grade Modern Day Fantasy.
My current genre is really narrow because I wanted to write the stories which were in my heart. That genre is Christian/LDS Action/Adventure Thrillers.
What are you working on now?
A series in which the hero/protagonist is like an Indiana Jones and also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.
Somewhere along the line, he is going to meet up with my hero from my current series and they will have a major impact on the life decisions and life goals of each other.
Where do you find inspiration for your characters?
I watched the first several seasons of Ancient Aliens and similar shows with mysteries to get ideas for my books.
I watch for shows, magazines, and books that deal with little-known pieces of information I can use to create fictional stories based on fact and involve characters of strength, faith, and love.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
I’ve done the voiceovers for each of my books, so they are now available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
I enjoy taking my own stories and giving voice with my interpretation of how they sound. I am not very good at accents, but I enjoy the work and find it the most rewarding.
What advice would you give to authors just starting out?
Write your first book until it is finished before you decide to go back and edit it. It is more important to finish it than it is to make it perfect when you finish. If you try to edit as you go, it may take you many years to finish, and you may eventually give up trying.
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
I am a very strong believer in God, Jesus Christ, and in modern-day prophets. I am trying to write my books in a way to help readers understand how God intervenes in our lives without taking away our free will/free agency to make our own decisions.
What message are you sharing in your books?
God allows us to make our own decisions. However, when we appeal to him for help and subsequently decide to do what is not the will of God, he will arrange things in our life to bring us back to the right path.
The trick is to live the way God wants us to live all the time, and not just when it is most convenient for us.
Who has influenced your writing the most?
I started with Tom Clancy (Jack Ryan), moved to Vince Flynn (Mitch Rapp), then to Lee Child (Jack Reacher), and now Mark Greaney (Cort Gentry), and the many characters of David Baldacci.
Can you see a trend? These authors write about characters I find appealing, and their books align with my writing interests, but with a Christian influence.
Can you picture Jack Reacher as a man with strong Christian principles, caught in situations where violence is necessary for survival and protection? Meet Orson Kincaid, the protagonist of my story.
When you’re not writing, where can we find you?
I am a family man. Now that I am retired, I try to spend all my time with or doing things for my family.
An elf named 12-25 approaches you. He’s sneezing, wheezing, coughing and there’s a strange tattoo of a snoring dog on his cheek. What do you do?
I would immediately step back and search for the animal control representative, known as 24-7, to report a stray and ill dog.
What are your most effective marketing strategies?
I have a cover designer who is a genius and a marketing manager who gets my books and audiobooks out there very effectively.
I try to write regularly for my blog, and let my readers know what kind of books they will get if they select my books to read.
Do you have a website/Facebook page, etc?
Yes. I have a blog I write at author-william-staub.com. I also have a Facebook and an Instagram page on which I make appearances.
Where can we find your books?
All my books are print-on-demand. Amazon is the main printer.