Welcome to the latest in my series of author interviews from talented writers around the world. Today I am pleased to introduce the author, Tadeous Furlepa, creator of the upcoming military biography, Limited Duty – A stateside soldiers WWII experience. Tadeous is a first time author and at the stage of selecting his path – Traditional or self-pubbing. As such it has been interesting discovering his take on the pros and cons of each route.
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a 58 year old, first time writer. I live with my wife in South Florida.
2. When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I started writing in 1995, and I finished my first book in August of 2018.
3. How did you choose the genre you write in and where do you get your ideas?
The genre was chosen based on wanting to learn about my father’s WWII military experiences.
4. Do you ever experience writer’s block? Yes
5. Do you work with an outline, or just write? Outline
6. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
John Stanford, Stephen Ambrose, John Grisham, Og Mandino
7. Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
This is the first book I have completed and it’s not quite ready for the publication stage. I am starting to negotiating with editors/proof-readers which is tough. It is hard to know who to trust especially in such a crowded market. It is a matter of trying to find out who has experience e in my genre and if they have worked with any other authors of which I have heard. I am weighing up my options on whether to self publish or go the more traditional route. I guess it comes down to the freedom of self-publishing and having full control over working with a company who have a track record of generating excellent publications and marketing them. That said, I have submitted my manuscript to two publishing companies, and it is currently under review.
8. How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?
Marketing is still something I need to understand. I have been using social media to get my book noticed but it is tough. Generating follows on twitter and facebook seems to be an art form in itself. I will get there though. If I don’t have faith, who will?
9. Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
Limited Duty began as a project to chronicle my father’s WWII military experiences. He was drafted into the United States Army, after failing to be accepted by the Army Air Corps, and the United States Marine Corps. He entered the U.S. Army with the designation “Limited duty” as a result of having lost an eye in a childhood accident. I take the reader through my father’s life leading up to his induction into the Army, and his experiences until he returned home four years later.
10. What project are you working on now?
I have a book in the works, this time about my grandparents, and their journey immigrating to America. I find history fascinating, especially social history and my family in particular. I can only begin to understand the hardship they must have faced when immigrating from Poland to the United States, driven only by their desire to fulfil their American dream. I am currently in the early development/research phase but it is looking good so far!
11. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
As a new writer I appreciate all criticism as I believe it helps to refine my writing style. I take criticism as a learning opportunity, and a means to improve.
The toughest critique was combined with my greatest review from a New York Times best selling author I met at a writer’s conference. She asked for submissions and I provided her with a excerpt from one of the chapters. She reviewed the 15 or so pages, and remarked to me that I had a million dollar story, I just needed to develop who the main character was, my father. She said the reader needed to be intrigued by who my father was as a person, because he had so many fascinating experiences.
12. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Don’t give up, and take all criticism as constructive.
13. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
My desire is that my readers will be enamored with who my father was as an individual. Be inspired by all the obstacles that he had to overcome in his personal life, and during his military service.
Please join me in thanking Tadeous for sharing his experiences as a writer. If you would like to ask any further questions, please either use the facilities available below or contact Tadeous via the following links.
Please show your appreciation by following him on Twitter and Instagram:
Social media contacts:
Mark H. Jackson, Author 