Author Spotlights : Chris Bostic

In the upcoming weeks I will be spotlighting some of my fellow authors. This week I'd like to introduce you to Chris Bostic. Who has written the brilliant new novel FUGITIVES FROM NORTHWOODS

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In early December 2012, a good friend of mine- Chris Bostic got contacted by the lovely people at http://www.krillpress.com/ They had seen his book uploaded on to authonomy and were interested in publishing it for him. 
Now, I’ll be honest, I’ve been lucky enough to read Chris’s book – The Fugitives from Northwoods, and I have to say that if thriller and suspense is your thing- then this book is for you.  
I’ve included the books synopsis below for you, and I strongly advise that you read it. It’s a YA novel, but young and old alike will enjoy it. 
So in December I decided to speak to Chris for you and ask him a few questions regarding his writing skills and his new book. You’ll be surprised by some of his answers, I know that I was. He’s a relatively new writer, and yet he writes like he’s been doing it for the past twenty years. He also seems blessed with good luck to go alongside his fabulous writing skills- it’s a good job he’s such a lovely bloke or I would have been a little jealous! 
As soon as the book goes live on Amazon, I’ll post up the link for you all, so…watch this space! 
 
Enjoy, and remember to pick up a copy of his book when it’s released on February 14th 2013. 
 
The Fugitives from Northwoods. 
Eight teenagers escape imprisonment at a work camp to brave the wilderness. Tested to their limits, they struggle to survive their terrifying dash for freedom. 
 
After the total collapse of the world economy, the United States couldn't stand together. So they failed separately. In the small region-state of Winnkota, poverty and greed are turning the idyllic Northwoods of Minnesota into a barren wasteland of clear-cut forests and over-fished lakes. Every able-bodied teenager is conscripted into a labour force and sent to work in harsh, prison-like conditions. They're enslaved young so they never learn to think for themselves. But Penn is different. He's determined to win back freedom - for himself, his friends, and someday for his homeland. 
 
On a cold autumn night, the group makes a terrifying dash for freedom north of the border. The fugitives endure a series of difficult wilderness challenges while pursued by the ruthless camp guards. Pushing his friends to the breaking point, Penn guides the fugitives through a harsh, but ironically beautiful, backdrop of amazing Northwoods scenery.  
 
Should any of them survive to reach the border- will the freedom found equal all that they expected?

The Chris Bostic Interview

Name: Chris Bostic 
Website:  http://chrisbostic.weebly.com 
Other contacts/social media sites: On Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChrisBosticAuthor 
Link to Amazon page:  To be determined in February 2013 when the book is released 
 
Where did you grow up?  The suburbs of The Windy City - Chicago, Illinois 
 
What school did you go to? Two different colleges. First, I earned a degree in Engineering Physics from the same small college my dad attended – Illinois College.  Then I went for a Civil Engineering degree at Southern Illinois University 
 
When did you start writing? Only seriously over the last year. I liked creative writing in high school well enough, but mostly I gravitated toward the math and science classes. Until early in 2012, I hadn’t written anything other than a few technical papers in the last twenty years.   
 
What made you start writing? I read The Hunger Games trilogy three times – in a row.  Then I sat around wondering what to do next. I thought, hey, maybe I could try to write a suspenseful, action/adventure novel. And so I tried to come up with something fresh and unique.   
 
Is it something that you have always wanted to do? I think it might be, but I guess I just didn't know for certain until recently.   
 
What is your favourite genre to read? Over the last few years I have been reading a lot of the so-called classics, because it seems like I missed out (or have forgotten) a lot of them from back in school. I like all types of books – a really wide variety. If I had to pick one genre, I couldn't  How about two? I like action books with a hint of romance, and I have a fondness for older science fiction.  It astonishes me to see how an author like H.G. Wells was writing amazing science fiction more than 100 years ago, and it’s still relatable today.   
 
What about to write? I would like to branch out into different genres, but right now I am really focused on young adult, action/adventure stories. I have the sequel to Fugitives to finish, and I have another wilderness survival novel completed that I need to continue editing. We’ll see what comes up after those… 
 
Do you write full time?  No, but it seems like it sometimes. I have a full time job that I enjoy. I write a little bit during lunch break sometimes and I’ll jot down some notes if an idea strikes. My writing is done on nights and weekends, which can be a challenge with all the activities my kids are into.   
 
Who are your favourite authors and or books? As I mentioned, I loved The Hunger Games trilogy, specifically the first two books. I was not as enthralled with the third. Somehow I missed out on the Harry Potter and Twilight craze, so I can’t really comment on those. My freedom/independent/libertarian leanings come from Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. That book speaks to me. I guess some other favourites depend on the mood. For serious times (and in really short doses), I like Plato. For westerns, I still read Zane Grey. I have enjoyed a lot of the classics, such as The Count of Monte Cristo. 
 
About your book. 
 
What’s the title of your latest book?  Fugitives from Northwoods 
Tell us all about the story/plot. What’s it about?  
Plain and simple, it’s a book about everyone’s deep seated desire to be free.  
The story opens after a total economic collapse has devastated the world’s economy and given rise to a number of dictatorial mini-countries. The main character and his friends are teenagers assigned to a forced labor camp. They escape the brutality of camp to endure a series of seemingly never ending wilderness challenges as they make a run for the border.    
 
When is it going to be published?/ When can we expect to see FFN in the shops and on kindle? The tentative release date is February 14, 2013. (Sounds like a fabulous Valentine’s Day present, doesn’t it?) 

Who is it signed with?   
http://www.krillpress.com/ 
They are a small, indie publisher out of Oregon (western USA). 

How did they contact you? I had the novel posted on HarperCollins’ Authonomy website, and the people there were wonderful. After many helpful reviews, the book was really on the climb toward the top of the site rankings, when the publisher contacted me through the site.   

Were you surprised? Completely! As I understand, it is very rare for a publisher to contact an author.  Usually the author has to work very hard querying literary agents and soliciting publishers until they (hopefully) finally catch a break.   

If you wouldn’t have signed with them, what would have been your next step for Fugitives from Northwoods? Self-publishing? Submissions? I was just about to the point where I was going to start querying agents again. The reviews very all very helpful – and positive – so it seemed like a good time to start the querying process again.  I was not considering self-publishing until I made at least one more solid effort at querying.   
 
What made you decide to upload it onto Authonomy? Prior to Authonomy, I had a portion of the book posted on the Figment website. That only lasted about a month. I uploaded the book there to confirm a young adult appeal, since the members tend to be quite a bit younger than the Authonomy site. I was pleased to receive a lot of favourable reviews from those younger readers, so I switched over to Authonomy to get some of the really detailed, critical reviews that made this project complete.   
 
What are your hopes for it? Best Seller, of course! However, I know that is highly unlikely, especially with an indie publisher.  With any luck, I will get some positive reviews and sell a decent number. Then I’ll be hoping for one of the big publishers to pick up the novel and increase the distribution.  
 
So I guess this just made your year?  Absolutely. What a wonderful Christmas present. 
How long did it take you to write? Somewhere around three to four months. Then longer for editing. I think I started the book around April and wrote into June. Then I took a long break to clear my mind and came back to it later in August for another month or so of rewrites.     
What gave you the idea for FFN? My son and I took a canoe trip to the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota in the summer of 2012 with his Boy Scout troop. As I was looking over maps of the area trying to plan our route, the idea came to me that I could maybe set an epic adventure here. As a result, the story is at least 90% geographically accurate. At some point, I should probably release a map showing the route the characters take.  

Who is your favourite character? You might think it would be the strong male lead, Penn; however, I have a special place in my heart for Cesswi. She’s strong, sarcastic, smart and loyal- and that makes her a lot like Penn. 

What’s the best piece of advice that you have been given in regards to your writing? I have no clue…Maybe whatever is worth doing…is worth doing well. 

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