Like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-iXpgbHwVc

I had the pleasure of emailing CJ several weeks ago because I wanted to interview him. He was kind enough to answer some questions from me. The answers are below:

Did you have any say in casting or producing your book (Sin and Vengeance) for the Big Screen as well as writing it?
Like most authors, I didn’t have any say in casting once I signed my contract. Fortunately I did specify two cast members. I will be making a cameo and my daughter will appear in the movie as an extra. I’m not sure where we will appear, but I will post this to my Facebook fan page and my website when the movie is released.

I was also fortunate to have a screenwriter who wanted my input. We talked many times on the phone and I read several iterations of the screenplay and provided feedback. Marla, the screenwriter for Sin & Vengeance the movie, attended a book group with me by phone to listen to what the members wanted to see in the movie. When the screenplay was nearly finished, we assembled a group of dedicated Sin & Vengeance fans and gave them the screenplay. They read it and then we got together. Marla listened in on a focus group discussion that lasted for hours. When we were done she had some great ideas to help her capture the essence of the book in her screenplay. I was amazed at how seriously everyone took the project. Several readers came with notes, one person had over ten pages of handwritten suggestions.

Is your family involved with you as regards your writing, such as promoting your books at all?
My family isn’t officially involved in the company. My wife reads my books along with several other beta readers before they go to press. My mother is my best saleswoman by far. She loves talking about my work and uses my press clippings to sell lots of books around my hometown. She outsells every bookstore except Amazon.

Are your two children interested in writing at all?
I’m delighted that both of my children are avid readers. My youngest daughter thinks she wants to be a NYT Bestselling author. I haven’t had the heart to tell her I don’t think the New York Times will be around when she’s old enough to write novels, but I do think she has the talent. For Mother’s Day she wrote a poem shaped like a woman, with colored text that looked like a picture from a distance. She has amazing talent for her age. My oldest daughter shows her talent in songwriting. She writes lyrics that are far beyond her years and posts her work on Youtube. I’m very proud of them both.

Where did the plot of The End of Marking Time come from?
I had been thinking about the plot for The End of Marking Time for about 3 years before I began writing. Michael O’Connor is a gifted housebreaker.

I knew I wanted to tell the story of how Michael got off track and the massive undertaking that would be required to repair his life, but I hadn’t figured out how to tell it. The idea for a reeducation program came to me in a eureka moment. When I decided to have Michael tell the story directly to readers as if they were his jury, I knew I had a hit. I finished the first draft in six weeks (about 1/4 the time it normally takes me). The reaction from everyone who has touched the book since has been electric.


Tell me all about the Who Wants to be a Hero? book tour, is it as exciting as it looks?
Who Wants To Be A Hero? was another one of those eureka moments. I was planning my tour and trying to think of ways to make it fun when I realized that the things my character Randy Black does are very exciting. I decided to teach these things to readers one event at a time. The kickoff was an advanced driving class that my readers just could not believe. There is a video on my website (http://www.22wb.com/) of me being driven by professional driver Anthony Ricci. He takes me through the obstacle course at 40 mph – backwards! To bring excitement to bookstores, I’m giving Texas Hold ‘em lessons. One store is even running a tournament where readers can play against me. I’m also hosting a winery tour, a newsroom tour, a firearms training day and a murder mystery night. All the events promise to be fun and this format allows readers to get to know me on a personal level. A side benefit is that I’ve enjoyed myself on this tour more than any other.



How would you cast The End of Marking Time if it were optioned for a movie as well?
If I had my choice for Michael O’Connor it would be Charlie from LOST. I think he really fits my image of Michael. I’d like to fit Kate, Claire, and Shannon in there somewhere too, but I won’t be greedy.

Thanks for having me Mareena. I welcome your readers to come and visit me on launch day (June 10th) or anytime at www.facebook.com/cjwestfans.

Thank you, CJ, for taking the time to answer my questions.

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