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Friday, June 10, 2016

Book Cover Junkie Interviews Author G.A. Minton

From his early childhood, G.A. Minton has always been a diehard fan of science fiction and horror. Whenever a scary movie was playing down at the local theatre, he was there in attendance with his friends, loudly screaming in terror alongside them. G.A. enjoys many hobbies, but the game of golf is one of his favorites, having lettered on his high school golf team. Besides writing, he also enjoys reading, traveling, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, working out, listening to hard rock music, and watching great movies—especially those genres that encompass horror, science fiction, mystery, and comedy. G.A. is married, and lives in Texas with his wife, a son and daughter, and two Bengal cats.
Strangely enough, it was only after G.A. was rear-ended by a drunk driver and suffered a closed-head injury, that he developed a newfound passion for writing (even though this story has the makings for a cheesy Stephen King horror novel, it is nonetheless true—he is now called “the savant horror writer” by his friends).
G.A. penned his first novel, Trisomy XXI, which oddly enough also has 21 chapters, in only three months. He begins with chapter one and writes in a freestyle manner—almost in a stream of consciousness—using no outlines, formats, or templates to assist him. The narrative flows freely from his vivid imagination, creating a thrilling tale of terror that is formed from an ordered sequence of events.
After his devastating car accident, G.A. suffered from both memory loss and problems communicating with others, which frustrated him to no end. After numerous visits with the neurologist and weeks of taking medication used by patients afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, G.A.’s brain slowly began to mend itself. But now, after completion of the healing process, something was very different. G.A. noticed that he had developed this overwhelming urge, this compulsive drive to put on paper a story that had formed de novo in his mind. That’s how Trisomy XXI was born. One could surmise that the damaged neurons in G.A.’s frontal cortex had rearranged themselves into a different pattern, thereby enhancing the creative elements in his brain. God only knows. . .stranger things have happened!
G.A. has recently completed his second novel, a dark, supernatural tale of horror that takes Good vs. Evil to a whole new level. Currently, his brain is busy at work, meticulously processing the text for another story of the macabre—one that will both entertain and horrify its unsuspecting reader! 
Interview:
Tell us about your book! What is it about and what inspired you to write it?
Trisomy XXI is a story about the thrilling adventures of Joshua Allen, a sixteen-year-old boy who was born with an extra chromosome—a genetic aberration known as Trisomy XXI, or Down Syndrome. When a serious accident leaves him in a coma at the hospital, Joshua receives a mysterious injection that endows him with supernatural powers. The transformed teen is linked to a string of bizarre, unexplained deaths that have both the town’s sheriff and the coroner completely baffled. But when a ghastly creature from another planet lands on Earth and begins its hunt for Joshua—viciously slaughtering anyone in its path in order to complete its deadly mission—Joshua and his friends are thrown into a world of horror that is totally out of control. What follows is a horrific life-and-death struggle with the seemingly-indestructible extraterrestrial being. The salvation of an entire race of aliens hangs in the balance!        
I was inspired to write creatively after sustaining a closed-head injury when rear-ended in my car by a drunk driver traveling at 80 to 90 mph. Immediately after the accident, I suffered from memory loss and aphasia, a problem with expressing my speech and communicating with others. When the damage to my brain finally healed, I was left with an overwhelming desire to write a story, hence, the birth of Trisomy XXI. From my earliest recollections as a young child, I have always loved the genres of horror and science fiction. 
Tell us about your publishing process. What was it like? Did you go indie or the traditional way?
Nowadays, it is very difficult to get your novel accepted for publication by a traditional publisher, especially considering the fierce competition involved. All authors have experienced their fair share of rejections by publishers, a reason why many choose to self-publish their own books. I was extremely fortunate in that Trisomy XXI was accepted for publication by three different reputable, royalty-paying publishers, thereby affording me a choice. I’ve read horror stories (no pun intended) about authors dealing with their publishing companies, so I am very fortunate to have selected World Castle Publishing as my publisher. So far, my journey into the world of book publication is going smoothly and has been very enjoyable. All things considered, I couldn’t have asked for a nicer experience!
Trisomy XXI is published by World Castle Publishing, a traditional publishing press. I chose to traditionally publish my novel because I believe that a royalty-paying publisher is willing to invest their money in a book that is not only well-written, but also has a storyline that will catch the attention of those readers willing to purchase a particular book. A traditional publisher is in business to make a profit, so I felt that my book had the best chance of attaining success through their professional editing, financial backing, and marketing support. 
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing the story, or did it come later?
After my brain had healed from the car accident, a little voice in my head came up with this great idea for a horrific tale involving a boy with Down Syndrome, and. strongly encouraged me to write it. Since Trisomy XXI is the genetic aberration responsible for Down Syndrome, and the science behind it plays a major role in the storyline, I immediately decided to use Trisomy XXI as the title for my new novel.. I also penned this story as a way to deter people from judging or belittling others, especially those individuals suffering from any type of a physical or mental handicap. 
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
After conceptualizing the storyline for Trisomy XXI in my head, I knew that what I wanted on the front cover of the book would need to reflect the startling horror contained on its pages. The drawing of the green alien monstrosity found on the cover of Trisomy XXI is an ideal fit for my tale of terror. It took me a long time, but when I discovered this particular illustration, I knew that it would be perfect for my book cover. 
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
Karen Fuller, award-winning author, book publisher, and owner of World Castle Publishing (publisher of Trisomy XXI), combined her special artistic skills along with some magic to create the amazing cover for my book. 
How was your experience working with the designer?
Through a team effort and some back-and-forth emails, it couldn’t have worked out any better. As talented as she is, Karen was able to complete the front and back covers for me in only a matter of a few days’ work! 
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
I can’t even begin to tell you how many compliments I have received in regards to this eye-catching book jacket. Upon finishing the story, the reader will appreciate the significance of the grotesque alien strategically placed on the front cover of Trisomy XXI.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
It’s important to take the necessary time and effort to find a talented designer (take a look at the other book covers they have made), and make sure that the finished product is the book cover that you want. Nowadays, with the vast quantity of books to choose from, it’s very important to have an eye-catching cover, especially since that is usually the first thing seen by a potential reader. In many instances, a book is indeed judged by its cover! 
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Trisomy XXI is a unique horror/sci-fi/mystery novel that is unlike any other book you have ever read. If the likes of Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Michael Crichton were ever to have collectively penned a spine-tingling tale of horror, this would be it!
Delivering a roller-coaster ride full of thrills for its unsuspecting audience, Trisomy XXI will intrigue every intelligent reader with its alluring array of unforeseen twists and turns. Packed with tension and excitement, this chimeric version of Alien meets The Thing is a powerful story that is guaranteed to capture your immediate attention. You won’t be able to put this book down!
Gracie Bradford, a book reviewer from READERS’ FAVORITE, gave Trisomy XXI a 5-STAR review and said, “Trisomy XXI by GA Minton has 266 pages of adventure, with twists and turns the reader would not expect.  The chapters are well developed and flow well, and the writer tells his story, adding excitement and anticipation from chapter to chapter. The story of the boy’s transformation and ordeals in life takes the reader to another dimension throughout the rest of the story. This book is filled with humor, sadness, mystery, and interesting twists in every chapter. . .prepare to be thoroughly entertained.”
Chris Fischer, another book reviewer from READERS’ FAVORITE, also gave Trisomy XXI a 5-STAR rating. “Author G.A. Minton's Trisomy XXI is a book with an exciting and unique premise that will keep readers turning the pages from the very beginning all the way through to the very end. I definitely enjoyed Trisomy XXI. Author G.A. Minton has made a bold choice in choosing a young man with Down Syndrome as the protagonist of this book, and has done a great job at making him so much more than just a stereotype of someone with a disability. This read had action almost from the very beginning and will definitely be able to keep readers on the edge of their seats, even gasping with surprise at times. Any reader who enjoys a great work of horror should definitely grab Trisomy XXI. I am pleased to recommend this book, and will look for more from author G.A. Minton in the very near future!” 
Links to book:
www.amzn.com/1629894443 for TRISOMY XXI paperback on Amazon
www.amzn.com/B01D3OSZ38 for TRISOMY XXI eBook on Amazon
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trisomy-xxi-g-a-minton/1123520769?ean=9781629894447 for TRISOMY XXI paperback and eBook on Barnes & Noble
https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Trisomy+XXI for TRISOMY XXI eBook on Smashwords
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/author_g_a_minton.html for TRISOMY XXI paperback and eBook on G.A. Minton’s author webpage at World Castle Publishing website 
Links to your website and social media:
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/author_g_a_minton.html for G.A. Minton author webpage at World Castle Publishing
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/trisomy-xxi for 5-Star reviews of TRISOMY XXI at book review page on Readers’ Favorite website
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15065482.G_A_Minton for G.A. Minton author webpage at Goodreads
https://twitter.com/horrornovelist for G.A. Minton Twitter URL page
https://plus.google.com/107199586325928927299/posts for G.A. Minton Google+ URL page
https://www.pinterest.com/gaminton/ for G.A. Minton URL page
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlcJvtdThMo for TRISOMY XXI YouTube book trailer

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