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!”
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