Author Interview: C.R. Daems

This week, I've interview CR Daems, a fantasy and scifi author. He has quite a few books for you to choose from. Check them out:

With ePublishers:
- The Riss Gamble, Science Fiction/Fantasy
- The Laughing Hounds, Urban Fantasy

With ePublishers: coming in 2012
- The Riss Proposal, Science Fiction/Fantasy
- The Kazak Guardians: Lynn's Rules, Urban Fantasy
- The Kazak Guardians: The Unthinkable, Urban Fantasy

Co-Authored with J. R. Tomlin
- The Talon of the Unnamed Goddess, Fantasy (an EPIC finalist)
- Scales of Justice, Fantasy
- Wings, Fantasy YA
- Blood Debt, Fantasy
- Laying the Odds, Fantasy

You can find him around the web at:
Amazon
His Website
Fictionwise

Do you remember the first story you ever finished? If so, tell us about it.
The first Riss novel, but it wasn't published. It was my first attempt at writing, proving I wasn't ready to be a writer. I think it was a good story and somewhat unique given the hundreds of thousands of books published. A young girl goes out with her father and brother trapping. Her brother shoots a Gorilla-like creature not knowing the creature is a race of intelligent parasites that use the Gorilla-like creatures as hosts. The dying creature captures the girl and decides to transfer itself into the girl. The story is the girl's journey with the intelligent parasite.

Has your writing changed since you first started writing?
Oh Yes!! My education and interest has been math and computer science. Writing proved challenging for me. I love making up stories and writing the draft. But cleaning it up is very difficult for me. Fortunately, I was luck to find my co-author (J.R. Tomlin) who helped me learn the craft. I still like writing the draft better than editing it.

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?
The first draft should be a mind dump--a shitty draft--just let it flow without regard to where it's going and how it sounds. It works well for me.

Which book of yours did you have the most fun writing? Why?
Of those currently available, the "Talon of Unnamed Goddess." The heroine has a good sense of humor, loves playing parts to out smart her opponents, an ability to out think her adversaries, and a kick ass bodyguard.

You get to go to Disneyworld with one of your characters. Who do you choose and why?
Liada, in the Wings of Evil. She loves playing parts, bargaining at markets, enjoys studying people and uses the knowledge to blend in a variety of environments, and not afraid to takes chances.

What's the last book you read? What did you think of it?

Imager's intrigue: the third book of the imager portfolio. It was an interesting series, unique environment, and a bit of a mystery. Although I like Modesitt, his books can be a bit slow at times. I'd give it a 4 star rating.

You're stranded on a deserted island, and you can only bring one person with you. It can be someone dead or alive, but it has to be a real person (no fictional characters!). Who is it and why?
Master Wang Daoke from the Wudang Mountain. I would never be bored, spending my time learning Wudang Taoism and Kungfu--a life time endeavor. What better place than a deserted island.

Through very strange circumstances, a mad scientist is exiling you to the world of one of your books. Which world do you choose and why?
The far future setting in the Riss Gamble. I'd rather live in the future with space travel than the past, although I rather do it without the tattoo and intelligent parasite that makes her an alien.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?
That they enjoyed the characters, found their environment and world unique, and their adventures exciting. And a book they wouldn't mind reading again in the future.

Thanks, CR, for participating!