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Mike Hartner was born in Florida, and spent much of his youth in places like Montana and Saskatchewan. Both of these locations are hardy (read: cold in the winters) and teach children that Mother Nature needs to be respected. He grew up with epilepsy, which also teaches empathy for others. Now, he lives in BC with the love of his life and their family. Writing is his pastime after all of his family responsibilities are finished. His latest book is I, Walter.
Congratulations on the release of your latest book, I, Walter. When did you start writing and what got you into Romance?
I started writing many years ago for geneology reasons. I got into I, Walter because my Muse introduced me to Walter, and he and I are both romantics.
Did you have a mentor who encouraged you?
My muse, and my editor, encouraged me.
Did you have any struggles or difficulties when you started writing?
Every writer has struggles on each book. Mine were learning about human characters and traits that I wasn’t experienced with (i.e. Gerald)
What was your inspiration for I, Walter?
The inspiration stemmed from an expose that I’d written for my editor about one aspect of a 20th-century novel taken all the way back to its roots. Walter was the figure that emerged.
What do you tell your muse when she refuses to collaborate?
When my muse refuses to collaborate, experience has taught me that I need to learn something else. I work on that something else, and hope she favors me by allowing me to get back to writing.
Many writers experience a vague anxiety before they sit down to right. Can you relate to this?
No. My anxieties are always after the write.
Do you have a writing schedule? Are you disciplined?
No to both. I write after the rest of my family is asleep. And how much I write depends on my muse and enthusiasm
How do you celebrate the completion of a novel?
By starting another.
How do you define success?
I define success in many different ways. I, Walter has already been distributed to over 500 people, which is successful in its own way. The reviews that I, Walter has received are very successful. More success than that would be monetary.
What do you love most about the writer’s life?
Being able to create from nothing.
Do you have a website or blog where readers can find out more about and your work?
Readers can find more out about I, Walter at this website and here.
Where is your book available?
Amazon, CreateSpace, LightningSource., and Audible. Hopefully, it will also be available in B&N by the end of the summer.
Anything else you’d like to tell my readers?
The biggest thing I wish to tell readers is: Thank You. Thank you for buying my book, thank you for reading it, and thank you for reviewing it. My thanks to all of you, without whom writing wouldn’t be possible.
