Welcome to David Salkin!
Here you are with Permuted Press. Welcome! What’s the project you’re working on right now?
As I write this, I have five novels under contract. DEEP BLACK SEA comes out June 24th, followed by HARD CARBON, my first hard cover book, due out in late September. I also have a three book series in the works with Post Hill Press, which should be ready for the first paperback in the fall. So the answer to “what am I working on right now?” is “A LOT!”. I am editing book one of THE TEAM, while getting the marketing pieces in line for Deep Black Sea and Hard Carbon.
How long have you been writing?
I was an English Literature major at Rutgers, and I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, although my first novel wasn’t written until about 2006. Fast forward through a few thousand rejection letters, and I currently have seven novels out, with five in the hopper.
Is the horror genre a passion for you?
I’ve written in many genres. It isn’t always a great idea “commercially” as you try and build an audience in your genre, but I was always a huge fan of the late, great Michael Crichton; and he wrote about everything. I’ve followed suit, and my books have covered military espionage, counter-terrorism, crime, horror, vampire romance / urban fantasy, mystery and international thrillers. Horror is certainly one of the more “fun” things to write, because you can create an entire fantasy world as well as the creatures themselves. It’s “playtime” for writers, I think. I’ve given myself and friends nightmares a few times, which I think is awesome. 🙂
What advice do you have for up and coming writers?
Advice to writers would be, finish your damn book! Everywhere I go, folks tell me about the book they’ve been working on. For years. Decades, even. Or the one they started and never finished. If you’re really serious about writing a book—write it. It won’t be perfect, but get it done. And when it’s finished, then you can go back and make it as perfect as you can. But you need a beginning, a middle and an ending. Most folks don’t seem to get past the beginning. If an outline and character sketches will help keep you focused, then try that. But more than anything, finish it!
Where would you like to see your career as a writer go?
I currently serve as the Mayor of Freehold Township, NJ. (population 36,000) as well as run a fine jewelry business, Salkin’s Jewel Case, with my brother. I love writing, but as you can imagine, my schedule is insane. Ultimately, I’d love to be a full-time writer and dedicate my entire schedule to writing bigger and better works of fiction. And then, if we’re daydreaming, I’d love to walk into the movie theater and watch it come to life on the big screen!
Knife, gun, sharpened stick, or nuke them from orbit?
Happiness is a belt-fed weapon. Lock and load, flip to full auto, and fire until the barrel melts. But that’s just me…
Do you think that it is worth becoming a “Prepper” in the face of growing global turmoil? I have to ask one serious question, you see.
If I understand your question, you mean prepare for a zombie apocalypse or end of times or world insurrection and chaos? Nah. I own a few weapons for personal protection. (Being in the jewelry business, security is a regular issue.) But I don’t live my life waiting for something horrible to happen. If I’m not writing fiction, I’m spending time with my family, preferably underwater watching the fish. The world is a dangerous place, no doubt; and I’ve written stories that remind Americans how lucky we are, and how indebted we are to those that have served this country in uniform. But overall, I remain an optimist and very thankful.
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