Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Melvin M. Harter who is a retired physician and author of Some Kind of Angel.
Mel specialized in evaluation of the causes and extent of injury and disability. He has become a freelance writer and author of the novel.
Good day Melvin and thanks for participating in our interview
Mel:
Good day, Norm. Thanks for asking me. And, oh. Please call me “MEL." I reserve Melvin for business because it’s my true given legal name AND for my mother because she seemed to like it.
Norm:
I believe this is your first published novel, what inspired you to write your first book and what did you like most about writing the book?
Mel:
Some Kind of Angel is my first published novel, not the first book I’ve written. There is a children’s fantasy and a full-length screen play about cults and there was an illustrated audiotape program informing patients about surgery they were advised to have; a kind of informed consent tool while I was still practicing medicine. There were also self help manuals I gave to my patients.
What inspired me to write Some Kind of Angel? Working many years evaluating disability mostly within the California Workers’ Compensation system, I first-hand witnessed fraud and greed on all sides: plaintiff and defendants. I fought it as I could with truth as I saw it, So there are good stories to be written about corrupted and greedy employees (working folks,) employers from mom and pop candy stores to giant corporations and government. There are potentially bigger thrillers yet to be written than we ever read or saw at the movies and on TV. Talk about fudging; I didn’t mention the insurance companies that pay all the bills with collected premiums.) And some job descriptions would make your stomach pull toffee.
Norm:
Could you briefly tell our readers something about Some Kind of Angel?
Mel:
Forensic Doctor Sneetz scrambles against the clock for his life, family and country to bring a home-grown terrorist with an invincible WMD to justice and save civilization from anarchy. By making choices contrary to his fundamental belief system, while under harrowing pressure, he becomes a true hero.
Norm:
Where did you get your information and ideas for your novel?
Mel:
As I said earlier, working for years as a specialist in the field of Workers’ Compensation evaluating cause and percentage of disability working people sustained on the job, I grew to know my main characters very well and they demanded of me thrilling events that could only be accomplished in broad stroked fiction; in a kind of fantasy sci-fi setting.. So lots of the ideas really came out of my imagination – a kind of comic book approach.
Norm:
What was your main focus when you created your protagonist?
Mel:
I wanted to recreate myself as a younger, smarter, nicer, kinder doctor, a good man, good citizen and true patriot.
Norm:
How did you come up with the title Some Kind of Angel?
Mel:
It’s a play on the name on one of the important characters. I wanted it short, relevant and a bit baffling.
Norm:
What do you see as the influences on your writing?
Mel:
I’m very much influenced the corrupt and greedy world I live in. And the worst greed and corruption emanate from the high government and corporate leaders. There’s also genocide, terrorism, Jihads, Crusades and Inquisitions. Torture, in any hands makes me sick.
Norm:
Did you learn anything from writing your first novel and what was it? If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your first novel?
Mel:
1.Research is always required, even in fantasy.
2.Editing is very hard work that is never finished.
3.Self discipline, a must
4.Describe places and people well without a lot of narration, lectures or chronicles. “SHOW, DON’T TELL!
5.Action grabs readers and there should be action relevant to the theme and plot in every scene.
If I had it to do again, I’d put back some terrific back story I took out. I’d expand on description. I’d probably bring in the villain earlier in the story.
Norm:
What do you think makes a good story?
Mel:
A good story must hook a drag the reader. The reader must care about the protagonist and the antagonist, either positively or negatively. The reader must feel satisfied that she has had a worthwhile emotional experience she can relate to. If she learns something useful, that’s a bonus. Gratuitous sex and violence may sell books, bur the more there is, the worse the story. On the other hand, Meaningful sex and violence presented seriously, artistically can enhance the story a lot.
Norm:
What has been your overall experience as a published author?
Mel:
From editing your book to promotion of yourself and your product, it’s hard work. The competition is fierce. I feel like I’m running a hardware store but have no inventory other than one size of nail.
To become recognized as a good author, associate with good authors.
People treat me like a celebrity. That part’s fun!
Norm:
What made you decide to use a video book trailer in the promotion of your book and how effective has it been? As a follow up, could you tell us more about the process of creating a video trailer for your book?
Mel:
My marketing/PR consultants strongly recommended a one minute video clip for my website and to disseminate across the internet. They had connections with one or two firms that do videos. I opted to have my nephew, Charles Schrewsbury, whom I think has the skill, talent and the necessary equipment, do the visuals according to a script I wrote for such use..I think it came out pretty good and is now on YouTube, MySpace and other sites as well as my website www.somekindofangel.com I don’t know how much it contributed to sales. Early figures are just beginning to come in., but Charles and I have had many compliments.
Norm:
How can our readers find out more about you and your book and what is next for Melvin Harter?
Mel:
Check out my blog, melvinmharter.blogspot.com. There are a few nice reviews there. My website and the book jacket have short biographical sketches. Since we started promoting Some Kind of Angel, lots of information has been showing up on a Google or Yahoo search of my name and the book title.
I will respond to specific questions if anyone wants to email me at melvinmharter@gmail.com .
I’ve had a pretty full, satisfying and rich life, received the usual honors: Diplomat, Am. Board of Internal Med.; Fellow, Am College of Physicians; President of local American Heart Chapter; Am. Geriatric Soc.;. California Association of Industrial Physician and Surgeons and Medical School teaching appointments at Chicago Medical School, Northwestern University Medical School, the Veteran’s Administration and UCLA. I served with honor as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy.
Greatest achievement: I raised two boys to be absolute stars (Wife helped.)
Next? A sequel to SomeKind of Angel. I have two great plots in mind for Sneetz and Muldoon to deal with and I plan to start very soon. I’m writing a musical comedy, held up by Sneetz’s need for me right now. I’m doing an anthology of poems and a few memoirs.
Norm:
Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO TRAILER OF SOME KIND OF AN ANGEL
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
