# Please introduce yourself and your book(s)!
My name is T. A. Bruno, and I am the author of the science fiction fantasy trilogy, the Song of Kamaria. I work in the film industry as a previz artist, have two boys and an amazing wife, and love reading and writing.
# What inspires/inspired your creativity?
Working in the film industry has been a creative dream job. I have enjoyed working on some excellent movies with some great directors and feeding off of their creative energy for years. I wanted to make my own adventure and share it with the world. Who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky, and I’ll even get to work on a film adaptation of my books.
# What are the biggest mistakes you can make in a book?
Not writing one. I think many people have stories they can share with the world, but they are too afraid to start. We live in an age where you can self-publish anything you want. All you need is the energy to bring it into the world. All the information you need is online, it requires a lot of research, but it’s well worth it to see your story come to life.
# Do you have tips on choosing titles and covers?
I highly recommend using a professional cover artist to make your covers. It’s the face of your book, and as much as we like to pretend people don’t judge books on their covers, they do, and rightfully so. When I see a cover that’s done well, I know the author took the time to make sure the story was represented in its best light. When I see a cover done poorly, it makes me wonder if the book is also lacking on the inside. I am an artist myself, and I still hired a cover designer to do my cover.
# How do bad reviews and negative feedback affect you and how do you deal with them?
As long as they are constructive reviews, I feed off of them. I learn and grow. My job has prepared me to accept feedback in any form and work with it to shape something better. You won’t learn anything if the only thing you see is praise.
# How has your creation process improved over time?
Yes. I have honed in my process and learned how to streamline my efforts. When I wrote In the Orbit of Sirens, I had a lot to learn about making a book. Now, I have a team I can rely on, and I know exactly where to put my efforts. It’s comforting to know the steps needed to publish; it had been scary the first time.
# Do you tend towards personal satisfaction or aim to serve your readers? Do you balance the two and how?
I primarily aim for self-satisfaction. I’ll admit, I wrote this trilogy for myself. I wanted to see this story become as real as I could make it, and I feel fulfilled that I have accomplished that. That being said, I want readers to enjoy the ride, so I am constantly thinking about the audience. This is another skill I’ve picked up from my years in the film industry. Using stories to entertain is an art in itself.
Thank you for the interview!