AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER REVELS IN SCIENCE AND FANTASY WRITINGS
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| ARMEN POGHARIAN |
Honestly speaking, Armen Pogharian didn’t voluntarily read a book until he finished The Hobbit in sixth grade, but later his interests grew in reading and writing. First he earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was an Honorable-Mention All-American swimmer. As a USAF officer he worked on classified ‘Area 51’ projects – he never saw a single alien (dead or alive). He later earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and spent more than a decade in the high tech & biotech industries. His stories mix elements of science and history with a healthy dose of fantasy. When not writing, he enjoys swimming, reading & the outdoors. He lives outside Rochester, NY with his wife & family.
Social links:
(a)
Author
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorArmenPogharian It provides more information about upcoming
books & occasional nerdy post about maps, science & history visit.
(b)
A
website and blog: http://www.armenpogharian.com/ The website includes information about the
Misaligned & Warders book series and reviews of similar books. His blog covers science, history &
writing and the popular Map Monday post.
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Q Are you a professional
writer? How many of your books have been published so far?
Yes, I am a professional
writer. Eight of my books have been or are in the process of being published. “Misaligned”
is a three-book series that’s being re-released through CamCat publishing, with
new covers and minor edits. The first book came out in December 2020, the
second in February 2021 and the third one is expected in March 2021. The “Warder”
series includes five released books and a sixth completed book.
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Q What is your specific
field of writing? Are there any specific
reasons for choosing this particular field?
Both series are young adult
friendly fantasies. As a reader, I enjoyed fantasy and science fiction, so as a
writer, I naturally gravitated towards that side. I refer to my books as young
adult friendly because they don’t contain foul language, overt sex or graphic
depictions of violence. While the Misaligned series aims at a little younger
(10+) group, the Warder series is really for adults and young readers.
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Q Which particular book of
yours do you consider as the best so far, and why?
That’s a bit like asking
which of my children is favourite. I like all my books, but I do feel that the
latest book in each series is the best. For Misaligned, that would be Penny
Preston and the King’s Blade, and for the Warders, The Demon’s Debt.
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Q Do you recommend writing
of books jointly? In your opinion what are the areas of benefits &
problems, in such joint ventures?
I have never attempted to
co-author a book. As a fantasy author, I can see the benefits of brainstorming
with another writer, e.g., alternate world-building concepts. However, I can
also see the downsides around the implementation of those concepts. Ultimately,
in my opinion, a strong relationship with an editor works best for me. It’s
analogous to recording music. I’m the songwriter who works best solo, but I
need a producer (the editor) to help me polish the tune.
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Q When & how do you get
the ideas & do you record them immediately somewhere? On an average, what
is the timeframe to complete one book, in all respects?
Normally, I start with a
question. For Misaligned it was, ‘what happens at the intersection of myth and
science?’ That kicks off a mental process that can last weeks or months looking
for something interesting or unique. Misaligned sprang from the idea of
underpinning Arthurian myth with String Theory. At that point, I create a
single page outline. Once complete, I move from the informal to the disciplined
side. I set a word goal for every day and write until I finish the book.
Continuing the Misaligned example, I wrote 1,000 words a day until I finished.
Then I set the work aside to decompress. After my mind is clear, I give it an
editorial scrub from start to finish. At this point, outside editors/reviewers
and cover artists enter the mix, to finalize the things. The whole process
takes roughly a year. It’s a little quicker to self-publish but a little longer
with a publisher.
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Q Besides the quality of
writing, in your opinion, what are the other factors for the success of a book?
Assuming that you mean
financial success of the book, a very important factor is its marketing.
Readers can’t buy your book if they don’t know about it. With over 1,500
English language titles getting published every day, there are thousands of
books competing for their attention. The big retailers don’t care which book,
readers choose. A professional cover is critical. People may still say that you
can’t judge a book by its cover, but buyers clearly do.
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Q Do you agree with the observation
that many writers are keeping writing as a secondary occupation. What is it
that draws them towards the field of "Writing"?
For an author, it is
difficult to make living by writing and selling books. Some authors “keep their
day jobs,” while others branch out into editing, blogging or other aspects of
writing, to make both ends meet. Writing involves a lot of work, relative to
the financial benefit. You need to love the process and the craft of creation.
If you’re in it only for financial gain, you’re likely to be disappointed.
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Q Which aspects motivate you
to write books? Earning money/publicity/helping
readers/self-satisfaction/others? In your opinion, is there adequate scope for
name/fame/wealth in the field of writing?
I’ve touched on some of this,
above. To be successful, first and foremost, you need to love the act of
creation and writing, which means continuously improving your craft. Adulation
from others in the form of sales or great reviews is fantastic, but by no means
guaranteed. If you can’t derive satisfaction from within yourself, you’re
unlikely to remain a writer.
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Q Has Facebook helped you in
any way, in your writing career or even otherwise? If yes, please elucidate.
My blog is more effective in
sharing information with followers, but it is easier to reach new people using
Facebook. An important aspect of that comes from my fellow authors. Facebook is
a great tool for us to share news about our friends’ works. Of course, you must
be willing to help others. There’s a lot of potential in live Facebook events.
On 25 February I’ll be participating in my first ‘Open Mic’ event on Facebook.
I’ll be on a moderated panel with several other authors reading from our books
and answering questions from listeners.
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Q How are you able to divide
the available time between your job, looking after the family requirements at
home and your writing career?
I’ve been blessed with a
flexible schedule that allows me a lot of freedom to work on writing. I also
have a very forgiving family. Honestly,
I don’t know how authors with dedicated 9-5 jobs and families make it work.
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Q Have your family members
and friends helped and/or contributed in any way, in your writing career?
Absolutely yes. I would
never have gotten where I am, without them. My wife and children often read my
early material. Besides giving encouragement, they’re quite free in sharing
criticism. I also enjoy tremendous support from my friends both inside and
outside the formal writing community.
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Q What is your opinion about
e-books? Due to this concept of e-books, is the survival of printed books in
future in jeopardy?
Several years ago, industry
pundits were touting the end of printed books. It didn’t happen. Right now,
audio books are the next big thing. Personally, I love the feel and even the
smell of printed books. That said, I believe that any format that gives authors
another way to reach readers is a great thing.
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Q What are your future plans
for writing books?
Once I complete the
re-release process for the Misaligned series, I’m going to turn back to the
Warder series and publish the sixth book. After that, I’ve got plans for a 7th
Warder book, as well as some completely new ideas. I don’t know which will take
the lead, but I do know I’m not done creating.
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Q What is your advice to the
budding authors?
Make sure you enter the
process with open eyes. Fame and fortune are wonderful, but if that’s your
prime motivator you’re likely to be disappointed.
------------vijaiksharma
2 comments:
Mr. Sharma - thank you for reaching out and sharing our interview with your followers. You were a very gracious host and I wish you nothing but the best. - Armen Pogharian
I thank you for your kind words, full cooperation in responding to the questions and making this task successful. Hoping for cooperation in future too,
vijaiksharma
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