I had the wonderful opportunity and honor to interview McCaid Paul, author of the Summersville series, for Teenage Lexicon! A teen author from Northwest Florida, McCaid has already published two mystery/thriller novels at just fifteen. I asked him about writing, inspiration, and other interests:
What got you interested in writing? Was there a special person in your life who encouraged you, or did you read a book so compelling that you decided to write your own?
I first became interested in writing during the first-grade, after my teacher gave our class a writing prompt every day for the rest of the school year. I enjoyed writing in my journal as much as I could, especially after my dad began writing short stories to motivate and inspire me to “keep going.” My mom was also a source of encouragement since she was a teacher. She played a huge part in keeping me on track, and helping me to develop a love for reading and writing at an early age. The teachers and staff of my elementary school, and authors such as Watt Key and Agatha Christie, were also an inspiration.
Your books are mystery/thrillers. What made you decide to write in this genre instead of a different one?
I’ve always had an interest for solving things, especially crime. Maybe this is due to all the true crime shows I watched as a kid, or because of my love of reading this particular genre.
Thrillers get your heart racing, they make you question everything and everyone. Usually, there’s a strong hook that makes one hold on until the end. I love these aspects and try to apply it to my own works.
Unfortunately, fire-breathing dragons and magical lands are much harder to relate to since they don’t play a part in our everyday lives.
How are you like your protagonist? How do you differ?
I base my characters off people I know personally. Of course, names and appearances are often changed, but personalities and attitude types are always my primary focus. The main character in The Forgotten Headline, Mick Smith, is very similar to me in many ways, given his interest in crime/cold cases, hunting, and the outdoors.
Mick is a little more bold, though. He makes decisions recklessly at times without giving them much thought. I am the complete opposite.
Are any settings in the book based on places in your life? If so, why did you choose to set these scenes here?
Yes! I acquired the idea for my debut novel after a hunting trip with my dad, and the first few chapters of the book are based in the same woods we went hunting in. Also, the public library in The Forgotten Headline is similar to the one in my hometown. These places play a huge part in the plot because they set the scene (and world) for the other books in the series!
Any interesting facts about this book you want to share with readers?
The Forgotten Headline is the first book in a four-part series. The sequel, Secret Trust, released last year, and the third book, Buried Truths, is slated for publication this fall! Each book gets a little darker, grittier, and more complex than the last. I am currently working on the fourth—and final—book, Hidden Places, and hope to release it in 2020.
Other than writing, what are your interests/hobbies? Do you find yourself writing about these things within your work?
I love to read, watch movies, travel, and play tennis! All of these things will make an appearance in my future books.
Be sure to check out McCaid’s Summersville series: The Forgotten Headline and Secret Trust!
McCaid Paul
Website: https://mccaidpaulbooks.com
Instagram: @mccaidpaul
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