Today I have CJ Thomas, author of Night of the Snake Witch, to answer a few questions about his new book.
1) Why and when did you begin writing? 
I started writing in the late 70s. I wrote poetry and had a few published, but it wasn't until the early 80s that I thought about writing a novel. I had taken a few courses in 'writing for children'. Started a few different books and then tucked them away. Night of the Snake Witch slept in a drawer for 25 years.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
On the job site we had a trailer for our offices. I was looking out the window watching the 42 inch pipe being off loaded from the rail cars. A large tractor picked up the banding and then rolled slowly to the pile that had been started at the end of the pipe yard. I watched as the tractor place it's load on top of the pile and as the 2 inch long strips settled, in my mind they started to slither.
3) How did you come up with the title?
One of my characters is into voodoo and she turns the banding into snakes and saves my heroin at the end of the book. So be it The Night of the Snake Witch
4) What books or people influenced your writing? Was it positive influence, or negative
I got the bug to read, something I haven't done in a very long time. A friend gave me one of Christine Feehan's books. I haven't stopped since, reading or writing. I love her style along with Angela Knight, Terry Brooks and Patrica Briggs. I fell in love with paranormal and sci-fi. These authors are my role models.
5) How do you go about researching for your books?
I use the internet, my personal experiences, experts who have first hand knowledge of the subject I'm writing about
6) Did you base any of your characters on real people?
I did use parts of personalities of people I knew, but as a whole person, no.
7) What’s the most exciting part about being a published author? What is the hardest part?
Having someone read my book and say they couldn't put it down. Edits and rewrites and rewrites and rewrites.
8) Do you have any other books planned in the future?
Yes. I have two trilogies I'm working on. One is a Young Adult which the first book is on Kindle "Kerry Mc Daniels and the Cave"
9) Which of your characters is your favorite? Do you dislike any of them?
Alexandra Kendall is my favorite. I don't know if I'd say I dislike any of them, perhaps the things they do.
10) What advice can you give to young writers who want to publish their books?
Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Study your craft, learn how to write a strong query letter and a synopsis and never give up your dream.
Just for fun
1) What are your ten most favorite things?
Grandkids, writing, motorcycles, horses, sunsets, golfing with my kids, chocolate, snowfall on Christmas eve, Native American decor, sitting on the front porch in the early morning with a cup of coffee listening to the dew drop from the leaves of the trees.
2) What do you do when you’re not writing?
I read and spend time with my kids. They tell me I have to come out of my cave sometime. The cave referring to what I call my creative room.
3) Do you have any pets?
I have a Scottish Terier named Patterson.
4) What are your favorite (and least favorite) foods?
Favorite foods; pasta, salad and seafood. Least is liver.
5) Is there a specific place in the house (or out of the house) that you like to write?
My creative room, with soft music, except when I'm building suspense then I listen to Bourne.
6) Do you have a specific snack that you have with you when you write?
Water. I don't keep food around me when I write, because I would consume more calories than I would care to count.
7) If you could go anywhere in the whole world, either for a vacation or to live there, where would you go?
Scottland
8) What was your favorite and least favorite subject in school?
Favorite Science, least English
9) What book are you reading right now?
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
10) Tell us a random fact about you that we never would have guessed.
I hate to cook but I collect cook books
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