Today we’d like to introduce you to C.C. Ekeke.
C.C., please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
From growing up in mid-80s Missouri, followed by a brief two years in Georgia, I was a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy along with a well-placed drama. I knew back then that I wanted to be a storyteller and had all these nascent ideas for fictional tales but my plan was to tell these stories through illustration.
My family moving to Los Angeles from 1990 onward introduced me to comic books. The titles that really spoke to me were the X-Men books and a few of the Image Comics series. And when it came to TV series, I was hooked on Star Trek: DS9, Star Trek: TNG as well as the Disney Afternoon, Batman and X-Men animated series. My dream then turned into becoming a comic book artist for either Marvel or DC Comics.
By the end of high school, I had crafted the basic concept and main characters for my first book series, Star Brigade. But I still had no intention or idea of becoming an author. However, I’d come to realize that I didn’t have the patience or high-level talent to become a comic artist. I also didn’t care for drawing backgrounds. SO I had these stories in my head with no established outlet besides sketching.
By the end of my sophomore year in college, I was in a major that I knew wasn’t for me. At the same time, a look through my old sketches hit me with the epiphany of becoming an author. I just knew this was the oath I had to take to tell my stories.
My first attempt at writing a book was so gloriously god awful, I can’t even remember where I placed that horrid manuscript. But I didn’t give up. What had changed this time was me reading a book about a certain orphaned boy wizard who went to magic school. Reading just one of those books changed how I viewed character development and plot as a whole. After that renewed inspiration, I wrote the first two books of my Star Brigade series (then on book).
Since then, I’ve published seven full-length novels, four novellas, a short stories anthology and have written over a hundred short stories. This is my truest passion and I plan to write many more novels.
Has it been a smooth road?
In the beginning, my biggest obstacles was finding out how to publish my books. Back when I first published books, becoming an independent (indie) author was extremely difficult. eBooks were around but they were not profitable and there was no Kindle Direct Publishing at the time for self-published authors to use.
Traditional Publishers were the main gatekeepers and getting your book seen is extremely difficult. The only other options were Print on Demand and full print self-publishing. The latter option was very expensive since an author had to print hundreds of copies to offset costs and house these copies in a storage facility. Plush you’d be in charge of ship whatever books a customer ordered. So I chose Print in Demand, which came with its own unique sets of difficulties.
Nowadays, it’s much easier for an author to publish their novels thanks to Kindle Direct Publishing, Nook, Google Books, iBooks, Smashwords and Direct2Digital. And with that ease, there are so many freelance editors, cover artists and more who can help an author reach the finish line. Now self-published books look as professional as traditionally published books. But all these authors self-publishing books presents more competition, which means each author debuting must work harder to get their books seen by an audience with millions of books to choose from. That’s where self-published authors have to learn how to market and advertising their books so that one book or series out of millions generates a steady revenue stream beyond the initial launch.
Many times the biggest obstacle for writing books is looking right back at me in the mirror. Some writing days are easy while others are difficult. But writing is a labor of love, and the only way to fail is too give up.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with ShatterHouse Press – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I write and publish books in the science fiction and superhero fiction genres. My two ongoing book series so far are the Star Brigade series and the Pantheon Saga. Both are available on Amazon in print and eBook formats.
What I’m proud of most about my writing is being able to write the kinds of genre stories that I as a fan would like to read. What appears in my stories has been heavily influenced by the cartoons, movies, televisions and comics that I grew up with. Hopefully, those who read my books will get immersed in them the same way I got immersed in my favorite stories.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I love best about Los Angeles is the diversity. I’d never seen so many different ethnicities and races in one place before moving to this city. Growing up among that has influenced my writing immensely. Having representation in science fiction and fantasy is essential since it’s so lacking in these kinds of genres.
Also, I love the options available when you take the time to look. This includes industries, food and things to do. You can go for a hike in the hills, hit up an amusement park and go to the beach in the same day. Not many cities can say that!
I’m not a fan of the ridiculous traffic. I know, generic, but it’s true. On one vein, LA’s sprawl adds to its charm, but it can also be very isolating.
Also, can the cost of living be dialed back just a bit?
Contact Info:
- Website: http://ccekeke.com/
- Email: http://ccekeke.com/connect
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/ccekeke
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ccekeke/
- Other: http://www.amazon.com/author/ccekeke
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