Today we have Author Glenn Langohr's amazing interview. He has written awesome books that introduce you to another world. This is the world of hard life, war, and organized crimes. His books will keep you engrossed and leave you shaken.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
On one hand I'm strong with will power, shredded from training my body all the time, and able to see things through, like writing another book. On the other hand I'm hyper sensitive. and easily distracted. I love to dance, go to the beach and church.
How did you decided to enter the world of writing?
My research into the drug war went a little too far. In prison fighting trumped up organized crime charges, I had to make my time matter. Writing helped me make sense out of a broken childhood that led to drug dealing, which led to prison.
I can see that writing is a form of therapy for you. I believe that a lot of authors use writing as a form of therapy. I know it works for me, lol.
What does your family think of your writing?
They love it. I'm not getting in trouble any more.
Where do you get your ideas?
Life. Our culture. Writing in the crime genre is right up my alley after I lived in it so deeply for so long. I have so much material in my head that it's still screaming to get out.
Can you tell us a little about your book?
Roll Call, my first novel, is a drug war novel. I use a good Detective squeezed out of the loop by an overzealous Narcotic Detective, a handful of drug criminals trying to find their conscience and a prison union bent on calling bad shots. In my Prison Killers series with Race Riot, Lock Up Diaries, Gladiator and Underdog, I focus on prison scenes that take you inside the politics, race relations and the rest of the culture.
These stories sound interesting and amazing. I know I will read them as soon as I have some time, lol.
What is your writing process?
When I start writing a new book I have to block everything else out. Then, slowly at first, I get into that zone where my absolute concentration is honed in on the story. Once I get into a flow that becomes a fire, I pace back and forth in between writing sessions. The pacing ignites more creativity. My writing sessions get closer and closer together, until even in my limited sleep I’m dreaming about the script, and seeking the magic.
Oh yeah Glenn, I can relate to that.
What was the hardest part for you when working on your book?
To stop marketing the other ones and start another! Once I have a new book underway, and I can see, feel and live in the scene, through the character's eyes, I'm good. From there I like to toggle the angle into another character's eyes to flesh out another thought process and a different set of motivations. Probably the hardest part of all is deciding when it's as good as I can make it.
What influenced or inspired you to write?
I'm heavily influenced by God and the Bible. There are so many perfect stories with imperfect characters and the good over evil theme I crave. Other incredible authors and movies have influenced me as well. Most of all though, life influences me to try to make a difference through my stories.
Was there a scene that you didn’t add or you removed in your finished work?
I removed a few sex scenes that were way to graphic from my first novel.
Do you have a favorite character (from your own book)? Why?
I get to play the best role in all of my books. With that said, my favorite character is my enemy, Detective Pincher! My novel Roll Call is a drug war novel that begs the question, who are the real criminals. In the sequel, Upon Release I was able to show how Detective Pincher, being overzealous and willing to do whatever it took to bust people, was just as criminal as the rest.
Do you already know what to write next? Can you tell us?
Some of my closest advisors who hold a lot of weight in the publishing world have told me to focus on the prison stuff and I've knocked out 4 straight books of pure prison pulp of true life. The next one is going to start with a mother writing to her son in prison. Her husband is going to be right over here shoulder telling her to give up on him and that prison is what he needs to stop using drugs. The scene will shift to take in the building inside the prison to get a bird's eye view of the racial politics and what the kid will be facing. I'm still finding ways to show through my writing that prisons are breeding bigger criminals who are displaced from society when they get released.
This book sounds interesting. I hope that you can transmit your ideas and concerns into your story.
Where can we find more information about you and your books?
To get directly to a complete list of my books on Amazon in the U.S. http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00571NY5A For the U.K. http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00571NY5A My blog site is http://www.lockdownpublishing.comMy Facebook for friends is http://www.facebook.com/glennlangohrcalifornia My fan page is http://www.facebook.com/KindlePrisonStories?ref=hl My goodreads is http://www.goodreads.com/lockdownpublishing
Do you have any last words?
Never give up on yourself. If anyone can't afford my books, email me at rollcallthebook@gmail.com for free copies.
Glenn it's been a pleasure to have you visit my blog. Your books sound amazing. Best of luck to you.