Author Interview & Blog Tour: The Door to Far-Myst by Mike DiCerto

Being a middle school teacher, I am always on the prowl for books that my kids can read and that I can add to my classroom library. This one caught my eye immediately because its target age, kids 8-12, are exactly who I have the pleasure of teaching. Pump Up Your Books is sponsoring this blog tour, big thanks to them for allowing me to take part!  Read on, this is one entertaining author!

Book Summary: 

Rupert Dullz isn't very happy. His grandmother's coffus is getting worse, school is boring and there's nothing to do on his days off but rake up endless piles of leaves. Everything in Graysland is, well, gray, and every day is just like the one before it, and the one before that.

That is, until a strangely dressed man named Pie O'Sky swoops out of nowhere in his multicolored bagoon and offers a special reward to whoever can open his mysterious door. When Rupert succeeds, he's thrilled when Pie O'Sky carries him beyond it to the brilliantly colored land of Far-Myst. Adventure calls, and Rupert discovers a wonderful world full of something he's never heard of before--imagination.

But Far-Myst is in danger, and it may be that only Rupert has the power to save it. Is he the one whose imagination is powerful enough to stop the evil that is destroying the beautiful world beyond the door?

About the Author:

A filmmaker and writer since childhood, Mike DiCerto has directed numerous shorts, music videos, documentaries, promotional videos and two feature films (NO EXIT and TRIPTOSANE). His first novel, Milky Way Marmalade, received rave reviews and was the winner of the 2003 Dream Realm Award. He is very excited about the release of the first of his exciting new kid-lit series, Rupert Starbright: The Door to Far-Myst.

Mike has many interests including yoga (practicing for over ten years), gardening (loves growing chilli peppers in his rooftop garden), playing guitar (and trying hard to get better), cats (long-time volunteer at NYC’s Ollie’s Place Adoption Center and cat whisperer), really good and really bad movies and 70s TV as well all kinds of geeky stuff. He is a dedicated MST3K fanatic. He thinks of music as his religion—especially Classic Rock. He lives quite contently in a NYC apartment with his wife and soul mate, Suzy and their rescued kitty, Cosmo.



You can visit his website at www.mikedicerto.com or his blog at http://thekidinu.blogspot.com/. Connect with him at Twitter at www.twitter.com/ triptosane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdicerto.
 
Author Interview:

1. Are the names of the characters in your novels important? How and why?

We create reality by naming things. A name instantly causes an image and feeling to form in a reader's mind. I love word and word play and was greatly influenced by Dr Seuss as a kid (he was a master of names!) The names of my characters are vital and I take great care and time forming just the right one for each making sure they not only read well but sound just right when spoken. The "bad guy" in The Door to Far-Myst is called Murkus. That name not only sounds nasty but has a yucky and creepy feel. But it is almost stereotypically "bad" and like all stereotypes there must be something deeper to the character than a simple name. You will have to read the book to discover what that is!

2. Why do you write for children instead of adults or vice versa?

I do not write for children. I write for the young. The Door to Far-Myst is an exciting, heart-felt and very imaginative story that will delight and excite people of all ages that are young at heart. Kids will love it, of course. But I have already received rave reviews from adults and parents who ate it up and are dying to read book 2!

3. Who would play you in a film of your life?

Johnny Depp. LOL. Why not reach for the stars?

4. What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

Sanity and writer? Are you kidding? You have to be a little nuts to be a good writer. I relish in my insanity. If I were sane I would be a lawyer.

5. What do you find to be the biggest challenge when writing?

Focusing on one idea at a time. Once I get rolling with an idea I get into cruise control. I am very disciplined since I have to work a full time job. I do 95% of my writing in the hours before I leave for work.

6. Do you enjoy giving interviews?

Very much so because like all writers we love hearing ourselves speak. LOL!

7. How much impact does your childhood have on your writing?

My wife and I have had cats and not kids (Cosmo is our big mush) but I have a young spirit so I write for myself and just hope kids of all ages will enjoy it.

8. What inspired you to write your first book?

I was six at the time when I wrote “The Funny Book of the Body”. My Dad always read to me and my sisters and I fell in love with story-telling from a very young age.

9. Do you have a specific writing style?

Yes. My writing is colorful, very imaginative and filled with fun and sometimes silly word play. I love music and I think that also greatly influences my writing. My first published novel was Milky Way Marmalade and it deals with Rock & Roll saving the Universe!

10. What advice would you give kids regarding the importance of writing?

Write what you love. What gets your blood pumping. What YOU would want to read. Write the stuff no one else is writing. It can be a popular genre but write it in a way no one but YOU can.