One man's journey through the sick and twisted world of heroin addiction.
Standing Room Only
by Josh Liccardi
Genre: Fictional Biography
One man's journey through the sick and
twisted world of heroin addiction. Listen to his every thought as he tries to
reexamine life, or what it has become. See each struggle unfold as things get
more and more complicated. Learn how to curve the pain, and ultimately how to
simply just give up.
Hunter S. Thompson – Fear & Loathing in
Las Vegas
Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse-Five
Chuck Palahniuk – Fight Club
Todd Grimson – Brand New Cherry Flavor
Sara Gran – Come Closer
Clive Barker – Mister B. Gone
Ayn Rand – Atlas Shrugged
Mary Roach -Stiff
Stephen Hawking. – A Brief History of Time
Bret Easton Ellis – American Psycho
What book do you think everyone should read?
“The Soul of an Octopus” by Sy Montgomery. I found this book to be both informative and emotional and would recommend it anyone and everyone.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing since my late years in elementary school until present time. I do have writings that have never gone anywhere and that ultimately nobody has seen, but anything I’ve bothered to write has contributed to the things that I have managed to publish thus far. I am excited to finish what I am currently working on, and am looking forward to what else I might be able to produce in the future.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
So far, I’ve mostly written about topics that I know well enough without further research. I have started a few side stories where research was necessary though. In that case I was able to make notes from various places online but was also fortunate enough to know someone in the profession I was actually researching. I found that interviewing them was extremely helpful, far beyond what I could even find online. Getting as close to the source is always best.
Do you see writing as a career?
As much as I’d love to – I do not. I feel as though that these days its extremely hard to be a successful writer and generate enough income for it to be a viable career choice - without the luck of being picked up by a publishing company.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
I don’t have a favorite, however I definitely gravitate towards certain types/styles. I tend to read things that I find interesting in either a non-fictional way, or in a disturbing type of way. Stories that contain an element of horror, or danger have always been appealing, and anything that is surrounded in uniqueness.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I can write in most any atmosphere, but what I prefer is to be wearing headphones while listening to ambient music. I find that this helps me to focus on the thoughts I am having at the time while not being distracted by music which includes lyrics. The ambient music is also something that I find to be calming.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
Usually, I focus on one book at a time, however I have definitely bounced around a little bit over the years and completed other smaller projects while in the midst of writing a book. I haven’t embarked on writing multiple novels at once, but I can never say what might occur in the future.
Pen or type writer or computer?
I normally end up writing on a computer. I work in IT and have access to quite a bit of technology, but I also view writing on a computer as a convenience since the finished product would need to be in digital form regardless. The act of writing with pen and paper however is also appealing to me on many levels as well.
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?
I’ve always been compelled to write. It makes me feel good to get my thoughts down on paper, or virtually. I can’t really explain why, but that’s simply how I’ve always felt. Sometimes new stories play out in my head, and I make note of my thoughts in case it is will ever turn into subject matter for a future project. Most of my ideas simply come from my own inner responses to things in daily life, and the belief that others might find reading them enjoyable.
Advice they would give new authors?
Don’t hold back. When you find the story you’d like to tell, latch on to it and pour your heart out into each forthcoming paragraph. I find that some of the best writing comes from the visceral emotions we have while describing a situation and transforming those emotions into words in the rawest form possible.
Describe your writing style.
I’m not sure how well I can describe my own writing style, but in my head its easy and low pressure to the reader. Informative, yet mysterious enough to coax them forward wanting to know what is going to happen next. I like to write on the same level as the reader and provide a comfortable familiarity in the narrative itself.
What makes a good story?
A good story is filled with detail and pulls the reader through each page with as much immersion as possible. A picture of every scene should be played out in their mind. With the right combination and flow I believe this is how you achieve writing a book that “can’t be put down”.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
Usually, my process begins with a thought that I just can’t let slip away. I will begin writing and see where it goes from there. If it starts to formulate into something bigger I will brainstorm a bit and make a crude outline of points that I’d like to cover. This provokes my thoughts further and gives me a better picture as to how much this topic might develop, and to what degree.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I keep the reader in mind while writing, however at the same time I don’t want my thoughts or style to be skewed or fabricated for a superficial reason. For example, I would rather not write a “pop song” just to appease the public and make a hit. My goal is to produce something that people will enjoy, while staying authentic to the artform itself.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Write more. Life is short and time speeds by at an unfathomable pace. Stop letting “life” get in the way of hopes and dreams – spend more time experiencing every possible thing that you can.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I don’t have an issue writing characters from the opposite sex. I feel as though life has given me enough experience and knowledge to pull from when doing so. I find it relatively easy to imagine myself as someone else and to form thoughts that they would have rather than my own.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
So far that has depended on many factors. The book that I am currently working on has taken about 4 months and I am a little over halfway through. That is mostly due to not having ample time to write, however I do find time in my own unique ways. As most people I tend to have a lot going on between my professional life and personal life at home. Things are different for me now than when I was younger, so it takes a little longer to finish a book.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Yes and no.
I believe that it is wildly different for everyone, of course, and
occurs at various degrees. For myself I
have found that any sort of “block” was due to emotional trauma getting in the
way of progression. The key is
identifying the cause and then finding the strength to push through it. I have done this a few times with my own work
and have been successful at moving forward.
I’m sure while some writers would agree with me, others have their own
experiences.
*Please note – due to an Amazon error, the ebook connected to the Amazon paperback is incorrect and NOT by this author!*
151 Productions ebook * B&N * Paperback Amazon *Goodreads
Book Links:
151 Productions ebook: https://www.151productions.net/product-page/standing-room-only-e-book
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/standing-room-only-josh-liccardi/1017897622
Paperback Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Room-Only-Josh-Liccardi/dp/0578027887
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6933836-standing-room-only
About the Author
Josh Liccardi is an American author who grew
up in the Berkshires located in Western Massachusetts. He was born in
1981 to a small family and grew up in a rural area 15 miles away from a small
centralized city. With not much to do he spent his time creating
scenarios for himself and other neighborhood kids near him in order to pass the
time outside of school. At an early age Josh became interested in
computers and started learning their ways from the inside out, which ended up
turning into a career choice as he aged. School was never of much
interest, but Josh did attend some college, before dropping out and focusing
solely on his first IT job. The years went by and he bounced around
between a few different companies, but still to this day is working in
IT. When not engrossed in work he was able to find time to write various
things, which did get put on hold after the birth of his daughter. Josh
is able to focus more on writing now however and recently created 151
Productions with his dear friend and artist Shawn. Through this endeavor
Shawn and Josh will continue to create and publish various works such as a
comic book series as well as upcoming novels that are already in process.
They are both very grateful to get their creations out into the world and hope
to share their art for years to come.
Website * Facebook * Instagram * Goodreads
Author
Links
Website: https://www.151productions.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/151productions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/151pr0ductions
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3100424.Josh_Liccardi
Giveaway
$20 Amazon
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the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/standing-room-only-book-tour-and-giveaway
I enjoyed the post today. This cover looks great.
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