Today's guest at Author Talks is Nick Oliva, author of the book ONLY MOMENTS!Nick Oliva (O-lee-va’) has been a musician, composer, photographer, an audio engineer, an Entertainment Director and Technical Director for over twenty-five years and is a successful self-made money manager. He has just opened an upscale restaurant for his brother called “Wyatt’s” in Henderson, Nevada. He lives in the mountains outside of Las Vegas.
You can visit Nick's website here!
Welcome to Author Talks, Nick! Can you give us a little bit about your background?
I have been a musician, composer, photographer, an audio engineer, an Entertainment Director and Technical Director for over twenty-five years and a successful self-made money manager. I have just opened an upscale restaurant for my brother Tony, a leukemia survivor, called “Wyatt’s” in Henderson, Nevada. I live in the mountains outside of Las Vegas.
How long have you been writing?
I started in grade school writing for the school newspaper. I have always written poetry and songs, but this is my first novel. I have no formal training, but the nun who had a Master Degree in English, taught me by the stick and did a great job way back then.
Has it been a bumpy ride to becoming a published author or has it been pretty well smooth sailing? Would you like to tell us how you became published for the first time?
I spent years coming very close to the publication of this book through the Irene Rodgers Literary Company but as close as it was, it didn't get published. I eventually put it on hold for years until I was motivated to attempt it once more. After a near-death experience in October of 2004 I became hell-bent to get it published.
Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/is is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?
It is harder to get an agent than to get published. Irene Rodgers was great but even she couldn't get them to bite on a unique cross-genre novel. It wasn't the right time. Patience is a huge virtue in this business.
Can you please tell us about your book and why you wrote it?
“Only Moments” was originally written within the cyclical theme of Birth, Death, and Rebirth over ten years ago. I focused on the unforgiving world, the false hope of technology and religion, incorporating one’s own search and questioning of the spiritual aspects that provide some measure of meaning, and then tying it into the romance of total devotion of man and wife. Some might call it a fairy tale romance, but there are many “high school” relationships that have survived the test of time, however difficult. These two characters are both heavily flawed but those flaws are what binds and drives them with their deep passion for music.
This journey begins in the year 2020, with a romantic surreal dream and the waking of one sixty-six year-old widower Chris Vadia, a retired professional musician, and his sullen celibate perspective due to his wife dying fifteen years earlier. After establishing the human surroundings of the time period, we flashback to 1970 and we find how he meets the love of his life, while on a wild summer vacation driving through California. A beach in Big Sur is the dramatic background for the beginning of their impassioned romance.
Time then shifts through their college days, marriage, their struggling and successes, parental deaths, their Carnegie Hall debut, and then the crisis of having grown so far apart despite being with each other constantly. Our unforgiving fate, the duality of technology, the commonality of human emotion throughout history, ties into a tale of human devotion that eventually brings understanding and hope.
The road, throughout the novel is representative of one’s life path and sense of curiosity and discovery.
I wrote it because I challenged myself to write a better book than John Grisham. Now, don't misunderstand. That I have a small percentage of his success would be wonderful. I just wanted to write a book that was more meaningful and see if I could get it published.
Do you plan subsequent books?
I'm working on an audio book for Only Moments and then I will write a non-fiction book on the my life and details of my near-death experience.
Are you a morning writer or a night writer?
I like mornings, but anytime will do.
Any final words of wisdom for those of us who would like to be published?
Stay positive. Many people will tear into your to make themselves look good.
Accept reality. Perhaps your book isn't up to snuff. Go back an rewrite and make it clear to your audience and target market.
Don't assume! Never assume that the world needs another book.
Why is yours so special?
What makes it stand out? Does it stand out? Remember this-your finished a novel. 99% of the people who start one don't and rarely does anyone even begin one. You are part of 3 billion people in this world. Do the percentages. One percent of 3 billion is 30 million, one tenth of that is 3 million and one tenth of that is 300,000 and that is roughly how many books get published each year. That means you have 1/100th of a chance to be a part of 300,000 books that are for sale. That's a sobering thought! So don't get your hopes up or your expectations too high. On the other hand, do it for you! That's who counts anyway. You did it, you accomplished an incredible thing. Don't downplay it because you aren't on Oprah, or the movie of the week isn't based on your book. Life is about the little things. Enjoy them and be proud! Smell the roses.
Thank you for coming, Nick! Would you like to tell my readers where they can find you on the web and how everyone can buy your book?
Thank you! You can get it at:
Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Your Books Cheap, Harvard Booksellers, Spotlight Books, Big Rock Media, The Book Depository or go to http://www.onlymomentsbook.com/ and hit the Links header.
Thank you for coming, Nick! If you would like a chance to win a copy of ONLY MOMENTS, leave a comment below. All winners will be announced at http://www.virtualbooktoursforauthors.blogspot.com/ on Sept. 30. Good luck!
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