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WiDo Publishing: What kind of writer are you? Where do you get your
ideas? What is your inspiration?
W. Everett Prusso: I love adventure! Many of the situations in Ghost Waves, ie: lost on a deserted beach, building rafts out of
bamboo, drifting, sailing, living on a beach, are all things I’ve done.
So I created a story that placed the kids in situations I knew how to get out
of. Beyond that, I’ve always been a story teller. I’ve made up long
elaborate stories to tell my children, nieces and nephews.
WP: When did you start writing? How long have you wanted to be a
writer?
Prusso: I’ve always wanted to write, and always have stories rattling
around in my head. But three events created the “perfect storm” for me to
actually start writing. 1st, my 17 year-old son (at the time) wrote a
300+ page manuscript while in his senior year of high school. I was
really impressed. 2nd, I went back to finish my Masters Degree and one of
my instructors, a fabulous lady by the name of Sonya Farnsworth, told me I was
a good enough writer to be published, and the 3rd was a piece I read about
Ernest Hemingway. He said he wrote 1000 words a day. I thought to
myself, I write 4000 words a day for school, writing 1000 words would be
nothing….. So, I started writing. Most days I met my goal of 1000
words (5 pages, double spaced) but there were days when I cranked out 10,000
words! I finished draft one in 53 days!
WP: What did you do before you started writing?
Prusso: I have been (and still am) in the travel industry for 35
years. I’ve worked for the airlines, large travel agencies, and have
owned my own travel agency for 15 years. Beyond work, I’ve traveled all over
the world, have been married for 27 years (to the same person) raised three
kids—all grown (thank goodness). We’ve lived in Utah, California, Hawaii,
and Oregon. I’m a native California (5th generation.. very hard to find)
WP: What do you feel your strengths and weaknesses are as a
writer?
Prusso: I think I am a good story teller. I can usually see the story from
beginning to end, before writing it down. According to Kristine, [my
editor], my weaknesses are 1. Action is too short. 2. Romance is from a
male point of view. This, my first book, has been a great learning
experience. Kristine says my writing has improved greatly since we first
started this process a year ago.
WP: Are the characters from the Pirate Slayers series based on
real people?
Prusso:
The characters are very loosely based on real people. When
I started writing the story, I used my youngest son as the main character,
Thomas. Growing up he had three close friends, Matt, Elizabeth and
Nicole… they became the main foursome.
My daughter, Vanessa asked to be the pirate, so Vanessa
Scrimshaw is named for her, but it is not her personality. Since it is
based on a the true story of the ship, Brooklyn, that takes 238 Mormon pioneers
to California in 1846, there are a few characters based on real people in
history such as Samuel Brannan. Other than that, they are all pure
fiction.
WP: Have you been to every place mentioned in the book?
Prusso: Most of the adventure takes place in the Caribbean. I have
traveled throughout the Caribbean, but not to the coast of Brazil, Panama or
Grenada. It was fun doing research on the places that the characters traveled, and
most of the information is historically accurate. I have spent years in
Hawaii as well as growing up in San Francisco. In the next book, much of
it takes place in San Francisco and I will be bringing in characters from my
own ancestry. That will be fun and colorful.
WP:
Who is your favorite protagonist and who is your favorite villain
in Ghost Waves?
Prusso: I really like Thomas, I relate to him, his adventure, his
mannerisms. The villain I like the most is Lady Ried. She was
really fun to write. I kept imagining Bette Davis playing her in a movie…
so it was easy to write.
WP: Why did you submit your manuscript to Wido?
Prusso: One of the WiDo employees was in my learning team at the
University of Phoenix!
W. Everett Prusso’s love of the tropics and sailing inspired
him to write his debut novel, Pirate Slayers, Book one: Ghost Waves. A
native Californian and a travel agent for thirty-five years, he currently calls
Sandy, Utah home where he is working on the next volume, Scrimshaw’s Revenge.
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