Author's Interview with Jeff Tomberg.

 

Before we dive into our exciting conversation with today’s remarkable author, let’s start by getting to know the creative mind behind the diverse and captivating stories.

1. Could you please introduce yourself to us?

I was formally trained as a classical musician.  I have a Bachelor degree in Music Theory from the University of Florida and a Masters in Music Performance from Rice University.  I was Principal Tuba in the New World Symphony where we won a grammy for our album of the music of Villa Lobos.  I left the world of music and moved to technology, where I have been Chief Technology Officer for a number of companies.  I eventually created my own startup, GroupValet.

2. Congratulations on your book! What inspired you to write it?

When I was in college I came up with an idea for an opera.  It was meant to be very creepy - with an Edgar Allan Poe feeling.  The final aria was meant to be sung from inside a coffin (creepy, right?).  I never wrote the opera, but the story stuck with me.  During the covid pandemic, I decided to put the story into book form, and thus A Salem Awakening was born.  Most of the story was new, but the main core is from that original idea for the opera.

3. What is your book about?

A Salem Awakening is about a girl who learns that her whole life was not at all what she thought.  It's about witches and medieval characters and biblical heroes, but not in the way you would imagine.  In the course of one week, this girl is thrown into adulthood and learns what it means to have power.  There are a lot of twists and turns, which keeps the reader on their toes.

4. Why did you choose this genre for your book?

I didn't intend the book to be in any particular genre.  The story just unfolded as I wrote it.  Even now I don't think the book fits neatly into any one genre, but ultimately I think that's true of most books.

5. How long did it take you to complete the book?

It took about nine months, and I enjoyed the entire process.

6. What makes your book special?

I realize I'm a little biased, but I think the story is interesting and fun.  Many people have told me how they couldn't put the book down - it held their interest.  The story really moves quickly and you become invested in the characters.  I even had one reader get angry at me because a character he liked dies in the book.  "Why couldn't you save her?", he demanded.  I took the fact that he cared so much as a great compliment.

7. When can we expect your next book?

Probably within two years.  I'm planning it to be a prequel to A Salem Awakening, but I also have plans for sequels.  I like the characters so much, I'm just not ready to leave them yet.

8. Did you experience writer’s block while writing? What advice would you give to others who face it?

I experienced laziness more than writer's block. :-) When I sat down to write I rarely had any issues coming up with ideas and writing them. I just wasn't in the mood to write as often as I'd like.  I had a visualization exercise that helped me.  I would picture the scene that I was writing and imagine being in the scene myself.  I would look around in a 360 degree view, then I just wrote what I saw.  I tried to notice small, specific details - such as the look on the characters' faces, or the smell, or the crunching of dried leaves as I walked over them. I ended up cutting a lot of the minor details that weren't material to the story, but it helped me write when I needed to.

9. Besides being a talented author, what are your other hobbies?

I enjoy being with my wife and two children, leading my startup and watching college sports - especially football and women's volleyball.  Go Gators!

10. Last but not least, how did you feel during this interview?

I enjoyed the questions and how they allowed me to revisit the process of writing the book.  It brought back so many good memories.  Thank you!

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