Interview with Fiction Writer, Julio Zambrano

03/10/2009 01:23:00 Yimy Chirinos

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Julio Zambrano, author of Sin and Sinners

In a cozy spot in the Doral area of beautiful South Florida, Just For Artists has the pleasure to meet with Julio Zambrano, author of fiction novel, Sin and Sinners. In the midst of happy conversations, soothing music and a hot cup of chocolate, we exchange the usual affectionate and warm welcome. After a couple of laughs and catching up on the day, we agree to sit and enjoy what has brought us here in the first place, the interview.

"You don't have to be a genius to be a writer, you just have to have the passion to do it." - Julio Zambrano

What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Julio Zambrano and I'm a fiction writer, sound engineer (in my past life) and a translator, which is how I make a living now a days. I'm also a musician; I play the drums.

So you're an artist?
Yeah, apparently I have the artist in me!

Where are you from?
I was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador… a long time ago, in a galaxy far away.

Can you tell us a little bit about your book?
The name of the book is Sin and Sinners, a mystery novel published in 2005.

When and how did you start writing?
Well, I started writing that book in particular in 1994 and it was nothing like it ended up being. It was actually a story about a woman who was a serial killer and the second draft became something else until it became Sin and Sinners, the story that is told in the book. That was back in 1994 and it took me... on and off, like ten years until publication.

Is that your first published work?
That is my first novel, however, I have a short story that I wrote in between Sin and Sinners. It's called Epilogo de una Vida, written in Spanish for Baquiana Magazine. That was officially my first publication.

Did you go to an agent or did you self-publish your first book?
I tried to go to an agent. I have a pile of rejection letters as usual, which I am thankful for. So I decided to publish it myself with iUniverse.com. You can buy it from them and increase my royalty check. You can also purchase the book from major bookstores, like Amazon, Borders, and Barnes and Noble.

How do you feel overall about self-publishing?
Well, in my case, just the fact of having the book published was an accomplishment. Of course, if I would've had the time and money to promote it I'm sure the book could've done a little bit better. The overall experience was fine. I would recommend it to someone who is a beginning writer. I also recommend going to an agent. You can also go to writersdigest.com or go to a bookstore and find a book for agents and look carefully. Start doing your homework to see which agents are looking for what type of manuscripts. Not all of them will select fiction, for example. Try that route and if it doesn't work then try to self-publish it. The best thing a beginning writer can do is keep on writing.

What are the weaknesses of promotion for self-published authors?
That you have to look for sponsorship yourself and do all the talking yourself in case you don't have an agent.

So you would encourage or mentor someone who's beginning to self-publish their book?
Yeah absolutely. I would encourage anybody who has a goal or a dream. Either in the book publishing industry, music industry, or anybody with a different vision I would just encourage them to just do it!

Do you see writing as a long or short-term career?
I see it as long-term. I love writing. The writing experience for me starts with the conception of the story, then creating the characters and doing the research for the story. By doing the research I learn of things that I didn't know about, which help me structure the story in a manner that the audience is not going to think that it's unbelieveable or that it cannot happen. I love writing and you have to love it and have the passion to do it.

Where does your inspiration come from?
Hmmmm... The huge royalty check! No I'm kidding! I would say the inspiration comes from the conception of the story in my head. I say to myself - once I have pictured the story in my head - "oh this is a pretty good story, let me work at it." Then the inspiration is like a snowball for me; it keeps growing and growing as long as I continue writing the story. The inspiration is just the passion that I feel.

What books, authors or people have most influenced your life or career?
I like Stephen King. The influence is seeing how these famous writers' careers began. They began with a little book or an idea and had to go through many agents and many rejection letters. The success story of these writers is what drives me. You're going to run into many people that will tell you that it's impossible, don't do it, get a daytime job, but you have to have the passion and just go for it.

If you could choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Well, he's not alive now, but my favorite book is Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. You start reading it and you can't put the book down.

On what side of the bed do you sleep on?
On the left. The right side is empty... So, for the ladies, you're welcome to join.

What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I thank God for another day.

When is the best time for you to write and why?
I had never thought about it, but in my case it's not the perfect time to write, but the perfect atmosphere.

Can you think of a defining moment in your career when you realized that you were good enough to be a writer?
This one person defined that moment. His name is Jorge Ramos, a renown and successful Univision anchor. I think he defined that moment because I asked him to read my manuscript, and being the very nice and humble human being that he is, he read the manuscript and he loved the story, up to the point that he wrote a blurb for the book. That moment is when I said, "wow, I think I'm good enough."

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything?
No, I wouldn't change anything because that would mean I'm not a happy person right now. I believe in living in happiness.

Is there anything additional you would like to share with your readers, especially the young readers?
Yeah, buy my book... Just listen, don't take crap from anybody. Just plain and simple as that. If you have a goal or a dream, go for it. You know it in your heart whether you have the woods or not to be a writer, a musician, or a painter. Don't let anybody else tell you that you can't do anything. Just do it and go for it with passion!

Is there anything you would like to share with your friends at Just For Artists?
Well, just visit the website. A good friend of mine came up with this idea. You people know who he is. He's a very smart guy, a very nice person. Support Just For Artists; we need your support. With your support we're going to do it.