Mike Walters' debut Novel, The Outlaw River Wilde, sprung from an idea while watching Ancient Aliens on the History channel. He intertwines his love of Native American culture and a passion for the Pacific Northwest, primarily his birth state of Oregon. Mike sat down one day and started writing. The characters and story were revealed each and every day he wrote.
"Every session was as if I were reading something new myself for the first time. It was a blast seeing what would happen next. I worked hard at taking thoughts I have had over the years watching Ancient Aliens, as well as my love of Native American culture and the Pacific Northwest. Bringing these ideas together in a novel was more fun than I ever imagined."
Mike is the Director of Marketing & Product at Auto-Graphics, Inc. based in Ontario, CA. That's California, not Canada. A-G makes software for Libraries, primarily public. So on your visit to the library, when you sit down to search for a book this is the software that A-G makes.
"I am very fortunate to work in an industry that has a meaningful impact on society. It makes going to work each and every day enjoyable. I mean who doesn't think we need, and who doesn't love, libraries?"
Mike learned photography as a freshman in high school and later took the passion and used it as a photographer in the United States Air Force. He loves to ride bicycles in SoCal year around, volunteers in Los Angeles at the Westside German Shepherd Rescue taking photos of the beautiful dogs, and has a passion for Micro-brews, particularly Porters and Stouts. You will frequently find him sampling, with his son Alexander, at Claremont Craft Ales, a personal favorite --- or one of the many fine breweries in and around Claremont, CA. Mike is currently at work on the follow up to The Outlaw River Wilde, which will be titled - Still Wilde in Outlaw River. The book should be out later this year or early 2016.
Mikewaltersnovels.com
BooksAndAuthor.com: Why do you write?
Mike Walters: I write because I love telling stories and seeing where my imagination can take me. The creative release is rewarding in particular when others enjoy what you put down on paper.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who were your earliest literary influences?
Mike Walters: Jack London and Robert Ludlum. I read just about everything I could get my hands on from these two authors early on in my life.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What is "An Ancient Alien Inspired Novel" ? Explain?
Mike Walters: When I started watching Ancient Aliens, years ago, I appreciated the way the show used words and phrases like, "Imagine, Is it Possible, Could it be, What if", and more. It really opened my mind to the possibilities on our planet. Growing up in a very strict christian environment I was always taught there is only one way everything happened. Ancient Aliens kicks that idea to the curb and asks its viewers to consider plausible alternatives that there isn't necessarily one way things happened. Watching the show, I started thinking about writing a novel that took a modern day approach to some regular people being thrown into extraordinary events. What would they do, how would they react, how would it change their daily lives and world view.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What inspired The OutLaw River? Do you believe in aliens?
Mike Walters: I have always enjoyed making stories up. I got this idea in my head watching Ancient Aliens so I sat down one day and started writing. The pages just kept coming and the characters kept popping up so I wrote and wrote. Next think I knew I had a completed first novel and the beginnings of a series. I absolutely believe there is more life in than the universe than just little old earth. So yes, I believe is aliens in some form.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who is Mitch Wilde?
Mike Walters: Mitch is the main character in the novel who is a photographer and lives a satisfying life with his wife and their dog in a small town in Southern Oregon. Loosely based on a town I grew up near in Oregon. Mitch is an amalgamation of a bunch of people I have known over the years.
BooksAndAuthor.com: If Hollywood called and asked you to cast The OutLaw River - Who would you cast and why?
Mike Walters: This is a fun one to toss around in my head and i have. There are so many people who could play the roles. The main character is a smart ass, funny and self-effacing. Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Hamm, Brad Pitt are few for the main character. For Mitch's wife Mabey - how about Jessica Chastain, Amy Adams, or Gillian Anderson. (Needs to be a redhead).
Ed Harris would be perfect as Jasper, Mitch Wilde's cantankerous neighbor. As I wrote the novel and am working on the second one, Ed Harris is the image that always pops into my head.
Mitch Wilde's best friend Jack Jenson would be Edward Norton, Edward Burns.
My son Alexander as Jack Jr. Jenson - Legit, he is an actor and has been in a major motion picture, with drum roll please..... Ed Harris among others. (That's What I Am)
BooksAndAuthor.com: What is NEXT?
Mike Walters: Next you ask? I am currently working on the follow up to The Outlaw River Wilde titled Still Wilde in Outlaw River.
"Every session was as if I were reading something new myself for the first time. It was a blast seeing what would happen next. I worked hard at taking thoughts I have had over the years watching Ancient Aliens, as well as my love of Native American culture and the Pacific Northwest. Bringing these ideas together in a novel was more fun than I ever imagined."
Mike is the Director of Marketing & Product at Auto-Graphics, Inc. based in Ontario, CA. That's California, not Canada. A-G makes software for Libraries, primarily public. So on your visit to the library, when you sit down to search for a book this is the software that A-G makes.
"I am very fortunate to work in an industry that has a meaningful impact on society. It makes going to work each and every day enjoyable. I mean who doesn't think we need, and who doesn't love, libraries?"
Mike learned photography as a freshman in high school and later took the passion and used it as a photographer in the United States Air Force. He loves to ride bicycles in SoCal year around, volunteers in Los Angeles at the Westside German Shepherd Rescue taking photos of the beautiful dogs, and has a passion for Micro-brews, particularly Porters and Stouts. You will frequently find him sampling, with his son Alexander, at Claremont Craft Ales, a personal favorite --- or one of the many fine breweries in and around Claremont, CA. Mike is currently at work on the follow up to The Outlaw River Wilde, which will be titled - Still Wilde in Outlaw River. The book should be out later this year or early 2016.
Mikewaltersnovels.com
BooksAndAuthor.com: Why do you write?
Mike Walters: I write because I love telling stories and seeing where my imagination can take me. The creative release is rewarding in particular when others enjoy what you put down on paper.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who were your earliest literary influences?
Mike Walters: Jack London and Robert Ludlum. I read just about everything I could get my hands on from these two authors early on in my life.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What is "An Ancient Alien Inspired Novel" ? Explain?
Mike Walters: When I started watching Ancient Aliens, years ago, I appreciated the way the show used words and phrases like, "Imagine, Is it Possible, Could it be, What if", and more. It really opened my mind to the possibilities on our planet. Growing up in a very strict christian environment I was always taught there is only one way everything happened. Ancient Aliens kicks that idea to the curb and asks its viewers to consider plausible alternatives that there isn't necessarily one way things happened. Watching the show, I started thinking about writing a novel that took a modern day approach to some regular people being thrown into extraordinary events. What would they do, how would they react, how would it change their daily lives and world view.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What inspired The OutLaw River? Do you believe in aliens?
Mike Walters: I have always enjoyed making stories up. I got this idea in my head watching Ancient Aliens so I sat down one day and started writing. The pages just kept coming and the characters kept popping up so I wrote and wrote. Next think I knew I had a completed first novel and the beginnings of a series. I absolutely believe there is more life in than the universe than just little old earth. So yes, I believe is aliens in some form.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who is Mitch Wilde?
Mike Walters: Mitch is the main character in the novel who is a photographer and lives a satisfying life with his wife and their dog in a small town in Southern Oregon. Loosely based on a town I grew up near in Oregon. Mitch is an amalgamation of a bunch of people I have known over the years.
BooksAndAuthor.com: If Hollywood called and asked you to cast The OutLaw River - Who would you cast and why?
Mike Walters: This is a fun one to toss around in my head and i have. There are so many people who could play the roles. The main character is a smart ass, funny and self-effacing. Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Hamm, Brad Pitt are few for the main character. For Mitch's wife Mabey - how about Jessica Chastain, Amy Adams, or Gillian Anderson. (Needs to be a redhead).
Ed Harris would be perfect as Jasper, Mitch Wilde's cantankerous neighbor. As I wrote the novel and am working on the second one, Ed Harris is the image that always pops into my head.
Mitch Wilde's best friend Jack Jenson would be Edward Norton, Edward Burns.
My son Alexander as Jack Jr. Jenson - Legit, he is an actor and has been in a major motion picture, with drum roll please..... Ed Harris among others. (That's What I Am)
BooksAndAuthor.com: What is NEXT?
Mike Walters: Next you ask? I am currently working on the follow up to The Outlaw River Wilde titled Still Wilde in Outlaw River.
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