Hello readers,  and welcome to this month's BOM interview with Eric Dabbs. As mentioned in our Book Reviews section, his story Ocean Blue is now featured in our Reading Lists under the Kills and Thrills section, so our readers can find it easily. 

On behalf of the Adult Fiction profile,  I - RoseBlossom79  will take the task to meet the author 'virtually'  in the Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas. 

The author has told us that there's a nice cafe within that resort with umbrella covered tables called, Shark Bites. So that's where my destination will be.

In his description, he also stated that it is also near a Mayan Temple water slide with a backdrop of the famous luxury bridge suite connecting the two main towers of the resort. 

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?😁

The above picture shows that it has a view in the distance of turquoise water and a white sand beach as seen above.

So without haste, let's prepare for our 'virtual flight' from Wattpad Headquarters, shall we? 🛩️

~~~

And here we are! 

Looks like a nice place to spend a vacation! 

 Let's take a seat as we wait for Eric to show up. 

Hostess: Hello, and welcome to Shark Bites. May I know how many are in your 'party'?

RB: A table for two, please! The author I will interview is not here yet; his name is Eric Dabbs. So when he comes, can you please show him where I am sitting?

Hostess: Why, of course!

RB: Thank you!

~~~

Following the host to a comfy spot overlooking the magnificent ocean, she gave me the cafe's menu. 

It says here, Shark Bites serves hamburgers, fish sandwiches, and even bbq ribs.  But right now I just feel like drinking a soda and eating a fish sandwich.

I don't really want to get my hands too dirty, no matter how tasty those BBQ ribs sound!😋

And as soon as my drink is delivered, the author arrives.

Eric: Hello! You must be RoseBlossom from Wattpad's Adult Fiction's Profile. It's nice to meet you. I'm sorry that I'm late.

RB: Hello Eric, nice to meet you too!

(We shake hands)🤝

RB: Don't worry about it. I just got here a couple of minutes ago as well.  Would you like anything to eat? It's on Wattpad's tab, so please do not worry about the bill.

Eric: Okay, sure I'll have a hamburger and a margarita.

RB: We're living on the edge with that margarita, aren't we? 😄

Eric: Well, we are in the Bahamas, and Wattpad is paying for it, so why not seize the day?

RB: I like your style! 😁 

(Picks up my glass and sends him a toast!)

~~~

As we wait for our burgers to be cooked. I decided to start my interview.

RB: So, Eric,  what motivated you to become an author?

Eric: When I was younger I had thoughts of writing a book, but never got around to it. Then, after I got a little older, I sat down one day at the computer and wrote my first scene, which turned into my first book. It's kind of funny, but there was this movie called, Alex and Emma, and a writer had to finish a book in order to pay off a mob boss in order to stay alive. Inspired by the movie, I decided to write a book, and the rest is history.

RB.: Sounds quite interesting! 😊

Eric: Yes, it is!

RB: Next question, what would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Eric: I started out writing on a PC computer and then switched to a laptop. But now, I really prefer to use an IPad with the Wattpad and Scrivener apps. I'll even use the writing apps on my phone. With the mobile devices, I can write anywhere, even if it means thumb typing on my phone.

RB: Thumb typing? Well, I assume that would be like texting then, right?

Eric: Yes, that's right, hard to do at first but you'll soon get a hang of it.

RB: Well, thank you for that information, but it is really for me. I prefer typing on the desktop computer or on my laptop.  💻 😀

So, Is there anything you find particularly challenging in any of your writing?

Eric: The most challenging part of writing for me is finding the time to write. I work a full-time job that takes up about twelve hours a day during the week. So, I write in my spare time, and especially on Saturday mornings.

RB: You sound like you need this vacation more than I do! Take it easy now Mr. Author.

Eric: Why of course! Thank you I try to relax whenever I can find a break!

RB: Good to hear that.

Now I am throwing this one in for aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing "Ocean Blue?" If so, what would you do differently the next time you write?

Eric: I'm going to answer this in a backward way. Actually, it took about a month to plot the story and characters of Ocean Blue. I came up with a synopsis and a chapter outline and then started writing the book. This worked so much better for me than plotting only a few chapters at a time like I did with my first book. Creating a flexible chapter outline can take time, but it can help ensure that your book meets your word count goals, and it helps avoid writer's block because you know what to write next.

RB: You have some great advice there! 

So, how did you come up with the idea for Ocean Blue?

Eric: I've always been a beach bum and an ocean lover, so I wanted to create this organization that protects the world's ocean. From that, I came up with Sea Lab International and their rival organization, Ocean Blue. I also wanted to involve scuba diving and boats of all sizes. With all that in mind, the story came to together with lots of hard work.

RB: Why did you choose a barracuda to be the experimental subject for the serum for Parkinson's Disease?

Eric: I chose the barracuda because it only grows to about five feet long. It already has a nasty grill (jagged teeth in its mouth), and on rare occasions has attacked humans, mainly when they're wearing something shiny or reflective. It's also an ugly fish in my opinion, and I thought it'd make a great predator if it could grow much bigger like it did during Ocean Blue's experiments.

RB: So, who are your favorite authors?

Eric: Clive Cussler is by far my all-time favorite author. I've read over thirty of his books, which are all ocean adventures. It's safe to say that his novels played a part in inspiring Ocean Blue. I also like Michael Crichton, Andy McDermott, and James Rollins because they write adventure stories with a scientific element involved.

RB: Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?

Eric: As a young teenager, its hard to remember, but I recall reading an Indiana Jones book, probably Raiders of the Lost Ark. Of course, I watched the movie, but I thought the book was better. It might have been that book that gave me such a love for adventure novels.

RB: What's next for you? Are you working on anything now?

Eric: After I finish with the rewrite of my first novel, The American Agent, that is also on Wattpad, I'll be getting back to writing the sequel to Ocean Blue, called Shark Island, which I'm already about ten thousand words into now.

RB: And finally,  do you have anything else that you would like to state before we end this interview?

Eric: I'm really thankful for the writing platform that Wattpad provides, and it's community of writers. I'm also extremely excited that Ocean Blue has been chosen as the book of the month in Adult Fiction! I consider this an awesome achievement. It's great to have the exposure, and most of all, I love sharing my work with readers and other writers. I love a pulse-pounding action/adventure. Hopefully, that's what readers will get out of Ocean Blue. 

RB: Well, I'm glad that I found your story as well! 😁

~~~

And thank you for your time to meet us, Eric. It's been a pleasure for me to have interviewed you!

So now, let's chow down, shall we?