We are honoured to work with as many authors as we do at Pegasus Publishers – each with their own stories to tell. Their worlds are singular, their characters are relatable and their creativity truly knows no bounds.

This is Author Life, a feature on the Pegasus Blog, that opens the door to each of our author’s creative process and previous literary experience, offering you – the reader – an opportunity to learn a little about the mind behind the novel.

Meet Ralph Beamer, author of the suspense novel THE NELSON PROJECT.

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Could you tell us three interesting facts about yourself?

I grew up in a small town in the Midwest but have lived in seven different states across my lifetime.

I hold a Master of Science degree in chemistry and have worked in the petroleum industry for the past thirty years.

I played a trumpet in high school, love eating out, prefer mountains to the beach, and enjoy old movies and murder mysteries.

In your own life, what influences and inspires you to write?

Learning about new technologies and imagining twisted ways to leverage their development

Which book or author has had the biggest impact on you, and why?

Clive Cussler, without a doubt – Especially his Dirk Pitt Novels. I like the characters and their no-nonsense approach to problem-solving.  I also like the The NUMA Files and The Oregon Files series.

Can you tell me about the book?

The main character in The Nelson Project is Tylor York, a top-notch engineer out of Minnesota State University. He grew up in Two Harbors, Minnesota, a small town on the north shore of Lake Superior. He is intelligent, honest, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk everything if needed.

The story is set in modern times and moves through several states as it unfolds, an adventure-thriller bent on vanquishing evil, with elements of humor, a hint of romance, and some exposure to advanced technology.

What were your first experiences with writing?

I remember writing an essay for an English class in college and how much I enjoyed the process.  I think I received a decent grade for the work, but it’s the process I remember most.

Years later, I made several attempts to start a novel but work and life events always took priority.  Those experiences were frustrating at the time, but my family always came first.

Finally, as I approached retirement, those life-related distractions began to fade, and I managed to find the time.

In your opinion, what are the key ingredients for a good story or novel?

Of course, a strong, compelling plot must be worthy of the reader’s time.  I prefer stories with multiple plot threads; the characters should be relatable and inspiring; and I prefer a happy ending, where good guys are rewarded, and bad guys get their just desserts.

How long should an author spend on their craft each day?

2-3 hours minimum, longer if the author plans to write for a living.  That time can be spent reading for content, doing research, writing, or editing.

What was the most challenging part of writing this book, and what did you learn from writing it?

Writing the book was fun and enjoyable, but since I had never done it before I did have to learn how to write. So, I guess there was some challenge to that.  The biggest challenge was getting it published; it took a lot longer than I expected. 

As far as what I learned, well… I learned a lot about structure and how to hold the reader in suspense. In my working life, it was all about detailed explanations and irrefutable facts. Fiction writing is more about implication, doubt, anticipation, and cliffhangers.

What common pitfalls should aspiring writers avoid?

I would say the biggest one is deciding to actually write it down. For a long time, I tried to get the whole story written in my head before I put it on paper. But the better way is to write first and then expand on it. Once you have something to work with, it is easy to edit and rewrite.

What writing advice would you offer to your younger self?

I would tell myself to stay the course. Writing is fun for me; it is not a job. I don’t regret the choices I made. My family prospered, I made a decent living, and the experiences I had will prove a bottomless well of ideas for my writing career.

THE NELSON PROJECT is available now in hardback, paperback and on the Kindle Store.