Interview with Steven Torres- Author

[Theresa Varela]

Steven Torres was born and raised in New York City,

but did spend a year and a half of his youth in Puerto Rico. The author of
six traditionally published novels including PRECINCT PUERTO RICO and THE
CONCRETE MAZE, Steven has recently ventured into ebooks with LUCY CRUZ AND THE
CHUPACABRA KILLINGS and KILLING WAYS 2: URBAN STORIES. He lives in Connecticut
now with his wife and daughter and, like many writers, is working on a novel
about the Nephilim. Learn more at his website: steventorres.com.

 

Theresa: What is your genre and who is your intended
audience?  

 

Steven: I write mystery and crime novels and I hope that
people who like good fiction are my audience. I have set most of my novels and
stories in Puerto Rican communities, both on the island and in New York, so
anyone looking for that setting will be pleased, I think.

 

Theresa: What are you currently writing?

 

Steven: Something completely different from what I’ve ever
done – a “sword and sorcerer” set in 1099 – the Crusades. So far I’m enjoying it
– good to research the period. For instance, there was a well-documented case of
mass cannibalism during the war.

 

Theresa: How do you make time to write?

 

Steven: I sleep very little. Often I write from about eleven
at night to one or two o’clock. A lot of writing, of course, is thinking through
the plot, building characters in your mind, etc. and this can be done at any
time during the day. I sometimes find myself watching the movie of my stories in
my head while I’m driving. Probably not the best practice…

 

Theresa: What inspires you to write, other than fame and
fortune?

 

Steven: I guess I’m just a writer at heart. Stories come to
me, and I write them down. For some stories I have felt a sense of advocacy at
work in me – that is, I want to speak up for people and about causes. For
instance, when I first sat down to write a mystery years ago, I set it in Puerto
Rico mostly because I hadn’t ever heard of a mystery set on the island (there
have been some, but not many). My first novel deals with some of the horrible
conditions Dominican immigrants confront trying to enter Puerto Rico. My second
novel is partially about domestic violence. There are voices that need to be
heard. That’s inspirational.

 

Theresa: What would you have done differently in your writing life,
if anything at all?

 

Steven: I probably would have gotten an agent before selling
my first five books. Not that I would have necessarily gotten more money, but it
is valuable to have a professional eye go over your manuscripts – someone who
has read ten thousand other manuscripts. 

 

Theresa: Tell us about your marketing strategy.

 

Steven: I haven’t had one yet. That’s probably another thing
I would change about my writing life. I keep hoping that one day I’ll start a
Twitter or Facebook account, but the Steven Torres who would do those things
hasn’t appeared yet.

 

Theresa: Does your spiritual life influence your writing?
If so, how?

 

Steven: It does. It gives me a sense of right and wrong that
I hope works itself out on the page. It also gives me a desire to expose some of
the difficulties people face. Ultimately, it’s probably the reason I usually
write about crime.

 

Theresa: Thanks Steven! I so enjoyed reading  The
Concrete Maze. It was gritty, described a slice of real life and the
narrator's wry sense of perspective came shining through. I've just finished
Precinct Puerto Rico Book One and am looking forward to
settling down to read the rest of the series. You are an inspiration. Check out
Steven's website www.steventorres.com