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Above The Fold - May 3, 2010
BOB SHEPPARD
Prolific Author
And Publisher On-The-Rise
Bob Sheppard is the author of The Torch Is Passed and A Second Chance, as well as the founder of Regulus Publishing. His ultimate goal is to craft genuine, compelling stories reflecting the everyday realities with which we are all more than familiar.
www.reguluspublishing.org
BOOK VIDEO TRAILER:
The Torch Is Passed
(Bob Sheppard)
A Second Chance
(Bob Sheppard)
The Torch Is Passed
(Bob Sheppard)
A Second Chance
(Bob Sheppard)
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Bob Sheppard (The Torch Is Passed, A Second Chance)
Apex Reviews: Bob, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward to sharing more about your books and other efforts with our readers.
What inspired you to craft these quite compelling human interest tales?
Bob Sheppard: First of all, I needed something to do with the ample time on my hands. Then came the need for that activity to be something where age, education and experience, of which I had too much in all cases, were to be of no factor. I knew I could write very well and had the ability to create some fine word pictures along with the capacity to express deep emotional involvement with the various situations. All I needed was the topics and the resources to bring these stories to a reality. I’d like to think I have been able to draw on some of my life’s experiences and will prove successful at getting a start in what I hope to be a long and fruitful endeavor.
AR: How much of the stories is based on your own personal experiences?
BS: Nearly 20 years ago I served as the MEP Coordinator on a hospital construction project. Being responsible for all the building operating systems that went into the new construction, I saw the med-gas piping in stud cavities that often looked like a can of spaghetti. It led me to consider what would happen if some of that piping was misconnected. In reality, it did not happen but the “what if” thought laid there and ultimately became the root of the “Second Chance” story.
With “Torch”, I personally lived the first few years depicted in the tale as a farm boy in a rural setting. The difference was we had horses as opposed to the cantankerous mules described in the story. I learned to tinker on some complex machinery and developed an understanding of what someone would encounter as he chased his fondest dreams. I later went on to be a licensed aircraft mechanic and pilot where I earned both a capacity for the mechanical aspects of the story but also developed a strong interest in the NASCAR racing industry.
AR: In "A Second Chance," how does Gregg manage to keep a flame alive for Angie for so many years?
BS: Little note is taken from the story that both Gregg and Angie were the products of single parent homes during their teen years. A special bond develops between such individuals that can last a lifetime. Yet, that bond is put to a test as Gregg is torn between focusing on what was once his greatest passion and the reality that Angie could possibly pull a repeat performance. Only his dedication to resolving the hospital problem made him stay focused on the task until it was no longer a factor.
AR: Are the tragic deaths of the new-born infants in the story based on real events?
BS: It needs to be repeatedly stressed that the fatalities described in the stories are strictly fiction. With the medical capacity available in this day and age, such occurrences are extremely rare. In fact, I can’t recall of ever hearing of an incident that parallels the story.
AR: Politics certainly plays a prominent role in the ever-evolving action of the story. Does the reach of red tape really tend to extend so far in the situations as the ones in the book?
BS: In reality, politics plays a far greater role in the whole health care industry than most people would dare to consider. The governing agencies are so well controlled by the big pharmaceutical corporations that medicines, procedures and life in general are often found not to be in the best interests of the patients. Having been personally involved with alternative medicines and developments for many years has proven to me that too much of a lack of ethics and integrity exists. The doors are cracking open but it will be a long time before the medical providers truly merit the trust that is being forced upon them.
AR: In "The Torch is Passed," where does Doc get his considerable drive and tenacity from?
BS: I am a person driven to excel in whatever I try to do. During my 78 years I have never considered anything but doing the best I can under any circumstances. Thus, it was easy to simply portray that initiative and drive in the characters of all of my writing. Doc’s drive and tenacity is simply an expression of my own forces and drive too succeed.
AR: Is it easy for Doc to open up to love again after the tragic passing of his wife?
BS: It was not easy for Doc to open himself to expressing love after the loss of his wife, Barbara. He did express a deep caring and concern for Jeannie as they cared for the kids and got them well ensconced in their own futures. It was only when he was faced with the potential loss of Jeannie and her companionship did he slow down and take a serious look at what she really meant in his life. It was at that time that he realized what a jewel she had been and allowed himself to recognize the true love before him.
AR: Why are Doc’s children so determined not to let his legacy die?
BS: The kids had the greatest regard for their mother. They gave her most of the credit for what they had become. But they also recognized the extreme effort put forth by Doc in his desire for them to succeed in their own lives. They could do nothing less than their best to support him, even if it meant a little dusting up on the track.
AR: Your characters are quite vivid and memorable. Was it difficult for you to create them and give them each their own unique, authentic energy?
BS: I feel I am blessed with a talent to see into my characters’ heads and hearts as I write these stories. With that vision and the literal capacity to walk in their shoes, I am able to create the characters and express how I would feel under those same circumstances. To me, there is no other way to create a valid story.
AR: What kind of responses have you gotten to the books so far?
BS: In general, the response has been very positive. People, young and old, have admitted being moved to tears by each of the stories. The only negative response has been from older women who complain my sexual excursions are too vivid. The younger women have all loved it and say ‘give me more’. I do not venture into perversion or filthy language in creating these intimate scenes.
AR: Is there a central message you’d like readers to take away from each story?
BS: I make no claim to being a moralist or philosopher in creating my works. Rather, the stories are written purely to provide pleasure and enjoyment for the reader, even though there may be stressful situations found along the way. That’s the image of life itself.
AR: Please share more with us about your publisher, Regulus Publishing.
BS: The author and the publisher, Regulus Publishing Corporation, are one in the same – me. I felt I had been quite sorely abused while trying to find a suitable publishing house to assist me in creating a finished product that met my standards. When I tried to obtain the services I wanted, at a fair price and in a timely manner, I learned if it was going to be, it would have to be me. I was fortunate in finding people in small shops that could do excellent work at designing covers, creating attractive text layouts and accomplish the actual fabrication work. Using my advanced capacity as a coordinator, I was able to hire these various operations, let them do their thing and come up with an excellent product. It is my desire to reach out to aspiring writers as a sideline to show them how they have an alternative to the bumps, curves, potholes and outright deceit prevalent in the publishing industry. I did it for myself and I will be happy to do it for others.
AR: In addition to being an author, you are an experienced engineer. Please share more with our readers about your endeavors in that field.
BS: Actually, becoming an engineer is but one step along a most intriguing life history. After my military service, I worked for a few years in the construction industry, attended college and established a corporation doing work in the insulation business. At the same time I was seriously pursuing a career in aviation. I be came a licensed mechanic and an instructor pilot. I was one of the top corporate pilots flying out of the Central New York area for some years, gaining nearly 10,000 hours of flight time. I also earned my Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering during that period.
After moving to Florida in the late 80s, I was given an opportunity to try my hand as an MEP Coordinator on a major hospital project. I pursued that career to various locations about the country and ultimately proved to one of the best at that craft in the nation. Unfortunately, Father Time and some less than ethical deceit by a former employer, drove me to seeking a different career where neither age, experience or the judgment of others played a role in my livelihood. Writing was totally under my control and development of the quality and merits of such to be a success was up to me.
AR: What are your future writing/publishing aspirations?
BS: It is my ultimate goal to develop sufficient name recognition to a point that some of the traditional publishing houses will look for my work and thus carry on the peripheral work of fabricating the books and handling the marketing operations. This will leave me to pursue full time the effort that I love and can do best – write.
AR: How can your readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
BS: I welcome contacts by readers, authors and anyone else interested in this interesting but perilous industry. I would consider it an honor to hear from all sorts of people across the spectrum of life. There’s nothing like having a great many friends and acquaintances.
AR: How can they contact you directly?
BS: The best way to contact me is through my personal e-mail address: bobshepp8602@yahoo.com. I discourage phone calls because I have a severe hearing loss that began when I was a weapons mechanic on jet fighters during the Korean conflict. Only individuals with a particular type of voice will be successful at trying to carry on a sensible conversation. But the e-mail is readily available and I use it constantly.
AR: Any final thoughts you would like to share with your readers?
BS: Two things. The first is to let loose and follow your heart regarding any type of writing experience you may choose, be it poetry, sci-fi, fiction or even non-fiction works. The personal rewards for seeing your work in print are tremendous. I’d be happy to work with anyone in a serious pursuit of such a goal.
The second is a reminder to be careful about who you give your money to. There are so many outright sharks in this business that it is pitiful. Carefully explore the many routes that can be taken in order create a viable publication. Due diligence is your responsibility. Make sure you use care and thought when making your selections.
AR: Thanks again, Bob, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
Apex Reviews: Bob, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward to sharing more about your books and other efforts with our readers.
What inspired you to craft these quite compelling human interest tales?
Bob Sheppard: First of all, I needed something to do with the ample time on my hands. Then came the need for that activity to be something where age, education and experience, of which I had too much in all cases, were to be of no factor. I knew I could write very well and had the ability to create some fine word pictures along with the capacity to express deep emotional involvement with the various situations. All I needed was the topics and the resources to bring these stories to a reality. I’d like to think I have been able to draw on some of my life’s experiences and will prove successful at getting a start in what I hope to be a long and fruitful endeavor.
AR: How much of the stories is based on your own personal experiences?
BS: Nearly 20 years ago I served as the MEP Coordinator on a hospital construction project. Being responsible for all the building operating systems that went into the new construction, I saw the med-gas piping in stud cavities that often looked like a can of spaghetti. It led me to consider what would happen if some of that piping was misconnected. In reality, it did not happen but the “what if” thought laid there and ultimately became the root of the “Second Chance” story.
With “Torch”, I personally lived the first few years depicted in the tale as a farm boy in a rural setting. The difference was we had horses as opposed to the cantankerous mules described in the story. I learned to tinker on some complex machinery and developed an understanding of what someone would encounter as he chased his fondest dreams. I later went on to be a licensed aircraft mechanic and pilot where I earned both a capacity for the mechanical aspects of the story but also developed a strong interest in the NASCAR racing industry.
AR: In "A Second Chance," how does Gregg manage to keep a flame alive for Angie for so many years?
BS: Little note is taken from the story that both Gregg and Angie were the products of single parent homes during their teen years. A special bond develops between such individuals that can last a lifetime. Yet, that bond is put to a test as Gregg is torn between focusing on what was once his greatest passion and the reality that Angie could possibly pull a repeat performance. Only his dedication to resolving the hospital problem made him stay focused on the task until it was no longer a factor.
AR: Are the tragic deaths of the new-born infants in the story based on real events?
BS: It needs to be repeatedly stressed that the fatalities described in the stories are strictly fiction. With the medical capacity available in this day and age, such occurrences are extremely rare. In fact, I can’t recall of ever hearing of an incident that parallels the story.
AR: Politics certainly plays a prominent role in the ever-evolving action of the story. Does the reach of red tape really tend to extend so far in the situations as the ones in the book?
BS: In reality, politics plays a far greater role in the whole health care industry than most people would dare to consider. The governing agencies are so well controlled by the big pharmaceutical corporations that medicines, procedures and life in general are often found not to be in the best interests of the patients. Having been personally involved with alternative medicines and developments for many years has proven to me that too much of a lack of ethics and integrity exists. The doors are cracking open but it will be a long time before the medical providers truly merit the trust that is being forced upon them.
AR: In "The Torch is Passed," where does Doc get his considerable drive and tenacity from?
BS: I am a person driven to excel in whatever I try to do. During my 78 years I have never considered anything but doing the best I can under any circumstances. Thus, it was easy to simply portray that initiative and drive in the characters of all of my writing. Doc’s drive and tenacity is simply an expression of my own forces and drive too succeed.
AR: Is it easy for Doc to open up to love again after the tragic passing of his wife?
BS: It was not easy for Doc to open himself to expressing love after the loss of his wife, Barbara. He did express a deep caring and concern for Jeannie as they cared for the kids and got them well ensconced in their own futures. It was only when he was faced with the potential loss of Jeannie and her companionship did he slow down and take a serious look at what she really meant in his life. It was at that time that he realized what a jewel she had been and allowed himself to recognize the true love before him.
AR: Why are Doc’s children so determined not to let his legacy die?
BS: The kids had the greatest regard for their mother. They gave her most of the credit for what they had become. But they also recognized the extreme effort put forth by Doc in his desire for them to succeed in their own lives. They could do nothing less than their best to support him, even if it meant a little dusting up on the track.
AR: Your characters are quite vivid and memorable. Was it difficult for you to create them and give them each their own unique, authentic energy?
BS: I feel I am blessed with a talent to see into my characters’ heads and hearts as I write these stories. With that vision and the literal capacity to walk in their shoes, I am able to create the characters and express how I would feel under those same circumstances. To me, there is no other way to create a valid story.
AR: What kind of responses have you gotten to the books so far?
BS: In general, the response has been very positive. People, young and old, have admitted being moved to tears by each of the stories. The only negative response has been from older women who complain my sexual excursions are too vivid. The younger women have all loved it and say ‘give me more’. I do not venture into perversion or filthy language in creating these intimate scenes.
AR: Is there a central message you’d like readers to take away from each story?
BS: I make no claim to being a moralist or philosopher in creating my works. Rather, the stories are written purely to provide pleasure and enjoyment for the reader, even though there may be stressful situations found along the way. That’s the image of life itself.
AR: Please share more with us about your publisher, Regulus Publishing.
BS: The author and the publisher, Regulus Publishing Corporation, are one in the same – me. I felt I had been quite sorely abused while trying to find a suitable publishing house to assist me in creating a finished product that met my standards. When I tried to obtain the services I wanted, at a fair price and in a timely manner, I learned if it was going to be, it would have to be me. I was fortunate in finding people in small shops that could do excellent work at designing covers, creating attractive text layouts and accomplish the actual fabrication work. Using my advanced capacity as a coordinator, I was able to hire these various operations, let them do their thing and come up with an excellent product. It is my desire to reach out to aspiring writers as a sideline to show them how they have an alternative to the bumps, curves, potholes and outright deceit prevalent in the publishing industry. I did it for myself and I will be happy to do it for others.
AR: In addition to being an author, you are an experienced engineer. Please share more with our readers about your endeavors in that field.
BS: Actually, becoming an engineer is but one step along a most intriguing life history. After my military service, I worked for a few years in the construction industry, attended college and established a corporation doing work in the insulation business. At the same time I was seriously pursuing a career in aviation. I be came a licensed mechanic and an instructor pilot. I was one of the top corporate pilots flying out of the Central New York area for some years, gaining nearly 10,000 hours of flight time. I also earned my Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering during that period.
After moving to Florida in the late 80s, I was given an opportunity to try my hand as an MEP Coordinator on a major hospital project. I pursued that career to various locations about the country and ultimately proved to one of the best at that craft in the nation. Unfortunately, Father Time and some less than ethical deceit by a former employer, drove me to seeking a different career where neither age, experience or the judgment of others played a role in my livelihood. Writing was totally under my control and development of the quality and merits of such to be a success was up to me.
AR: What are your future writing/publishing aspirations?
BS: It is my ultimate goal to develop sufficient name recognition to a point that some of the traditional publishing houses will look for my work and thus carry on the peripheral work of fabricating the books and handling the marketing operations. This will leave me to pursue full time the effort that I love and can do best – write.
AR: How can your readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
BS: I welcome contacts by readers, authors and anyone else interested in this interesting but perilous industry. I would consider it an honor to hear from all sorts of people across the spectrum of life. There’s nothing like having a great many friends and acquaintances.
AR: How can they contact you directly?
BS: The best way to contact me is through my personal e-mail address: bobshepp8602@yahoo.com. I discourage phone calls because I have a severe hearing loss that began when I was a weapons mechanic on jet fighters during the Korean conflict. Only individuals with a particular type of voice will be successful at trying to carry on a sensible conversation. But the e-mail is readily available and I use it constantly.
AR: Any final thoughts you would like to share with your readers?
BS: Two things. The first is to let loose and follow your heart regarding any type of writing experience you may choose, be it poetry, sci-fi, fiction or even non-fiction works. The personal rewards for seeing your work in print are tremendous. I’d be happy to work with anyone in a serious pursuit of such a goal.
The second is a reminder to be careful about who you give your money to. There are so many outright sharks in this business that it is pitiful. Carefully explore the many routes that can be taken in order create a viable publication. Due diligence is your responsibility. Make sure you use care and thought when making your selections.
AR: Thanks again, Bob, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!