Today's guest is Thomas White, author of the scifi/mystery, THE EDISON ENIGMA. Tom is here with us today to tell us more about the author behind the book.
Thomas White began his career as an actor. Several years later he found himself as an Artistic Director for a theatre in Los Angeles and the winner of several Drama-Logue and Critics awards for directing. As Tom’s career grew, he directed and co-produced the world tour of “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out Of Their Shells”. The show toured for over two years, was translated into seven different languages and seen by close to a million children. Tom served as President and Creative Director for Maiden Lane Entertainment for 24 years and worked on many large-scale corporate event productions that included Harley Davidson, Microsoft, Medtronic Diabetes, and dozens of others. The Edison Enigma is Tom’s third novel following up Justice Rules which was nominated as a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2010 Literary contest, and The Siren’s Scream.
Author Links
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1. Are you a morning writer or a night writer?
Hello all and thanks for having me. I plan my day around chores, errands, work and writing, depending on the way things fall. I work part time at Harrah’s here in Vegas on the show Menopause The Musical as the stage manager. I have recently picked up a hobby and refurbish furniture, which I am loving. So, on a show day I will write in the morning, refurbish in the afternoon, and do the show in the evening. On non-show days I may very well write all day or work on the furniture all day. Working on the furniture also gives me time to think about whatever it is I am writing and allows me time to add detail and intrigue to my work.
2. Do you outline or are you a pantster?
The seat of my pants is always warm. I will usually start out with a plan but in every instance that plan is soon abandoned. The creative process is what most stimulates me so following a specific train of thought often takes me someplace I had not considered. That is always the most fun. Allowing oneself to step out on the slope and discover that it is slippery is invigorating. My advice is to follow your instincts and disregard your plan.
3. Which comes first – plot or character?
I’ve written three novels at this point and I have had different experiences in each case. My first novel, Justice Rules, started with a question. I saw a man at a podium who had just heard the 'not guilty' verdict for the man who killed his son. The question was, “How do you achieve justice without paying to the justice system that just failed you?" My second novel, The Siren’s Scream, was character based and the plot developed around her. It became quite an intense journey and at the end of the day was quite satisfying. My third novel, The Edison Enigma was plot based. I had written a screen play that I then turned into a novel. That process was interesting to say the least because in screenwriting you write character and action, i.e. Tom arrives at a 1904 train station. From there the art director, costumer, director takes over and creates the scene visually. Obviously, a novel is the exact opposite, the station must be described, the characters mood and feelings must be brought to life for the reader. So the short answer is, it depends, lol. My next project was started by a title so I guess this one is character driven.
4. Noise or quiet when working on your manuscript?
Absolute quiet. As I am writing this, my wife is booking a flight for a vacation this summer. She is doing it out loud and driving me insane! Lol.
5. Favorite TV show?
I watch a lot of TV. Not coincidently, Quantum Leap is one of my all time favorites, both the old one and the new one. The Edison Enigma is a time travel adventure. See the trend! I once did a straw poll when with a group of people and asked which TV they had binged more than once. About 50% said, Breaking Bad. I am part of the group so put that one on the list as well.
6. Favorite type of music?
I don’t listen to a lot of music. I listen to NFL Network radio. But, we do have a pool loop through Spotify for days outside and that consists mostly of ’70’s, ’80’s, rock with some current artists that my wife sneaks in who I also enjoy.
7. Favorite craft besides writing?
I am a director by trade and have worked my entire career in the theatre so that has been my primary craft. However, as I said earlier, I have started refurbishing furniture. Matter of fact I just completed a project for my first client. A 84 year old hope chest that was in awful condition. It came out really nice, if I do say so myself. Here’s the before and after. (After is the green one, lol.)
8. Do you play a musical instrument?
I have directed over 30 musicals, I have written lyrics for songs and have written two musicals. But no, I often say that I am a very musical person with no musical ability whatsoever. I can’t sing, or play.
9. Single or married?
Married 35 years. However, if she doesn’t get this flight booked soon, that may change.
10. Children or no?
Two daughters, Claire and Kaelan. They are both in their 30’s, Claire is married and a teacher. Kaelan is graduating with her masters in Social Work this year. Claire is also a graphic designer and designed the cover for The Edison Enigma.
11. Pets?
No, I am not an animal person. I mean, if they are in the street I will swerve but I don’t like them in the house.
12. Favorite place to write?
I write now exclusively in my office, but I started writing with the advent of the lap top on airplanes. I loved that upgrade to first, with a glass of wine and the keyboard in front of me. Four or five uninterrupted hours at a time brought with it my first novel.
13. Favorite restaurant?
This is a tough one. Because of my work in the theatre I have travelled all over the world. I have favorites in many different cities. I live in Las Vegas which is an amazing place for restaurants. If you ever visit I suggest Carbone at the Aria, Hanks at Green Valley Resort, Bootleggers, an old Rat Pack hang out south on the strip or Prosecco’s, an intimate bistro in Henderson.
14. Do you work outside the home?
Currently, I am supposedly retired which means I am tremendously busy. The short answer is yes, I work outside the home. I work project to project mostly. I just returned from two weeks in Chicago working with Subaru on the Chicago Auto show. I have several corporate events coming up and as I mentioned, I sub for Menopause The Musical several times a week.
15. What was the name of the last movie you saw?
That would be last night and we watched Anatomy Of A Fall. We watched the Oscars this year for the first time in several years and we became intrigued by that movie and Zone of Interest. That is next on our list.
16. Favorite outdoor activity?
I used to be quite an avid skier but my knees have given out at this point, although we did go for a day last year. Ouch! Now it’s swimming and enjoying our backyard.
17. Pet peeve?
I seem to have many so I’ll limit it to two. People who say ‘on accident’ rather than ‘by accident’ drive me crazy. And, unlike most people I know, my rule to a peaceful and stress free life is, ‘Let them merge.’ No one has ever gotten up in the morning and said to themselves, “When I see that guy in the Toyota, I’m going to cut him off.” Nine times out of ten, they are just in the wrong lane. Let them merge!!!!
18. Your goal in life?
To have the opportunity to do more interviews like this.
19. Your most exciting moment?
Well, excluding the birth of my children, I directed the world tour of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Coming Out Of Their Shells which opened in the early 90’s at Radio City Music Hall. Opening night was quite a thrill.
20. The love of your life?
My children and of course, my wife, who has successfully booked our flight and is now downstairs.
Edison, a Chicago physicist, manages to successfully transport an object through time. Almost immediately following this success Dr. Edison is shut out of the facility and told by benefactor Raphael Barrington, to take a vacation. He is contacted by Don Rivendell, a grizzled old man with a secret. Rivendell explains to Tom that he is not the first person to discover time travel. Someone else went back and changed history by saving a young girl from dying in an internal combustion engine explosion.
Dr. Edison is tasked with going back and fixing history. He travels back to 1904 to find the younger version of Rivendell and stop him from saving the girl.
You can purchase your copy of The Edison Enigma at Amazon at https://t.ly/_NOoo.
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