- a life-long learner with a passion for writing
Readers, let’s give a good, hearty welcome to this week’s guest!
Peter Servidio is a life-long learner with a passion for writing and is the author of the Earth Has Fallen series. After a childhood filled with reading books by Tolkien, Hubbard, Greenwood, Matheson, and Salvatore, Servidio has brought his imagination to life in his writings. His interests range from post-apocalyptic and dystopian worlds to dabbling in crime novels and the metaphysical.
Having earned his doctorate from St. Thomas University, Servidio works as a College and Correspondence Coordinator for the Maine Department of Corrections as well as teachers part-time at the University of Maine at Augusta. Readers have marked his writing as a “balance or realism and fantastical” that incorporates “a touch of King, a dash of Stein , and a hint of Tolkien.”
He lives in Southern Maine with his wife and three daughters. Just to make sure to keep busy, he also has two cats and a dog. When not working, writing, or spending time with his family, Servidio enjoys Dungeons & Dragons as well as MMORPGs.
Peter, thanks for agreeing to be here today. Most interviews start off with the boring stuff, but I know what readers REALLY want to know.
If you could have any pet (real/fantasy/no-allergies/no worries about feeding it) what would it be?
If I could be any pet, real or fantasy, I would have to choose to be a sloth. My daughter has always wanted a sloth and it would be fun to be her side-klick.
I totally get the urge. My sister’s decided the sloth life is for her — more naps!
What do you write? And how did you get started?
I suppose I got my start to writing when I was young. I always watched my father read and thought it would be neat to someday write books that he could read. Now he is my biggest fan!
My first books were stand-alone novellas dealing with dystopian and paranormal circumstances (Souls to Keep, Chain of Events, Without Conscience, The Chimera Project). After learning a bit about writing and publishing I began work on my first series – Earth Has Fallen, which has four books and a prequel published.
I recently completed my second post-apocalyptic series – Agents of Tomorrow which will be released in February of this year.
It’s always great when we writers have supportive family members.
What do you like to read?
I love Science Fiction and Horror. Books that make me think, “What could be?” always keep my interest. Whenever R.A. Salvatore releases a new book, I am first in line.
A great mix. And it sounds like epic fantasy’s on your menu, too, with Salvatore.
Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice that doesn’t work for you
Outline.
For me, I do not plan. I am a pantser, through and through. I let the story and the characters take me where they choose. And quite frankly, sometimes I am surprised at the outcome.
Ah, a true pantser! I’ve got to at least have a direction to start in.
Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice that works for you
Be true to yourself and your writing.
Many people may look at what you write and critique it. That is OK, but do not base your value on reviews. For every person that likes your writing, there will be someone who doesn’t.
So true! Chasing trends or editing based on everyone’s opinions will end up with a mild mid-of-the-road story that no one is passionate about. Be true to the story and everything else is negotiable.
Shameless Self-Promotion time!
With new books lined up to kick off 2022, here are some of the stories you can find by Peter Servidio.
Jimmy Rickets: A Boy and His Dog
Jimmy is your typical kid. He loves the outdoors and fishing, and he loves his dog. The one thing that makes Nimmy different is that he has Ricket’s Disease. This causes some of the other kids to tease him. What is one boy to do when all he wants is to spent time with his Black Lab and fish all day?
Earth Has Fallen is a complete 4-book series.
Earth has endured a full global nuclear war destroying more than 80% of the population. Survivors have formed small, close-knit communities who are wary of outsiders. The surface seems uninhabitable, food and water are scarce, and many do nothing but try and live. Loreto and the citizens of Toleran are looking to change this. They are looking to return to the surface. They are looking to retake the earth. Unfortunately, it is not just nature they have to contend with; it is also other humans.
Return From Darkness (Earth Has Fallen: Book 1)
Nuclear Armageddon left the planet in ashy ruins. When a man leaves the safety of the underground, will he survive the peril that awaits him above?
Seventeen-year-old Loreto Riker has never known life outside a bunker. After an atomic war thrusts the world into an eternal winter, the descendant of courageous survivors accepts an exploratory mission to search for others on the ravaged surface. But the treacherous task quickly turns deadly when he’s attacked by radioactively deformed flesh-eaters.
Desperately evading the mutant cannibals, Loreto pairs up with a sword-wielding woman on the run from the foul creatures. But when he makes a shocking discovery, he fears a much greater threat looms amongst the corrupted remnants of the apocalypse…
Souls to Keep (Devils Don’t Fly: Book 1)
When you make a deal with a demon, make sure you know what you are getting into!
Thomas Paige lived a good life. Well, that is what everyone who knew him thought. In reality, Thomas was addicted to adventure and when it was time to settle down, he found adrenaline rushes the only way he could. He gambled. Well you know what they say, be careful whom you gamble with.
Desperate to return to the world of the living following his murder, Thomas makes a deal with Apophis. In exchange for completing a task, Apophis will send Thomas back to earth. However, Apophis never agrees to send Thomas back as he was.
In his new form, can Thomas succeed in his task, or will he be doomed to travel the earth forever longing to be who he once was? And why does Lucifer himself have an interest in him?
Check out Peter Servidio out across the web!
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