William is a self-proclaimed internet rock star and Wisconsin native. You can find him online at his blog or follow him on Twitter @kaliphonia.

Are you ready for this? 1 DM per answer. Tell me about your book THE TROUBLE WITH BEING GOD.

A thriller that attempts to buck some genre rules, with a focus more on the events and their effects than a search for whodunit

What inspired you to take such a unique approach to the thriller genre?

I believe that in times of extreme duress peoples’ true characters show. Also I wanted to write a fun read, with a subtle point

So was it fun? What was the best part about writing this book?

It was absolute fun, but also a learning experience. I don’t depend on writing for my paycheck, so I got to experiment a bit.

This is your first book. Why did you decide to tackle writing a novel?

I actually started the book almost eight years ago. I had always wanted to write a novel, and basically decided to just do it.

That’s awesome! So, according to your website, you have a second on the way! What’s that one about?

next is different: cyberpunk futurism dealing w/ questions of self, plus nature vs. tech. Brave New World meets Philip K. Dick

Wow. Where did this idea come from?

combo of 3 short story ideas: The Grabbing Hands, Delete, and Plasticity (inspired by The Faint’s song “The Geeks Were Right”)

You sound like a pretty creative guy. What’s the biggest challenge you face as a writer?

the biggest challenge I face is trying to get myself to write. Between my job, family & relaxation time, it’s hard to find time.

What does your writing schedule look like then?

I honestly don’t have a schedule as I do my best writing when I’m ready to write. When inspiration hits & stars align, I write.

What are the benefits, as a writer, to using social media like twitter?

It is important for me to have direct two-way, transparent communication between me and my readers. Social media lets me do so.

That’s a very smart attitude for an author to have. Have you found there to be any drawbacks to being so active online?

Absolutely no drawbacks. Then again, I live and breathe the Internet.

You self-published your first novel. Why did you go that publishing route?

I’ve been working in music publishing for almost 10 years now, so I know the basics. Fun experiment, plus make my own rules.

What is the biggest challenge when it comes to self-publishing?

Biggest drawback is you are ultimately the one responsible for every bit of marketing and promotion. Its also a huge benefit.

What advice would you give to someone looking to self-publish?

Take the creation process seriously and don’t try to do everything yourself. Even if you self-publish, you need others to help.

I think that’s it! Anything else you want to add? Thanks so much for agreeing to this!

Nothing else to add here!

The Trouble with Being God is available through Amazon.

We’re a country obsessed with celebrity, and trying to make authors into small-scale Lindsay Lohans does nothing but encourage what is already a bad cultural habit. Reading, no matter what book clubs tell us, is a private act, private even from the person who wrote the book. Once the novel is out there, the author is beside the point. The reader and the book have their own relationship now, and should be left alone to work things out for themselves.

I understand Patchett’s point–and her other one about authors being inherently anti-social people–but book tours and publicity isn’t about turning everyone into a Lindsay Lohan.

Yes, we live in a world of celebrity (I, of all people, should know that!), but the author is as much the product as the book. It’s about culitvating a relationship between the author and the reader, so the reader, by virtue of knowing about the author or hearing the author speak, can divulge deeper into the book and become more likely to buy books by that author in the future.

Besides, what gives authors the moral authority to choose for what reasons people buy their books?

The article itself is fascinating and raises a lot of excellent points about the nature of selling books, book tours, and using authors as promotional tools.