The Devil’s Jukebox by Marcel Feldmar: Interview + Giveaway

The Devil’s Jukebox
by Marcel Feldmar 

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Pop Fiction

Publisher: Peabo Productions (Self-Published)

Date of Publication: July 8th, 2014  

Number of pages: 294  

Cover Artist: Sam Soto 









A group of friends are reunited after twenty years to learn that their destinies are entangled with the immortal Muses and a mysterious lost jukebox.  

From Vancouver to a New Orleans cemetery, roaming through Los Angeles to Las Vegas; it’s a supernatural road trip laced with rock ‘n’ roll.

Available at Amazon iTunes BN Smashwords

If you order the paperback version of The Devil's Jukebox through CreateSpace https://www.createspace.com/4324532 between now and August 31, you'll get 20% off!

Just use the following discount code: RR5RTBTN 

 and the magic will happen.

Marcel Feldmar was born in Vancouver, moved to Boulder, ended up in Denver, went back to Vancouver, moved to Seattle, and ended up in Los Angeles. He is married with three dogs, and enjoys well made cocktails. He is also a coffee addict and an ex-drummer for too many bands to mention. He recently traded in his drumsticks for a couple of pens, and proceeded to complete his first novel. The Paranormal Pop Fiction tale entitled The Devil’s Jukebox.

http://www.marcelfeldmar.com
http://www.facebook.com/jukeboxdevil
https://www.goodreads.com/MFeldmar

Q &A with Author Marcel Feldmar

Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
There was a definite shift in the characters while writing later drafts of the novel, a few characters were completely cut, a few fell into more supporting roles, and I even ended up combining two characters into one. Initially, the main character was Martin Church. He was on the New Wave tip in the 80’s, playing drums and falling in love with Charlotte Holiday. He’s a bit of a loner / romantic. Grew up surrounding himself with music and even though he tried entering into relationships with other people he never let Charlotte out of his heart. As the story progressed, I think that Jonathan Satori became more of a main character, in that he’s the one who finds himself caught between helping his friends find the Jukebox or following his darker desires and working with the evil Pandora. Jonathan is the one who can actually communicate with the dead (through music), while Martin only has that non-verbal connection with Charlotte.

Charlotte and Phillip. They are both Immortal, and not Vampires. The comparison never bothered Charlotte, who has always had a taste for the darker side of things, but Phillip, who has been around a lot longer, is tired of it. “Not a vampire.” is becoming a catch phrase for him. All he really wants to do is collect his toys, and let someone else protect the Muses. Charlotte is still a little unsure of her position as a protector. She never thought she would be able to live forever, and is still enjoying the idea of that. Falling in love with Martin puts a little damper on that idea though, as she knows he won’t be around as long as she is. Still, she can’t say no when her heart is saying yes. Whatever problems arise in the future, she’ll deal with them then.

Annie Archer is a quiet character, but she seems to hold a lot of importance, even behind the scenes. Heartbroken and aching to be part of something bigger—Annie is chosen for something that she had only dreamed of. Even though those dreams could easily become nightmares, Annie turns out to be one of the strongest in the circle of friends.

Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?
The Devil’s Jukebox is my debut novel, so honestly—I haven’t had a lot of experience in working with artists. I was very fortunate to discover that I knew someone who was comfortable with graphic design, and was riding along the same wavelength as mine in terms of visualizing a cover that fit with the story inside. Sam Soto, who I would definitely work with again, only had to work on two variations before we both knew we had it. I feel like being allowed to choose the artist I wanted to work with was a great gift. It was, at least this time around, a fairly easy process. I wanted something that was very open ended—open to various interpretations. I knew that I didn’t want a visual representation of any of the characters, because I want the reader to form their own pictures of who is in the book.

What was your favorite scene to write?
My absolute favorite scene was actually one that I ended up cutting. I saved it, and it will appear in the future, but it just didn’t fit. It was a conversation between Phillip and Martin about not playing music anymore, and Martin had this great monologue. It ended up shifting and feeling too forced in the story, so away it went. The best scene still in the book? I think (for me) it was writing about Jonathan wandering around a cemetery in New Orleans. A place I’ve been to, but just trying to remember how it felt was fun to write. I also really liked writing about the memory of the strange summer night that occurred twenty some years ago. High school kids looking for something “fun” to do—and getting in a little too deep. Another place where I built upon memories of my high-school days.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
Unfortunately, writing is not a job for me— I actually have one of those office type 9-5 jobs, which makes the act of writing a little harder. Work pays the bills, writing pays my soul. Or something like that. I find the time where I can— little creative moments where I could finish the Devil’s Jukebox, spaces of emptiness where I can work on book number two… it’s really shot in bits and pieces and then pulled together over weekends. I have scraps of paper and notebooks of scribbling all over the place, and I actually write a lot in my head before it hits the paper. This way I can “write” even when I’m getting ready for work—or stuck in traffic on the way home.

Describe your ideal writing spot.
A fantasy, right now. I wish I had an ideal writing spot… but at the moment I’m just working with comfortable writing spots. Ideally it would be a little corner table at the back of a dimly lit and very empty bar with a fantastic jukebox playing only songs that I like. A bar with a friendly bartender who could make a really sublime Old Fashioned.

How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?
I think the old adage of “write what you know” holds true in some respects for me. I grew up in Vancouver, lived in Seattle and Denver, and now Los Angeles—so I would say that city life has definitely colored my writing. I don’t think I could write a great story about country living if I tried. My upbringing—I come from a very artistic and literate household, and all forms of creativity were appreciated and applauded. I think that without the support of my family in all of my creative endeavors my writing would have suffered. I can’t say I wouldn’t have been a writer, but I can say it would have been much more of a struggle.

What is the best advice you have been given?
The best, simplest, most effective piece of advice I have ever been given in regards to the writing of a book was: “Get an editor.” Words to live by. My first draft was about three times too long. Seriously. Also, I’m not sure if this qualifies as “advice”—but I was told by my father at a very young age that “There is no such thing as safety.” Take that how you will.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
I like to listen to music. I used to play music - nothing was more unwinding than playing drums for a couple of hours, but that doesn’t happen anymore. So now, it’s listening to music - and also just sitting on the couch, watching TV with my wife and our three dogs. It’s a little bit of bliss. Oh—and going to Hawaii. There is nothing more relaxing than sitting at La Mariana Sailing Club at sunset with a Mai Tai.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I have two answers for this question. New Orleans and Paris. I have been to a lot of places, and there are plenty I’ve never been to - but those two cities are in a constant battle for “number one favorite place to go.” New Orleans - it’s a city that has a lot of extremes, not all of them good, but the people that I’ve met, plus the food, the cocktails, the history - it feels like home every time I go. The cemeteries are truly magical, and the streets hold a strange magical nostalgia that no other city even comes close to. Not even Vancouver, where I lived for about twenty years, has that same power. And Paris—even though I don’t speak French (yet). That city is like a beautiful movie that you can actually live in.

If you could be any supernatural creature, what would you choose and why?
Growing up—Vampire. No question. Now, I’m not so sure. I’ve always had a fascination with the concept of immortality, but as I get older, I don’t think I could handle the idea of a never ending life. There are plenty of people I wouldn’t mind feeding on, but still - it can be such a mess to deal with. I think now the idea of a magician—not like an illusionist, but working with real magic—might be the way to go. Keeping the balance between white and black / good and evil. Grey magiks? I think this is something that might come up in my next book…

Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
I definitely prefer a solid paperback, although I find ebooks are definitely better to read while traveling - I’ve got a few loaded up for plane rides, hotel rooms, and even sitting on the bus.

What book are you reading now?
This should be more like “What books are you trying to read…?” because time is not currently my friend. It feels like the older I get, the less time I have to just bury myself between the pages of a book. Recent amazing favorites… Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus, Neil Gaiman - The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Ransom Riggs - Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Danny Bland - In Case We Die, Richard Kadrey - All those Sandman Slim books (Can’t wait until I get my hands on The Getaway God). Currently I am trying to work my way through a few— Geek Love by Katherine Dunn is one, and I’ve got Stephen King’s Joyland waiting in the wings. Oh, and also Carsick by John Waters.

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