Discover the captivating world of acclaimed author Ted Galdi in this exclusive interview with Book Nerdection. We will Delve into Ted’s writing journey, inspirations, and the power of his thought-provoking narratives. So Join us as we explore the mind of a master storyteller and to uncover the magic behind Ted Galdi’s extraordinary tales. Now Get ready to be captivated, enlightened, and inspired with us. And allow us to say Welcome to the realm of Ted Galdi.
But First, Who is Ted Galdi
Ted Galdi is a highly acclaimed author known for his gripping and thought-provoking narratives. With a passion for storytelling and a talent for crafting compelling characters, Ted has captivated readers around the world with his unique blend of suspense, mystery, and social commentary.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Ted discovered his love for writing at an early age. He honed his skills and pursued his passion while earning a degree in political science from Duke University. Ted’s diverse background and experiences have shaped his writing style, allowing him to seamlessly blend elements of thriller, contemporary fiction, and introspective exploration.
Ted’s debut novel, “Elixir,” garnered critical acclaim and established him as a rising star in the literary world. With subsequent novels like “An American Cage” and “Lion on Fire,” Ted continued to captivate readers with his meticulously crafted stories and intricate plotlines. His ability to tackle complex themes and deliver unexpected twists has earned him a devoted following and numerous accolades.
With a promising career ahead and a passion for storytelling that knows no bounds, Ted Galdi continues to push the boundaries of his craft, leaving an indelible mark on the literary landscape. Readers eagerly anticipate each new release, knowing they are in for a captivating and thought-provoking reading experience.
Ted Galdi’s Books:
Book Nerdection Interviews Ted Galdi:
- Can you share with us the inspiration and catalyst that propelled you to embark on your writing journey? How did your path as an author unfold, leading to the publication of your captivating novels?
As a kid, I loved movies. I would come up with storyboard-style stories back then, drawing out characters on paper and adding brief descriptions for each scene. In high school, I took a crack at writing my first screenplay.
It did not become an actual movie, but the experience was great. A few years later, in my twenties, I started really getting into reading as a hobby.
My first book, Elixir, came out in my late twenties. I took a pretty “cinematic” approach when writing it, as I did with my other books, with visuals and dialogue telling much more of the story than narration.
- “Elixir,” your debut novel, garnered immense praise. Could you shed some light on the origins of the story and the central themes you aimed to explore through this compelling narrative?
Elixir is about a teenage genius, the smartest person in the world, trying to cure Ebola after his girlfriend becomes sick with it. The book’s tagline is “blessings can be curses, and curses can be blessings.”
Though the main character, Sean, has a gift of brilliance, that gift winds up creating a lot of problems in his life. Then, when his girlfriend becomes sick, that problem forces him to embrace his gift and do something good.
Thematically, the book looks at rare human events and the interplay between blessings and curses. My hope was that it would raise some interesting questions in the minds of readers about nature.
However, at its core, the story is about a teenager trying to save the girl he loves. Making the audience feel for the characters and get wrapped up in the suspense was very important to me.
- “An American Cage” and “Lion on Fire” showcase your versatility as a writer, traversing different genres and themes. What motivated you to venture into distinct literary territories, and how do you approach crafting diverse stories that captivate readers?
Though all of my books are thrillers, many varieties of thrillers exist. An American Cage fits into the psychological sub-genre, and Lion on Fire into the heist sub-genre.
I don’t pick a sub-genre just to try something new. Instead, I’ll think of what I want the story to get across to the audience. The sub-genre I wind up writing in emerges from there.
For instance, for An American Cage, I thought a cool story to write could be about a good kid who winds up in maximum-security prison for a crime he didn’t intend to commit. That then led me to think of prison break.
From there, I thought of challenges for him on the outside of the prison. That then led me to an idea of manipulation. Once I really started thinking about how manipulation would play a role in the story, the psychological-thriller sub-genre became a natural fit.
With Lion on Fire, I wanted to tell a story about a guy in his early twenties trying to figure out adulthood in New York, and meeting someone who looked at the world very differently than him.
It wasn’t until later on that I decided those two should rob a casino.
- Your characters possess depth and complexity, making them highly relatable and intriguing. Can you provide insights into your character development process? Are they influenced by real-life experiences or individuals?
None of my characters are based on specific, real-life people. But the experiences I’ve had with people in my own life of course have shaped my view of things. When I create characters, I draw from these outlooks.
I won’t just put a character into a story because he or she is interesting. The character needs to tie into the story in an effective way. Certain stories call for certain characters.
Once I have a general idea of the characters in a story, I’ll add some layers to their personalities. A good way to do this is with contradictions.
For example, a character who can be really nice in some situations, and really vicious in others, is more interesting to me than a character who’s “sort of friendly, but not that friendly” all of the time.
- As an accomplished author, you have undoubtedly encountered various challenges along the way. Could you share some of the obstacles you faced during your writing career and how you managed to overcome them?
After I wrote my first book, I really wanted to just get it out there. I didn’t pitch it to any publishing companies. So, I was totally on my own when it came to marketing it.
Promoting a book is very different than writing a book. I had to try to learn this entirely new thing from scratch, while getting started on my next book.
With social media, promoting a book today seems to be much easier than it was years ago. I got lucky being part of this era, I suppose.
- Are there recurring themes or messages that you aim to convey through your novels? What impact do you aspire to make on readers through your storytelling?
My goal is to tell a story that’s entertaining, while also being thought-provoking. Only the readers would know if I’m actually getting this done, but that’s at least my goal.
The theme of each of my stories is different. This lets me get into different topics. And it keeps things fresh for the readers.
- The writing process often demands solitude and self-discipline. How do you maintain motivation and focus during the creative phases? Do you follow any specific routines or strategies to overcome writer’s block?
I really enjoy writing. But you don’t want to be writing for hours on end late into the night, fighting off sleep.
You’re not going to be at full capacity then, which means, the next day, or some day soon, you’re probably going to decide to go back and edit a lot of what you did, which slows down the project.
I think it’s important to write for a good amount of time in a day, then stop before you go too long.
- Could you provide us with insights into your writing process? Do you meticulously outline your stories or allow them to unfold organically? Are there any unique rituals or habits you employ when sitting down to write?
When I’m on a first draft, I try to get down 2,000 words a day, five days a week. This isn’t always doable, but as long as I’m somewhat close, I’ll have the draft done in a decent amount of time.
Before I even get to that stage, I do an outline. When you sit down to write a scene with an outline, you’ve already figured out how it ties into the ones before and after. You can just focus on the scene itself, getting the details in a good spot.
Before I start on the outline, there’s what you can call the “idea stage,” when you’re still trying to figure out what the story is about at a really high level.
This stage is more about feel than anything. You may think about a bunch of different things. When ones feels right, you start focusing more on that.
- Balancing a writing career with other aspects of life can be challenging for many aspiring authors. How do you manage your time and maintain a healthy work-life equilibrium?
As mentioned, even if you love writing, you’re doing yourself a disservice by going too heavy in a single day.
Giving yourself a stopping point is important. This also opens up a good amount of your day for other stuff.
- Finally, could you provide us with a glimpse into your future projects or works in progress? What can readers anticipate from the imaginative world of Ted Galdi in the coming months or years?
In May, my action-thriller novel Black Quiet was released. It’s about an ex-Special Forces commando, Cole Maddox, who seeks revenge after a gang beats his brother into a coma.
The second book in the Cole Maddox series, Razor Moon, is coming out on August 22. Cole goes on a dangerous search for a missing fifteen-year-old girl. You can check out these books, and my others, on my website.
