#14 Patrick Trotti 1 on 1 with Mark Atley
Patrick Trotti creates a world both frighteningly familiar and altogether otherworldly with stories showcasing all that is wrong with the human psyche while offering glimpses of better times and delving into the gritty realism of people living on the periphery of society.Trotti explores the vast underbelly of society and shows us just how relatable suffering can be.
Hello everyone, and welcome to "1 on 1 with Me!" In this series, I highlight a new author and engage in a thoughtful conversation about who they are, what they care about, and their perspectives on various topics. I start with standard questions and then move into tailored follow-ups based on their responses.
I find the format to be conversational, and I truly enjoy it. My primary focus is to highlight the author I am interviewing.
Who am I? I am an author known for creating crime fiction, with a particular focus on complex characters, engaging dialogue, and narratives centered around crime themes. I genuinely enjoy listening to people and letting them share their stories.
If you are interested in being a guest, please reach out to me on social media or email me with the subject line: "Author Interview." This initiative is my way of giving back to the writing community. The guests you’ll hear from in these interviews come from diverse backgrounds, and they may or may not be familiar voices in the writing community. That’s the beauty of this platform on Substack—it's free!
My values
—Everyone matters.
—Be positive.
—Gratitude in everything.
—Default action is compassion.
—Empathy. Always.
—Fight for Resolution.
—Motivations matter.
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On to the interview!
Patrick Trotti is an exceptional storyteller whose fiction delves deeply into the complexities of the human experience. His collection of short stories offers a profound exploration of themes such as addiction and trauma, masterfully crafted with eloquent prose. Each narrative serves as a vivid slice of life, resonating with readers from all walks of life. Trotti's ability to convey raw emotions and intricate character dynamics makes his work both engaging and accessible, inviting readers to reflect on their own journeys through the lens of shared humanity.
Who are you and can you tell me a little about your work? What drives you? What do you hope to accomplish?
Sure, my name is Patrick Trotti and I’m a small press published author of several literary fiction story collections as well as my debut book, which was a novella. What drives me is focusing in on the process rather than the outcome. There’s nothing better than being in the middle of writing a story and it’s clicking (hopefully) or even if it’s a struggle, and just remembering to embrace the grind because the words are permanent once published and there’s a huge responsibility that comes with that. Honestly, I hope to be able to finish what is turning out to be a rather lengthy novel sometime in the next year. I tend to think shorter term so it makes things more manageable.
How do you see your relationship with the reader?
For me there’s a heavy bond between an author and a reader. You’re being trusted with their time and energy and that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Anything beyond a reader finishing one of my books and recommending it to someone else is just gravy to me.
How do you view your characters? What has changed over time, and what has stayed the same? How do you develop complex characters?
At first I had main characters that were largely thinly veiled versions of my former self. While that has morphed a bit over the past few years, I tend to go back to the well of “write what you know” so the characters tend not to stray too far from that vantage point. Complex characters are exactly what the term means as in they’re hard to explain but you’ll know it when you read one. To a certain extent every human is complex in their own way, you’ve just got to be able to see and listen a little more to those around you and be willing to take risks emotionally. I find truth and vulnerability to be the most complex impulse a character can show or possess. Also what works for me in developing complex characters is the use of competing emotions and/or motivations. The friction that it creates is ripe with material.
What is your version of success? Has it changed during your writing journey? How so? What’s different now versus when you started?
My younger self had this grand vision of signing with an agent and then having my book shopped and picked up by a big five publisher and going into a bookstore and finding it displayed prominently. Cliche sure but that vision has completely flipped into one where I just have to remain focused on the art side of the craft and not fret too much about the business aspect. Money is cool, so is some fame, but at the end of the day all we have are our words and they better make an impact.
What type of reader are you? How do you view books you read, and how do they affect you and your writing?
I’m a fairly voracious reader. I think the best attribute I bring to reading is an inquisitiveness and open mind. I know what I like but I’ll never say no to a good story well told even if it’s out of my so called wheel house. The books that affect my writing the most are the ones I reread multiple times. If I keep coming back to a book there’s something there that’ll make me a better writer hopefully. As far as the medium is concerned I’ve paired back my physical library considerably and thus have switched almost exclusively to ebooks and nearly daily visits to my local library.
How do you find readers? What works and hasn’t worked for you? What resonates with you when readers share thoughts about your work? And where do you see yourself in the writing community and publishing world?
I find readers haphazardly and with little rhyme or reason. I’m somewhat active on social media and have gained a small amount of readers that way but I try not to pump myself up or just constantly push my writing on any friends/followers. As far as the community goes, I’ve had the pleasure of starting my own independent literary press, LEFTOVER Books a few years ago and have been able to publish a few books a year. It’s a steep learning curve but I’m thankful for being able to publish a number of debut author’s and make some great friendships along the way.
—Please provide a brief blurb about yourself, and feel free to promote your recent book or work.
I’m the publisher of LEFTOVER Books, an independent literary press based in Rochester, NY. When not writing short stories I’m hard at work piece of together what has the makings of a solid novel. My upcoming book of short stories, QUIET HOURS, is set to be published later in 2025 (date tbd) by Anxiety Press.
You talked about how your view of success has evolved. Can you share your journey, including the struggles and successes?
My view of success has evolved based on my experiences. When I was younger I was in such a rush to get published, to see my name in print on the front of a book cover, that I thought it would be the best all end all. It wasn’t. I’m nice I realized to enjoy the process and not just try to derive my worth from the results I was much happier.
When you are not writing, what do you do? What drives you in the real world? How did you cultivate your gift for writing through these experiences?
When I’m not writing I work as a freelance editor. I also am busy growing the small press I started, LEFTOVER Books. My drive in the real world bleeds over into my writing because that informs much of what I do. No matter what I do, my writing follows along closely. It’s my why and has been for some time.
What inspired the idea and initiative for leftover books? What was the most challenging aspect of launching your own press, and what has been your biggest or most memorable success?
The idea for LEFTOVER Books was simple. Publish books ignored by the mainstream. I just wanted there to be another venue where you didn’t need a personal or professional connection to get an honest look. I don’t care if you’re agented or not or if you live in a big city or small town, I just want the work to speak for itself. My biggest success has been the personal relationships I’ve cultivated through this process.
Why do you pursue this work?
That’s a loaded question. If I had to take a stab at it I’d say I write because I want to put my own little slice of how I see and interpret life out there and hopefully someone else reads it and relates to it. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to say that writing has offered me a life preserver in my lowest points of my life when I was younger. Now it’s just about paying that forward by working on perfecting my craft.
Patrick Trotti creates a world both frighteningly familiar and altogether otherworldly with stories showcasing all that is wrong with the human psyche while offering glimpses of better times and delving into the gritty realism of people living on the periphery of society.Trotti explores the vast underbelly of society and shows us just how relatable suffering can be.
If you are interested in being a guest, please reach out to Mark on social media or email with the subject line: Author Interview.
Mark Atley is known for writing crime fiction, with his works often characterized by complex characters, engaging dialogue, and narratives that build tension towards explosive climaxes.
Atley's approach to writing often involves creating intricate plots where characters' histories and motives are deeply interwoven, providing readers with both entertainment and a commentary on crime and morality. His work has been featured on platforms like Audible for audiobooks, indicating a broad reach in the crime fiction genre.
Mark Atley also engages with his audience through social media, where he can be followed for updates on new releases and insights into his writing process
Another excellent interview and introduction to an author (for me anyway) I will be following.