Saturday, April 27, 2013

Blog Hoppin' Across The Universe


You’re reading Books, Beer and Blogshit!  It’s the only blog that’s not afraid to use cheese gimmicks to attract new followers.  I am your blogger, Mr. Frank.  This, our first official blog post will take advantage of something called a “Blog Hop”.


Author Tim Baker recently reached out to Frank and asked if he would like to take part in a Blog Hop.  Frank is going to be a part of Tim Baker’s new book, UNFINISHED BUSINESS, coming out in June 2013. This interview is geared towards writers and Frank did indeed write a short story that will be included in UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Additionally, he has several other writing projects brewing.  With that in mind, Frank is going to take off his podcasting hat and put on his writer hat and answer these questions as if he were an important and well regarded writer.  I know, I'm having a hard time keeping a straight face too.


At the end of the interview, Frank will call out three other writer/bloggers to pay-it-forward by answering the same set of questions and naming their own three writers to answer and on and on. Don't forget to show some love for Tim Baker's interview that set the whole train-a-rollin'.  His blog, Blindogg Books is very active and fun to follow.
Coming June 2013


So without any further adieu, let’s get the interview started:



What are you working on now?

I just finished a story called SPLAT!  I've submitted it to an anthology project for consideration. I won't name the project just yet since I've yet to be accepted.  No free press till you wine and dine me bitches!
With that project done, I'm just starting on another anthology project for a well known zombie author and all around chick magnet.  Nothing is set in stone there either so I won't mention his name but it does rhyme with Sharmand Blowsamilia.  You can draw your own conclusions.


What experiences have influenced you?

Reading, above and beyond all other things. I've always read horror more then  else.  I fell for the genre at an impressionable age. Fear taps into the human psyche more then any other emotion. Nothing is more important in writing then to pull at the emotional strings of your readers.  To connect with a person's emotion is a very powerful thing. Making someone feel fear or disgust is very romantic to me.


How would you describe your writing process?

I believe "Pantser" is the term I've seen thrown around.  I listen to the ideas swirling around and around in my head.  I grasp onto one I think I can work with.  There is very little, if any, outlining.  I may make a few notes at the start of a story about the gist of it and then just type in front of that to get to the culmination of that idea.
The best example of this I have is with a zombie story I wrote.  I found myself sick and tired of the things eating brains.  I asked myself what if just one of those zombies was an anomaly and fancied something else, some other body part.  I thought about what would make a suitable alternative for brains and the answer came to me with every woman's wise-assed answer to that question, a penis.  Suddenly the image of a rotting clown with mutilated penis hanging out of his mouth popped in my head and away I went.
That story has yet to see the light of day.  I'd really like to get it out there eventually.

What is the hardest part of writing?

Ugh.  So cliche but so damned true.  The hardest part of writing is writing.  I'm the father of two young children and finding a moment to sit down and write  just a few precious words is so very difficult. It's so bad that at times I've used my phone  to be able to tap out a few words while I'm at work on break.  I feel better being able to say I wrote something.


What would you like to try as a writer that you haven't yet?

Longer form.  Something novella or novel length.  


Who are the authors you most admire?

Wow.  I have such an eclectic collection of inspiring writers: Stephen King, Brian Keene, Clive Barker, Michael Pollan and Chuck Klosterman are some of the bigger names.  There are many unsung 'little guys' out there getting it done nowadays to who are really inspiring such as: Armand Rosamilia, Kevin Strange and Lance Carbuncle.  Those guys are riding the new wave of publishing, figuring out how to get it done, making their own rules and in the process are among the vanguards of the new world order of publishing and that in many ways is extremely more admirable then the big names.


What scares you?

Children.  Mine specifically.  They are the most frightening thing in my life on a daily basis.  They are a force of nature that can not be stopped.  They can take the most innocuous material in the world, say something like water, and lay down a huge swath of destruction in a very short span of time.  Typically the time it take for me to turn my back on them, hear the 'what's that sound?" sound and go rushing to find that they've flooded the entire house.
That example is an exaggeration but not by much.  Really they are good kids too but their curiosities my fright. Oddly, I haven't wrote anything about them... yet!


Now it's time to pass along this interview to three other writers:
Becky Heishman - The Misty Neighborhood
Lance Carbuncle – Lance Carbuncle Dot Com


Please try to take a look at their blogs as well. We are all Independent Authors trying to support one-another – and you are the first responders in that fight!
As always – thank you for reading


Thursday, April 25, 2013

That New Blog Smell

You're reading Books, Beer and Blogshit!  It's the ONLY blog that's the official blog of the Books, Beer and Bullshit podcast.  Your going to find more book reviews, more interviews and more bullshit from Jeff and Frank.

Listen to the podcast at booksbeerbullshit.podbean.com

 We've found ourselves backlogged with lots of great content that we just can't get all out on the podcast.  That's why we've created Books, Beer and Blogshit.  This is a chance for us to spotlight all the great things we would love to showcase for you but just can't due to time constraints. 

With that in mind, Constant Listeners, we hope this blog can be an integral part of the Books, Beer and Bullshit brand.  Let us know if your digging the stuff and don't hesitate to contact us with suggestions and content for the blog.  We are always happy to entertain those who wish to contribute.

Onward Constant Listeners!