The Behrg and me were supposed to meet up at the Hotel California. I got a bad vibe and changed it to Starbucks last minute. The hipsters were a little unnerved watching me interview a shadow. Let's see what The Behrg had to say about reading, writing and zombies!
1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
The Behrg says:
A. David Wong, author of John Dies at the End, because even if he’s not helpful we’d have a great time.
B. Stephen King, who would probably be yawning through the experience, thinking “I always thought this would be worse …”
C. And Fiona Quinn, because if she kicks butt half as much as her heroine does, we’d have nothing to worry about. Plus, why would only male authors get to have all the fun?
Meredith says: I love the Stephen king yawning part! And Fiona Quinn - have you seen her videos where she breaks shit? I think she could handle herself well during the zombie apocalypse.
The Behrg says: I think Fiona Quinn could seriously handle the zombie apocalypse on her own, considering all the research she does for her blog! World War Z against Fiona; my money's on Fiona.
2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
The Behrg says: Against my better judgement (and personal preference) I would have to save J.K. Rowling. My kids would kill me if they knew I let her drown. (Sorry, Stephen).
Meredith says: The things we do for our children.
The Behrg says: I'm already holding this hypothetical situation against them!!
3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
The Behrg says: I have ADHD when it comes to reading and am always rotating between five to six books. I just finished The Fold by Peter Clines, which I thought was brilliant. My current list of books that I’m in the process of reading include:
- Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes
- Ant Farm by James Jackson (fellow Kindle Scout winner)
- Within These Walls by Ania Ahlborn
- The Dark Man by Desmond Doane (another Kindle Scout winner)
Meredith says: Oh hey! Andy Weir said THE FOLD was his best read of the year so far. What do you think of it?
The Behrg says: One of the most intriguing characters I've read in a long time set in a sci-fi novel that's really more mystery than anything. And the ending reminded me of one of my favorite recent movies, Cabin in the Woods, where in the 3rd act everything goes poetically (but justifiably) insane! I devoured it, and that says a lot.
4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
The Behrg says: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Something about it that makes it so universal to both youth and adults.
5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
The Behrg says: So many to choose from …… Black Fridays by Michael Sears was a pleasant surprise last year. Legion, a novella by Brandon Sanderson, I also found compellingly original.
6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
The Behrg says: Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts. The execution of this novel was flawless.
7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
The Behrg says: The power to turn negative thought into a sappy CareBear-esque flood of positivity.
Meredith says: That is the perfect super power for a writer! I want it.
8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
The Behrg says: I prefer writing in restaurants or coffee shops where there’s enough ambient noise to drown out my own internal editor who tends to shout quite often as I write. I swear that guy must have Tourette’s.
9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book HOUSEBROKEN.
The Behrg says: One of my favorite scenes in the book is when we first get to look through the son, Adam’s eyes. Here his family is being held hostage in their own home by these psychopaths, but we haven’t yet gotten to see how this young teenager is responding to everything. In just a page and half, I think, we get a glimpse into the workings of his mind and learn that the son is as psychotic as the men who are holding the family hostage.
This scene took me completely by surprise. I had no intentions when I began writing to make Adam into this troubled teen, but as soon as I got behind his head he demanded to be heard. It was a phenomenal lesson for me in learning that characters really do have their own voices and demands.
10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
The Behrg says: I grew up as a working actor and now write to slip into the mindset of someone completely different from me. I’m drawn to fatally flawed characters when it comes to literature – or movies, for that matter. Thankfully, at least for my wife’s sake, I don’t resemble any of the characters in Housebroken (or at least I hope not).
Meredith says:
11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.1
The Behrg says: I’ve tried writing to music, but as a guitarist and musician I find myself completely distracted. Even classical music or soundtracks keep me from focusing. That’s one thing I wish I had the ability to do.
12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
The Behrg says: Don’t be afraid to fail. Take chances and respect your audience by challenging them. And if you’re going to tell a story that’s been done before, find a way to bring a new angle to it. Originality is king in a world filled with noise.
Connect with The Behrg
Connect with The Behrg
(This is The Behrg. He may or may not be human, an alien, a ghost, an empty soul... or all of the above)
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Author Bio:
My writing career began in the fourth grade when tasked with an assignment to write about rain. I opted to tell the story of a raindrop who decided life wasn't worth living and leapt to his death only to discover that really he was being reborn. (You know that whole life-cycle thing).
Yeah, I was a little twisted even back then. Thankfully my teacher encouraged my writing rather than send me for a psych evaluation... (that came later).
I was a child actor and starred in recurring roles in Dynasty and Highway to Heaven, and was even in an episode of The Twilight Zone. I dropped out of college to join a rockband, was kicked out of the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland for lobbing rocks onto toy houses, and I have a grave in my backya ... oh wait, this is a BIO not a CONFESSIONAL.
Bottom line: I love to write. And thankfully, my family puts up with it. The very act of creating something that might be slightly askew keeps me going. I'm drawn to dark fiction where I find an appreciation for the light. Horror, thrillers, suspense. Things that make you question your own reality or open your mind to look at the world a little differently than you might have before.
I'm grateful to all those who give an independent author like myself a chance. For more about me, my works, (my rants), and my upcoming projects, please stop by www.thebehrg.com.
I promise I don't bite. (See, there's a reason they keep me muzzled).
