Books Are Magic: Author Interview with Derek Blass

Sunday 12 August 2012

Author Interview with Derek Blass

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

An iPod full of every song that was ever created. Gotta have the music! I assume we aren't including something like a plane, right? I'm thinking a Kindle loaded with all the books that were ever written. Got my sounds and reads covered. Lastly, I'm gonna need a hammock.

What is one book everyone should read?

White Noise by Don Delillo. My favorite author, and my favorite book of his.

If you were a superhero what would your name be?

Raffy Miller. Oh, wait, that is my porn name.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

This question always stumps me, because I'm not sure if immortality is a superpower. That's what I'm going with!

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

Honestly? Lucky Charms. I'm high class.

Night owl, or early bird?

Early bird, by far. I tap out around 3pm each day.

One food you would never eat?

Cucumbers. Filthy.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

It's got the intensity of a Tarantino movie with the substance of literary fiction.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

Second book, Allegiance, just came out. Third one is in the works, and should be out in about 6-9 months!

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

I'm inspired by other artists, and I'm inspired all the time. In particular, music is what really inspires me on a daily basis. I'll listen to anything from Tool to Radiohead to Rage Against the Machine while I'm writing. They all do it for me.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Every reader that comes up and says they loved the book is the most rewarding experience, all over again. I just had a neighbor come up to me, an ex-English teacher, and quite honestly, she wasn't the type of reader that I'd expect would like Enemy in Blue. She loved it and is into the second one already. Just crazy!

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

Oh man. Probably the land of Xanth created by Piers Anthony. Yeah, color me geek.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Writing is the easy part. Marketing and promoting is the grueling part. Rewarding, but grueling no doubt. So, brace yourself for that part of it. Writing is truly the luxury.

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?

Zeus, because he's the God of Gods. Duh.

Hidden talent?

Thanks to my stepmom's dad, I'm remarkably handy around the house. Everything from tiling to carpentry to landscaping. I try not to let too many people know, 'cause then I'll have too much work!

Favorite Food?

Ohhh, if you're really a connoisseur of food, you know that all food can be your favorite, just depends on the time and place. That's my final answer.

How do you react to a bad review?

Let's get real, they hurt. No matter who you are, or what they say, it stinks to get 'em. But, you'll get 'em, unless your writing children's books. Even then, there are a lot of mean moms out there. So, when you get them, you just digest them and ignore them. Never respond.

If you were a bird, which one would you be?

I hate birds. I was bitten by one when I was younger. No birds, okay?

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

Oh man, cool question. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Yeah, I'm in this one for the money :)

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?

A good tax lawyer, 'cause they're gonna try to take a bunch of it. Besides that? Likely a beach villa in Mexico. With a writing desk.