From
what you describe I can only guess that you are a therapist, psychiatrist
or social worker. Am I close? It would explain your insight into the character
of Erik. When I write these emails I try to picture who it is that I am writing
to. The mental image that always comes to mind fits the description of your
character, Abraham DeVille. How odd is that? Is my imagination anywhere close
to reality?
I've never written novels before.
Wrote short stories, lots of articles for a monthly newsletter, and more presentations
than I can count. These books are my first venture into the genre of adult
thriller and romance. No, I don't look like Abraham DeVille (laughing), though
in some aspects I act like him. Never hypnotized anyone, but went through
the experience so I could write about it. You're actually the first person
/ fan to ever ask me this question. There's nothing about me on the books.
I wanted my writing to stand on its own merit. Plus, who actually cares about
the author? If you really need to picture me, go outside and get a rock. (I
happen to love rocks and think of myself as a rock.) Paint a face on it and
dub it me...like in the move "Castaway". That way you can address
me on the spot.
As you may or may not know,
I do follow your blog because I find it interesting and quite thought provoking.
I am, however, curious about one thing: what drives a person who doesn't really
like all this new technology to actually go to the trouble of blogging? Is
it because your agent recommended it as a way to promote sales or is it more
the desire to reach out and touch another mind, be heard, make a difference,
connect? If I were to guess, I would think it a combination of all of the
above. After all, don't we all just long to feel part of something bigger
than ourselves?
I write that foolish web journal
because the Webmaster nagged me for several years to do so. I don't have an
agent to promote my writing. The Webmaster (a very close friend and compatriot)
wanted me to share some of the thoughts I share with others in the office
or when I teach. As it happens, since the blog is addressed to no one in particular,
I find that I can touch some very tender points within myself and share them…for
good and bad.
Obviously you could write about
anything you wanted. Why the Phantom?
Thank you for blowing the dust
off the guestbook and your very kind words! Believe me, your thoughts were
well-received encouragement to a fledgling author. When I was a teenager The
Phantom of the Opera and The Count of Monte Cristo were my favorite books.
You say the Phantom speaks to your soul, so let me encourage the loyalty.
There are absolutely hundreds of facets to his character...a virtual wealth
of aspects to explore. Thanks again for your kindness, and just to let you
know, I do sign books for fans. If you would like that I'll tell you where
to send them. Turn around is same day or next day out of Southern California.
Is Erik left-handed?
In my books he’s ambidextrous.
Most augmented (acutely sensitive) people are talented in a surprising number
of ways. Makes him a tough opponent in a fight.
I agree with your assessment
of Erik’s motivations. Some books try to turn him into either a wimp
or a teddy bear. Can you add to how you approach him?
I’ve spent a great deal
of time getting into Erik's head. The journey to faceless misanthrope has
been a dark and troubling one. Confronting physical and psychological needs
was primary. (How do you shave the strange rare whiskers that appear on the
damaged part of your face? Do you buy your own food or purchase items through
an agent? Present the real you to Christine or hold back?) These stories are
birthed in my soul, at the very core of me. I can touch down into the scenes,
much the way Erik does in the catatonic seizures of The Tale of the Bloodline.
Walking away from these stories is like opening the door and breathing in
the fresh air – I’m instantly grateful for my whole face and always
aware that Erik is trapped in his. There's a hungry, primal male at the top
of the website's home page. Click on him if you like - some of the motivations
that drive Erik are hidden there.
When you write about Erik do
you have Gerald Butler in mind? I’m not a fan of the 2004 movie, but
I’m in love with the musical.
No, I don't think Mr. Butler
when I need to picture Erik. I use someone more primal; Clive Owen does the
trick when the need arises. My own family is French-Portuguese and there are
a few tall, anti-societal characters among us. I also worked for a number
of years at a hospital on the East Coast where our specialty was re-building
the faces of American soldiers who had their faces blown off in combat. I
believe I understand something of the traumatized psyche.
Do you like reading other author’s
works about the Phantom?
I own several books by other
authors and had to pack them up and put them away. I found they clouded my
insight into Erik's mentation. He is like a diamond with dozens of facets.
A survivor in the terrain of his own troubled mind. I appreciate that others
have something to say, but if I'm going to write my own books it’s better
to have a clear vision in my head. There is a movie with Julian Sands that
has some wonderful scenes, but the Phantom is not destroyed facially - perhaps
because the writer is trying to make the point that he is distorted internally.
I get it, but a normal-looking Erik is not how I envision him.
Would you classify your books
as erotica?
Yes, they fall into the categories
of historical fiction, thriller, and erotica. Humans are driven to reproduce
through intercourse. Sexual congress is the primal function that put each
and every one of us here. The scenes offered up in American pornography often
fail to gratify the mind –usually there’s little to no plot, and
the storylines don’t convey the deep emotions accompanying the courtship
phase, not to mention the vibrant internal sentiments leading to the act of
consummation. Self-doubt, a sense of awe, a little nervous hesitation before
the actual motion of touching the hand, the cheek, the breast of the one who
is longed for and adored are important considerations in the fulfillment of
human need. A description that conveys anything less doesn’t keep my
interest in the tale, so I figure it must be boring the hell out of anyone
else with a functioning brain.
Was it difficult to write about
matricide?
Yes. Describing the prelude
and the actual act took putting my mind in a gruesome place for the entire
phase of writing that flash back. Knowing how Erik reacts in the original
classic, I had no choice but to look at what early experiences molded him.
Hopefully the result is a fascinating fall from grace; a setup for the origins
of his extreme desire to isolate himself right in the middle of an active
theater that is bustling with life and entertainment. I am so pleased that
the product of my writing had you “engrossed and fascinated”.
A good story is one of Life's best pleasures. By the way, Isidore's human
experiment will start falling apart in book # 4, hopefully in a surprising
way.
What do you think of other Phantom
authors I mentioned?
I did go to amazon.com to look
at the covers of the three novels you recommended. I don't own and have not
read any of them. However, I make it a principle not to laugh at the sincere
creative efforts of other authors or artists...so I didn't find the third
cover "hilarious". The Phantom doesn't belong to anyone, he's in
the public domain; therefore, the author of any novel, skit, play, etc. is
entitled to their interpretation. I know this sounds corny, but I respect
their freedom to do so. I've worked with too many soldiers who fought and
got maimed for other people to have personal freedoms. In my opinion, the
internet offers enough anonymity that people fail to bring their good manners
up to the web with them. But that's just me, a warrior in sandals, shorts
and a black T-shirt. It's summer and very hot here.
Did you know that you are mentioned
in an article about Menachem Mendel of Kotzk on Wiikiquotes on the Wikipedia
website? http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Menachem_Mendel_of_Kotzk#Quotes+
No I did not. To be associated
with The Kotsker, even in the most obscure fashion, is a great honor.
Will the fourth book take place
in present-day? Thanks for writing such substantial novels. I’ll be
sending my three books to the address you provided to be signed, thanks for
that too.
The fourth book takes place
in modern times. I feel like my second novel is too long – it could
easily have been broken into two books. Just didn’t want to make the
reader pay double to understand a continuing segment of that part of the history.
It remains the longest book so far, hopefully with an interesting twisty plot.
The Season of the Witch creates a springboard that
allows The Tale of the Bloodline to make a big jump
in time - genuine scientific reasons given, but it’s still a big jump.
You really know how to throw
out brainteasers. All three plots are so intriguing. What started you writing
these books? How did you work up to this project? By the way, I’m very
glad you did. Are you planning on any more delightful books? (I certainly
hope so.)
As to writing these books, I
spent a great deal of time alone as a kid (was raised in large part by my
grandparents). I loved libraries and books, watched old movies on Saturdays.
One weekend when I was a child, I saw a particularly stirring movie about
The Phantom of the Opera with Herbert Lom, (I think it originally came out
in the early 1960's.) I cried when the story ended and thought very deeply
about it for a number of days. Later on, in the summer I was 13, I read Gaston
Leroux's book many times. Something about Leroux’s deformed genius had
a tremendous effect upon me. Then, as an adult, when I became very ill and
stuck in a bed, I asked myself: “All right, with my medical background
in mind, what has to happen for Erik to finally win?" A floodgate opened
in my head...ideas were spilling out all over the place. I started writing
notes in the computer, originally with no intention of publishing any of it.
That part was a surprise sprung on me by a relative.
The next book will pick up six
months after this last one ends. It will address those unfinished issues in
The Tale of the Bloodline and some still hanging
around from the original Leroux novel. Novel number four will be The
Disciples of the Night, followed by The Theater
of the Lost. I'm still in research and playing around with some
ideas.
Out on the Internet there is
so much hatred and back stabbing that it blows my mind. Everyone is either
focused on themselves to the exclusion of all other concerns, or ready to
lash out at any honest effort an author puts forward. It’s enough to
make people want to pour themselves a good stiff drink. Geez, how do you cope
with it?
I don’t read them. They
are petty sour people, bitter souls wailing in the night that will soak the
creativity right out of artists and writers if they can.
Where will you take the next
book? I’m so curious. I want to tell you how excited I got when I reached
the part where Erik and Christine were having the telepathic conversation.
When you described where Erik was taking Christine (even though they weren't
actually there), all I kept thinking was: Opera House Lake - Opera House Lake
- Opera House Lake!
For a time I was confronted
with a puzzlement: Where should the story unfold after the Epilogue in The
Tale of the Bloodline? The problem with the next segment of
the saga is the underlying themes. I had to wait for some current dilemma
to fire up my imagination to the point that I wanted to begin expounding upon
it. Perhaps I was in overload for a bit, there is so much news in the world.
I’ve pushed the initial ideas floating around in my head out into the
notes for book # 5: The Theater of the Lost. I believe
that was most appropriate since my fingers started to itch about how much
Erik truly loves Christine and aches for her. Hope that makes some sort of
sense, and if you have any thoughts on the matter, please share them with
me. I’ll listen.
Why do you visit the subject
of rape and male dominance so often?
According to the U.S. Dept of
Justice a rape occurs in America every two minutes. We are in an epidemic
of rape and it’s a very old problem. (This statistic does not include
prison rapes or the rape of males, as those go largely unreported.) In my
professional experience the women who manage to overcome the trauma of such
an assault are very brave. I want to mention that these acts of violence take
place in my novels only to move the plot forward, to show why a woman is reacting
the way that she is, and how observing the aftermath affects Erik’s
psyche.
Really enjoyed the gruesome scene where the vamp-like
Kathryn gets her skull smashed in by a Harley. It appears that John escaped
with just a gunshot grazing. Hmm...shall we say...revenge, maybe?
Oh yes, we gotta’ have
some payback.
So many sections of this book
astonished me. Did Erik have to leave? I was rattled by his exit.
There was no way Erik could
sort out his complicated life at the chateau. Not to worry, Christine is very
important to him and will remain so. Glad I can rattle someone with my stories.
Are you a tolerant person?
I certainly try. Tolerance is
such a precious commodity. The intolerant seem to condone only what fits into
their pre-set molds. Everything that falls outside of them is of no value,
or worse, a detriment to be stamped out. Xenophobia is trying and taxing,
and has cost the human race a great deal of pain and suffering. Everything
I wrote about in this last novel has happened or is close to happening. Seriously.
Clones have no legal rights, as they are not "individuals". I have
a brother who is very prejudiced, he literally hates any belief system that's
differs from his own. I told him once that I could not agree, I hadn't received
the heavenly memo making me the judge of everyone else. He thinks I'm a pacifist.
I'm not, I'm willing to die for my country, and I know there are times when
we have to stand up for ourselves. (As a side note, I'm glad God enjoys a
challenge, because He / She has got one with my brother.) Let’s be noble
and promote tolerance.
I really enjoyed reading that
panty raid...just pure fun. I just finished the chapter where Christine is
longing for Erik but only has Torossian. I'm glad he can still feel despite
the looking "different" and all. I'm glad they didn't have sex because
I wanted it to be Erik. You've been so teasing with them, it was honestly
frustrating. I was so ready for some real home-cooked loving!! Will Torossian
ever find a love of his own?
Yes, a relationship with a very
smart woman named Anne develops through the fourth and firth books.
I have a feeling that Isidore
is going to die soon, he seems to be deteriorating badly, despite the remission.
Will Erik or Nyah find a definitive cure?
Isidore’s demise will
be addressed in the fourth book. He will not succumb to cancer.
I'm enjoying The
Tale of the Bloodline very much. I really worried when the trio
left and there was no sign of them anywhere. I thought, “They should
never have left!” And when you killed off the character of Kathryn with
a Harley…ewwwow, gruesome. I really didn’t know how to feel. She
was kind of annoying to be honest, vamp-like and trying to get with Erik,
despite already being with someone. I’m wondering if the Life Liberationists
are doing to show up in the fourth book, and if Kathryn will be mentioned…despite
dying?
You are absolutely right; if
the “trio” were truly loyal they should never have just up and
left. Yes, unfortunately the character Kathryn Arlington had a gruesome death.
Befits a newer recruit into the Life Liberationists. She really couldn't shoot
a rifle very well either. In the book Kathryn's ideation is evolving, she’s
being influenced in several directions. When I write the fourth book she will
definitely be mentioned...you'll see.
I’m on page 140 of The Tale
of the Bloodline and having some trouble sorting out just who
this young Erik is…please help.
If you are currently at the
beginning of chapter 13, you are very close to uncovering some key pieces
of information. The reasons for Erik existing here in this time frame had
to be firmly established. As with most things human there is some messiness
and confusion along the way. The young man is only 15 and trying to cope with
a number of adolescent issues, not to mention the added stressors of identifying
who the heck he is, and in this case was. Hopefully, all your questions will
be answered as you progress through the pages. If the upset you’re experiencing
is the result of not understanding the full picture just yet, hand on. Successfully
creating a gut-tension in the reader is a very useful tool for an author.
But not to worry…worlds are about to collide. Buckle up and enjoy the
ride, my friend.
I absolutely love your work.
The pages are things to savor. You must be a kind and understanding person
to give the gift of so much love to the world. Any thoughts?
Love is not a constant emotion.
It swells and recedes with circumstance and various pressures. Our lives are
pretty much continual periods of re-defining basic considerations, putting
varying degrees of importance on situations presented to us. Learning to be
flexible (an art beautifully practiced by the Buddhists) is very helpful.
One of my roommates in college taught me to eat cereal from a mug (saving
us the expense of bowls we could not afford after paying for tuition and books).
I am eternally grateful for this simple lesson. Erik learns how to improvise,
how to survive in order to sustain a relationship with his anchor, his Christine.
I really enjoyed the symbiotic
relationships you describe in this third novel! And I absolutely love Torossian,
so beautiful and so weird. I could get inside his skeletal rib brace and just
eat my way out. What you are doing for your fans is deeply appreciated. You
peel back the layers covering hideously deformed human beings and reveal a
true depth of beauty. This must be a difficult process, right?
Thank you. I hate giving my
books to strangers. It’s like giving a precious piece of my soul to
avowed pragmatists who think all the fragile living-beauty around them is
a colossal accident of chemistry and physics. And since it is just an accident...deserves
no respect.
Every time Torossian does something,
anything, I laugh hysterically. Can’t help myself. Was he intended as
an image of tragic comic relief?
I am so glad that you like
him! Life is so very far from perfect, so it’s nice to have a little
entertainment and a laugh along the way. (Smiles and offers “parade”
wave at monitor.) It’s interesting that Erik (in the original novel)
took up residence underground in a cellar five stories down. The building
goes so deep that the water table birthed a spontaneous lake. (By the way,
Erik worked on constructing the building and is credited with coming up with
a plan to control the water. Apparently the Paris Opera House is huge, takes
up over a city block. Has many of its own amenities, like a full stable, apartments,
cooks, carpenters, sceneshifters, electricians, etc. But I digress.) Here
in this third novel, Torossian is the reflection Erik saw in the waters of
the underground lake. The “other” self that silently feeds and
nurtures our souls.
Please post the announcement
you emailed for The Tail of the Bloodline. It was
so cool! Thanks.
Close to the edge of the forest,
a wolf hunkered down behind the bushes. So close to the base of a pine tree
he felt the rough bark rub against his coat. He sniffed the cold air. Investigating.
The thrill of risk hastened him. Rising up off the snow, the air’s icy
tendrils hit his nose, sharpened his scent. The Inn stood only thirty yards
away. The people in the building were obsessed with mythical gargoyles. There
were statues of the immobile creatures, set on short pedestals, to guard the
corners of the dwelling. He’d been over to them in the night to raise
his leg and mark the pillars of stone as his territory. These chunks of granite
protected nothing. Better to have a great wolf, one whose fierceness frightens
away intruders and petty thieves. He loved the chase. Setting the book he
held in his teeth down on the snow, he licked his chops and waited. The sun
was rising and with its warmth a faint mist started gathering, enveloping
him in further cover. Patient and determined, he felt impervious inside his
thick coat of gray and tan fur. These humans had a reason to reject him. He
ate their chickens whenever he could. Why waste an opportunity when it presented
itself? The taste of blood and feathers was still on his tongue. The birds
had become his favorite meal. The first of the sun’s muted rays caught
the glistening fangs of ice displayed on the edges of the roof. Teeth of water,
similar to his own, like some giant alpha male had bit the Inn and hesitated
to lower its jaw and consume the structure for its first meal of the day.
Lifting his head, he saw the woman appear on the kitchen stoop. She paused,
intuitively sensing trouble. The wolf rose, exposing his head and front to
her. She did not scream, did not move a muscle. Patient. Cagey. Lifting his
nose to re-imprint her scent, the wolf scampered off, swiftly fading into
the abyss of forest. His errand finished. The woman would either find The
Tale of the Bloodline, or she wouldn’t. Regardless, it
was now available for purchase at authorhouse.com and would soon be put on
line at other retailers. (The picture of a wolf surrounded by snow-covered
trees followed.)
I really
liked Kathryn’s character. Is she a tool to help propel the story line?
Yes. I pictured Kathryn as
a rather sassy individual, but one very loyal to her beliefs (even if those
beliefs are still developing as the action unfolds). She wants to help Erik
and relieve the predicament he finds himself in, but knows she will ultimately
act against Isidore. When I initially mapped out the book, the French world
was defined as basically an arena of men. Nyah is there, most certainly, but
she is aged and already genetically altered. Time had to be devoted to carefully
laying the foundation for what happens in the second half of this novel. Isidore
is controlling, Nyah sympathetic, Erik fifteen and just beginning to understand
who and what he is... Complex issues. Not to even mention our beautiful-weird
Torossian. Kathryn needs to be there, an integral component to open the door
for Christine. I am so glad you like the tale thus far, and that you think
I have the ability to write! Please jot down any typos you find and send them
to me. It’s very important and I thank you.
I could
almost smell the lavender surrounding the deep purple color of this book’s
jacket coat. If hydrangeas could be so rich in color as The Tale
of the Bloodline, I would feel I was holding the deepest warmest
colors that could ever be. The jacket is magnificent. I just stared at it
for quite some time, trying to drink in the color and feel something of what
the tale inside this book is going to say. Erik is perfect as all your Erik’s
are. Gazing at him on the cover does, I must admit, stir something deep inside,
possibly sexual. Were you trying to portray that these feelings might come
through to the reader when looking at the cover?
The picture on the back of the jacket does not relate anything to me right
now...perhaps as I read more this will have more meaning for the reader. She
is breathtaking!
How a viewer perceives the covers
of my books is left to their individual interpretation. I was only trying
to show that Erik is a young man who loves black clothes and is held somewhat
prisoner in a not too unpleasant setting. The vine represents the protective
Torossian, always standing closeby. The girl on the back cover is a character
in the book. You’ll meet her as you read the story.
I love your books, even
the covers speak of tight knit secrecy, pictures in frames holding secrets.
But why wouldn't Erik mess up his bed when he came in from sleeping in the
Vrika?
Thanks for the compliment.
Erik wanted to raise the level of fear about himself. A rising level of anxiety
increased his power and served as a warning for most people to leave him alone.
Where is Khusrowshah's
treasure?
M'wahahaha!
How does Torossian make
himself invisible or like a pool of liquid?
It's got to do with
the skeletal bodice he's wearing, I'll discuss the process in the next book
if we ever have a fourth novel.
What is the significance
of the Daroga giving Erik Turkish coins along with a chest of Persian gold?
Money he could use within
the realm was beneficial, but money he could use in an escape, say through
Turkish soil, without drawing undue attention to the transaction would be
priceless.
Why do all your titles
have five words?
A tribute to The
Phantom of the Opera.
Born of Nyah without
legal papers? Why?
To be kept hidden in
the lab and chateau for private testing and observation by mutual agreement
of the scientists.
On page 33 does hard
stem refer to a male attribute?
Yes.
After Fatima's death,
did Erik stay in the room to listen to Khusrowshah speak with his friends?
If so, where was Erik hiding?
What a great topic for
a short story in the writer's forum. I invite you to describe where he might
have hid himself. My sense of things is that Erik knew everything that happened
after he planted the corpse.
Does the pen and ink
picture on the title page say R O C in Erik's hair?
Yes.
On page 87, who is in
the shadows moving like liquid and talking telepathically with Erik?
Torossian.
Years later, after he'd
left Persia and lived in secret in the Opera House, did the memory of the
eery chants of the religious criers coming off the minarets teach Erik a technique
for unnerving Christine with his voice?
Most definitely. He
embedded the lonely addiction of his voice down into her soul.
Please say something
about your writing style.
All three books deal
with adult issues. In many ways, the Phantom is a predator and a recluse trying
to feel something other than dead inside. That fact in itself can make the
experience of writing a novel about him a freaky roller coaster ride. I know
that my scenes are graphic, mostly because of my medical background. Working
with soldiers who’d had their faces blow off allowed me to learn something
of the psyche of a person who suffers such an injury. It took work to feel
like a lonely gifted maestro, but I got there. Writing about Erik is in my
bones now. In these novels, he faces a myriad of situations – some pleasant,
some not so pleasant. I’ve also attempted to open the door on some issues
people want swept under the rug. (For example: Cutting is becoming a more
prevalent problem among young disillusioned teens lately. Competitive parental
drive seems to be a reoccurring causative.) Have you ever read the original
1911 book by Leroux? I find it, and all that he leaves unanswered, absolutely
fascinating. To my knowledge, no author until The Season of the Witch
had the Opera Ghost and Leroux actually meeting. What a trip it was writing
those chapters. Mahvahless! Everyone who writes about Erik is certainly
entitled to their individual interpretation, these stories represent how I
view him.
How should I address
you? De Mendes is too formal, and maybe not even correct, and Etienne does
not give you the total respect you deserve. Thank you for corresponding to
me.
Etienne is fine, and
I’m the one who should be thanking you and the other fans of my work.
Thanks for your comments; they are really a morale boost to a new author.
At least my stories aren’t boring you to death.
Any thoughts before
this third book comes out of production?
Back before recorded
history there were storytellers among the clans and tribes. They were valued
members who related tribal history, which fostered cohesive pride and stability
among the group. Their tales also had the added benefit of providing entertainment
and developing ritual around the campfires. My first thought is that maybe
in a past life I was one of them. It’s easy to picture myself scratching
pictures into the dirt as the stories unfolded. Second, I really enjoyed writing
this book. It came easier than the first two. Because of practice? I wonder,
or maybe I’ve just been itching to get into this leg of the saga. Third,
it’s surprising, but there always seems to be some degree of irony with
writing and publishing a novel. As example, I still don’t know the Persian
word for those curly-toed shoes they used to wear. I’ll probably stumble
across it once the book is out in the public…that seems to be the way
of it in life. I did find the Hindi name for the shoes all over the place.
And finally, this novel may not be the end of the Phantom’s adventures.
Hopefully, The Tale of the Bloodline will open all kinds of doors
for Erik.
Would you like to live
back in the time frame of the 1800’s?
Very interesting period
of human history, a modern writer could become really inspired. If I went
for a short visit, say a day or two, might be a great outing! Have to remember
that we take a great deal for granted. They didn’t have antibiotics
and there were so many ways to die…no electricity…no in-house
hot running water. Yikes! I doubt I could tolerate starched collars.
Any recommendations
about getting married?
I can share some thoughts
about the state of lasting relationships and what I've observed in the most
successful marriages I've come across. In those relationships there exists:
humor, honest affection, and a genuine desire to see the other partner happy.
(Similar backgrounds and interests also seem a helpful recurring theme.) Don't
worry about whether you will adjust for your partner. When love strikes, you
will not hesitate to do it. Certainly there will be give and take, but the
degrees you will sacrifice will only come back to bless you in a thousand
ways. You’ll still be you, only with a partner, hopefully one with morals.
Why isn’t there
anything about you on your books? Fans want to know everything they can about
Tiger Woods and the stars of the Twilight series.
Please don’t think
that this fledgling author does not appreciate your cyberspace friendship
and encouragement. I do, and I don't forget fans. Trust me, the group is small
enough that forgetting would be rather difficult, not to mention inappropriate.
I am not that kind of person anyway...made of different stuff. In my opinion,
the most important thing is that the work flows smoothly and is well done.
I don’t want to step out in public and wouldn’t appreciate being
swept out into the muck. In my opinion, the public does not have a right to
any artist’s or athlete’s private life, just the creative effort
they put forth. Why are Americans so voyeuristic with our heroes and heroines?
They are people who eat and drink, sleep, have relationships. Our freedoms
end where theirs begin.
What books have you
recently read?
Hard to believe anyone
would care, but I just finished Wuthering Heights. I know it's supposed
to be a serious love story but there are whole sections where I actually laughed.
Lots of fighting and fussing. The main characters are like a bunch of really
spoiled unhappy kids! Yelling, screaming, constantly judging, even slapping
each other! What a hoot. The story must have taken place back in the day when
women never talked about getting pregnant, because Catherine Earnshaw has
a baby that pops out of nowhere. I swear...I was paying attention and the
author never mentioned Heathcliff getting to her and she was estranged from
her husband at the time. She dies a few hours after the birth. I may have
to re-read the book just to make sense of it all. Granted, the archaic English
is a little tough. Not sure I know exactly what happened in the ending. So
if any of you know, please tell me. Either Heathcliff actually made contact
with the dead Cathy or he hallucinated from electrolyte imbalance caused by
voluntary starvation. Also just finished reading a classic about the tension
between political classes and the human need for sexual intimacy that was
published in the 1920's. Can any of you guess the name of the book? When it
was originally published it was immediately banned in both Britain and the
U.S. We’ve come a ways since then, because it's not banned now. By today’s
standards it's tame. Both books prove that money and power cannot buy happiness.
What is your favorite
movie, actor, actress, etc?
Eddie Izzard is my favorite
comedian. He made me laugh during this last serious illness. I can’t
thank him, but truly wish he could know what he’s given to his fans.
At the moment, my favorite TV series is Lie to Me with Tim Roth as
the main actor. I enjoy the plots! Kyra Sedgewick in The Closer would
be my favorite actress, and any of the Alien movies are still high
up on my list as favorites. I’ll watch them any time of the day or night.
Anyone got the popcorn? All time consummate best book on the planet…The
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Yah, baby! Rock my world!
In the third book will
we meet “the Lonely Heir” addressed in the Prologue of The
Season of the Witch?
Yes, and I hope he tickles your fancy.
Where are you with the
writing of this book and the continuing story of the Phantom? Please, stay
well and keep the 'Bloodline' flowing! I’d walk on hot sand to get my
hands on this book. How, do you do it? I just don't understand how you find
so much to write about, and as a reader I truly enjoy it! I can't wait. Come
on, bring on the transfusion! Please...write more and more...I love reading
about Erik. I don’t care if I need a cart to roll this Phantom series
around. I’m surprised they’re not charging double for the shipping
and handling. Just kidding. Please consider doing a vampire book, and that’s
all I’ll say on that subject. I’ll leave you with one thought...and
I want you to think long and hard about it...what if the Phantom turned into
a vampire and lived forever?
The plan is still to
have The Tale of the Bloodline published by late fall 2009. If Erik
was a vampire he would probably come and bite me in the neck. Good thing I’m
very fond of garlic. Let me assure you that the office is a bloody mess.
Can you put me on your
list to notify when your third book is out? I've been checking Amazon every
week to see if it is listed.
Yes, putting you on
my list to notify for the publication of The Tale of the Bloodline
is now done. It's a pretty private list, as I'm a new author and don't advertise.
I don't even have an agent, but please feel free to roam around the website,
and if you want to jump in with a contribution to anything don't hesitate.
Is the choice
of the year 2012 a deliberate choice? And can you tell us what the book is
about?