About the Author:
Brandon Halsey is the award-winning author of BLISS and Assorted Poems and Purple Prose. He is a very private person.
Welcome you to The 131 Preview Review Interview!!
Brandon
Thank you for having me
It's a pleasure! I've just finished reading the 131st page of
your work l BLISS
and to call it simply a horror novel would be an injustice to the title. What
prompted you to write such a daring piece of literature?
Brandon
I wrote one previous book, Assorted
Poems & Purple Prose, that was a collection of short stories and
poetry. I next wanted to try my hand at writing a novel. I've always been a fan
of horror literature and films and wanted to try working on something belonging
to that genre.
But you could have simply written a slasher novel,
instead you went big, with the story arc of Government Scientist VS Holy
Cultist preying on small town America, with no Hero in sight. That was I think
rather brave.
And it's being received well
Brandon
Thank you. The feedback has been
very good, so far. I've been lucky. I set out to write a straight genre piece,
but during the writing process I discovered what type of writer I am and what
type of writer I'm not - what my strengths and weaknesses are. I'm a fan of
slasher novels but found that I wasn't really interested in writing something
like that. BLISS is primarily a horror novel, but incorporates elements from
several other genres as well. I enjoyed writing a novel that can't be so easily
defined.
Each character had a very clearly defined back story, some
gritty some heartbreaking, are you a research hound or just write what comes to
you?
Brandon
I love to research. One of great
perks of writing is discovering subjects and information that was previously
unknown to me. The first inspiration for BLISS came from my love of history.
During WW2 both the Allied and Axis gave their soldiers amphetamine tablets.
These drugs would keep the soldiers alert and willing to take more risks on the
battlefield. This lead to my further researching of the atrocities of human
experimentation. I like to write about subjects that I am interested in, but
not an expert in. This gives me a further excuse to study the subjects I find
most fascinating.
The WW2 Ref explains the experimentation on children as well.
Makes it make sense, I got a creepy Mengele vibe off that
scientist... Lol
Brandon
Unit 731 was based on an actual
laboratory in Japan during WW2. The doctors and scientists at Unit 731 were
known for human experimentation, torturing POWs and their own citizens in the
name of science.
You mentioned a book of Poetry
earlier, I understand at some point you won an award? What award?
Brandon
I won a few awards from local
papers. Nothing much too brag about, though I appreciate the fans I have in my
hometown.
Some shady shit went down/goes down in the name of science...
Progress has its disadvantages.
Brandon
I agree, and I'm sure BLISS could
be even more graphic in that regard. Fictional horrors can't compete with
reality.
No, no not usually. But that's why we prefer them. The
fictional worlds let us escape the realities of the day to day even if only for
a little while.
Brandon
That's a good way to put it
Regardless of the genera we need the irrational escape for a
moment or two just to breathe… Thank you
I understand you have written a few short companion stories to
BLISS in something called MAILER DEMON, would you like to talk about what that
is?
Brandon
The majority of BLISS is set in a
fictional town of Zontoe. I submitted a few short stories to MAILER DEMON that
will be included in a forthcoming collection of linked short stories. The
stories will all be set in Zontoe and further explore the history of this
fictional town.
When is that set to go live?
Brandon
It won't be out until the summer
of next year. I have about 1/3 of the book finished.
Cool, what else are you working on currently you may like to
share with us
Doing any local signings?
Brandon
I will be at Scare-A-Con in
Verona, NY in September and Bizarre AC in Atlantic City in October.
AWESOME!!
Brandon
I'm also planning another novel
but I'll most likely finish my next collection of short stories first.
I am going to release a updated
and expanded version of Assorted Poems & Purple Prose with extra content
and new cover art. That should be released within a month.
That sounds like a great opportunity for you!!
Brandon
Thanks
If I can help with the cover reveal let me know
I'd be happy to share it out
Brandon
I will. I'll send you a copy when
I finish. Thanks.
No problem!! I like to help when I can
Brandon
Sounds great!
Well, it's been an awesome chat, I think we got a good amount
of material here to go with, thank you do much for taking time out to do this!!
Brandon Of course. Thank you.
Have a wonderful night!! I'll post the interview Monday
morning, sans my typos... lol
Brandon
Good night!
Don't forget to check out Brandon's work and follow him on at the links below!! Till next time!!
Cheers! And Happy Reading!!
LINKS: GOODREADS TWITTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK
BUY LINKS:
BARNES&NOBLE AMAZON
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