John Harrison
Modesto, California
Good morning, John. It's a pleasure to have you here with us this morning. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?
My first published
piece, aside from a few poems in selected Online Poetry Anthologies, was a
short story titled Unholy Trinity. It’s a small three chapter short published in
Michael Moorcock’s Otherworld e-zine
in England. It’s about an amnesiac
Vampire trying to find out who she is.
My first novel Shadow
Dance is a fantasy novel. The sword and
sorcery kind of Fantasy. From what I’ve
been told it would be considered Epic High Fantasy, mainly because there is
both magic and elves. It is the first in
the Shadow Saga and I plan on at least five more books to follow it. The book was published through a couple
places as an eBook initially and then finally in print in both hard and soft
cover variants. The next out will be
Shadow Play and is scheduled to be released in May 2016. The third should be out before the end of
this year. Before I get on to the next,
I think I should mention that Shadow Dance is going to be available in audio
format before the year is out. I’m
working with a talented voice actor, Robert Rossmann and I am in love with what
he has put together so far.
I also have a series of
three poetry books Titled Whispers Through the Veil. These are poems arranged according in a
dichotic order. The first one is about
Love and Loss, the second is Thoughts and Inspiration, while the third is
lyrics and poetic short stories. All of
which are available in both print and eBook.
What about upcoming
projects? What are you working on?
Well, to be truthful, my literary plate is a little full.
I am finishing up Shadow Flight, the third installment to
the Shadow Saga. As I mentioned earlier,
I plan on having this one released before the end of the year. Not to mention the other three books in the
series.
Then there is another,
more modern, fictional tale that is halfway done called Sebanik. It’s about a boy
that can bring dreams into reality and how he can live with the gift. As you can imagine, while it sounds like a
great thing, it isn’t as perfect as it seems.
This is going to be one of my charitable campaigns with the majority of
the proceeds being donated to the fight against illiteracy.
Another novel is the
adaption of Unholy Trinity into a
full length novel. The working name I’m
using for it is Bella Rouge. Like the short story it is still going to
focus on Arabella Smith’s life and it will be mostly set in a modern setting.
There are always quite
a few other stories tickling around in my brain and fighting for their change
to get put on a page, but those are the main ones I am focusing on for now.
What is your
favorite genre to write?
Type I’d say fiction...as far as genre, that’s hard. I feel compelled to write in the story’s
genre. By that I mean as I write, the
genre isn’t as important as the elements of the story itself. Sometimes in a fantasy story, I’ll add a hint
of sci-fi or some criminal aspects that you might find in a thriller.
Quite frankly, from the
books that I’ve read, that seems to be the way most authors are starting to
shift. The invisible walls of genre are
more and more a marketing tool and less of a restraint to confine the author’s
expression.
Favorite food.
Nikuman – it’s a Japanese dish. A
fluffy, mildly sweet, bun with a savory meat and vegetable filling that is big
enough for a whole meal.
Tea or coffee?
Both? I mean not at the same time of
course…but possibly alternating
Pizza or ice cream?
Ice Cream. Don’t get me wrong. Pizza
is great, especially if it’s a good New York Style Pie, but Ice Cream. Wow, just the sound of it makes my mouth
water and the little kid deep inside start squirming.
Wine or beer?
For me this one depends on the occasion.
If I’m at a signing or an upscale place, wine without a doubt. Now if I’ve been asked to do a reading at a
pub, in some guy’s man cave, anywhere with a roaring fire after a long day,
then it is beer first. And when it’s
beer, the darker the better.
Where would you like
to visit?
Everywhere. Seriously. Just like everyone, I have my top 5 that I
want to go to though.
1. Ireland
2. Australia
3. Japan
4. Tanzania on a Safari (This one is new thanks to a recent posting from a
friend)
5. England
Favorite musical
artist. Do you listen to music when you
write? What?
I have quite a bit of favorites…and they all depend on my mood or my
project. Which sort of answers both of
the next questions.
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Yes I do listen to
music as I write. That is unless I’m in
public. Then I listen to everyone around
me for inspiring dialogue flow. I like
to make sure my characters speak like people and not as if they are reading
from a script.
As for what I listen
to, I let my characters determine that.
If they are a jazzy type person, then I have Miles Davis, Nat King Cole
and BB King ready. If they are more
street, then the rap and hip hop abound.
On fast paced and theatrical pieces, 80s Glam Rock fills my ears. I’ve even had a dueling banjos piece that I
wrote into a story because I felt it added the right ambiance to the piece.
What makes you
laugh?
Little things really. Not the over
the top super in the face stuff.
Sometimes it is some of the snarky comments, but mostly the irony in
daily life.
Favorite work of art
or sculpture.
My favorite artist is Claude Monet.
As far as my favorite piece…it would have to be La Promenade. The magical way the woman seems to appear out
of nothing in the painting is amazing.
As far as sculptures
go. I don’t have any one favorite. Pretty much anything in marble or brass and I
am in awe.
How old were you
when you started writing?
This is a trick question. I
purposefully started writing when I was 23.
That being said, I was writing stories when I was 9.
My parents kept them in
a little box in garage. The box was
hidden and secret. They didn’t even tell
me about them until I showed them Shadow Dance.
Even though it was a pale comparison to the story it is now.
My Dad said, “I think
you need to know something.” Then he got
up and told me to follow him.
We went into the
garage, it was spring in Idaho and the garage was cold. He told me to climb up to the top shelf and
get him a box from the back. So I did. I brought it to him and we went back upstairs.
Once we were in front
of my mother, he told me to sit down on the floor and I did. Then he dumped the box’s contents on me. I was amazed at how many stories fluttered
around me.
Evidently they had a
bet and he won. My mom didn’t think I
would actually start writing, other than as a hobby, but my dad knew otherwise.
Describe your
perfect evening.
Well. Spending time with my boys until they are exhausted and
sleeping. They are young, so that
happens around 9-ish. Then pouring
myself a glass of whiskey on the rocks.
Opening up my laptop and writing whatever hits me. Those are the perfect nights that I strive
for.
Where do you get
your inspiration?
Life. Death. Memories of better days and the not so good
ones. I was blessed with an overactive
and vivid imagination that was coupled in an overly logical and analytical
mind. The better question is, “How can I
get all of the ideas out?”
What do you do when
you get a writer's block?
I love this question because I don’t.
I mean not in the usual sense. My
version of writer’s block starts as an argument with my characters. Much like a director on a film with an unruly
actor, I’d assume.
You see. I have the book planned out. Where I want it to start and where it is
going to end. Many times I write the
ending first. That’s where the problem is.
The characters decide
that they will get to the end, but not the way I want. So when I get blocked it’s because I have to
see it from their point of view and let them do it their way.
To do that, I draw,
sing, grab another project. Whatever it
takes to let the story sink back into my subconscious to work itself out.
Who is your favorite
author?
Neil Gaiman
Best book you ever
read.
American Gods, but Neverwhere is a close
second
Last book you read.
Amuse by Karma Marie. It’s not the normal
type of book that I read, but it was very well written. She is a new author and still finding her
way, but her story does not disappoint.
What would you do for
a living if you weren’t a writer?
Either an editor or a director, although I have been told that I have a
Voice for Radio and Voice Acting.
Who is the one
person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
This might sound corny….but it’s my dad.
Especially now that he has passed.
I am constantly going back over my interactions with him, both when I
was younger and after I had grown, and found a wealth of knowledge I can draw
from.
If you could sit
down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or
fictional, who would it be and why?
At the risk of sounding fanatical, I would pick Jesus. There is only so much that is really known
about Him. I know some of you may think,
“Well, just pray and he will talk to you.”
But I mean in a literal sense. I
want to actually talk about the big things with Him and learn about the man
behind the legends.
What advice would
you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Write. It really is that simple and
that hard. Take some time. Map it out.
When are you going to write? Is
the place going to allow too many distractions?
You know yourself
better than I do. Go somewhere you
aren’t overly familiar with. But no matter
what, put the words on paper.
It will feel silly, but
that’s ok.
If you have dialogue,
speak it. If you have actions, move
through them yourself (if you can safely).
If not, watch them being performed.
The final bit, and I
think the most important.
Read.
You cannot hope to put
thoughts on a page expertly unless you have studied those that have come
before. Like every other profession, you
need to learn the good habits along with the bad. Then you can find your voice and style.
Thank you, John, for spending time with us. Your answers to our questions are insightful and dynamic. You are delightful. We at Vision and Verse wish you continued success in all your writing endeavors. Come back to see us any time!
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-John Harrison
