Featured Interview With Brian J. Walters
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Cleveland, OH. Yep, the city made famous by Drew Carey, Rock and Roll, and the inability to claim any type of sports trophy.
I attended The Ohio State University. Not sure how. I’m guessing the admission person had a hell of a hangover that day and was just rubber stamping all pieces of paper that were laying on their desk. The best thing about OSU – outside of some crazy parties – I discovered Stand Up comedy.
For over 8 years, I spread the joys of humor from the midwest of the United States to the east, south, and west. A lot of my routine was just plain silly, but I did like to slide in the occasional,thought provoking pun from time to time and then sprinkle it with just the right amount of sarcasm.
I also scribed sitcom scripts, short stories, and a book. Unfortunately, none of my amazing words of wonder ever made it to the screen or shelves.
After a move to LA, I fell out of entertainment and into the world of business management. It was interesting and exciting and all in all a good experience, but now it’s time to write!
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was fascinated by them my whole childhood. My Mom was/is a ferocious reader. I never read, but sure was fascinated by how she wouldn’t stop.
It was actually my friends that finally convinced me to pick up a book. It was my junior year of high school. They were “advanced” and apparently interesting in studying. They gave me Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions. I loved it. It was weird, funny, and made me think. After that I started burrowing through my Mom’s library.
I started writing in college. Took a class and got a B on my first paper. The teacher really liked the story, but said I needed to work on my punctuation. Apparently, I was suppose to use something other than commas.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I really haven’t a read a lot in a long while. I’m definitely a fiction friend – my last favorite author was Christopher Moore- but I did slip into a non-fiction historical period before work and writing took over my life.
My wife inspires me a lot. She’s very strong, smart, sexy, and funny as hell. Injustice and ignorance is also an inspiration to me. I just don’t like people being kept or held down; physically, mentally, or economically. My first novel is going to be based in this issue, but don’t worry, it will be done with intelligence and funny.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Oh yeah. That’s why I’m here. The Chaise. This one came out of no where. I had just joined up with Goodreads.com and was following a short story contest. I was amazed how the writers would be given a word or description and then build an entire story within the confines of 3,000 words; and have it done within a week.
So I thought I’d give it a shot. 1,500 words. 2,500 words. 5,500 words and growing. It just kept growing. That’s when I learned the terms Novelette and Novella. I reached Novella with the first draft, but then rewrites put it back into the Novelette realm.
I like it. The back story is her husband, Theo, is in Africa. He represents a solar energy company which is trying to bring power to everyone; instead of just the rich – see how the keeping people down thing always makes an appearance?
Bridgette has her own business as a major event planner. They’ve both done pretty good and have a real nice place in a remote area of Florida. The problem is she hasn’t heard from Theo in two days, which is not the norm.
Her concern becomes obsessive. She starts to teeter on the verge of paranoia, and it all starts to spin out of control. She starts to melt present moments with the pleasures and passions of their past. The one thing she takes comfort in, is the security of her one constant; The Chaise. It always seems to be a part of the story.
It’s funny, when I talk about, and describe it, it sounds a bit scary; but it’s really a romance story that offers unexpected twists and turns. Keeps you tuned in. The biggest complaint I’ve heard the most, is that it ends to soon. “You should have made it a novel!”
Who knows? Remember, it was suppose to be short story in the beginning…
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles