Author Brett Comeau was born in Boston, Mass, and makes his home in Harrisburg, PA, with his wife Linda and their cat Chirp. He is a vast Sci-FI/ Fantasy nerd. Besides telling stories, Brett loves to play poker and practice martial arts, Including Uechi-Ryu, Iaido, and Kenjutsu. He also teaches kickboxing at the YCMA in his area.
What got you into writing your own stories?
I have always been a storyteller. Since I was a kid, I wanted to entertain people. At one point, I moved to LA for a job, and everyone I met was a storyteller putting it down on paper and selling it. One day, I realized they weren't different than me, and if they could do it, so could I. That put me on the path to becoming a writer.
What genre do you write?
Fantasy, I will try my hand at Sci-Fi soon, but Fantasy is my first love.
Tell us about your WIP.
It's called Nameless Vs the Army of the Dead. It is a fantasy/horror story set in the 1800s. It's about a deformed indentured servant lawfully required to defend the city from the Darklings, a group of mysterious hooded figures who kill the poor at night. Throughout the story, he befriends a local boy and the mayor's daughter; together, the three discover more of the Darkling's invasion than anyone knew.
How would you describe your writing style?
I call it a blue-collar style; when I was writing, I considered using "period-appropriate" vocabulary, but it didn't feel right, so I decided to write in a more straightforward style; it makes for an easier read.
What comes more easily, plot or characters?
Plot always becomes more accessible, and first, I think it's because I believe in scenes Like "Oh, wouldn't it be cool if the main character had to fight this kind of threat, the characters I have to work to develop more.
Do you cross over genres or do you only stick to one?
Fantasy is my true love, but I am flirting with a Sci-Fi story (I consider them cousins)
What is your "writer's den" like?
In my living room, I have a desk that faces a wall (I am too easily distracted, so I keep it as minimalist as possible.
How do you get into the flow for writing? Do you have any rituals?
Headphones playing white noise; I am an auditory learner, so any interesting sounds and I am off to the races.
What is your personally most significant achievement as a writer, and why?
Completing my first novel and getting it into the world, I spent several years writing scripts for movies and TV, but none saw the light of day. My book will be seen by people, and they will (hopefully) buy it. That means a lot to me.
What would be the greatest achievement for you to aim for as a writer if anything were possible?
I would love James Patterson career in the Fantasy world, he has multiple best selling series.
What are you most grateful for as a writer?
The self-publishing revolution: I am 49, so I am old enough to remember that becoming a novelist meant years of trying to get an agent, then years of trying to interest a publisher, and at any point, the book can be rejected. Now you can have an idea for a novel, and in 6 months, anyone can buy and read it. That is magical!
Do you have a day job? What is it?
I have 2 (I'm a busy guy, lol). I support children with autism, and I teach kickboxing at my local YMCA.
Has a real-life experience informed your writing? Share the scene it inspired.
Absolutely! One of the scenes in my book is pulled directly from my life. There is a scene where our three young heroes discover terrible news; they go to a bar to drown their troubles. A local bully starts trouble, and a bar fight breaks out. (I had a bit of a bad boy streak in my youth) I decided to steal a line from my 25-year-old self. This guy got into my face and said, "I'm the toughest guy in this town." I looked him in the face and replied, "Pal, you're not even the toughest guy in this bar." my friends and I joked about that line for years; I loved it so much that I put it into the book.
Do you read the same genre you write? Why, or why not?
Yes, Fantasy is my first love; I think reading the Genre you write in is good; it helps you see the patterns of stories and what works and what doesn’t
Do you read fellow indie authors' works? Why or why not?
Yes, for the same reason, if you see what is successful with your peers, you can borrow what works and put your spin on it.
Is there an author who inspires you?
Stephen King, I know that isn’t an original answer, but I grew up on his work; the Gunslinger series is a series I reread in 5 or 6 years. His fantasy book "Eyes of the Dragon" was the first "adult" fantasy book I ever read as a kid.
Give us three fun facts about yourself.
I have a second-degree black belt in Uechi-Ryu, a traditional Okinawan martial arts style.
I worked as a cowboy on a guest ranch for six months
I had a Class A skydiving license when I was 25
What is something about you that few people know?
That I have horrible grammar, I mean terrible.
Do you have any hobbies?
Marital arts and working out allow my brain to unplug and play in the background; I come up with some of my best ideas, if I have time Iike low buy in poker tournaments you can play for hours off 70 bucks.
What's your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving is my favroite Christmas have too much stress for them. Thanksgiving is just eating and playing Football.
What's your favorite season?
Fall: I grew up in Boston, and we used to joke there was a blazing hot summer, a cold winter, and two fantastic weeks of fall.
Do you have pets?
Yep, we have a Cat Chirp (who earned her name with her constant yelling at us)
Check out more about Brett Comeau here.
Featured Book: Nameless Vs The Army of the Dead
Why would you like to feature this book?
Aside from this being my first book, the story has some universal themes. Precisely how, when you find your tribe, your world changes for the better.
Who was your favorite character to write and why?
I should love the Main character, Lo, but in reality, I love his Sidekick, Alex – he's brash, loyal, and quick to act; he's a lot of fun to write.
What was your favorite scene to write and why?
The bar brawl scene is one of my favorites. It is something I pulled from my life, so it rang true.
Brett Comeau's Characters are well-fleshed out and entirely believable – not to mention amusing and endearing. However, this is not done at the expense of the plot, which has more than enough twists and turns to keep you reading. Drawing on well-loved themes and reinterpreting historical ideas, this book also saves you from thinking (in a good way) and guessing, which I want from a book.
What was the spark that started this book?
I have always loved sidekick characters, I don’t know what that says about me, but I always loved Robin more than Batman; I wanted to write a story where the hero looked like a sidekick, and the sidekick looked like the hero.
Is this a stand-alone book or the start of a series?
It is the start of a series. The next book, Nameless Vs the Wolfmen of Moonlight Bay, is coming out late next year (I hope)
A mad doctor has just injected a solution into a helpless victim. The victim dies, and the mad doctor is frustrated. Then, the dead farmer converts into a monster, and the mad doctor is thrilled looking at his undead monster. He laughs and says, "Well, isn't that interesting? Not at all what I expected, but this could be useful too.
What was the most interesting random fact you researched for this book?
The hypodermic syringe came out in 1853
What's the message you worked into this book?
Even if you are an "outsider," when you find your tribe, your world can change.
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