Post by angelac on Feb 26, 2014 15:04:38 GMT -6
Everybody has certain authors they love, for me this list includes Stephen King, Robert McCammon, Jonathan Maberry, and Jeremy Robinson. I have been a rabid fan from the first book I read by him, Kronos. I absolutely have to have any book he writes as soon as it's released. So when he agreed to do an interview with me I was over the moon! As both Jeremy Robinson and Jeremy Bishop his books are non-stop thrill rides that I can't put down. So sit back and relax as I tell you a little about Jeremy,,,
Jeremy Robinson was born in the sometimes mysterious seacoast town of Beverly, Massachusetts. From a young age his father fostered a love for Science Fiction. He grew up on thick doses of Superman, Batman, X-men, Dr. Who, Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, Star Trek and Godzilla—creative fuel for the future.
He began his creative career as an illustrator for comic books and comic strips and worked on several small indie projects, but it wasn’t long before an epiphany struck—his art wasn’t just about creating images—it was about telling stories. Robinson switched gears to writing, first screenplays and then novels.
Robinson is now the author of numerous novels (nearly twenty) including the highly praised SECONDWORLD, as well as PULSE, INSTINCT, and THRESHOLD the first three books in his exciting Jack Sigler series, which is also the focus of and expanding series of co-authored novellas deemed the Chesspocalypse. Robinson also known as the #1 Amazon.com horror writer, Jeremy Bishop, author of THE SENTINEL and the controversial novel, TORMENT. His novels have been translated into ten languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children.
1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m the author of more than 40 thriller, horror, action-adventure, fantasy and sci-fi novels and novellas. Before taking up writing, I was an artist working on some small indie comic books and I now design most of my covers, including some for St. Martin’s Press. I’ve got three ridiculously creative kids, who will one day put me to shame, and an awesome wife, Hilaree, who is also and artist and writer. We’re currently writing a novel together, The Distance, which will be published in hardcover in 2015. Mostly, I write, draw, hang out with the fam, play with the dog, Kenobi (after Obi Wan) and write some more.
2. How long have you been writing?
My interest in writing began in comic books, since I was illustrating them, and in 1995 branched into screenwriting. I tried my hand at that until 2003, when I realized the odds of getting a movie made from one of my stories was much higher if I wrote novels instead screenplays. It’s a little backwards, but true. So I gave it a whirl and discovered that long form novel fiction was actually a better fit than screenwriting, though I still write very visually. In 2005, I self-published my first novel, The Didymus Contingency. I published three more novels between then and 2007, when I was discovered, thanks to my good sales, by Thomas Dunne Books. The rest is history.
3. Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
It took a while for me to really come to the conclusion that I wanted to be a writer. I was an artist for a long time. Went to college for art. Drew and painted non-stop. Then, one day, I had an epiphany. My art was all about telling stories. That’s what I was good at and loved to do, no matter what medium I’m working in. So, I suppose, it was my art that inspired me to write.
4. What do you find most challenging and enjoyable as an author?
The most challenging thing about being a writer is my own insatiable ambition. I’m always pushing for more, better, faster, bigger. I work non-stop (though I keep regular business hours unless there is a deadline crunch) and work right on the fringe of being burned out, pretty much all the time. I look forward to the day when I allow myself to slow down and breathe. Most enjoyable would be that I’m the boss. I’ve never been good at working for other people. Being told what to do just doesn’t work for my personality type. And then there is the ambition. I move and work at a pace no employer would want to match. The few jobs I kept for any length of time beyond, say, a day, were hideously boring.
5. What books do you enjoy in your free time?
This is a tough question, mostly because I’ve been experimenting for the past year, checking out scads of self-published authors and names aren’t on the tip of my tongue. The easiest way to describe what I’ve been reading is apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, which isn’t too much of a surprise because that’s what I like to write, too. Books I can remember are: the Wool series by Hugh Howey, the Rot & Ruin series by Jonathan Maberry and The Survivalist series by Arthur Bradley, but there are sooo many more I’m not remembering.
6. Who is your favorite author and why?
Favorite author is a hard question, mostly because my taste is now ever changing, and I’m experimenting so much. BUT, my favorite pair of novels are The Descent and Deeper by Jeff Long. I’ve never had a story, and world, stick in my head like those two books have. They just sucked me in and never let go.
7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Be prepared for the long haul, or don’t bother. When I decided to become a writer, I threw myself into it with abandon. I worked at it full time, for thirteen years. Thirteen years! Before I actually made a living at it. It was a large sacrifice. I basically gave up my 20s to learning the craft. Looking back, I’d do it again. I’ve achieved what I set out to do and there are no shortcuts. So if you’re not willing to sacrifice—money, time, fun—then don’t waste your time. Unless it’s just fun for you. Then knock yourself out. Just don’t expect professional result.
8. Can you tell us about any of your new work?
My next hardcover novel, Xom-B, is easily my best book to date (and I don’t think I’ve made this claim before). It’s a near future horror/sci-fi/thriller featuring robots, zombies, crazy action and, if you can believe it, is character driven. AND I did the cover for it! Xom-B hits stores on April 29, 2014.
9. What question do you wish someone would ask and what is the answer?
Let’s pretend that the person asking is Stephen Spielberg or JJ Abrams... Question: Can I make Xom-B into a movie? Answer: Hell yes. Still haven’t been asked that question, though there HAS been serious interest in a few of the books. But no deals yet.
10. Can you tell me a little about your alter-ego Jeremy Bishop?
I created Jeremy Bishop because I wanted to write some straight horror novels featuring darker themes that don’t require scientific explanations. My Robinson novels, for the most part, are rooted in science, which can get tedious at times when you just want to write about something monstrous without having to figure out how such a thing can exist. Thus, Jeremy Bishop was born and now I have an outlet for my darker, horror novels. Basically, the name lets readers know that the content is going to be different and to not be surprised when things get dark.
For more visit Jeremy at: www.jeremyrobinsononline.com
Censored Trailer for Jeremy Bishop's Novels, The Sentinel and The Raven
<img alt="Video Placeholder" src="/images/bbcode/video-preview.png" video='<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xU30YSKO4Qg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>'>
Jeremy Robinson was born in the sometimes mysterious seacoast town of Beverly, Massachusetts. From a young age his father fostered a love for Science Fiction. He grew up on thick doses of Superman, Batman, X-men, Dr. Who, Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, Star Trek and Godzilla—creative fuel for the future.
He began his creative career as an illustrator for comic books and comic strips and worked on several small indie projects, but it wasn’t long before an epiphany struck—his art wasn’t just about creating images—it was about telling stories. Robinson switched gears to writing, first screenplays and then novels.
Robinson is now the author of numerous novels (nearly twenty) including the highly praised SECONDWORLD, as well as PULSE, INSTINCT, and THRESHOLD the first three books in his exciting Jack Sigler series, which is also the focus of and expanding series of co-authored novellas deemed the Chesspocalypse. Robinson also known as the #1 Amazon.com horror writer, Jeremy Bishop, author of THE SENTINEL and the controversial novel, TORMENT. His novels have been translated into ten languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children.
1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m the author of more than 40 thriller, horror, action-adventure, fantasy and sci-fi novels and novellas. Before taking up writing, I was an artist working on some small indie comic books and I now design most of my covers, including some for St. Martin’s Press. I’ve got three ridiculously creative kids, who will one day put me to shame, and an awesome wife, Hilaree, who is also and artist and writer. We’re currently writing a novel together, The Distance, which will be published in hardcover in 2015. Mostly, I write, draw, hang out with the fam, play with the dog, Kenobi (after Obi Wan) and write some more.
2. How long have you been writing?
My interest in writing began in comic books, since I was illustrating them, and in 1995 branched into screenwriting. I tried my hand at that until 2003, when I realized the odds of getting a movie made from one of my stories was much higher if I wrote novels instead screenplays. It’s a little backwards, but true. So I gave it a whirl and discovered that long form novel fiction was actually a better fit than screenwriting, though I still write very visually. In 2005, I self-published my first novel, The Didymus Contingency. I published three more novels between then and 2007, when I was discovered, thanks to my good sales, by Thomas Dunne Books. The rest is history.
3. Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
It took a while for me to really come to the conclusion that I wanted to be a writer. I was an artist for a long time. Went to college for art. Drew and painted non-stop. Then, one day, I had an epiphany. My art was all about telling stories. That’s what I was good at and loved to do, no matter what medium I’m working in. So, I suppose, it was my art that inspired me to write.
4. What do you find most challenging and enjoyable as an author?
The most challenging thing about being a writer is my own insatiable ambition. I’m always pushing for more, better, faster, bigger. I work non-stop (though I keep regular business hours unless there is a deadline crunch) and work right on the fringe of being burned out, pretty much all the time. I look forward to the day when I allow myself to slow down and breathe. Most enjoyable would be that I’m the boss. I’ve never been good at working for other people. Being told what to do just doesn’t work for my personality type. And then there is the ambition. I move and work at a pace no employer would want to match. The few jobs I kept for any length of time beyond, say, a day, were hideously boring.
5. What books do you enjoy in your free time?
This is a tough question, mostly because I’ve been experimenting for the past year, checking out scads of self-published authors and names aren’t on the tip of my tongue. The easiest way to describe what I’ve been reading is apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, which isn’t too much of a surprise because that’s what I like to write, too. Books I can remember are: the Wool series by Hugh Howey, the Rot & Ruin series by Jonathan Maberry and The Survivalist series by Arthur Bradley, but there are sooo many more I’m not remembering.
6. Who is your favorite author and why?
Favorite author is a hard question, mostly because my taste is now ever changing, and I’m experimenting so much. BUT, my favorite pair of novels are The Descent and Deeper by Jeff Long. I’ve never had a story, and world, stick in my head like those two books have. They just sucked me in and never let go.
7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Be prepared for the long haul, or don’t bother. When I decided to become a writer, I threw myself into it with abandon. I worked at it full time, for thirteen years. Thirteen years! Before I actually made a living at it. It was a large sacrifice. I basically gave up my 20s to learning the craft. Looking back, I’d do it again. I’ve achieved what I set out to do and there are no shortcuts. So if you’re not willing to sacrifice—money, time, fun—then don’t waste your time. Unless it’s just fun for you. Then knock yourself out. Just don’t expect professional result.
8. Can you tell us about any of your new work?
My next hardcover novel, Xom-B, is easily my best book to date (and I don’t think I’ve made this claim before). It’s a near future horror/sci-fi/thriller featuring robots, zombies, crazy action and, if you can believe it, is character driven. AND I did the cover for it! Xom-B hits stores on April 29, 2014.
9. What question do you wish someone would ask and what is the answer?
Let’s pretend that the person asking is Stephen Spielberg or JJ Abrams... Question: Can I make Xom-B into a movie? Answer: Hell yes. Still haven’t been asked that question, though there HAS been serious interest in a few of the books. But no deals yet.
10. Can you tell me a little about your alter-ego Jeremy Bishop?
I created Jeremy Bishop because I wanted to write some straight horror novels featuring darker themes that don’t require scientific explanations. My Robinson novels, for the most part, are rooted in science, which can get tedious at times when you just want to write about something monstrous without having to figure out how such a thing can exist. Thus, Jeremy Bishop was born and now I have an outlet for my darker, horror novels. Basically, the name lets readers know that the content is going to be different and to not be surprised when things get dark.
For more visit Jeremy at: www.jeremyrobinsononline.com
Censored Trailer for Jeremy Bishop's Novels, The Sentinel and The Raven
<img alt="Video Placeholder" src="/images/bbcode/video-preview.png" video='<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xU30YSKO4Qg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>'>
