Saturday, October 8, 2011

Interview with Author Kirk Mustard


I grew up in Kansas. Well, at least I lived there until I was adult, I don't know if I've grown up yet. It was a tiny one horse town minus the horse. It was a great place to cultivate my imagination because the only way to feel like I was living in someplace wonderful was to imagine it. Perhaps that's why I am inclined towards writing a novel that imagines the future. After college, I moved to California to be a actor. But I changed to writing when I realize that actors had to run all over town to get rejections, while writers got their rejections delivered right to the door. I do,however, still post commentary and some skits on the Internet. I can always hope that one of them will go viral. I used to fear things that were viral, now I want to be infectious.

Deirdra: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Kirk:

I found that trying to get a literary agent was more painful than trying to get a date in high school. In fact, the process has inspired a new novel. It will be up about a writer who is so frustrated with the process that he becomes a serial killer. On each new body he leaves his next chapter. The public worries who will be the next victim, but they also look forward to the next installment. It's called Killer Novel.

Anyway, I finally stuck my novel on Kindle and the next thing I knew I was selling copies, getting some very good reviews and one thing led to another.

Deirdra: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Yes, very dicouraged. One way that I dealt with it was too send letters back rejecting my rejection slips. I would write, "I'm sorry, but your rejection does not suit my needs at this time. Of course, other writers might find your rejection just their cup of tea. Good luck."

Deirdra: Can you tell us a little about your book The Future Perfect.

It's a satirical dystopian story about where I think man is probably headed. An effervescent oblivion. It seems to work not only as sci-fi, but many people who normally don't like sci-fi, also like it. The basic theme is computer technology greatly blurring the distinction between fiction and reality in people's lives. For example, when a person dies a computer generated image of them takes over and can be called on the video phone. Introduced to ease one's sense of loss, people soon find that they enjoy the computer generated replacements as much as more than they did the real person. Subsequently, the fear of death and the concept of death is basically eradicated. The plot involves the creation of a new animal called the Smelix. While still only theoretical, this creature ignites a battle over whether to replenish the decimated earth with a completely man-made ecosystem.

Deirdra: What do you hope readers will get from your books?

Kirk: I want them to laugh and smile a lot, be fascinated by the concepts and the story, and to think about the mystery and magic of human existence. And I want some of them to date me.


Deirdra: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?

Kirk:

Simply looking around at society is all the inspiration I need. Within seconds of leaving my apartment, or looking at a newspaper, I become enraged over some crazy thing that people are caught up in. I want to slap somebody silly. But since I have a fear of going to jail, I instead turn my anger into new ideas for my novel. It's a literary version of anger management.

Deirdra: What is your favorite snack to have while you are writing?

Kirk:

I don't allow myself to snack while writing because I would never get anything written. I tend to approach food with an all-you-can-eat buffet concept. However, before I write, I drink coffee. It's my believe that all the novels ever written or that ever could be written are already contained inside of coffee beans. It's just a matter of getting the words out of the coffee and into your brain and then down onto the paper.

Deirdra: Besides writing what other talents or hobbies do you have?

Kirk:

I like to doodle with pen and ink. They are completely spontaneous artworks with no plan about how they will look or no concern if anyone will like them. Subsequently they are a lot more fun than writing, which is more of a chore, that is, if you can call digging a ditch from here to Alaska a chore. I also like to walk in nature, and I really love insects. Everyone's always talking about if we'll ever be visited by aliens from another planet. But clearly, that's what insects are. Looking at them is like looking at a collection of military armaments from space. They seem to have come here to try to destroy us and take over the planet. I imagine, however, that they are shocked how big and hard to kill people are.

Deirdra: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to have their manuscripts become books in print?

Kirk: My advice is to suppress that desire. It will surely lead to ruin. I would suggest that you replace your desire to be published with a desire to dress up like Pee-wee Herman. Watch his movies and TV shows and then emulate his moves, gestures and sounds. I guarantee this will make you much happier than trying to get published. It will also get you more dates.


Deirdra: What are you working on now

Kirk: I'm working on a shorter futuristic novel called Baxter Lewis and the Alliance of Mad Science. It is geared more towards young adults, though I think adults will like it too. Baxter does for science what Harry Potter did for magic - shows that it is one of the most exciting, wonderful things in the world, as well as the most terrifying.

Deirdra: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?
Kirk:

Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble. You can also use an amastalatron to download the novel right from my brain into yours. Oh wait, sorry, that technology doesn't actually exist yet, though I imagine Apple is working on it.

Deirdra: Any final words you would like to share?

Kirk: Yes. Reality is for people with no imagination. Physical reality is merely the canvas on to which our minds paint happiness and misery. If you are miserable, don't look to change your physical reality, change your fiction.


3 comments:

  1. Fun interview! What an imagination and sense of humor! Thanks Kirk and Deirdra.

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  2. Love this ! I'm 3/4 through Future Perfect right now. Hilarious, and a great commentary !

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  3. So glad I found this book. It combines fantasy, scifi, parody, social commentary, and humour all in one. Perfect for me.

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