Beck Sherman is the author of Revamp and the upcoming Goodbye Nothing. Beck took a break from writing long enough to answer my Blogger Book Fair Mini-Interview questions. Beck is also a wise-ass, as you will see if you read on! 😉

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Brandon Luffman: To start things off, tell us a little about yourself. What do you write? Why do you write?

Beck Sherman: I have blonde hair. I’m a Virgo. I enjoy long walks on the beach and world peace, in that order. And, as you can see, I wear sarcasm as a second skin. I was born and raised in Massachusetts and studied political science at SyracuseUniversity. I later went on to get my Master’s degree in photojournalism at the University of Westminster in London. I write New Adult Horror. My mind has always been attracted to the “creep factor.” Some people might look at a house and see a white picket fence and a dog playing in the front yard and say, “How nice!” I’ll think, “Yeah, nice. But what’s really going on behind that door?” That’s where the story lies.

BL: What’s your latest release?

BS: “Revamp,” an apocalyptic vampire novel, was released in March of last year. My next book, “Goodbye Nothing,” is the story of a man who finds the joy in committing evil after he’s the victim of a violent act. It’s due out May of this year.

BL: Do you have a process when you write? What do you do to make it all come together?

BS: When I’m working on a novel, I try to be consistent and write every day. I don’t do outlines. I let the story go where it wants to go. It’s funny, whenever I relay to my mother that I’m having difficulty writing a certain part of a story, she asks, “Well, did you do an outline?” To some, an outline is a magic fix. To me, an outline is kryptonite.

BL: What about the editing and revision stage? What’s your process there?

BS: I usually finish the first draft, read through it immediately, and write the second draft before anyone looks at it. Then I give the manuscript to about five people, and after I get their input, I start on the third draft. Sometimes a fourth draft pops up. I generally don’t make major changes in the revisions and try to get it as close to right in the first draft as possible.

BL: What’s something not related to writing that no one knows about you?

BS: I see dead people.

BL: What’s something about you that you want everyone to know?

BS: I see dead people.

BL: When you get an idea for a new story, what do you do with it?

BS: I have an ideas book next to my bed since I tend to get a lot of my ideas when I’m trying to get sleep. I don’t really forget my ideas – once I get one, it’s stuck in my brain until I do something with it – but I write it down, just the same.

BL: Who is your ideal reader? Describe who you feel your books are directed at.

BS: Of course, I invite anyone to read my books. That being said, my books are horror books, so they do have some gore, violence, and sex. There’s a heady mix of humor, too – think “The Lost Boys” and “Zombieland.” I’m a huge movie buff and will sometimes, in homage, include hidden references to horror and science fiction classics in my books, so film fans will appreciate my work, too.

BL: How did you decide to take up writing as a serious pursuit?

BS: Once I exhausted every other profession, I finally saw what was always in front of me.

BL: What’s next for you and your work? What’s your next project?

BS: I’m about to start writing my third book, a New Adult Suspense, which will be a diversion for me. The book, however, will contain elements of the horrific. The main character undergoes a huge transformation – 180 degrees, really – so pulling it off is going to be a fun challenge. My second book, “Goodbye Nothing,” will be out in the spring. Watch for it.

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Enter Beck’s Giveaway Drawing!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About Beck Sherman

Beck Sherman was born and raised in Massachusetts. Beck attended Syracuse University undergrad, has a master’s degree in photojournalism from the University of Westminster, London, and when not writing, enjoys exploring abandoned insane asylums and photo-documenting the things that go bump in the night, when they’re kind enough to pose.