We recently carried out an exclusive interview with bestselling author T.J. Brearton. We learnt about his background, the types of books he writes, about his most recent story entitled GONE, and also his upcoming work. Read on to learn more about T.J. and his work.
Please tell us about you. Where are you from? What is your professional background and how did you become an author?
I’m from New York State. We moved a lot when I was a kid – I’ve lived in 33 different places (including different houses in the same city). I went to school for film study, but I have always written prose and some poetry. One day when my son was six months old I decided to write a novel. It took ten years from that point to get a book published.
What types of books do you write?
I used to write horror, supernatural, science fiction, some speculative fiction, but I’ve since narrowed it down to crime fiction. I still think about writing in other genres all the time. I even think about romance. Just to try it, you know? See if I can write a steamy romance. (Probably not.)
Could you please tell us about your most recent book, its overall plot, and the main characters in it?
The most recently published book is called GONE. It takes place in a small town in upstate, New York. There’s just a little detective squad with two investigators, and they get this case where a whole family is missing. One of the detectives has a widower brother who is paranoid about government conspiracies. The novel asks the question – in regards to the missing family, could he be right this time?
Are you working on any other books(s)? If so, can you please tell us what we can expect to see from you in the future?
I am working on three books right now. One involves human trafficking in Honduras, and is an extension of the Titan Trilogy (three books of mine which are, in part, about human trafficking). Another is set in South Florida and involves an investigator on his first case – the murder of an unidentified woman. The third book is about a young couple who move into a new home and find human remains buried in their backyard.
Can you please tell us about your approach to writing? For example, do you follow structures and writing rules? Or do you write in a free flow way? Do you have any particular time of the day you like to write? Or any specific environment you prefer to sit down and write in?
First, I get as drunk as I can. No. I’m kidding. I really don’t know what I do, I’ve just been doing it a long time. I have an office I built in the basement of my home and I keep fairly regular hours. I don’t write an outline, at least, not an official academic-type outline. I used to write as fast as I could, never looking back until an entire draft was complete. Now, as I get older, I sometimes stop and look back. I may retrace my steps and take a different route. It makes subsequent drafts less painful.
Do you have any favourite authors? If so, who are they and what do you like about their work?
I’m afraid I don’t have very exciting or eclectic tastes. I mean, I’ve read Ram Das and William Blake and most of the literary prerequisites, like Steinbeck and Hemingway and Lee. But what you’ll find me with in the late evening is usually a John Grisham, or Robert Crais, or Robert Ellis. I think Dennis Lehane is a ridiculously gifted writer. And Cormac McCarthy is incredibly accomplished. Also, there are so many books right now on my kindle and beside my bed – new and old – from established authors to authors many people haven’t heard of. Like me.
What other things do you like to get up to when you’re not writing?
I have a wife and three children. So when I’m not writing, I’m just getting up to whatever they are doing. I’m developing a homestead lifestyle with a garden and some land. I have a motorcycle I don’t ride very often. It sounds boring, but there’s never a dull moment, and I love it.
How can people find out more about you?
I suppose they could find out more about me by visiting my websites:
I write a lot of essays and film reviews. But the more interesting thing to do is to read the books, see if they resonate or not, make any sense or not. Art and creation is really the purpose of my life, and it’s a reflection of what’s around me.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hv1.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of eBooks India. He is also a prolific eBook writer with over 25 titles to his name.[/author_info] [/author]