It’s finally feeling more like summer here in Chicago. There are still occasional cool days but for the most part, temperature is hovering around in comfortable range.
Today, I am featuring a multi-genre author, Bert Edens. Having gone to college in Arkansas and having an especial place in my heart for the state, I am excited to welcome an Arkansan on my blog.
Tell us a little about yourself—don’t be shy!
One thing I have always been told, since a young age, is I have a very vivid imagination. Sometimes it got me in trouble. Sometimes it got me out of trouble. On rare occasions it even made me enough money to buy some groceries, even if it was just ramen.
As a youth, maybe five or six years old, I remember hearing a friend read out loud some variation of “The Velvet Ribbon”. When her head rolled off at the end, and my apologies for the spoiler if you don’t know the story, I was hooked on storytelling, but especially horror. I was always one who read almost constantly from pretty much all genres. Even now, if someone asks me to beta read or proofread a book, if I have time for it, I will usually accept, regardless of what kind of book it is or what age group it’s for. I’m also the type who will go to a public library or bookstore, stare at all the books, then rattle off some random numbers in the following fashion: “Third row, fourth section, second shelf, ninth book.” Then I will go find that book and read it, no matter what it is. I’ve discovered some amazing authors that way. I remember in elementary and junior high literally, not figuratively, running out of books to read in the respective school libraries. Fortunately, public libraries are stocked more fully.
Like many people, I had some challenges growing up, ones that are in much clearer perspective now than at the time. But I learned and grew from them. And I developed some stories. People who haven’t had struggles in their lives don’t seem to have as many interesting stories to tell. Those who have seen the darkness, felt it seep deep into their core, and still come out the other side a fractured but somehow more complete person? Yeah, those are the people I want to hang out with.
As a young adult, newly married to Jann, a woman who had the patience of Job with me, I had no idea what made a healthy relationship work. So, we learned together. I made mistakes. I’m blessed she only tried to kill me once. And stories were developed.
My older son, Zak, was born prematurely by a full month, which was a near death sentence in 1993. He spent two weeks in neonatal intensive care. We almost lost him at birth and once more while he was in the NICU. He grew, he struggled, he thrived, we learned. More stories were developed.
My younger son, Josh, was born in 1996. Just the opposite of Zak, he was always ahead of the curve, in the gifted and talented programs, an amazing artist, a terrific storyteller, and most importantly possessing a heart bigger than the world. He was such a sharp counterpoint to his brother developmentally, and sometimes he suffered while we kept his brother going along. Through all that growth and struggle, more stories were formed.
In 2011, Jann died very suddenly, when my boys were 14 and 17. It was a time of chaos and adjustment for boys already knee deep in their teens, especially Josh, who was particularly close to Jann. During one fourteen month stretch, he lost five people close to him, including his mother and best friend. We bumped along the road, bumping into each other, treading water and putting one foot in front of the other the only way we knew how. Through all those devastatingly dark days, we came out the other side better than we went in. I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone though. And yet, through all of that came more stories to tell.
Four years after that I found myself sitting across the table at a Mexican restaurant, talking to Carrie, an amazing woman who had been through some incredibly dark days herself, ones I have no way of fully relating to because both of my children are still living. A quick lunch date turned into four hours of relaxed, feel-like-I’ve-known-you-forever conversation. Four days later, we had a second date, three days after that, we had a third, In June of 2018, I will put a wedding band on her finger. We are planning our futures together when both of us were sure at one time no such future existed. I see many more stories to write, and I can’t wait to see what they are.
There are so many things one could do. Why write?
I’ve always been a storyteller, even as a little kid. My mom would tell you I always told stories, but especially the kind that would get my hide tanned for fibbing. 😊 I love getting reactions from my readers, whether it be tears, laughter, shock, or even a visceral need to start a GoFundMe to provide me with a counselor. Again. As many writers will say, sometimes these stories must be told. They stick with you, bounce around your head, and pester your muse until you finally get them written down. I’m also drawn to, for the same reason I love doing application development, the challenge of starting with a completely blank page and finishing with a polished product that can serve others.
Publishing can be a daunting process. Do you have moments of doubt? If so, how do you stay motivated?
I’m not sure I’ve met many writers who haven’t had doubts about the process or their skills. In fact, the few I’ve met who were so cocksure about their own abilities were horrible writers. So maybe there’s a lesson there. 😊 Even though I’ve been published many times, I’m still amazed when a piece of mine is accepted for publication or when my beta readers really enjoy it. I’m also of the firm belief if someone raves about your rough draft, with no revisions suggested, they either didn’t read it or are blowing smoke up your nether regions. I’m quite aware that I’m human, and I was married far too long to believe I am perfect, so I know I will make mistakes. I know my pieces will get rejected. It simply means those pieces either need to be re-worked, or it wasn’t the right market for them in the first place.
What about your latest book—what can readers look forward to when they pick it up?
My novel-in-progress is a high fantasy work. As such, there will be familiar elements to readers of the genre. But I hope I can bring something new to the genre, either in the way I treat the species and their origins, the design of my cities and overall world, or how my characters speak to readers in ways other novels haven’t. What originally started as an idea that “centaured” around a centaur-like species has developed into an idea that could feature stories focusing on several different species, hopefully all of which are equally important and fascinating to readers. I also hope my familiarity with, passion for, and activism on behalf of individuals with special needs will create something new in my world and its inhabitants.
If one of your books were to be optioned for a movie, who would you hope would play your lead character?
My main character in the novel is an elf / equine hybrid. I really hadn’t thought about who could play that role, but I suppose Scarlett Johannson wouldn’t be a bad choice. Obviously, there would have to be significant CGI work to blend the species, but it would be fascinating to see just the same.
Who are your three favorite writers and why?
I know many people consider Stephen King a hack writer, but I was drawn to him not just because of my love for the horror genre, but because he presented his stories as an Everyman Storyteller while still drawing the desired emotional reaction from his readers. Stylistically he may not be a Hemingway, Dickens, or Fitzgerald, but that doesn’t make his writing any less impactful. “Carrie” was the book that first hooked me on his writing, way back in the late seventies when I was a tween. Now, forty years later, I’m engaged to a wonderful woman named Carrie. No, that choice was not intentional or making any direct analogies to my future bride. 😊
One of my first ventures into science fiction as a reader was with the works of H.G. Wells, specifically “The War of The Worlds”, “The Invisible Man”, and “The Time Machine”. The worlds he created I could so vividly picture in my head. I also fell in love with the voice and pace of his writing. It was so hypnotic to me.
It wasn’t until late in my teen years that I discovered both King and Wells shared a birthday with me, with King exactly twenty years older and Wells significantly more than that.
Since I’m working on a fantasy novel, I suppose I should mention an author in that genre whose works I used to cut my reading teeth. Those who know me and my love for puns would not be surprised if I mentioned Piers Anthony. His Xanth series not only pulled me into a fantasy world for the first time, he also honed my appreciation for wordplay. While his earlier novels in the series are better than the later ones, I still appreciate them all.
As a side note, I approached this question as “favorite writers who impacted or inspired me”, meaning writers I discovered in my youth who made me want to read voraciously and even dabble in some writing. There are so many other authors I love who might be considered better or worse than those three, such as Poe, Lovecraft, Heinlein, Le Guin, Barker, Matheson, Tolkien, Gerritsen, Reichs, Pratchett, Asimov, and so many others.
If you could be any character from a movie or a book, who would you be?
I once had a friend suggest, when I was a teen, I was a dead ringer for Cary Elwes as he appeared in “The Princess Bride”. Considering how much I love that movie, I suppose there are worse ways to go through life than as The Dread Pirate Roberts.
When you are not writing, what’s your favorite way to spend time?
Mostly, I get paid to punch and kick children in the head. Well, OK, I also teach them martial arts, which I have been doing since 1999. My primary day job is doing customer support and application development for a company that provides hardware and software to county government in Arkansas. Throw in some security work at concerts for good measure. Maybe the occasional proofreading and editing for writers. I’m also on the Board of Directors for Open Avenues, an organization in Northwest Arkansas that provides work opportunity for adults with special needs. When not wearing one of those five hats, I love spending time with my two grown sons, Zak and Josh, and this gorgeous woman, Carrie, who has agreed to become my wife in June of 2018.
What is the best way to connect with you?
My website is www.authorbertedens.com, and I can also be found as AuthorBertEdens on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Finally, is there anything else we should know about you?
Even though I am still working on recent print credits, I’ve had works published all the way back in the late nineties. As Zak was heading into kindergarten, I submitted a story about him to “Living Miracles: Stories of Hope from Parents of Premature Babies”, which was published in 2000. I also had many fictional stories published for pay on websites that no longer exist. I had no idea at the time they wouldn’t still be around, and computer backups would fail. Otherwise, I would have printed them out and kept them somewhere. Those stories ranged from fantasy to horror to science fiction to non-fiction to, yes, even erotica.
As my boys are grown and I find myself with more time, I’m getting back into writing, when I’m not working one of my four other jobs. I’ve had two pieces recently published in flash fiction anthologies as well as a non-fiction piece published in a magazine geared toward activism for the special needs community. I have several pieces submitted and at least one accepted for publication, and I’m thoroughly enjoying honing my craft, even if I feel like I’m getting a late start in life. But I love every minute of it, even when it makes readers side-eye me because of how warped the stories are. 😊
Thank you Bert! What an emotional and inspiring story your life is. Thanks for sharing with us today. I wish you every success with your writing and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.”
~George Bernard Shaw
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Next week, we will be back with another talented artist. Until then, keep reading and writing.