One of the wonderful writers I've befriended via Twitter is Bram Stoker award finalist Jeremy C. Shipp. Despite his success, Jeremy is quite down-to-earth and is always willing to lend a hand (and some much needed advice) to other writers.
Here's the interview (all 3 questions were chosen from my own reader's panel--thanks for the great questions guys!):
Q: If you had one piece of advice for aspiring writers, what would it be?
A: Read and write everyday. Oh, and eat lots of peanut butter. And if you're allergic to peanuts, almond butter works just as well.
Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
A. In 4th grade I wrote a rather long short story about an everything-eating alien named Chomper. At this point, I had an inkling that I wanted to be a writer. But my muse didn't trap me in a corner until I was 13. At 13, I wrote my first novel and I've been writing almost constantly ever since.
Q: How do you overcome writer's block?
A: There are days when I feel as if my muse ran off to join the circus and writing is the last thing in the world I want to do. When I feel that way I write anyway because what I'm usually experiencing is a mental block. And mental blocks are lies. To feel completely uncreative doesn't mean that you can't create.
Jeremy's newest book is a collection of short stories entitled Fungus of the Heart. Raw Dog Screaming Press provides the following synopsis of the book:
Readers of Jeremy C. Shipp’s fiction will be familiar with his minimalist, breakneck pacing, his surreal forays into political satire, and his seamless blending of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Now, in his fourth book, the Bram Stoker Award finalist expands on what many critics and fans alike have long considered the most compelling aspect of his work—relationships. This story collection explores how a person’s desire can infect their every action and interaction with others. The desire to protect. The desire to hurt. The desire to be desired.
Fungus of the Heart explores what happens between people when society breaks down and the rules go out the window. Haunting and heartbreaking, pithy and potent, the quirky inhabitants of Shipp’s bizarro world will carve an indelible line from your funnybone to your spleen to your emotional core.
Here are 2 more questions from our interview, both concerning the book:
Q: Did you face any significant challenges while writing this book?
A: I wrote most of the stories in this book with the collection in mind. However, I also wanted to include a few of my older tales. Deciding what of my older work to incorporate was somewhat difficult because I had to make sure that each story fit thematically, stylistically, rhythmically. I'm very happy with my choices.
Q: Where did you get the inspiration for Fungus of the Heart?
A: When writing this collection, I thought about the relationships in my life and I asked myself various questions. How far would I go to save my wife? What does it mean to be a true friend? What's the importance of personal boundaries?
Fungus of the Heart is a collection of short stories, stories that often contain surprising twists. Shipp creates dark realities and even darker characters. You can buy your copy online at Raw Dog Screaming Press.
