The Random 10 - No: 1 The Bobby Nash Interview

My guest for the very first edition of The Random 10 is comic book writer and novelist Bobby Nash.

Bobby has kindly agreed to answer 10 questions, but before he does that here is a little bit of information about Bobby.

 From his secret lair in the wilds of Bethlehem, Georgia, Bobby Nash writes. A multitasker, Bobby is certain that he doesn’t suffer from ADD, but instead he... ooh, shiny.

When he finally manages to put fingers to the keyboard, Bobby writes novels (Evil Ways; Deadly Games!; Earthstrike Agenda), comic books (Fuzzy Bunnies From Hell; Demonslayer; Domino Lady vs. The Mummy; Lance Star: Sky Ranger “One Shot”), short prose (A Fistful of Legends; Full Throttle Space Tales Vol. 2: Space Sirens; Green Hornet Case Files; Tales of The Rook; Zombies vs. Robots), novellas (Lance Star: Sky Ranger; Ravenwood: Stepson of Mystery; Nightbeat; Blackthorn: Thunder on Mars), graphic novels (Yin Yang; I Am Googol: The Great Invasion; Bloody Olde Englund), and even a little pulp fiction (Domino Lady; Secret Agent X; The Avenger; The Spider) just for good measure. And despite what his brother says, Bobby swears he is not addicted to buying DVD box sets and can quit anytime he wants to. Really.

When not writing fiction, Bobby is usually talking about writing fiction at conventions and writers conferences where he teaches writing courses and panels and promotes his books. Bobby is also a part-time extra in movies and television, is the co-host of the weekly Earth Station One podcast (www.esopodcast.com), and writes for New Pulp (www.newpulpfiction.com) and All Pulp (http://allpulp.blogspot.com) news sites.

For more information on Bobby Nash please visit him at www.bobbynash.com, www.facebook.com/AuthorBobbyNash, www.twitter.com/bobbynash, www.lance-star.com, and http://BEN-Books.blogspot.com among other places across the web.

How did you first get into writing?

I started writing as a kid, mostly comic book stories that I would then draw. From there I started writing stories for others then eventually started writing for magazines and comics, and then eventually moved into short stories, novels, and screenplays.

I realize that makes it sound awfully easy, but it took a lot of time, hard work, patience, and more than just a little bit of luck. Timing plays as much a role as talent.

Who or what were your early influences?

I’m influenced by everything. It can be movies, books, TV shows, comics, newspaper, or just watching people and events unfolding around me. All of that goes into a blender in my brain and comes together as my style. It’s hard to point to any one thing and say that it was my inspiration.

Where do you draw your ideas for stories from?

Story ideas come from everywhere and nowhere. How’s that for a confusing answer? In all honesty, I don’t know where all of the story ideas come from. Sometimes ideas just come to me out of nowhere. Other times the ideas comes from research, and I’ve had some stories come to me in dreams. I guess the ideas just keep on churning in the back of my mind until I’m ready to process them.

You write both comics and novels. Do you approach them in different ways?

Oh, absolutely. Comic scripts and prose manuscripts not only have a different format, but you have to approach each of them differently.

With comics, you have to think in snapshots of the action. The bulk of what I write in a comic book script is never seen by the reader. I primarily write for the artist(s) so they know what to put into the story. The artist them paints the scene with the art so the writer doesn’t have to write that a character walks into a room because the art showcases that. Comic book creation is a lot of give and take between writer and artist. When writing comics you are a part of a creative team.

When writing prose (novels, short stories, novellas) the writer works alone so it is my job to show the action as well as the dialogue and paint the scene for the reader with words. A character walking into a room has to be described with sights, smells, thoughts, and the like because there are no illustrations to show what the room looks like.

So, yeah, there are differences. You definitely work different creative muscles for each type of writing.

If you could write a story using any character which would you choose?

I get this question a lot. It changes from day to day, but I would love the opportunity to write The Fantastic Four. I also like to think I have at least one good Stargate or Star Trek story in me. Maybe one day I’ll get the opportunity.

How do you like to relax when you’re not writing?

Not writing? I’m afraid I don’t understand the question.

In all seriousness, even when I’m not writing I’m still writing. Going for walks, driving, shopping, mowing the lawn, walking through a book store, etc. While I’m not physically writing at those times my brain is constantly working through plots and character moments. I keep a notepad with me for this instances. Quite often, leaving the house is a good way to get those thoughts flowing because you aren’t trying to force it.

Like everyone, I like to go out, catch a movie, read a book, watch TV, or hang out with family and friends. I just have to make sure I get my writing work done around those things because writing for me is a job, not a hobby.

You use twitter and other social media to connect to fans. Do you consider this to be an important part of your work?

Absolutely. Social media is a very important aspect of my promotional planning. I try to post at least once a day, usually two or three times since there are those who only check in at certain times of the day. I try to vary my social media times so I can reach as broad an audience as possible. The other trick is to not use social media as simply a selling tool. If the only thing you ever post is “buy my book” then people start ignoring you. In addition to posting about my books, I talk about TV shows I like, good books I’m reading, and how my writing day is going.

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and various forums and social media sites across the internet. It seems like I’m on all of them. Especially when it comes time to update them. 

 

Your latest novel is Deadly Games!. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Deadly Games! is a suspense thriller novel and the first book in a proposed series. There is a plan for a second “Deadly” book in 2013.

Deadly Games! is a novel about revenge. Darrin Morehouse is a criminal mastermind and player of games. From inside his prison cell he initiates one last game against the people responsible for his downfall, prosecution, and incarceration. To win all they have to do is survive the game.

Here’s the official description.

About Deadly Games!:

They played the most dangerous game of all and death was only the beginning...

Six years ago, Police Detective John Bartlett and journalist Benjamin West were instrumental in the capture of notorious master criminal Darrin Morehouse. Their story played out in the media, rocketing both Bartlett and West into local celebrity status.

Today, Morehouse, still a master game player and manipulator, commits suicide while in prison. His death initiates one final game of survival for the people Morehouse felt wronged him the most. At that top of the list are Bartlett and West, who must set aside their differences to save the lives of Morehouse's other victims and solve one last game before a dead man’s hired killers catch them and his other enemies.

Deadly Games! is a fast-paced action/thriller featuring action, suspense, murder, and the occasional gunfire from Author Bobby Nash, the writer of Evil Ways, Domino Lady, Lance Star: Sky Ranger, and more.

 

Do you have any upcoming books or projects you wish to talk about?

I always have several projects in the work at any given time and 2012 and 2013 will see several projects come out that I am a part of, including:

Novels: Lance Star: Sky Ranger “Cold Snap” [Airship 27], an as yet untitled Domino Lady novel [Moonstone Books], Evil Ways [re-release - New Babel Books], Evil Intent [New Babel Books], Blood Shot, and a sequel to Deadly Games! [BEN Books].

Novellas, Short Stories, Anthologies: Zombies vs. Robots [IDW], The Green Hornet: Still at Large [Moonstone Books], The New Adventures of The Eagle [Pro Se Press/Pulp Obscura], Box 13 [Moonstone Books], The Avenger: Tales from Bleek Street [Moonstone Books], Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar [Moonstone Books], Nightbeat [Radio Archives], Lance Star: Sky Ranger Vol. 4 [Airship 27], Secret Agent X Vol. 4 [Airship 27], and more.

Comic Books and Graphic Novels: Bloody Olde Englund, Operation Silver Moon, Domino Lady/Sherlock Holmes [Moonstone Books], Lance Star: Sky Ranger #2 [BEN Books], and more.

 

Where can you be found for anyone who wants to check either you, or your past and present work?

My main website can be found at http://bobby-nash-news.blogspot.co.uk/You can find pretty much anything you need to know about me there.

Many Thanks.

You bet.

On a personal note I again want to thank Bobby for his time, and encourage you to check out his website and work.