Ask the Author: Thom Erb
Answered Questions (6)
Thom Erb
Reading and watching movies always inspire me, but most of the time, it's music that truly gets the creative mojo flowing. All kinds of music. Ranging from old school jazz to heavy metal and classical. Whatever fits the piece I'm working gets the green light on my Studio PA system.
In fact, I usually chose a specific genre and artist to create a soundtrack for each book or story. Music has always been a huge part of my life and gets the blood flowing.
In fact, I usually chose a specific genre and artist to create a soundtrack for each book or story. Music has always been a huge part of my life and gets the blood flowing.
Thom Erb
Early on, I believed in the accursed "writer's block". But, as time went on and I learned my process of writing, I've come to not believe in it so much. It's just part of the writing process where you just have to work through it. I just keep writing. I don't care it it's coming out as the worst drivel anyone has insulted a piece of paper with. As longs as I keep writing the words, at some point, they start to make sense and become not-so-craptastic.
I also agree with Joe Lansdale, who states that writer's block is just the author being lazy. Just do the work.
Just keep writing. It'll all work ou in the end.
I also agree with Joe Lansdale, who states that writer's block is just the author being lazy. Just do the work.
Just keep writing. It'll all work ou in the end.
Thom Erb
I love being able to get paid for creating whole new worlds and people everyday. And, I do so with a wide smile on my face with every word put down.
Don't get me wrong, there are some frustrating times like getting stumped in the middle of book, but the magic of that, is the wonderful moment or epiphany hits you and you crawl over that block and it's one of the best feelings as a writer.
A bad day as a writer is a heck of a lot better than the best day I ever had working at a battery factory.
Don't get me wrong, there are some frustrating times like getting stumped in the middle of book, but the magic of that, is the wonderful moment or epiphany hits you and you crawl over that block and it's one of the best feelings as a writer.
A bad day as a writer is a heck of a lot better than the best day I ever had working at a battery factory.
Thom Erb
I've been lucky enough to have some incredibly inspirational, generous and patient mentors since I starting writing seriously ten years ago.
Some of the most important advice is to keep your butt in that chair. Sadly, those dang words refuse to write themselves.
Follow your heart and write the stories you love and in the way only YOU can tell them. Never follow a trend. Heck, by the time you've gotten the idea, the world has moved on. However, I will add that in this age of digital publishing, no genre is ever out of fashion. If you love writing romantic clown horror, go for it.
One more, do not fret over the first draft. Just get your story down, fast and dirty. Completion of a project is a huge part of growing as an author.
Some of the most important advice is to keep your butt in that chair. Sadly, those dang words refuse to write themselves.
Follow your heart and write the stories you love and in the way only YOU can tell them. Never follow a trend. Heck, by the time you've gotten the idea, the world has moved on. However, I will add that in this age of digital publishing, no genre is ever out of fashion. If you love writing romantic clown horror, go for it.
One more, do not fret over the first draft. Just get your story down, fast and dirty. Completion of a project is a huge part of growing as an author.
Thom Erb
I just wrapped up the first draft of the sequel to Heaven, Hell, or Houston. It's entitled; Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound.
It follows the events a few days after the ending of HHH and the story only gets darker and more violent in this exciting follow-up story.
It should be out from Severed Press sometime in 2016.
It follows the events a few days after the ending of HHH and the story only gets darker and more violent in this exciting follow-up story.
It should be out from Severed Press sometime in 2016.
Thom Erb
Heaven, Hell, or Houston is essentially a fan-letter to some of my biggest writing heroes and mentors. It's a retro-noir, zombie apocalypse thriller set in Texas in 1985. A true ode to Joe R. Lansdale, Joe McKinney, Elmore Leonard and Jonathan Maberry.
I love all things Texas and so what better to write about than a Texas Ranger fighting off hordes of zombies.
It's also part of a bigger universe I've been working on over the past ten years. So stay tuned for more books in this dark world.
I love all things Texas and so what better to write about than a Texas Ranger fighting off hordes of zombies.
It's also part of a bigger universe I've been working on over the past ten years. So stay tuned for more books in this dark world.
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