Alex Hughes's Blog, page 10

Interview with Don DeBrandt (DD Barant)

I recently invited Jennifer Estep to the blog, and you guys seemed to enjoy the stop. So, I thought I’d continue to invite authors whose work I’ve loved. This time it’s DD Barant, the pen name for Don DeBrandt for his Bloodhound Files series. His heroine is sharp, interesting, and ready to kick butt. Plus her sidekick is one of my favorites in the genre. 

Without further ado then, here’s my interview with Don.

Thanks for being on the blog.

 1. What’s your story? Who are you, the person?

I’m a riddle wrapped in a conundrum with a chewy nougat center of mystery—no, wait, that’s Russia.  Um, I’m just this guy, you know?  No, that’s Zaphod Beeblebrox . . . I’m a writer, I guess.  Have been my whole life. I am a very silly person, in general: a punster, an ethical hedonist (which means I like everyone else around me to be enjoying themselves as much as I am) and when I go Burning Man they call me Captain Fun.  I love my family more than anything else, and I’m older than I look.  That’s about it.

2. Tell me more about The Bloodhound Files.

I created The Bloodhound Files to be a social satire, among other things.  I wanted to make certain points about society as well as tell a fast-paced story with witty dialogue, which is why it follows the structure it does.  I kind of wanted a TWILIGHT ZONE feel, with a world that looks ordinary at first glance and then gets weirder and weirder the more you examine it.  I occasionally get criticized because it’s not strictly extrapolative in a linear sense, but I did that on purpose; if I’d pursued every historical event to its logical conclusion, it would have been a science-fiction novel, not an urban fantasy.  I think the humor helps alleviate some of that, but my more scientific readers are bothered by me playing fast and loose with alternate-history conventions.

3.     You write under the names DD Barant, Donn Cortez, and Don DeBrandt. How did you decide to use pseudonyms? Do they have any special meaning?

DD Barant was intended to be gender-neutral.  Donn Cortez was initially Donnelly Cortez, just because I thought it sounded memorable.  Don DeBrandt was my first pseudonym, a shortening of my real name that was catchy.  Generally, I tend to use different pseudonyms for different genres.

4.     Who is your favorite character in the series?

Charlie, I think.  Everybody loves him.

5.     Which character is most frustrating to write?

None of them, really.  I choose characters I enjoy writing—if any of ‘em clam up, they get fired.

6.     What’s something you’re really proud of?

When people write me and tell me my fiction made their world a little better for a little while.

7.     Name three interesting things most people don’t know about you.

I once performed a puppet show for one of the Baldwin brothers.

I coined the term “jagged” as a substitute for “cool”, and it was used in the Marvel Comics cyberpunk-superhero line 2099.

I have triple-jointed thumbs.

8.     What would be your last meal? 

I’m allergic to gluten, so: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Deep Fried Prawns with sweet and sour sauce, and a lemon meringue pie.

9.     You receive a job offer to work in an unknown alien spaceship as a human culture specialist. Do you take the job? Why or why not?  

I do not.  The last time those f*ckers stiffed me on overtime.  And my alimentary canal hurt for a week.

10. The zombie apocalypse is coming. You have an hour and $50. What do you do?

Use the money to buy a convincing gun replica from the local Military Surplus store.  I’d buy a real one, but I’m in Canada and short on time.  Then I drive down to marina at False Creek (with my family), use the gun to bluff my way onto the biggest yacht I can find, and steal it.  The rich know how to swim, right?

Thanks for stopping by, Don.

 

http://wws.ddbarant.com/

Twitter: @DDBarant

Amazon author page here.

Don DeBrandt is a Canadian author who also writes under the pen-names Donn Cortez and DD Barant. Born in Saskatchewan, he currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to North America, his books have been published in Germany, France, Italy, and Russia. His influences include Spider Robinson and John D. MacDonald, among others.

As DeBrandt, he has written numerous essays, short stories, plays and comics. His first novel, the cyberpunk The Quicksilver Screen was part of Del Rey Books’ ‘Discovery’ line, and featured a cover by classic Science-Fiction painter Vincent Di Fate. This was followed by work for Marvel Comics and a novel in the series of book tie-ins for the Angel TV series. As Donn Cortez, he took a darker turn for The Closer, a hard-edged story about a serial killer hunting other serial killers.

Savannah Research Trip

Recently I went to Savannah for an incredible research trip for MSI Book Four (Vacant), and I can’t wait to tell you about it. I ended up staying with family friends, who unexpectedly knew *everyone.*

Day One, we spent touring the city. I picked out a place for the judge’s house, where a large portion of the novel happens. I saw downtown, and walked up and down River Street until I was tired. Of course, Ms. Sherry, our family friend, despite being my mother’s age outpaced me by miles.

We stopped by an old theater, and saw the tunnels hidden in a restaurant as well as the back alleys behind River Street. Lots of great stuff there. I was insanely inspired by all the houses, neighborhoods, and the lovely history everywhere. Then dinner with the family and falling into bed, exhausted.

Day Two, I wanted to get up and go sit in a jury trial at the courthouse. Ms. Sherry decided to tag along. I’d emailed ahead and been told it was perfectly fine, but when we showed up, security pulled us aside and asked us what we were doing there. I’d never been so glad in my life to have someone else there! While I was doing my best impression of deer in headlights, Ms. Sherry used her gift of gab to introduce me as an author and in about forty-five seconds, everybody liked us. I just had to smile, and we were in. Literally. They introduced us to the judge and we sat all by our lonesomes in the small bench in the small courtroom, as the trial began its last day.

Trials are a great deal slower than they are on TV, and they take the jury out of the room a lot to discuss minutia. What they can say. What they can’t. Parts of it were very boring, and they brought in witnesses that even the judge said later were just wasted time. I was surprised to learn that judges have to make so many split-second judgment calls on the bench. It was interesting to watch.

The case itself was also interesting, and as the day went on, the drama developed. I was sure the defendants had done it. Then certain they had not. Then changed my mind again. Pieces of evidence were referenced that I hadn’t seen, and witnesses came and went. I could see why this stuff was made into TV dramas! Neither the prosecution’s nor the defense’s account of events made sense of everything in front of us, and I kept trying to figure out who was lying. In the end, maybe everyone was.

As the day wore on, both friends of the defendant and the victim arrived with high emotions, all sitting in those small benches at the back of the room. But the trial wore on, and on. We’d arrived at 8:30 that morning, and left at 6:30 to make a dinner appointment. They were still talking, and both sets of families/friends were as tightly strung as harp chords. It was quite an experience, and I learned an awful lot.

Day Three. Remember how I said the family friends know everybody? In the morning, I was lucky enough to get to talk to a detective in the forensic unit for Savannah’s Metro Police. She talked about old cases that were public knowledge and showed me how to take a fingerprint. Incredibly cool! I was very inspired by her, and am playing with another (perhaps straight mystery) series set in Savannah with a forensics person a lot like her as a heroine. Hopefully the idea sprouts and grows into something fun

Then in the afternoon, I met with Ms. Sherry’s son’s college roommate, who, lo and behold, was a homicide detective at the police too. He was kind enough to answer general questions about how his job works and what it’s like to be a detective in Savannah. Plus he pointed me to a few old cases from the 90s to look up online.

I was so blown away by all the help and support I found on my research trip. I am incredibly inspired. Savannah is a cool, cool place.

Blog Tour Wraps Up

As the blog tour enters its final phase, here is more awesomeness for your reading pleasure. (Many of these have giveaways this week so make sure you click through.)

Read 10 Things I Learned In School (Hint: not subjects) over at Jean’s Book Nerd.

Find out whether I think the Tech Wars could really happen in the interview at All Things UF.

Discover 10 Places I’d Recommend You Visit Next Time You’re in Atlanta at Short & Sweet Reviews.

To help celebrate Fantasy Cafe’s Women in SF&F month, I listed my Top Ten Favorite Female Authors in Science Fiction.

And because I love a good theme, here’s my list of Six Strong Female Heroines in SF&F at Bookshelf Bombshells.

Also, 10 Science Fiction Books That Inspired Me as a reader & author over at Every Read Thing.

 

Interviews! I’ve been asking characters some hard job interview questions to see what they’d say.

Hear from Adam over at Nocturnal Book Reviews.

Cherabino answers first interview at What the Cat Read and her second interview at Little Read Riding Hood.

Kara speaks up at Amberkatze’s Book Blog.

Amazing Fan Art

I am hugely touched and thrilled to have received some beautiful wallpaper inspired by the Mindspace Investigations series from a fan. With his permission, I am sharing with you guys.

Credit and thanks to: Marcin / fromthetrunk.com, who is extremely talented.

To see the full-sized image, double-click on the picture. Notice the details. I am blown away.

This made my whole week. Thank you, Marcin!

More Awesome Blog Tour Stuff

Hi all,

Thanks to all of you who’ve supported me so much this release week. I’m thrilled and excited to have Marked out into the world.

Of course, blog tour festivities continue! Here’s what happened the rest of the week on the blogosphere:

I discussed 5 Interesting Facts about Me you haven’t heard before over at the interview at Candace’s Book Blog.

I mentioned one of my favorite dishes (and some great books I’ve read lately) in the interview at My Bookish Ways.

And I interviewed Adam with some difficult job interview questions over at The Bibliophilic Book Blog.

Find out my favorite part of writing at the interview at Urban Fantasy Investigations.

Plus, read all the details for the series and enter a giveaway at Literal Addiction.

Release Day!

photo courtesy iStockphoto.com

It’s the book birthday for Marked!

After months of waiting, the fourth book in the Mindspace Investigations series is finally out there. Pick up a party hat and join me in celebrating!

 

More on the festivities (while I wear a very funny party hat myself):

Read a monologue from Adam on April Fool’s Day at Literary Escapism.

Find out about my favorite detectives from page and screen at Anna’s Book Blog.

Celebrate the audiobook with me! For the first time since my original publication, the audiobook is available the same day as the print book. Check out Marked as an audiobook narrated by the incredible Daniel May.

Want a special bonus deleted scene from the book? Sign up for my email newsletter (on the right of the screen) before midnight EST tomorrow (Wednesday the 2nd) and I’ll hand send you the scene. Trust me, you’ll want this one.

I’ll also be doing the podcast with Geeks with Wives tonight (at 8pm PDT – link here: http://youtu.be/15cV69dA9Do). Or, you can listen to me talk geek at The Geek Speak Show from earlier this month.

Thanks for celebrating with me.

More Fun and Giveaways: Blog Tour Post 2!

Hi all,

I’m incredibly excited as I wait for tomorrow when Marked is available for sale for the first time April 1st (no joke). Check out the new festivities as of today:

Missed out on Clean or Sharp, the two books before Marked? No worries, there are now chances to win them! Two you should definitely check out:

Buzzy Magazine’s giveaway

Fantasy Literature’s giveaway

Also, read about my journey to publication at Tynga’s Reviews.

Find out what Mindspace character surprises me the most at the interview at The Qwillery.

And hang out with myself and mystery writer (and friend) Rowena Holloway at the coffeeshop where Swartz and Adam meet for a special interview.

And that’s just the beginning of the events this week. Less than twenty-four hours ’til the launch!

Blog Tour Rolls On

It’s only a few days into the official Marked blog tour, and there’s already awesome stuff to see.

There’s a Quick Guide to the Characters of Mindspace over at Smexy Books. Plus, you know, a giveaway.

Hear me talking about Taking a Big Step Outside the Real World in an interview over at Skipping Midnight.

Read all about Marked as one of the 33 Books Andrew Liptak Must Read in April.

Hear me talk about Adam’s Thing for Cherabino (and all of our frustrated dreams) at Fantasy Literature. Plus a giveaway!

In even better news, I finished up a good draft of Vacant, Book #4, last night and sent it off to beta readers. We’re officially on track for the December release

What I Absolutely Must Have in My Post-Apocalyptic Bunker

The blog tour for Marked kicked off with a bang this week! Here’s the first guest blog post:

________________

One of my favorite things about stopping by I Smell Sheep is the incredible guest post topic ideas that Sharon gives out like candy. This topic, another Sharon classic, got my creative juices going immediately.

If the world fell apart, naturally I would have a bunker already set up and ready to go. The absolutely critical items would be:

1. A robot butler. Who can cook gourmet dishes from practically anything, especially canned and dried food. Bonus points if he can play a proper game of chess.

2. A yoga mat and tapes. Hey, what? I get twitchy in small spaces. An exercise form that keeps me calm and centered (and strong) would be awesome.

3. A rifle with extra ammo. Just in case the door doesn’t hold.

…

(Finish reading the post at I Smell Sheep here.)

Instincts

One of the best bits of advice about life that anyone ever gave me was in a self-defense class. The guy teaching was a 6’2” ex-Army dude with a pleasant voice, dark skin, hefty muscles and a habit of sitting down in a legs-spread position to stretch out his muscles while he talked. He had the instincts of a trained soldier, so you did not approach silently from the back. Most of the other girls in the class were afraid of him, but I was not. He was a trained soldier, and there was no way he was killing me by accident, you know, unless I startled him, which I didn’t plan on doing. Otherwise he was one of the most patient and steady people I’ve ever met.

He had us practice breaking attackers’ feet, and doing elbow-locks, and getting out of various binds. Since I wasn’t afraid of him, I ended up being the class demonstration dummy quite a bit. Once I slipped an arm-lock by accident, just from practice from the swing dancing floor (the newer guys would sometimes hurt your arm without meaning to, and you got good at slipping that). The guy was impressed, and then repeated the move more firmly.

It was a great class, and I learned a lot, but the most important thing I learned was in a discussion he was giving on situational awareness. Pay attention to what’s around you when you’re walking or running, he told us. See trouble coming and go the other way—it’s the best defense you’ll ever have. And, the follow-up, something he meant as a self defense concept but I’ve found useful in life: trust your instincts. You know more than you think you do.

Your brain (and your senses) take in an incredible amount of information every day, a lot of which doesn’t make it into conscious processing. If you’re walking alone and something feels wrong, get out of the situation, and do it immediately. Odds are your subconscious noticed a pattern that meant danger. Will you look like an idiot if you jump too quickly? Perhaps, but you’ll be a bigger idiot if you saw the danger coming and did nothing. That’s what he said, anyway.

I’ve found this concept true in life in general. Sometimes things feel wrong, and you don’t have any other explanation. I’ve made business decisions where things felt wrong but I convinced myself the facts were fine. I always regretted them later. Same for job decisions, relationship decisions, and a host of other things. Have I looked like an idiot for shying away from potentially good things? Sure. Once or twice I’ve shied for no good reason and felt like an idiot. But by and large, I’m learning to get all the information I can, and then trust my gut. My gut (and my instincts) know a lot more than I think they do.

And, by the way, Mr. Self Defense Teacher whose name I can not remember, thank you. You taught a damn good class.