Fear The Nerds/Respect the Nerds
nerd [nurd] Show IPA
noun Slang .
1.
an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with anonsocial hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd.
When you finish a book and you hand it over to the people in your life who you think might be honest enough to give you straight up feedback - you’re nervous. When you finish and hand it out to readers you’re even more so. But when you finish and hand it out to readers who know your world as good if not better than you - poopy time.
This is why Hollywood fears the nerd.
Most people think comic book fans are the hardest to please but most loyal. If Star Wars fans heard that they would throw down their BlasTech DL 44’s in disgust. Trekkies would want to ghob you and start a noH if they heard such claims.
Every super fan thinks they’re the super fan.
Yes, yes, their nerdery and devotion is to be commended. Their relentless mission for easter eggs(both kinds) and loyalty to the source material is to be admired. But they all pale in comparison to the uber nerd, my kind of fan - the professional wrestling fan.
Pro wrestling fans might seem similar to all the others on the surface. They know the vast and sometimes shady history of wrestling. They travel across the world to meet up and see the matches. They understand wrestling own language, Carny. They trade magazines, tapes, merchandise and “action figures.” It all sounds familiar.
Except for one huge difference. The way they protest. [image error]
If a wrestling fan dislikes the product they will travel to see the match and then proceed to shit all over the wrestlers, the bookers, the show, the building, the world. They will do it right there in the front row. Anyone ever tell Ryan Reynolds to “suck my balls cause you fucking suck” after the Green Lantern came out? I guess not. Why? Cause he wasn’t fucking there, that’s why.
In the wrestling world you can go right to the source and tell it to “suck my balls cause you fucking suck.” They’re right there. Live. And in person. Once you do that, you then keep really quite. The one thing that kills a wrestling ‘character’ quicker than anything else? Silence.
No cheers or no boos equals no job in wrestling.
This is why I was reluctant about releasing Blood Red Turns Dollar Green. I wanted to write a book that anyone could pick and enjoy. I also wanted the wrestling nerds, my people, to enjoy it. i knew though, if they didn’t that I would be murdered by my own.
I’ve recently just finished season one of Game of Thrones. Love it. (I know, I know - NO SPOILERS!) But I did a quick google afterward and saw all the discussions about the books and the worlds and character details and plot differences. Didn’t matter a jot to me. I just love the TV show. I didn’t notice the easter eggs or the ‘insider’ references. I didn’t need to. It seems the show is something that can be enjoyed on two different levels - novice and pro.
A bit like when I was a kid here in Ireland and we were inundated with baseball and American football movies. I loved them all. Didn’t know any of the rules, history, culture or relevance of the sports in the stories - I just loved the stories.
When my book came out first the reaction was brilliant. People really seemed surprised that they would like a book set in this world. I was, and am, thrilled by the response. But I was waiting too. All the early reviews were from crime fans. People who love books and want some mystery and murder in their daily reading. Thank you! Thank you! I was giddy - but I still waited. Where’s the nerds? How would they react to the fact that I go into the wrestling world and pepper it with situations, dates, places and terms that meant something to wrestling fans?
Turns out - one month in - that they love it!
This week alone I have gotten reviews, emails and DM’s from hardcore wrestling fans who have just finished the book. Not only are they happy with the way the story and the history of ‘their’ business was handled - they want to tell other wrestling fans about it.
Even Mick Foley wanted a signed copy!
[image error]
How cool is that? My all time favorite wrestler has a copy of my book. (More on that later.)
They both like it. Novice and pro. Crime fan and wrestling fan.
One of the reasons I wanted to set a crime fiction book behind the curtain of the wrestling world is because as a wrestling nerd myself, I was genuinely surprised that it hasn’t been done more in the past. A group of shady promoters share up territories to trade their cash-only businesses in. They protect their world fiercely and control everyone who works for them. It’s a hard business to break into and its even harder to be trusted with the secrets.
This world holds American’s longest con, alongside America’s most colorful, shady and flamboyant characters. What’s not to love?
So that you my fellow wrestling nerds. I’m thrilled you like this book!
Now - don’t kayfabe. Speak! Speak!
noun Slang .
1.
an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with anonsocial hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd.
When you finish a book and you hand it over to the people in your life who you think might be honest enough to give you straight up feedback - you’re nervous. When you finish and hand it out to readers you’re even more so. But when you finish and hand it out to readers who know your world as good if not better than you - poopy time.
This is why Hollywood fears the nerd.
Most people think comic book fans are the hardest to please but most loyal. If Star Wars fans heard that they would throw down their BlasTech DL 44’s in disgust. Trekkies would want to ghob you and start a noH if they heard such claims.
Every super fan thinks they’re the super fan.
Yes, yes, their nerdery and devotion is to be commended. Their relentless mission for easter eggs(both kinds) and loyalty to the source material is to be admired. But they all pale in comparison to the uber nerd, my kind of fan - the professional wrestling fan.
Pro wrestling fans might seem similar to all the others on the surface. They know the vast and sometimes shady history of wrestling. They travel across the world to meet up and see the matches. They understand wrestling own language, Carny. They trade magazines, tapes, merchandise and “action figures.” It all sounds familiar.
Except for one huge difference. The way they protest. [image error]
If a wrestling fan dislikes the product they will travel to see the match and then proceed to shit all over the wrestlers, the bookers, the show, the building, the world. They will do it right there in the front row. Anyone ever tell Ryan Reynolds to “suck my balls cause you fucking suck” after the Green Lantern came out? I guess not. Why? Cause he wasn’t fucking there, that’s why.
In the wrestling world you can go right to the source and tell it to “suck my balls cause you fucking suck.” They’re right there. Live. And in person. Once you do that, you then keep really quite. The one thing that kills a wrestling ‘character’ quicker than anything else? Silence.
No cheers or no boos equals no job in wrestling.
This is why I was reluctant about releasing Blood Red Turns Dollar Green. I wanted to write a book that anyone could pick and enjoy. I also wanted the wrestling nerds, my people, to enjoy it. i knew though, if they didn’t that I would be murdered by my own.
I’ve recently just finished season one of Game of Thrones. Love it. (I know, I know - NO SPOILERS!) But I did a quick google afterward and saw all the discussions about the books and the worlds and character details and plot differences. Didn’t matter a jot to me. I just love the TV show. I didn’t notice the easter eggs or the ‘insider’ references. I didn’t need to. It seems the show is something that can be enjoyed on two different levels - novice and pro.
A bit like when I was a kid here in Ireland and we were inundated with baseball and American football movies. I loved them all. Didn’t know any of the rules, history, culture or relevance of the sports in the stories - I just loved the stories.
When my book came out first the reaction was brilliant. People really seemed surprised that they would like a book set in this world. I was, and am, thrilled by the response. But I was waiting too. All the early reviews were from crime fans. People who love books and want some mystery and murder in their daily reading. Thank you! Thank you! I was giddy - but I still waited. Where’s the nerds? How would they react to the fact that I go into the wrestling world and pepper it with situations, dates, places and terms that meant something to wrestling fans?
Turns out - one month in - that they love it!
This week alone I have gotten reviews, emails and DM’s from hardcore wrestling fans who have just finished the book. Not only are they happy with the way the story and the history of ‘their’ business was handled - they want to tell other wrestling fans about it.
Even Mick Foley wanted a signed copy!
[image error]
How cool is that? My all time favorite wrestler has a copy of my book. (More on that later.)
They both like it. Novice and pro. Crime fan and wrestling fan.
One of the reasons I wanted to set a crime fiction book behind the curtain of the wrestling world is because as a wrestling nerd myself, I was genuinely surprised that it hasn’t been done more in the past. A group of shady promoters share up territories to trade their cash-only businesses in. They protect their world fiercely and control everyone who works for them. It’s a hard business to break into and its even harder to be trusted with the secrets.
This world holds American’s longest con, alongside America’s most colorful, shady and flamboyant characters. What’s not to love?
So that you my fellow wrestling nerds. I’m thrilled you like this book!
Now - don’t kayfabe. Speak! Speak!
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