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Group Reads: Guest Author Invite
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September 2019 Group Read with Guest Author, Jeremy Hepler
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Jon Recluse wrote: "Jeremy, I've always wondered when it comes to coming of age stories, how much your own childhood memories shape the story."For me, Jon, in this particular story anyway, my own childhood memories did help shape the story, but only in indirect ways. None of the events in the story were specific to my childhood, but small things like the garage cellar, the freedom of the characters to move around the neighborhood and town all day every day, the snow cone (raspa) stand, the movie "Real Genius," etc., are all pulled from my childhood.
In the future, though, I'd like to write a coming-of-age story set specifically in the time I grew up (late 80s-early 90s), and I think I'd probably use way more of my personal memories in that one.
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That freedom we had, grabbing our bikes and running free....being home for dinner, then back out till the streetlights came on...I was a child of the 70s.
Jon Recluse wrote: "The little things add up. More magic.That freedom we had, grabbing our bikes and running free....being home for dinner, then back out till the streetlights came on...I was a child of the 70s."
Right! I was born in '77, grew up in a small Texas panhandle town (around 6000), and by the age of seven or eight, I was staying outside all day in the summer, riding my bike wherever I wanted (friend's houses, park recreation, the community pool, etc.), coming home at dark.
Just wrapped it up and posted my review. I have only one question: What is next for Jeremy Hepler!?
Brandon wrote: "Just wrapped it up and posted my review. I have only one question: What is next for Jeremy Hepler!?"Thanks for the review, Brandon! Right now I'm working on a new novel that has a Green Mile vibe, but has a lot more action and suspense. Small town Texas in 1944. Religious-driven lynch mobs. Nazi POWS with supernatural powers. That kind of thing.
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Really enjoyed it.
Jon Recluse wrote: "Finished and posted my review.Really enjoyed it."
Thanks so much, Jon! Glad you enjoyed it!
Hey Jeremy. I just started reading this book. Hurrying to catch up.
Jason wrote: "Hey Jeremy. I just started reading this book. Hurrying to catch up."Thanks for reading and chatting, Jason! Hope you enjoy it!
Elke wrote: "My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Thanks, Elke! Happy to have met you!
I finished a few days ago and decided to start The Boulevards Monster next. I have one question about it: is there any connection between the Powells mentioned in both books? (view spoiler).I really loved your book, Jeremy, and The Boulevard Monster is a great read, too. Can't wait to read your next work (although I am always a bit sceptic when it comes to Americans writing about Nazis. Whenever there is a book/movie/TV show which deals with supernatural Nazis, it's kind of weird for us over here on Germany. The topic isn't always done , ähm.. Ver well, for various reasons). But I am interested in how your approach will turn out :)
Feli wrote: "I finished a few days ago and decided to start The Boulevards Monster next. I have one question about it: is there any connection between the Powells mentioned in both books? [spoilers removed].I..."
I'm glad you're enjoying the stories, Feli! And thanks for leaving a review. The two Powell's are not connected. It's just a common name where I live. I actually didn't even realize I'd used it in both books :) No ne has ever mentioned it to me, so good catch!!
In the book I'm working on now, the Italians and Nazis I deal with are POWs who were brought over to the US and put in internment camps. Some are good people, some are not. Some wanted to be soldiers, some did not. Hopefully you'll like it.
I actually have a lot of German in me. I can trace my dad's family, whose last name was HOPPLER back then, to Germany in the 1700s. Johan Jacob Hoppler III, my namesake relative, was a grape farmer over there and came to the US with his wife and 3 kids on a ship called the Patience in 1743. I have a copy of their family crest and everything. It's pretty cool!
Hey Brandon, do you think Undivine Interventions will open back up from hiatus soon?
I read Cricket Hunters earlier this month. Fantastic job, sir. Definitely going in the Top 10 of 2019. Looking forward to the next one.
Jeremy wrote: "Brandon wrote: "Just wrapped it up and posted my review. I have only one question: What is next for Jeremy Hepler!?"Thanks for the review, Brandon! Right now I'm working on a new novel that has a..."
Wow! This sounds amazing.
Glenn wrote: "Jeremy wrote: "Brandon wrote: "Just wrapped it up and posted my review. I have only one question: What is next for Jeremy Hepler!?"Thanks for the review, Brandon! Right now I'm working on a new n..."
Thanks, Glenn! Means a lot coming from you!
Hi Jeremy :) I really loved the ending of this book. I love a nontraditional happy ending. I am looking forward to reading more of your books.
Crystal Marcela wrote: "Hi Jeremy :) I really loved the ending of this book. I love a nontraditional happy ending. I am looking forward to reading more of your books."
I'm glad you enjoyed the story, Crystal! And thanks for leaving a review to let me know what you thought! My first novel, The Boulevard Monster, is available in digital and print on Amazon. If you decide to read it, and you have any questions or just want to chart about it, I'd love to.
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Ken wrote: "Jeremy, can you tell us what you have coming down the pike for us for the rest of 2019 and beyond?"I have two short stories coming out in anthologies in October. "Justin's Favorite" in Silver Shamrock's MIDNIGHT IN THE GRAVEYARD and "The Dark Rift" in Hellbound's ROAD KILL VOL IV. Other than that, I'll keep working on the novel I'm writing now (see a few posts above for some details) and then start something new. There's always something new...I hope anyway. :)
Good question, Ken. I'm always trying to improve and better my writing with each sentence, each paragraph, each story, but to me those two stories are hard to compare when it comes to my writing style. BOULEVARD is written in 1st person from a 44 year-old construction workers POV. In order for his voice to be authentic and accurate, I had to limit my use of literary devices when it came to things like imagery, similes, metaphors, etc. And I was limited to only his opinions and POV in every scene. Don't get me wrong, the story had to be told that way to work, and I loved it despite the limitations. CRICKET HUNTERS on the other hand is written in third person, which gave me the option to use multiple characters' POVs, explore many characters histories and thoughts and opinions, and have more leeway when it came to using literary devices. I loved it, too, because I got to let my voice shine as a narrator more so than when I channeled it through Seth Fowler. And in my newest book I'm writing, I'm actually experimenting with using a bit of both third and first person ;)