I’m outside the box. I write humor, sexual situations, gay and Indigenous characters and historical stuff with not happy endings so either the world catches up or I stay indie.
Dean Wirth – 20 October 2020
The Back Flap
13 unlucky stories and front-pieces collected from past issues of Breaking Rules the Hollow and England’s Lovecraftiana in one bound collection with new art by Dean Wirth.For the first time all three “Beatrice” stories together, the “Dark Day of My Soul” trilogy with the never before fourth story that binds them all together into one existential and terrifying loop.__ fantastic black and white art pieces and the unpublished intro “Horror Versus the World” and three new stories.All stories (and art) are original and the work of Dean Wirth.
About the book
What is the book about?
13 horror / sci-fi stories
When did you start writing the book?
I took about 3 years to amass the stories
How long did it take you to write it?
About 3 years
Where did you get the idea from?
The stories were published in Canada, America and England, I wanted the trilogies to be together for effect.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
The introduction, it’s quite lengthy and covers my take on horror in general and the influences on my stories
What came easily?
The stories come easy, researching history and places I’ve never been can be tough
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I use people I met and movie actors as reference as it’s easier to keep track of motivation
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Shelly, Poe, Lovecraft, King, Theodore Sturgeon, Shirly Jackson to name a few. Poe, Lovecraft and Jackson for style. Shelly, King and Sturgeon for putting it out there regardless…
Do you have a target reader?
People with a sense of humor, a sense of history and I think in a way alienated people.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so, can you please describe it?
I just start typing and it comes out, after I do my historical, biological and geographical research of course.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I just start with a killer scene, then write backwards and forwards until I feel it’s finished.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I edit with every draft, by the third or fourth one I’m usually done.
Did you hire a professional editor?
No, I have had good edits and bad edits, one editor actually added things and made the story so corny I changed it back. Another edit job polished it so well but I prefer my own edits.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Yes, Peter Gabriel’s “Birdy” and parts of the Doors’ “Weird Scenes in the Gold Mine” and Old Rhythm and Blues from the late 40’s mostly.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No just to Lovecraftiana and Breaking rules Publishing. They publish everything I submit so I’m lucky.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I’m outside the box. I write humor, sexual situations, gay and Indigenous characters and historical stuff with not happy endings so either the world catches up or I stay indie.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I sell art as well as stories some people say I’m a better artist than writer I don’t know how to take that because I spend weeks on a story and at most 4 hours on a drawing.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I’m reaching out to webzines and sites but am not that technically minded. I’m not going on book tours yet if that’s what you mean.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Do it because you want to because you have to and believe in your stuff because that is what will get you through the initial first rejections.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Montreal Area
Where do you live now?
Alberta (a great place to write horror)
What would you like readers to know about you?
I love comedy, natural history and getting up in the morning.
I hate hypocrisy, cruelty and animal abuse.
What are you working on now?
Two short stories. Creepers which takes place in Virginia 1896 and Lakehouse which takes place in New Hampshire 1959.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Tales from the Deep End from Amazon US or Amazon UK.