I'm an Austinite, it's what we do. From Willie Nelson to Rick Linklater and Robert Rodriguez, we just go and make the thing ourselves.
Brian Corley – 18 March 2018
The Back Flap
Roommates can be hell.
Like when they're late with the rent, late on bills, or constantly trying to kill you.
Jonah Preston thought he knew what he was getting into after signing the paperwork to buy his new home: yardwork, a leaky pipe here and there, maybe the occasional squirrel in the attic.
He just didn't expect to share that new home with a ghost.
Before all the boxes are unpacked, Jonah learns the previous owner, Willard Hensch, committed suicide in one of the bedrooms. It's bad news, but Jonah and his (corporeal) roommate, Max, take it in stride. Jonah's just happy to own a home and begin this new chapter in his adult life.
Unfortunately, it's an incredibly short chapter.
Unhappy with his new roommates, the resident ghost quickly makes his presence known. Like, really known. When Jonah wakes up dead, he knows exactly who's behind it.
Willard. Effing. Hensch.
For the newly deceased Jonah, that's where his new chapter truly begins. He will befriend angels, fight demons, and take on a ghostly army in this comic-paranormal thrill ride through the freakish underworld of Austin, Texas.
About the book
What is the book about?
It's kind of a coming of age story, set in the paranormal backdrop of Austin, TX. Guy unwittingly buys a haunted house and has to deal with whatever comes next. Funny over scary.
When did you start writing the book?
I came up with the idea a few years ago and wrote the initial story question, character sketches, and chapter outlines while taking some time off in Portland, OR. A couple of years later I had a few weeks between jobs in May of 2017 and decided to finally start writing the book.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took me about three weeks to write the first draft (it wasn't very good), but it took an additional six months of revision to get it into the shape that it's in today.
Where did you get the idea from?
I was having drinks with a friend named Jonathan Isaacs who was writing his book The House That Jack Built about a guy who renovates a haunted house. I made the comment that ghosts never really think about what would happen if they ended up killing the person they were haunting. Like what happened if they inadvertently created the Michael Jordan of ghosts? You thought you were annoyed at the few hours they made noise during the night? Now you have to deal with this guy forever, and he's stronger than you.
He thought it was a good idea, and told me to write a book about it, so I did.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Yes. All of it. From looking at a blank screen and typing the first words, to struggling through the big middle. From the first revision where I was missing several words per sentence, to finding that the jokes weren't working. From sending out the manuscript for critical feedback, to receiving the critical feedback and working to make scenes, sections, and characters better.
What came easily?
I have a lot of fun with dialogue after I've figured out who the characters are. Once I know their motivations and goals, I can pretty much just sit back and let them talk through the keyboard. The trick is the part above and knowing where the story is going next to make sure they're moving the plot or revealing who they are to the reader rather than just popping off one-liners.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
They're all fictitious with pieces borrowed from the real world. There's a little Labyrinthian David Bowie in one of the characters, but sadly, I never met Bowie.
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?
Hands down Jim Butcher and Brandon Sanderson. Both authors have a ton of material out there about their process, and I've soaked up as much as I can. Butcher blogged about it for years, and there is a lot of stuff from panels he's done on YouTube. Sanderson too, though he's a professor at BYU and puts his classes up for free (or someone does). I think I took three years worth of his classes in 2017.
Do you have a target reader?
Not really. I thought I did and it turned out that I was wrong. Good thing I focused more on getting an honest story out of myself rather than please an invisible reader.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I write every day. Those three weeks I had in May were amazing because I spent five hours or so writing and was able to knock out a first draft, but I have a job again now, so my creative process is to write every morning for an hour and a half or so.
I've found I can revise at almost any time of day, though.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Definitely. I want to know where the story is going before I start. It ends up being a rough map though. I know I want to start at point A and end at point B, but I may take some scenic routes along the way, or decide to take a short cut regardless of what I've laid out.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?
I tend to read the chapter or chapters I wrote the day before to get me back into the story and make some small edits along the way. I did a quick pass at Ghost Bully after I'd finished to try and catch as many errors as I could before setting it aside for a few weeks to go over it again with fresh eyes.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Oh yeah. I needed all the help I could get. Michael Rowley did a few passes as a developmental editor, and Sharon Honeycutt did the copy edit. Crystal Watanabe and her team at Pikko's House did the proof for the book.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Not often, I get distracted by it. I think I listened to Miles Davis a couple of nights when I was revising.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Just one actually.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher?
I'm an Austinite, it's what we do. From Willie Nelson to Rick Linklater and Robert Rodriguez, we just go and make the thing ourselves.
Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
Once I started on the story, I knew I had to get it out there.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Jessica Reed (https://designbyreed.com/) out of Portland, OR did the cover, and I couldn't be happier. She's awesome.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
It feels like I'm winging it since it's my first time, but I'm getting a lot of advice from other authors, and I've read a few books on indie marketing. We'll see how it goes.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
To steal a line from Chris Hardwick, "Go make your thing!"
About You
Where did you grow up?
All over Texas: Dallas, Waco, Houston, College Station.
Where do you live now?
Austin, TX.
What are you working on now?
I'm about 50,000 words into another book I'd like to launch about this time next year.
End of Interview:
For more from Brian, visit his website, follow him on Twitter, and like his Facebook page.
Get your copy of Ghost Bully from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
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