Author Interview with Charley Pearson
We welcome Charley to the blog today! Now let's learn more about his writing!
Tell us a few things about yourself that our readers would like to know.
Non-conformist from way back. If other kids wowed over a certain rock group, I looked for another group to admire. If we were told to play team sports, I tried singles tennis. So when teachers suggest “write what you know,” I’d rather write what I want to learn. Except I cheat and pick subjects I do know a little about.
Tell us what your books are about.
My first book is a collection of off-the-wall humor, “The Marianated Nottingham and other Abuses of the Language.” A full-length screenplay finally telling the Sheriff of Nottingham’s side of the story, plus shorts including insane ballads. Of course, no self-respecting agent or editor wants to see anthologies from unknowns, nor do they want to see screenplays or poetry, so that book failed on every count and I had to self-publish. Won “best anthology” at a writers’ conference, though.
Coming in August from Fiery Seas Publishing is “Scourge,” a medical thriller about desperate researchers who resort to unethical means to fight a plague. First had the idea for the technology back in college but had to let it mature. Input from a few doctors and nurses ensured I got those aspects right. Kind of scaring myself at the prospect of my “inventions” ever becoming reality.
How important is research to you when writing a book?
Drop-dead essential. I researched the era of Richard the Lionhearted for the Nottingham tale, so that has more historical accuracy than any other Robin Hood legend. Adds to the humor. The science for Scourge had to be correct, as it does for anything with a futuristic flavor, or the audience will be put off. Some very smart people are out there reading books. Then again, you have to find good analogies for some of the technology, so less geeky readers can enjoy the story. And do it all so smoothly the story doesn’t lag.
What inspires you to write?
Ego. I wanta be famous. Okay, that’s not gonna happen; I’ll get serious. In part, it’s kind of a payback or ‘thank you’ for all those other writers who have thrilled me over the years. Returning some of what I’ve received, so to speak. And then there’s the hope, in the case of the medical thriller, that the tale can be a possible wake-up call, warning of potential future dangers. Optimally, regulations will be in place to watch for abuse of new discoveries.
Which of your books took you the most time to write?
By far, the one I’m working on now, a YA-historical about a Japanese-American girl who infiltrates a WWII Japanese POW camp to free victims of medical experiments. Had to research Japanese culture, WWII civilian life in Japan, military history, naval affairs, plant life in southern Korea . . . all kinds of things. More rewrites and reorganizations and deletions and additions than I can count, but richly rewarding (well, not in monetary terms; lol).
How much of yourself do you put into your books?
Very little, and everything I have. It’s not like any of my characters are in any way autobiographical, yet an author needs to be an actor (as well as director, choreographer, set designer, etc.). Get into the head of every character and be that person if you’re in their point of view. This means you have to become a wolf, or the opposite sex, or evil, or whatever. I’ll never, in real life, be as good as my heroes. Just hoping I never approach my villains!
Which book would you want adapted for the silver screen?
I think “Scourge” would make a great movie. Highly visual, with enough action and color to keep viewers intrigued. (Of course, I also think “The Marianated Nottingham” would be cool, but I’m the kind of guy who loved Monty Python, so there’s that.)
If you were to change your genre, which one would you choose?
Hmm. As you can probably tell, I change genres all the time. I think I’ll try fantasy next. Had a couple of short stories published in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s anthologies (Towers of Darkover and Sword & Sorceress XI), so ’twould be fun to get back to that someday.
What do you do in your free time?
Read, hike in the mountains, play Civilization online with friends & relatives, and ‘play at’ tennis (I used to be truly terrible, but I’ve improved a bunch, and now I’m clear up to being awful).
Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?
Check out my website for the advice page. Writing has a steep learning curve, yet can be so rewarding. We all start out cocky, get discouraged, get proud, get shot down by critique partners who point out the same stuff we’ve been criticizing in their work (we all think we’re the exception to the rule). But it’s worth the effort to keep driving yourself, trying again, until someday you realize you’ve actually produced something good.
Scourge
by Charley Pearson
Medical Thriller
August 14, 2018
Financially independent, biochemistry genius Stacy Romani grows up off the grid, while her Roma family takes advantage of her knowledge for their own gain.
Watching his family farm struggle, and traumatized by mass slaughter, Aatos Pires wants to heal animals but gets seduced by industry and goes to work for a big pharmaceutical company.
When Aatos’ co-worker Trinity creates a deadly doomsday virus, it puts the world population in jeopardy as it spreads exponentially. . .with no cure in sight.
Stacy and Aatos work alone to find a cure, as the CDC and FBI close in. Will they find a way to stop the plague or will it be the end of humanity?
About the Author:
Charley Pearson started in chemistry and biology, then moved on to bioengineering, so the Navy threw in some extra training and made him a nuclear engineer. This actually made sense when his major task turned out to be overseeing chemical and radiological environmental remediation at Navy facilities after the end of the Cold War, releasing them for unrestricted future use. Now he writes fiction.
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