An Interview With Author Bill Braddock

To begin, please introduce yourself to our audience. What is your name? Who are you? What books have you written?

I’m Bill Braddock, author of BREW.

What first inspired you to become a writer? And what compels you to continue your career as an author?

I started writing thanks to my third grade, Mrs. Wolfe, who claimed my heart by typing up one of my stories and telling my parents I’d be an author someday. Now I’m writing full-time, so money is a motivator, but my primary fuel remains telling the stories that really jazz me. I love nothing more than to hear from a stranger that read my book and dug it.

What is the first book you read that made you fall in love with literature?

The first “real” book I read, again in third grade, was THE THREE ROYAL MONKEYS, by Walter de la Mare, but the book that utterly transformed me came later: Stephen King’s THE STAND. All these years later, it’s still my favorite.

What do you think is the most difficult part of being a writer? What is the most rewarding part?

For me, the most difficult part is self-doubt. It’s horrible. Over the years, I’ve quit 75% of the things I’ve started, including at least a dozen would-be novels where I wrote a hundred pages or more. That is my great failing and my great struggle. The most rewarding part is hearing from readers who’ve enjoyed my work. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. Writing a book takes a long time, and it demands sacrifice not only of the writer but also of his friends and family. Hearing that someone dug your book makes it all worth it.

What is your most recent work? What can audiences expect from this book or series?

BREW is a dark thriller about a single night in College Heights, my name for Penn State, where I went to school and paid my rent by tending bar, when, on a packed football Saturday night, anyone drinking beer goes stark raving psychotic. It’s survival horror, my homage to Richard Laymon, and I hope you can expect good characters, fast pacing, and unpredictable twists.

What do you think are the most common misconceptions about writers?

People think that just because we can write a publishable story, we can tell them how to do the same thing. I’m always flattered when people ask me about writing, but I’m a little discouraged, too, as I’m allergic to dogma, and I don’t want to add mine to mix. In the end, I’m happy to offer business tips and give what works for me (along with the strong caveat that they should ignore most advice, including mine), but aspiring writers are best off just reading a ton and writing every day until they figure out what works for them.

Why did you decide to join Permuted Press?

It was a no-brainer. Permuted Press has long been the best name in apocalyptic fiction, and I’d been a fan for years. I was honored to appear alongside great writers like J.L. Bourne, Craig DiLouie, Peter Clines, David Wong – the list goes on and on, as you probably know if you’re reading this – and I continue to be honored to be stable mates with the new talent coming on board.

What are your dreams for the future as a writer?

World domination, of course. Plan B is to keep earning my keep by telling stories and to try my hardest to keep writing better and better books.

Is there anything else that you would like for people to know about yourself and your work?

Hmm… I’m a former stone mason, bartender, boxer, and prison tutor (along with many other jobs), and I’ve published under several names, as I like to write basically everything. I also enjoy chess and hot peppers and hold a dubious gold medal in foosball (Necon Olympics, 2013).

Do you have any events coming up such as conventions or book signings?

I just had a signing at Seton Hill University’s MFA program and leave tomorrow for Manhattan, where I’ll attend Thrillerfest. Next week, it’s on to Necon, where I intend to sign books, sound smart on a panel, and defend my foosball championship with mercilessness rivaling that of the Mongol horde.

Where can people find more information about you?

I have a website – billbraddock.com – but it’s sadly static. I’m more active on Facebook – /bill.braddock.3 – where I phase in and out of sight like a quasar. Hope to connect with you there!