LET'S COZY UP TO THIS FIRE AND GET READY FOR THE INTERVIEW! YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED, I PROMISE! :)
Hey friends, today we are here with Bey Deckard, author of the Baal's Heart Trilogy, and Sarge, book 1 of the F.I.S.T.S. series! If you haven't read Bey, you are in for a lovely treat, so rush out and get his books right after you read this:
Thanks for joining us Bey, ready to get started?
1. When did you know you wanted to be a writer, and what convinced you to write your first book?
Well… I never thought about being a writer. When I was younger, I did have a knack for putting sentences in the right order for thirty-page term papers, yes… but apart from a handful of scribbles, I didn’t write any fiction. For me, the desire to become a writer happened after I had written Caged.
I wrote it on a whim, based on a desire to explore some different themes in writing. I think I was in some kind of fugue state the whole time I was writing Caged because I don’t really remember actually doing it, and I was sort of surprised by what I’d created in the end. I gave it to some friends to read and they loved it so I published it. When the positive reviews started pouring in, I realized that maybe I could actually hack it as a writer.
I pushed some other projects to the sides so I could concentrate on just writing for a while—it’s either balls-deep or pull out, right?
Here we are, ten months into my career as an author, and I’ve published three books. I think it’s a sign that I enjoy it, don’t you?
Bec- I think it is safe to say that, haha. I am so glad you had that whim, these books are stellar to say the least!
2. I know that writing leaves little room for reading, but what is the last book you read that you couldn't put down?
No fucking kidding. I used to read a book a week at the minimum. My house is crammed full of books that I’ve read and reread. This year? I think I’ve managed to get through six books. All I do is write, write, write.
The last book that I couldn’t put down was Grif’s Toy by Joseph Lance Tonlet
I have never really read erotica before. There’s this one book I have that I found as a kid in my grandmother’s basement that could qualify. It was about a guy with a twelve-inch cock and all of his (het) exploits. I don’t know if it counts as erotica because really, it was about a hundred pages of porn. I couldn’t honestly tell you what the plot was.
I’m also a near-virgin when it comes to romance books. I read one of those Harlequin paperbacks when I was a teen—it was a fictionalized account of Anne Bonny.
Anyway – I read Joseph’s book, and I had a hell of a hard time putting it down. Normally, “I love yous” sort of put me off a story… but it was paired with some really fantastic D/s that made me wish for a Grif of my very own to play with. Needless to say, I found it rather enjoyable, and I definitely look forward to reading more by him.
Bec- Oh! I loved that book too! It was way out of my comfort zone, but I loved it, I am soooooo glad I read it! Can't wait for the next one!
3. Your Baal's heart series are two of my favorite books I have read this year, what made you want to write about pirates?
You know… I will never tire of hearing that. I’m still blown away every time a fan writes to me to say my books are favourites of theirs. Thank you very much.
The Baal’s Heart series could have been about anything. Bootleggers, Vikings, mobsters… lawyers. What they are has little to do with the story except that I needed at least two of them to be morally ambiguous.
The three books were to be mainly about character development, so I planned to leave the broader details of their world purposefully vague—something which sort of bit me in the ass a little when Caged first came out aYond people thought it was historical fiction rather than historical fantasy.
But… why pirates? Well, I like pirates. I wanted to be one so badly when I was a little kid—I’ve always loved ships and the open sea. Then, when I got older and started reading about what they were actually like (prompted by the fictionalized Anne Bonny book mentioned above), I was intrigued.
Everyone thinks of pirates as being these ungoverned, marauding, eye-patch-wearing, shiver me timbers parodies that movies have made them out to be. When I wrote Caged, I wanted to capture a little of what being a pirate actually meant. Things like… well, some of the most famous pirates in history only ever “plundered” a handful ships in their whole careers. Or, the fact that a lot of the pirating gig was just hard work keeping the ship running. Many were farmers and peasants and, as such, tended to be piss-poor sailors. There was a lot of learning to do.
I like that the codes of conduct that pirates adhered to were different for every pirate gang. Like… take Ching Shih, one of world history’s most powerful pirates. She ran a tight ship and had some of the strictest codes. Giving your own orders or disobeying hers? Beheaded on the spot.
This one is one of hers, and I love both the logic and brutality of it:
If a pirate took a wife [from the captives] he had to be faithful to her. The ones deemed unattractive were released and any remaining were ransomed. Pirates that raped female captives were put to death, but if pirates had consensual sex with captives, the pirate was beheaded and the woman he was with had cannonballs attached to her legs and was chucked off the side of the boat.
But… overall, the codes were few and easy to follow (don’t diddle the captives!) and, for the rest of the time, life was actually pretty democratic. In return for loyalty and hard work, the freedom that pirates were afforded was good compared to what they could get elsewhere.
Bec- What a great answer! Yes there was a code of conduct for Pirates of sorts, though I am sure it wasn't what we would consider upstanding actions! Haha, I am so glad you did write about Pirates, your style and the subject matter are a seamless fit ya know?
4. I love how your character development seems effortless, is it as easy as you make it look?
Um. Hm. It’s not easy but at the same time, it sort of is. They’re all either based on facets of my own personality or desires I have in partners. Fleshing them out is actually the easiest part. They’re just suddenly there in my head. The hard part is that they’re not that easy to deal with once they are in my head… vying for my attention, pointing out inconsistencies, arguing with me about plot points.
Plus, my brain gets littered with their emotions, and that takes a lot out of me at times.
I think, to be good at character development, you have to be good at watching people. I’ve been watching people my whole life. That’s one thing I have always been good at. Human behaviours of all types really fascinate me.
Bec- WOW Bey, that makes so much sense it isn't funny! You do have to be in tune to emotions to pull another persons emotions out of yourself! My brain just exploded, hehe very good answer sir!!
5. Do you find that writing is a great way to release emotions you couldn't in everyday life?
Release emotions? I’m not sure.
See, I’m not a very emotional person. I’m not what you would call in touch with my feelings. But, when I started writing and had to push my brain through the steps that emotions take, I realized I was feeling things with the characters. Which is nice on the one hand, and a real pain in the ass on the other. Sometimes I have to back away from the computer and throw something on TV that’s extremely familiar so I can relax come back to ground zero, know what I mean? So… emotional release? I’m not sure. I’ll let you know what my emotional state is like once I finish book 3 of Baal’s Heart. *grins*
Bec- Haha got it! So maybe it is an emotional release to write and be emotional about something? ;) (i had to go there sorry)
6. You are very personable with your fans, do they often give you suggestions for your books? I bet some have been pretty funny!
Am I? I sometimes think I come off as a bit of a dick. Hehe.
Yes! I have suggestions that run the gamut. I find it funny that the suggestions contradict each other in equal measures. Like… a fan who want to know more about Baltsaros, and a fan who want to know less. That sort of thing.
I get requests to put Tom in manties (you know who you are).
Those are the nice suggestions. I’ve also gotten some not-so-nice ones. *laughs*
Bec- Hehe, I don't think you are a dick at all, I think you are honest and not afraid to be yourself, and that isn't dick-ish, (Is that a word? if not can we pretend it is, I like it!) , it is refreshing! Manties! Oh my, I can so picture that! Hehe (brain bleach)
Bey- Dickish is most definitely a word! I use it quite frequently.
7. Last one Bey, I can't wait for book three of Baal's heart, and I know a lot of other people can't as well, my question is: Is book 3 more of a challenge to write than book 1?
Yes. For a few reasons.
One is that I hate endings. So many people botch endings and I don’t want to screw up the ending to the trilogy.
Another is that I don’t have as much time… I have to spend part of every day doing the social network thing, and that is a time killer. I enjoy it though… Love connecting with my fans and fellow authors.
Also… I have other books in my head clambering to get out. A shifter book. The time-travel/gladiator book Sentenced to the Sword that I had to put on the backburner because of Baal’s Heart. Then there’s Murphy, the second novelette in the F.I.S.T.S. series. And more…
BEY! STAY ON BLOODY TARGET. Right?
I think once you’ve got one book out there in the wide, wide world, it becomes more challenging in general. You’ve set expectations and that, my friend, is a bit on the stressful side when you’ve got folks raving over your other books.
So! Let’s keep our peckers up and fingers crossed that I don’t screw the pooch on Baal’s Heart #3. *grin*
Bec- Oh I am not worried about that, not likely that you will disappoint on this one, but I can see where it would be stressful! I am sure your real life buddy Murphy requires some attention as well, so you do have a lot on your plate!
Thanks so much Bey, for this interview, it was insightful and fun as hell! Come back to Bike anytime! :>)
Well thank you very much for having me! It was definitely a pleasure, Bec.
WE TOLD YOU IT WOULD BE ENTERTAINING! NOW I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW BEY BETTER AFTER THAT INTERVIEW, HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO GET IN TOUCH AND GET HIS WONDERFUL BOOKS!
IT HAS BEEN A BALL CHATTING WITH BEY! GET TO KNOW HIM AND HIS BOOKS BETTER WITH THOSE LINKS, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE BOOKS, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET THEM! YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YOU DID!
ON BEHALF OF BEY AND MIKE I WILL WISH YOU A SAFE WEEK AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
YEP I HAD TO DO IT! ;)
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