Interview with Peter Burton

Okay I am late on getting this interview up today. Blame it on the rain which knocked out the internet out here in Beyond the Beyond. If you didn’t get a chance, check out Ashlee Supinger’s interview as well.

Now on to my friend and mentor, Peter Burton. He has been a source of butt-kicking and hand-holding for me while I have been editing my own MS. He is a wonderful person, and a great friend!

1) What genre(s) do you write? And why?

I typically write in Fantasy, Sci Fi, and on occasion dabble in Horror/Thrillers.

I suppose the main reasons I write in those genres are because those are the subjects that captured my imagination the most growing up. My atypical boy’s bedroom looked like Camelot had been taken over by Buck Rogers with help from The Boogey Man and Jack The Ripper.

2) Tell us about your latest project. This is your chance to crow about being published, agented, or winning a contest.

Nothing much to crow about here, as my latest project is to rewrite my self-published novel Wolfsong, and re-release it in a, hopefully, more polished form. This time, however I plan on marketing the story, and releasing it as an e-book as well as a POD print.

To be honest, I probably should not have published it in the first place. It was an experiment to see for myself if anyone would like my style as a writer without anything to back it up. No real marketing, or promoting behind it at all. A trial by fire, if you will. I’m happy to say, I passed. But, it was a very scary thing to do.

3) Other than writing, how do you like to spend your time?

You mean there are other things to do than writing?

I play guitar, (badly), watch movies, listen to music, and spend as much time as I can spare with my wife Tammie.

4) Do you have any tattoo’s, if so where? If not, do you want any?

I have several. One that covers my left shoulder, two on my left forearm, and one on my right forearm.

5) What is the last book you read? Did you like it?

EVERY MISTAKE IN THE BOOK: A Business How Not To. By F.J. Lennon.

And, yes I did.

6) What is your advice to those who want to be authors? (I know, it’s a crummy one, but needs to be asked)

First, and most important, never stop learning the craft of being a writer/storyteller. Second, and equally important, stop worrying about what someone else got away with. Their success won’t have one single impact on you. Develop your own strategy for becoming known, and adjust accordingly.

Most of all see critiques, and I’m not talking about those flowery pats on the back from friends and family, for what they really are. An opportunity to make your own work better and more appealing to a mass market. Realize that nothing you write, no matter how skilled you may be, is gold and it all can stand to be improved. In short, get over yourself and stop looking a gift horse in the mouth.

7) Tell us one thing no one knows about you

I’m secretly the Caped Crusader known as The Batman.

Seriously, though, I’ve always wanted to be a Rock Star, but lack the musical talent to seriously consider attempting to do so.