Beesler Blog Interview #3: E. J. Wesley

Welcome to the third interview in my ongoing Beesler Blog Interview Series! I've been having a total blast posting these interviews, and I'm sure the authors I've highlighted so far have enjoyed supplying me with answers. In fact, my next guest was well on his way to answering all 100 questions that I gave him. Of course, I only made 100 questions to give my interviewees a wide range of topics they could discuss with you. (Crap. I think I just thought of my 101st question.) And his fifteen answers were all too wonderful for me to whittle them down to a measly 5-10. So I'll cut him some slack on this one!

Anyhow, without further ado, here's my interview with the one and only E. J. Wesley!

JB: Why do you write?

EJ: To entertain. Sure, there’s all the ‘artistic expression’ & storytelling stuff, too. But more than anything I want to give a reader the same experience I get with my favorite books, movies, and music. To be whisked away for a few hours, & forget that there are rules & boundaries in the world.

JB: When did you first start writing?

EJ: For work, it was graduate school. That’s when I first took writing seriously. I followed that up with several years of grant writing. For creative purposes, about six years ago.

JB: Tell us about your current work in progress.

EJ: There’s another Moonsongs story, of course. But I’ve also dug out the YA manuscript I forsake to start the Moonsongs series. It’s about an outcast, teenage boy, Armageddon, and falling in love with an angel. My goal is to make it my first published full-length novel. It’s going to happen. J

JB: Which authors have been your biggest influences?

EJ: Definitely Stephen King. You care about every single character in his stories. Good, bad, and otherwise. I’ve always aimed for that in my own writing. However, J.K. Rowling was the author that made me write. The Harry Potter stories moved me in ways fiction had never done—and I was an adult when I read them! I’ve been hung up on trying to do that with my own writing ever since.

JB: Do you have a favorite childhood book?

EJ: The first ‘long’ book I read on my own was the novel for ‘The Empire Strikes Back’—6^th grade, I think. I found it in a Salvation Army used store (we didn’t have a lot of money), & I was such a fan of Star Wars stuff I had to have it. Mom insisted I actually read it, so I did. Lol

JB: Where do you write the most?

EJ: Until recently, a Starbucks down the road from my house. I’m spending more time at home, but I’m still way more productive away from my home computer and the Internet.

JB: What is your favorite genre to read?

EJ: I’m an eclectic guy in general, so I jump around a bunch. But I’d say anything with fantastical elements. So fantasy?

JB: What is your favorite genre to write?

EJ: I’ll go with fantasy, but again, I’m pretty eclectic. For me it’s all about the characters. Setting and environment are pretty disposable in my eyes. If you have a great character, readers will want to go with them, even if they don’t particularly like horror, adventure, etc. They’ll read, because they want to know what happens to THAT person.

JB: Is your pesent work a stand-alone, or part of a series?

EJ: Series. Both of them.

JB: Where do you see yourself as a writer in about five years?

EJ: I hope writing! Lol Where I WANT to be is: When a reader picks up one of my stories, they’ll know they’re going to get something atmospheric and character driven. They’ll know they’re getting a story from a guy who cares about their time and his craft. It’ll guarantee them a good diversion, and they’ll FEEL something. If I can do that—becoming a bestselling, famous author be damned—I’ll consider myself where I want to be.

JB: Where do you get most of your inspiration from?

EJ: Music, movies, and real people/conversations.

JB: Tell us about any writing awards/achievements you’re most proud of.

EJ: I should probably be most proud of having a hand in grants that generated a few million dollars for extremely important social programs. However, there’s nothing like your first. Blood Fugue, my first officially published work of fiction, was the right story for me. It isn’t perfect, I’m sure, but the reviews and feedback I received told me I’d finally done at least a little something that I’d always wanted to do. I’d entertained a few people in some way. That’s all I’d ever dreamed of doing. Truly. And I was damned proud.

JB: On a typical day, when do you do most of your writing?

Mornings are my go time. I pump in some coffee and get to work.

JB: Do you edit as you write?

EJ: Hell no. I’d never finish anything.

JB: Do you plot out a story or do you just freely write out your rough draft?

EJ: I'm a pantser for the most part—especially in the beginning. Toward the middle, if I get a little lost, I’ve been known to plot two to three chapters ahead. But that’s it.

JB: Thanks for stopping by, EJ! Hey, everyone, why not check out EJ's stuff? I'm sure he'd appreciate the love!

~About the Author~

E.J. lives in South Texas. He likes his words and food spicy, and tries to give a little extra 'kick' to the stories he writes. He enjoys reading horror, sci-fi, YA, MG, New Adult--basically anything with words. In true Texas fashion, E.J. is very neighborly, and welcomes you to say 'howdy' at:

Goodreads     Twitter     Facebook     Blog

~My Books~

Description: After receiving an ancient tribal journal from her grandfather, Jenny is sent on a mission of discovery in an attempt to unravel clues to her family's monster hunting past. The journey becomes more than academic when she is asked to confront a coven of dangerous witches who plan to cast an insidious spell on the plains of West Texas. 

Witch's Nocturne is the second of the Moonsongs Books, a series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes--with a Texas twist--by author E.J. Wesley. 

Witch's Nocturne is available now:

Amazon     Smashwords     Barnes & Noble

Blood Fugue, Moonsongs Book 1, is also available:

Amazon (Free to borrow for Amazon Prime members.)

(Note: These stories contain some language and content better suited for mature readers.)