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Author Interview: Short Sharp Shocks! 34 - The Necessary Evils & Sick Girl by Dan Weatherer10/24/2019 Book 34 in the Short Sharp Shocks! series, is Dan Weatherer’s The Necessary Evils & Sick Girl. We’ve wanted to work with Dan for a while so we were really happy to be able to move forward on his recent book. Prior to publication Dean sat down with Dan and talked about it:
DEMAIN PUBLISHING: Hi Dan, great to be working with you – for those that don’t know you, can you tell us first a little about yourself and how you became a writer? DAN WEATHERER: Hi. I was made redundant at the beginning of 2018. After eight years of a tedious office job, I suddenly time (around looking after my infant daughter) to explore the possibility of writing. My first efforts were rough around the edges but showed promise. My first published piece The Legend of the Chained Oak was made into an award-winning short film, and things just snowballed from there! DP: Yes, that’s a stunning piece of work. With regards to your Short Sharp Shocks! what is it about? DW: The Necessary Evils - where to start? It’s different. It explore themes of religion pressed upon me from an early age, and it incorporates family. It’s a deeply personal tale for reasons I will outline in my next answer. DP: So your protagonists... DW: The two characters are based on (and named after) my two children. As a parent I've often looked at the world and worried as to the horrors they will inevitably be exposed to at some point in their lives. This tale is how I see them now, innocent and protected from evil. It’s how (like many a parent, I imagine) I’d like them to remain. DP: Yes, I did get the feeling it was a very personal story which I found intriguing. Creatively what would you say is your biggest success to date? DW: This is difficult to answer, because success is measured in different ways, depending on the individual. I’ve had many projects inspire others to produce work of their own, such as art exhibitions and short films. On the flip, I’ve written nonfiction on the subject of mental health, and that has helped many people come to terms with their struggles. I’d count these examples as successes. DP: So true. ‘Horror’ – what does that mean to you? DW: Being alone in a world apathetic to your suffering. That, to me is true horror. DP: Which I believe is reflected to some extent in your second story Sick Girl. What is Dan Weatherer afraid of and has that influenced your work? DW: Deep water, and in a sense, it has. I often write settings in / or around bodies of water. As long as I’m not in it, I find water calming, even inspirational. In it however…no. I almost drowned as a child and have never managed to master the art of swimming. DP: I almost drowned too in my grandparents’ pond...I can still taste the seaweed or whatever it was in my mouth as I type this. I think because of that experience, it did take me a long time to learn to swim which I did eventually when I lived in Saudi Arabia. The last time I swum in a pool was last year I think in Cannes and what I still find interesting is that I love spending time UNDER the water rather than swimming on the surface. I haven’t really done SCUBA diving or deep-sea diving, perhaps I should...creatively what would you like to do you at some point in the future? DW: I’m lucky because I have written for the page, screen and the stage. I’d like to one day have my work adapted into a feature film, but I suppose I share that dream with many an author. DP: That’d be really cool, I’d watch that movie for sure. Talking of films, Marvel or DC? DW: Neither. I dip in and out of both franchises, but prefer the comic work of Alan Moore. V for Vendetta is one of my favourite works of his. DP: Nice one – I agree, it’s brilliant isn’t it? I also love Watchmen and am enjoying the new tv series immensely. Finally then, what is something your readers might be surprised to find out about you? DW: I’m currently retraining as a TIG Welder. I hit 40 at around the time this will go live, and decided to try my hand at something new! (I’d previously never set foot in a workshop, but I’m loving it!) DP: Really? That’s amazing! Well done you. Thanks Dan for your time – really appreciate that. If you would like to connect with Dan himself: www.fatherdarkness.com Short Sharp Shocks! 34 The Necessary Evils & Sick Girl is now available for pre-sales and is published on 31st October 2019.
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November 2023
AuthorDean M. Drinkel |