FAQ

Will Pressure ever be available in an inexpensive mass-market paperback edition in bookstores, airports, and grocery stores across the nation?

Yes! Watch for it from Leisure Books in June 2009.

Will there be a fourth Andrew Mayhem novel?

Well, Andrew Mayhem has recently returned in a short story called “Poor Career Choice,” which appeared in the anthology These Guns For Hire, published by Bleak House Books. He’s also in the novelette Suckers that I co-wrote with J.A. Konrath, published by Delirium Books, where Andrew teams up with Harry McGlade, a supporting character in Konrath’s “Jack Daniels” series. (This book answers the question “If Andrew Mayhem and Harry McGlade Had A Fight, Who Would Embarrass Himself The Most?”) As for a fourth Andrew Mayhem novel…yes! Lost Homicidal Maniac (Answers to “Shirley”) should be coming your way eventually. If it doesn’t, it’s my fault.

So, with Pressure you’ve written your first “serious” novel. Was that a one-time thing, or are you giving up the funny stuff?

My next novel, Benjamin’s Parasite, is possibly the most over-the-top horror/comedy I’ve written thus far, so I’m not giving up the funny stuff! However, I will definitely be writing more thrillers in the Pressure mold. At least two. Probably lots more.

What was the process of collaborating with James A. Moore on The Haunted Forest Tour?

Mostly it involved me being annoyed that Jim writes approximately 8000 times faster than me. Jim wrote about 60% of the first draft (not in any particular order; there are parts where I did three chapters in a row, and parts where we shared a chapter), I did the revisions, and then we both proofread and nitpicked each other’s contributions. We brought out the wicked worst in each other–the book wouldn’t have been nearly as gory as a solo effort!

What was the process of collaborating with J.A. Konrath on Suckers?

Much like Jim Moore, J(oe) writes 8000 times faster than me. The divison of labor is a little more obvious in this one–I wrote the “Andrew Mayhem” chapters, and he wrote the “Harry McGlade” chapters. However, there was plenty of rewriting of each other’s work, so the jokes that you found particularly amusing in Joe’s sections are probably mine, and the plot holes you found in my sections are probably his fault.

How much of Out of Whack is autobiographical?

Lots of people assume that Out of Whack is autobiographical, but aside from very tiny bits and pieces, the entire book is completely made up.  Yes, the comedy skits that Seth Trexler writes are in fact comedy skits that I wrote, and “The Private Diary of Leonard Parr” was my first published story, but the circumstances under which they were written in the book bear no resemblance to real life. 

What’s up with the movie version of Graverobbers Wanted (No Experience Necessary)?

The option with Local Talent Films expired. There was other interest, but we were unable to come to contract terms [Translation: They wanted to produce a remake of Deliverance with me in the Ned Beatty role]. Then there was other interest, followed by a bit of a roadblock, but not a roadblock that necessarily means that these particular individuals won’t make the movie. And then more interest that might have been legitimate interest or might have been “We want free books” interest. Stay tuned!

What is your all-time favorite book?

Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon. Followed closely by Swan Song by Robert McCammon. McCammon rocks.

If I mail a book to you, will you sign it for me?

If you include return postage, sure!  Please note that I absolutely SUCK at mailing stuff out (I mean suuuuuuck), and you may have to send me a friendly “Where the hell is my autographed book?” follow-up.  If you’d like me to sign something, just send me an e-mail.

What is your all-time favorite movie?

Shaun of the Dead. 

Do you have an agent?

Yep. I’m represented by Stephanie Kip Rostan of the Levine Greenberg Agency. If you’re a deranged billionaire looking for somebody to write your memoirs, she’s the one to contact.

Will there ever be a sequel to How to Rescue a Dead Princess?

I actually did write the first chapter of How to Avenge a Squished Jester a few years ago, but the odds of my returning to it are pretty close to non-existent. Would you write a sequel to How to Rescue a Dead Princess? I didn’t think so.

Do you really love gummi bears, or do you just keep mentioning them all the time because they have a funny name?

I really love gummi bears–but they have to be Haribo brand gummi bears. And they’re better when they’re a little stale.

More FAQ coming soon…