Today I am honored to welcome J.W. Nicklaus, author of The Apocalypse of Hagren Roose as part of his Blog Tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotions. Before I get to the interview so you can get to know the author, please get to know the book:
Once a small-town success and happy family man, Hagren Roose finds his slide backwards at once abrupt and wrenching. His small-town mentality sets him on a journey of his own making, of which he has no control—and only he can atone for.
You can see the Tour Schedule for The Apocalypse of Hagren Roose
You can purchase The Apocalypse of Hagren Roose at Amazon.com
Now here is the rather unconventional interview – enjoy!
What if you could somehow clone yourself, say, just for about twenty minutes. What sort of things might the other you ask? Would your other half be rude or kiss up, surprise or shock you?
I found out just how reluctant my other half can be. I politely requested him—the other me—to come up with a few questions for me to answer, a self-interview if you will. I had hoped he would fire some off the top of his head, nice and spontaneous. No, he wanted to mull it over . . . how typical.
I gave him a little time to come up with something (as the good me is wont to do) but I got the feeling he was dragging his/our feet. So I prodded him a little. “Ask me some questions that people may not know the answers to, don’t be typical. Throw me a couple surprises. Be loose with it.”
That seemed to help. So here’s what he came up with. Naturally, he’s not entirely pleased with the outcome but he’ll get over it.
The Other Me (TOM): Hey . . . so this is what it’s like on the outside!
J.W.: Um, yeah. I’m not entirely comfortable with you being , you know, out here.
TOM: Why? What’s the . . . Oh MY! You, I mean we . . . we’ve been outed!
J.W.: (hangs his head) Only figuratively. See, this is what I was afraid of. You’d freak out.
TOM: Oh please, I know you better than you think . . .
J.W.: Then perhaps you can answer these questions for me?
TOM: Oh no. You made me—quite literally. You brought me here to do this so we’re sticking to the plan.
J.W.: Alright, whatever. Whaddya got?
TOM: What was the first record (album) you ever bought?
J.W.: Out Of The Blue by the Electric Light Orchestra. The cover was fantastic, and of course I completely got into the music. Got it at FedMart for $8.99. A double album for nine bucks! Can you believe that?
TOM: Things were way cheaper back then.
J.W.: Careful there, bub.
TOM: (sighs) Okay. Fine. What writing related fact about you would we find surprising?
J.W.: I could only muster a ‘C’ in Basic Reporting 101. That was a journalism class, writing facts and news stories.
TOM: I have a vague recollection of that. That didn’t agree with us much.
J.W: Indeed. I learned a new meaning for the word “tedium.” What’s next?
TOM: What’s our favorite sound?
J.W.: I would say there are two: the female voice, especially a British/Aussie accent, and the sound of a child’s laughter. For me, both seem to often dispel the coarseness and weight of reality that cloaks us. Think rain on parched earth.
I also have an affinity for the whisper of the wind through the comb of pine
tree branches. Okay, that’s three.
TOM: You always sucked at math.
J.W. Allow me to clarify . . . we always sucked at math.
TOM: Fair enough. Any sound we dislike?
J.W.: The sound of ones own heartbeat. This usually indicates you are alone—very alone, or in a very bad moment.
TOM: I rather like this one: Turn ons?
J.W.: Intelligence. We all appreciate physical beauty and I—we—are no different
in that regard. But without reservation the most attractive facet of a person I
know is their mind, for from that all else flows.
TOM: How about turn-offs?
J.W.: Stupidity, inefficiency. Worse, someone who clearly has ability or
smarts but is too lazy to apply them. Harsh? Perhaps.
I once worked with a woman who was very smart but she chose to be a moron. I
told her as much, to her face. I told her what I found most stunning was her
obvious intelligence but her clear choice to set it aside. She didn’t get mad;
she actually agreed with me.
Most of our gifts need to be trained, much like the gifts Pandorra unwittingly
(stupidly?) let loose from the urn the gods gave her. It is said the gift of
Hope was the sole aspiration which didn’t escape and Pandorra was able to train
it properly so it would benefit mankind. To have gifts and not use them is
nothing short of stupid.
Your Honor, the State rests its case.
TOM: I was hoping this last question might make you pause to think, but I’m pretty sure I already know the answer: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
J.W.: That would be my son. For reasons, most or many of which, he likely couldn’t fathom.
Tom gives me a knowing smile then suddenly exclaims . . .
TOM: Can I talk about our new novella, The Apocalypse of Hagren Roose?
J.W.: I’d be happy to turn you loose with Roose, but we’ve eaten up enough of the readers’ time. So we two shall once again be one . . . until next time, TOM.
Be sure to check out the other Tour Stops for reviews and guest post. I do thank Mr. Nicklaus for stopping by today.
Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.
