John Paul Bernett
As a
boy I used to write short stories but I would never let anyone read them for
fear of them laughing at me; you see I suffered from what is now known as
dyslexia. I also had a problem with reading and this exists to this day. If I
read more than one page; once I turn the page over I have lost all the
information from the previous one. This, you would think was a problem for me
and you would be right. Because of it I would destroy anything I had written. I
was like this until I met my wife in 2003, then things changed for me. One day
she saw something I had written and asked me how long I had been writing. I was
embarrassed about it but told her about my problems with reading and writing.
She encouraged me to write more and let her edit my work. To cut a long story
short she became my muse and gave me a mantra to work to 'There are no wrongs,
just write' and in 2012 my first novel was published 'Atkinson's
Administration' book one of my Reaper series. 'Rhymes' my first poetry book
followed the same year. 2013 saw the publication of 'Atkinson's Armageddon'
book two of the Reaper series and 'More Rhymes' my second poetry book. So far
in 2014 I have published 'A Switch in Time' a time travelling love story and
'Here We Rhyme again' my third poetry book. I am currently working on
'Atkinson's Adversary' book three of the Reaper series and 'A Woman at The
Helm' a follow up to 'A Switch in Time'. I have 50 years worth of stories in my
mind to get through so I have a busy time ahead of me.
Questions
for John Paul Bernett
1
– A lot of your work has a darkness to it, does a lot of this stem from the
difficult times you have faced throughout your life?
My
darkness in the reaper series The Atkinson books stems from a recurring
nightmare I have had since I was a young boy. I dream over and over again that
there is a reaper in a different realm of existence cutting the mortal cord
(Coil) of the people who die in this one. It also stems from a torrid
time at school in the middle to late sixties where Dyslexia was unheard of and
anyone who suffered from it was simply left behind.
2
– Do you find writing a cathartic experience?
I
would say yes to that question because writing about my dreams (which is where
most of Atkinson’s Administration came from) is a kind of therapy against the
darkness. Also writing is a way of me relaxing especially the poetry. I suppose
I go through every emotion there is while writing, but I think you should do
that if you are transferring your passion to your work.
3
– What is it about the gothic era and Steampunk that you find so inspirational?
This
one is easy. I became what is now known as a ‘Goth’ just after I emerged from
Punk. The lifestyle fitted my way of thinking. I felt at ease in the culture
and the colour choice of black or darker was great. I loved the music scene and
made many friends that I still have to this day,
Steampunk
is relatively new and I got caught up in it when I was writing A Switch in
Time. I realised the very fact that I had used the Victorian era as the part of
history I wanted my spoilt horrible young woman sent to made this book a hit
with so many Steampunks. I was invited to a literary event at the Leeds Central
Library. The kind of event where you have a table of your latest offerings and
you read part of one of your books. I quickly realised my darker writings i.e.
The Reaper series was not what they were after so I asked Bev my wife to read a
few pages of the then 30 pages of A Switch in Time and they loved it and now I
keep getting asked back to these events.
4
– How do you set about writing your novels, what is your basic plan of action?
I
don’t do the word count per day system I just write as the story comes to me. I
have a lot of different types of stories to tell and I have written most of
them before in my lifetime of secret writing (A time I spent writing and then
destroying the stories before anyone saw them and laughed at me) As an idea
comes to me very quickly I begin to remember the story from long ago and then
I’m away. I have never tried to push my writing I think it would just make for
more editing.
5
– What can we expect from you with your writing in the future?
What
is to come let’s see, parts three, four, five and six of the Reaper Series and
at least one sequel to A Switch in Time possibly two. I will be adding more
poetry to my Rhymes collection of course. Also I want to collaborate with my
wife Bevie of a series of children’s books based on her life with hamsters, but
be sure there is more darkness to come and you will fear the reaper
Links
for John Paul Bernett
Facebook
- https://www.facebook.com/JpBernettAuthor
A
Switch in Time- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Switch-Time-John-Paul-Bernett-ebook/dp/B00IQVE82G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397437509&sr=8-1&keywords=john+paul+bernett
Atkinson's
Administration - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atkinsons-Administration-The-Reaper-Series-ebook/dp/B00BCSYDG6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397437509&sr=8-2&keywords=john+paul+bernett
Atkinson's
Armageddon - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atkinsons-Armageddon-The-Reaper-Series-ebook/dp/B00EFEXRGQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397437509&sr=8-3&keywords=john+paul+bernett
Thank you Michael for putting this up.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure John, thank you for your involvement! :)
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