I love, love, love when I see an author deliver the goods with a release but also seemingly hit a home run multiple times with short story sales and just success all around. Today’s guest has been making me smile for a bit now with their consistent wins.
I’m super happy to have Patrick Barb join me today!
Welcome Patrick!
Steve: What does your process look like once you finish your first draft? Do you immediately dive back into it, or do you take some time away?
Patrick: Assuming there’s no deadline involved, my preference is to take some time away from the piece. I like to return to it with fresh eyes for revising, so the old words aren’t quite so precious. Ideally, I’d have somewhere between two weeks to a month. But even one day is better than nothing.
And it isn’t like I’m doing no writing. Usually, I’m starting the next project during that post-first draft, pre-revising period for the current project.
Steve: Do you believe cryptozoological creatures exist? If so, which one do you think has the best chance of being proven to exist?
Patrick: I don’t NOT believe they exist. I’m sure there’s some species out there that fit some, if not all, the characteristics of cryptids. For my money, I think one of the smaller critters has the best chance of existing.
So, if there’s one out there in the world, I’m gonna say it’s Chupacabra. Hide your goats, folks!
Steve: Of the books or stories you’ve released, which is your personal favorite and why?
Patrick: I love all my children equally! But I love when my stories can connect with an audience and readers respond to the writing on social media. Helicopter Parenting in the Age of Drone Warfare, the sci-fi horror novelette I published with Spooky House Press, has really seemed to resonate with folks.
It’s a story about the dangers of technology and fears about raising kids in a world obsessed with tech. I wrote this raw wound of a tale and it seems to be the kind of thing readers are looking for. Seeing people review it, tweet about it, post about it…it’s hard not to be fond of a book that garners that kind of response!
Steve: Bonus Fun Question! What was the best practical joke you’ve ever been involved in?
Patrick: In college, some buddies in my dorm duct-taped every loose item in our friend’s room to his wall and ceiling before he got back from break.
Not the most impressive prank on the surface. But he was so pissed. Just spluttering, incomprehensibly angry…
Haha, that’s still hilarious! Thank you so much for doing this, Patrick!
To find more of his work, check the links!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Patrick-Barb/author/B082FP8J5J
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pbarb
Website: http://www.patrickbarb.com/
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