Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I don’t think your line of questioning is appropriate. You are going to have to talk to my attorney if you want the answer to that.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The House That Smelled Like Urine and other short stories.”
It’s a collection of super-shorts written over the course of nearly 2 decades. I found them all in my files in December of 2012 and crafted an interluding tale that takes you through them and hopefully through yourself. I feel like it should be listed as a self-help book.
As for inspiration… What inspires a madman to murder? I don’t fucking know. I’m terrible at being a madman. I couldn’t tell you what inspires my writing. It just happens. It is organic. I don’t even really think I am writing them. As with all things on this plane of who-gives-a-fuck, I am just a vessel and this is one of said vessel’s many purposes… I guess.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to wear the skin of a chicken on my unmentionable areas and put Vaseline on my fingertips when writing. It’s a great way to get those around me accustomed to my behavior, that way when I get caught doing weird things in the dark I can just tell them I am writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors who suck influence me. In fact they are my inspiration if you will, to answer the question above. I read shit. I watch garbage on TV. I see these things and wonder, why the fuck am I failing myself so profoundly? The only reason these dirt-squirming, filth merchants have products on the market are because they put it there. It sells because they sell it. They do their jobs and work hard at it and for that reason alone, no matter how great I may think my content is, no matter how high I view my art, these jerkoffs are 50 thousand times better than me. Because they fucking do it! They listened to Nike. So, those are the authors who “influence” me. The hacks. Hats off to the lot of you.
Beyond that, I love the work of Douglas Adams, Franz Kafka & Stephen King. Those are probably my three favorite authors, maybe Lovecraft is in that mix. I read a slew of Elmore Leonard books over the last year or so and found myself loving his style and stories. I was a huge fan of Poe as a kid. Read his entire life’s work about a dozen times over. Haven’t read a word of his in at least a decade and a half.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a six volume series of Novellas called “Meet the Moseleys.” It’s a horror series. My first time sticking with one genre for an entire story. The first volume is due out next month with a new volume following bi-monthly or better for the next year or so. Just look for it on amazon or goodreads or wherever you do your book looking stuffs.
I’ve also been editing and now proofreading a book since 2012. I wrote it during the 2012 National Novel Writers Month. “They Call Me Jesus” It is a victorian/western epic retelling of the life and times of Jesus Christ. It is due out Christmas 2013 through Rotting Horse Publishing.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
www.RottingHorse.com or my author page on Goodreads. You can also reach me on Twitter @SteamPoweredMan
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yeah. Just do it. Get over yourself and commit to getting your dreams done. When you finish your first book… IT’S NOT DONE! Do not publish it. EDIT. EDIT.EDIT. PROOF. PROOF. PROOF. A few errors are acceptable and almost expected even in the biggest of publications but publishing first drafts is not only stupid but dangerous. For you and the entire industry.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Someone once told me to go fuck myself. I did and it was AWESOME!
What are you reading now?
I am reading an Alien Nation book written back when people still knew what the hell that was. It’s pretty good. I’ve always been a fan and this is a nice backstory to the slaveships etc.
I’ve been reading alot of indie ebooks lately as part of review exchanges in order to increase my visibility and maybe even spark some word of mouth action. The results have been mixed as expected.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Probably going to take a shower while talking to my lawyer about filing a harassment suit against you guys for barging into my house like this while I am on the toilet with all of your fucking questions.
What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s a hard one.
Unless you agree to stop wiping me like a baby, this conversation is over.
Author Websites and Profiles
Giovanni Russano Website
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