Before I introduce the guest, I want to explain why I'm doing this. I decided to do something a little different. I have seen other writers interview people in their blogs. Not all of them may be a writer, but I thought it would be fun to do one interview a month. I personally believe it's a good way to get to know them and their experiences in writing or hearing their testimonies. This month I'll be interviewing a gentleman named Sutherland Staatz and I asked him questions. Let's bring him in.
Hello, Sutherland. I’m pleased to have you here as a guest. Before I ask you questions, can you please tell us about yourself?
Sutherland: “I’m a mild-mannered dad of three. I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. I like the outdoors, but I’m mostly a sedentary history/Star Wars nerd that spends too much on social media. I get most of my reading and writing done on the bus.”
Nice. What you like to do that isn’t related to writing?
Sutherland: “I go to the gym, take my kids to appointments, watch TV with my wife, play Civilization, and the occasional board game. I see reading as writing-related, but I also read a bit.”
Any favorites books or movies or music you like? You can answer all if you want.
Sutherland: “Boy, there is some list. I have a Google Doc that I list the movies I’ve to see. The Good The Bad and The Ugly, Passion of Joan of Arc, The Last Jedi, Blazing Saddles, and Paterson. These are some of the wide variety of movies that I like.
“As for books, Slaughter House V by Hurt Vonnegut (he speaks truth like few others) and Watership Down (Psychic Rabbits and Adventure). They are my favorites. Mostly, I’m not stuck mulling over it for too long.
“Music? I like Star Wars soundtracks, 80s rock, and some old folk and blues. I never quite gotten attached to any artist. I wouldn’t spend more than fifteen dollars on a concert ticket. I have never seen music as a life-changing thing. I told this to my younger brother, who is a music lover, and he jokingly said, ‘I’ve known a few people like that, killers, everyone.’ Which is funny, but I do wonder why I don’t quite get into music as some people do.”
When did you start writing and why?
Sutherland: “I’ve always been mocking about it but I finished my first book after an old friend from high school needed to borrow a stud finder. We got to know each other well enough to become co-writers. The idea of letting someone else down if you don’t write is a powerful motivation to keep writing.”
I see you like western. What inspired you to write in a western theme with low fantasy?
Sutherland: “My writing partner and I had writing meetings every few weeks. We would watch a Western to parse the story choices and structure while we were writing our first novellas. When it came time to write a second book a western was a natural choice. We are both nerds inserting a fantastic element that could also be used as a metaphor.”
Do you write stories that come from your own personal experiences? If you do, why you want to share it?
Sutherland: “Part of myself and my co-writer find a way into the stories. Sometimes too much. The third draft of the Western was so nihilistic that it flattened the characters’ arcs. Fortunately, my co-writer caught it and I’m rewriting the ending.”
What is the hardest lesson you learned from writing?
Sutherland: “Sometimes it’s better to not write for a few days.”
Have you published any of your works? If you do, please tell us what it is about?
Sutherland: “We self-published Symbiosis in Seattle a modern Invasion of the Body Snatchers with some hard-boiled P.I. flavor and cult stuff tossed in.
If you want to check out his book by him and co-writer, you can get a copy on Amazon or other retailers.
Before I end the interview, Sutherland do you want to share any writing tips or advice to other writers?
Sutherland: “Read, write, and edit, or hire an editor if you can.”
That was fun! I am glad to have you here and answering these questions.
Sutherland: “Thanks for the interview!”
Now you know a little about Sutherland and his writing experiences, along with his partner, and his works. I will leave the link down below where you can follow him on Twitter @SStaatz or visit his website www.bergstaatzstories.com
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