Interview with Steve Barber

TN: Did I read your Bio correctly - you wanted to be a shepherd? What happened to that dream?

Steve: Well, I'm ashamed to admit it, but I flunked out of shepherd school. I cRAMmed for the final, but it was EWEsless.

TN: That's a shame. So, having been fleeced on your shepherding dreams, what prompted you to start to write?

Steve: I've pretty much been writing all my life--just not fiction. Most has been work-related, you know, marketing material, advertising, trade journal articles and the like. But about six or seven years ago a friend convinced me to join an on line writing site.

I started out with a few (hopefully) humorous essays and a few song parodies. From there, it just seemed natural to try my hand at writing a short story. So I did. It was pretty bad. Hopefully, I've gotten better since then

TN: So you enjoy writing shorts, have you ever considered trying your hand at a full length novel?

Steve: That's not something I want to do right now. Maybe in the future. Probably in the future. But for now, I'm very happy writing shorts. Poe and O. Henry are my patron saints, after all.

TN: You mention Poe, and I've read your collection of shorts here at Trunk Novels, so I'm curious - Did something compel you to lean toward the darker, mysterious, slightly edgy side of life, or does that come naturally to you?

Steve: I blame Poe. I blame Rod Serling. It can't possibly be my fault. I'm a victim, here.

TN: So, what moves you to write? What motivates these twisted views?

Steve: Just like every other writer, it's the lust for obscene amounts of money and power.

Oh, alright. I'll be serious.

For me, writing is like procreating. It's caused by a primal desire to leave something behind. Writing stories may not be as much fun as making babies, but it does fulfill that need. I suspect it also fills a narcissist need too. I'd like to think I'm not the kind of person who is always jumping up and down yelling, "Look at me. Look at me," but in effect, I do that every time I send out a submission. So, yeah, ego plays a part as well. I want people to read my stuff. All writers want that.

TN: I always knew you had a submissive streak!  So can you share with us a little bit about the other stories you've written ?

Steve: If you don't submit, you might's well quit. Sure. I can tell you about some of them, anyhow.

One of my favorites was about an undertaker who was afraid to die, and took some rather unusual steps to avoid it. I also wrote about  a pretentious literary writer, turned into a serial killer,  a good ol' boy trying to get a little respite from the vampires who have overtaken his small country town, and a family on vacation at a very different sort of amusement park. I'm also in the process of revising a story about a sous chef who, unless he thinks fast, is going to have to cook his young son and serve him up to some very hungry alien creatures.

Yesterday I finished the first draft of a new story. The Green party has come to dominate society. Gas and oil are things of the past, and meat eaters are history. Racism is no more, because everybody's the same. It's a perfect society, unless you talk to the woman and the two kids who just don't fit in. And the penalty for not fitting in is pretty harsh.

I'll be happy to tell you more, but it'll cost you ten cents a word.

TN: Those do sound very interesting!  You clearly love the macabre and, dare I say, twisted - have you ever had a story idea that scared you too much to write it?

Steve: No. Not at all, though I've heard other horror writers say that. I guess with me, it's because if I'm writing it, I know it's fiction. I don't ever have to worry about that ax actually thunking down  into the middle of my forehead, because I can stop it any time I want to. At least I've been able to stop it so far.

TN: It's interesting that you should say "I can stop it any time I want to", as if you were being accused of addiction or something.  Do you think writing is addictive?

Steve: I think so, yes. When the muse dumps on me, regardless of where I am, I can't wait to get back to the keyboard and get going. I've been known to jot down a story idea a beverage napkin, then find it months later stuck in my wallet.

TN: So do you find yourself often writing things down in strange places?

Steve: You heard about that, huh? Well, it was a long time ago and the doctors say I'm much better now.

TN: That's good to know! But, I couldn't help noticing the cover of your short stories collection has an "interesting" sheep on it. What can you tell us about that?

Steve: Are you questioning my taste in women?

TN: Ha! I wouldn't dream of it. I want to thank you for taking the time to answer some questions and let the readers get to know you. Is there anything you'd like to say to them before I let you get back to writing? Any parting words of wisdom?

Steve: You betcha.

*leans closer and stares into the readers' eyes*

Folks, when you go back to the website, you'll see a little orange button up near the top of the screen on the right hand side. Click it. Then follow the directions. You'll be happy you did. Trunk Novels will be happy you did. And, most importantly, I'll be happy you did. You wouldn't want to see me unhappy, would you, because when I'm unhappy, I sometimes...do things.

Thanks, Kristine. It's been fun.