Bec and I had a chat over at Bike Book Reviews - Come and check it out :)
About
Interviewed by Jamie Lake
Bey Deckard is new on the scene of writing. His first novel Caged is holding the attention of many of its readers, keeping the pages turning. Readers are eagerly awaiting whatever he has planned next!
—Jamie Lake, author of the The Trainer as well as Boyfriend for Rent.
JL: What started your interest in writing m/m fiction?
BD: My interest in writing fiction came first. I sat down and wrote a few chapters of something with the intention of simply describing a romantic/sexual relationship to see if I could make a story out of it. The fact that the two central protagonists were male wasn’t something that had really occurred to me until someone (who had read it) referred to it as homoerotic.
Read the whole interview at Jamie Lake's blog
Baal’s Heart
Today I decided to put together a little site as a companion to my books. Just for fun.
I hope you enjoy!
High School was a Blast
I recently got an invite to my twenty-year high school reunion.
Twenty.
Twenty fucking years.
Jesus.
So, since high school has been on my mind for the past few days, I figured I might as well write a post about it.
I liked high school. I think I might have actually loved it a little. Yes, you heard me right.
The actual lessons were always easy. I'm intelligent and a quick study; I was in a special program where I did intensive science classes for the last three years (bio-chem, intro genetics, college-level physics and gen chem), and I was tutoring advanced math. My English classes were largely Latin courses and Shakespeare. I was my art teacher's favourite student. I was on the honour roll. I won a bunch of awards at graduation.
I also held the record for the most absences in a year. Two years in a row. I was constantly in detention... mostly for creating mayhem. I was suspended. I was put on academic probation. I had to see a guidance counsellor twice a week for the last two years of school. Why? Because all my report cards said approximately the same thing:
Brilliant student when motivated. Does not play well with others.
When watching The Breakfast Club, someone asked me who I was in high school, I said: "Why do I have to pick?"
Death metal t-shirts, ripped jeans one day. Three-piece pinstripe suit the next. In the chess club and on the yearbook team. Organizer of fights off school property where I also acted as bookie. Was nominated to position of Peer Counsellor* for my grade and interviewed by a newspaper. Chronic stoner that helped to run acid and hash through the school.
I was suspended and forced to come into school over a holiday once, but the principal gave me the keys to the school so I could go work in the dark room instead of sitting in her office.
I wasn't popular, no, but I got along with a lot of people.
I was either a teacher's favourite student or their worst nightmare.
I got away with so much shit.
I had fun.
I tend not to remember the bad parts.
It was a time when I had no responsibility other than getting my school work done... the rest of the time was a barrel of laughs. So many good memories.
Getting stoned and skipping class to trip in the woods where I told ghost stories.
Hanging out with my friends, smoking our cigarettes, thinking were were all that.
All the art projects... plus getting really stoned and watching The Wall in art class.
Drunken school dances with furtive fondling.
But... am I going to my reunion?
No. I'm not interested. I'd like to leave the happy memories where they are... anyone that I wanted to stay in contact with, I have on Facebook. I don't get off on talking about work, kids, diseases, mortgages. And, while I got a little nostalgic writing this post, I'm also not one for talking about the Good Old Days™. I'm still right in the middle of them...
High school was a blast though.
*where I used my powers to pull students out of class to snag a friend of mine so we could go to my place and get so high on hash that I lay on my bed and came hands-free. Then was promptly sick.
Tears
I don't cry a lot. In fact, I can't remember the last time it happened. I can think of one time, and that was nearly three years ago.
I don't like crying. Some say it's catharsis. To me, it's just a stuffy nose and a slight headache if it goes on a bit. I have other ways of relieving tension.
I have an ex who used to argue that I was heartless because I don't find certain movies sad.
Just today I was talking to someone about how I don't like endings, so here are four movies I can't watch the end of for fear that they'll make me cry... because it happened before:
1. Brokeback Mountain - watched late at night at the office along with too much to drink. Cried like a baby.
2. Terminator 2 - need I say more?
3. Armageddon - ok, I may have daddy issues.
4. Dances with Wolves - Ugh. Two Socks.
I watch these but turn them off before the Bad Things happen. Cowardly or just avoiding a stuffy nose? Take your pick.
What movies make you cry?
A Real Book
The one year anniversary of the day I sat down and started writing is coming up at the end of the month. I'm going to do something special for it... haven't decided what yet.
Sometimes I'm honestly worried about this sudden, new obsession - because that's what writing is for me now. Is it a symptom of something insidious, like a brain tumour? Seriously... I went from writing approximately zero words a year to 400k (over my combined projects). By the time it's exactly one year (June 28th) I will probably have hit 425k.
Originally, the plan was to publish Caged and then wait a few months before starting Spires. What ended up happening was that I wrote the first three chapters of the sequel before I published the first book.
Guys, I'm already working on the third in my head and I'm still about ten chapters out from even finishing the second.
I guess I caught the writing "bug"?
One of the funniest reactions when I have a friend over and they pick up the paperback copy of Caged I have here is: "This... is a real book."
Yes. It's a real book. This is what I meant when I said I wrote a book. :)
I'm also rather enjoying reading everyone's reactions to it, positive and negative. It's been a pretty far-out experience so far.
I can't wait to finish Spires...
Interview at The Novel Approach
SALTY DOGS, SPICY LANGUAGE? WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU EXPECT FROM PIRATES? WELCOME BEY DECKARD AND A GIVEAWAY!
TNA: Hi, Bey, thanks so much for being here with us today. Why don’t we start with the sharing part of the interview? Would you tell us a few things about yourself: hobbies, interests, odds and ends stuff?
Bey: Hmm open-ended questions… those are the ones I’ve never been good at answering. I’m still trying to figure out what people want to know about me and what is considered over-sharing. *laughs* Is emoting ok? I like to emote.
Well, let’s see… when I’m asked about hobbies, the first thing I always say is that I collect skulls – which is the truth – but it’s not like it’s an active hobby. I just have a whole bunch of them around the house.
Mostly, I like going down to the local pub for a pint with a buddy. I watch a shitload of movies and TV. I get tattooed or pierced. I draw and paint. I do pro bono web work and graphics for certain companies, associations, and dog rescues.
TNA: Yeah? What’s your favorite tattoo? What makes it your favorite?
Read the Rest at The Novel Approach (plus! enter to win an e-copy of Caged)
