Interview + Giveaway with Bryan Healey, author of Shatter Wings and Void

I'm joined today by Bryan Healey, the author of Shattered Wings and Void. In addition to the interview, there's also a giveaway of 5 print copies of Bryan's fabulous novel, Shattered Wings! Make sure to enter in the draw! 

E: Evie
BH: Bryan Healey

E: Welcome to Bookish, Bryan! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

BH: My full name is Bryan Healey, and I attended Northeastern University in Boston for Computer Science with a minor in Cognitive Studies. From there, I transitioned immediately into full-time engineering for several start-up companies, a profession that I continue to practice today. However, as I was becoming and being an engineer, I harbored a deep passion for literature and story telling, and wrote often for pleasure. Finally, in 2008, I decided to write a novel, which would shortly become "A Line Blurred." It's success and the joy I experienced while crafting it prompted me to continue writing as often as life allowed, and eventually motivated me back into school to get a BA in English. I am currently attending school and living in Rhode Island with my beautiful wife.

E: Who or what inspired you to write "Shattered Wings"?

BH: "Shattered Wings" began as a simple concept: How do people deal with the immense struggles of unemployment in a tough economy? From this simple premise, the story extrapolated into a more broad concept of dealing with a sense of isolationism, as unemployment tends to incubate. Amongst this concept is the struggle of alcoholism and addiction, depression, and societal and individual prejudice, all of which are themes that are dealt with in "Wings."

E: Do you mind telling us how long did it take for you to write it?

BH: The raw manuscript, the first draft, only took about five weeks to complete. However, my particular writing style lends itself to several revisits, as my first draft is often akin to a free-write. The editing process, the paring down of the content into a coherent and interesting story, took an additional four months. Altogether, from ideation to publication, "Wings" took approximately six months to see the light of day.

E: How would you describe the "Shattered Wings" in 5 words?

BH: How can one live alone?

E: What's next in line for you? Are you working on a new book now?

BH: Growing up, my favorite author was Michael Crichton, having read my first novel at age six ("Jurassic Park.") His works taught me how an author builds suspense, and ultimately introduced me to the world of literature. As I aged, I found a love of the classics through school reading, and my new favorite book became "Brave New World," by Aldous Huxley. It was my first true tragedy, and emotionally struck me in ways no book had before. From there, I found a passion for drama and the way it could expose and explore the very essence of what it means to be human.

E: Where is your favorite place for writing? Do you have any special writing rituals?

BH: I write pretty much wherever: At home, on the couch; at work, during lunch; in the park; in the waiting room of the dentist... Anywhere I can bring my laptop, I will write. I don't have any rituals to speak of. My process is very loose and unconfined.

E: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

BH: Only write what you are passionate about. Exploring a genre only because you believe it to be popular or profitable is a fool's errand. No matter how many potential readers and particular story may have, even if that story may only have you as a reader, write what you love. It is the only way to power through the day you feel like quitting and never hitting the keys again.

E: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

BH:A mix of both. I usually have a loose outline of where I plan to go before I begin writing, but I do not force myself to stick with it. I will happily veer deeply to the left and never return if the story decides that that is where it wants to go.

E: What genres do you like to read in your free time?

BH: Everything. Literally. In my current rotation, I have two biographies ("Churchill", "Band of Brothers,") a thriller ("Pirate Latitudes,") a fantasy ("Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,") and a horror ("The Stand.") Next in line is a historical analysis ("Inferno,") an historical fiction ("Promised Valley Rebellion,") and a physics book ("The Fabric of the Cosmos.") I just recently finished "The Road," and "Elegant Universe."

E: Which three of your favorite books would you recommend everybody to read?

BH: "Brave New World," by Aldous Huxley.
"A Short History of Nearly Everything," by Bill Bryson.
"Cosmos," by Carl Sagan.

E: If you could have a dinner with three people/characters (real, imaginary, famous or not, even dead!) who would you choose?

BH:
- Michael Crichton
- Pedro Martinez

E: Random fun questions

BH:

- white or dark chocolate? Dark

- coffee or tea? Tea

- favorite fictional character? Gregory House

- favorite movie? Contact

- favorite song? Mockingbird

- favorite TV show? Comedy: Big Bang Theory, Drama: House

- ebook or printed copy? Print (I love the smell of a book)

Bryan, thank you so much for joining us today!  

I loved Shattered Wings and I'm looking forward to reading Void!

I hope you guys enjoyed the interview, for more information about Bryan Healey and his books, please visit his website: Bryan Healey or/and read my review of Shattered Wings.

Shattered Wings 

Paperback, 250 pages

Published May 6th 2011 by Littera Press

John has a hold of the American dream: Love, a beautiful little girl, the perfect home and a well-paying job. But a sudden layoff brings it all into question, as he deals with the unexpected financial and emotional strain. As he struggles to find new work, a growing sense of despair triggers a return to alcohol and causes him to face his demons of addiction, discrimination, and regret as he tries desperately to recover his once happy life before it's too late..

Void

Paperback

Expected publication: April 1st 2012 by CreateSpace

She believes I am all but dead.
But I can hear her...

I've been still for many years now, my eyes closed, my body sunken, my muscles wilted, a soft, seductive beep-beep-beep of life-sustaining machinery just behind my head. I don't know why they keep me here, or why they bother to keep me alive; and yet they do. And they come and go, night and day and night, men, women, children, even an occasional pet; nurses, doctors, family, friends, strangers; they talk to me rarely, sometimes to themselves, and frequently to each other, or to no one. And they have very much to say, I have found.

They don't know that I can hear them...
But I can.

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Thanks to the fabulous:

Bryan Healey

We have 5 SIGNED copies of Shattered Wings up for grabs today! 

To be eligible to win all you need to do is be a follower of my blog and enter through Rafflecopter below.

Ends: February 20th

US/CANADA

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.

She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.

You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing