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Lance Burson Interview 4/6/2013 9:56:31 PM
Author Lance Burson discusses his debut novel and the writing life! LTS: When I have an opportunity to read excerpts from a novel and the writing really stands out, I enjoy spreading the word about the author and his or her book! Today, I’d like to introduce you to Lance Burson, author of The Ballad of Helene Troy.
I’d like to begin by having you share a little information about yourself with our readers, Lance. What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
LB: I’m married and have 3 daughters – 17, 9, and 8. So, any free time is taking up with their school events, judo, drums, and cheerleading. But I read quite a bit, follow sports, work out and listen to a lot of music. My CD collection is ridiculous.
LTS: Has writing stories always been a part of your life and becoming a published author a lifelong dream?
LB: Yes. I kept a diary as a child. In the fourth grade I wrote a story about a little boy with a giant pet snake named Mike. It was a metaphor for wanting an older brother (I was the oldest child with a much younger sister). The story won a ribbon and recognition from the while fourth grade. I was hooked after that. I was an English minor in college and worked as a reporter in sports and news for over six years. Writing has been with me for a long time.
LTS: I enjoyed reading the excerpt from your debut novel, The Ballad of Helene Troy, and I must say, I do like your writing style! What was the inspiration behind this story and can you tell us a little bit about your protagonist, Helene Troy?
LB: My inspiration was my aforementioned love of music. I’m one of those goofy, obnoxious audiophiles or music snobs. I was a college DJ, rock band roadie, and eventually managed a couple of bands as well as writing for music publications. Helene Troy is an amalgam of several female musicians I’ve known. I believe in rock and roll. Helene is a talented, tough, Rocky Balboa type who wants to make it in the music business on her own terms.
LTS: Without giving away too much, can you reveal what’s in store for the readers when they crack open The Ballad of Helene Troy?
LB: Expect a gritty, realistic look at a struggling musician trying to survive and thrive in a very tough environment. Helene is an embodiment of the ugly, seamy underside of a world with a glamorous surface but rotten core. There’s a love of music in style of the protagonist, the secondary characters, and of course, the author.
LTS: The road to publication is difficult at the best of times. What made you decide to go the indie route and self-publish your novel?
LTS: What is the best thing and the worst thing about self-publishing? Would you recommend it to others? And why?
LB: I have a punk rock heart and soul. I always have. This story doesn’t fit a genre and it certainly isn’t something you’d find on the shelves of Wal-Mart of Barnes & Noble. The best thing about self-publishing is the artistic freedom. I took advice from writing friends but I didn’t change the vision to fit a trend. I recommend self-publishing if you believe in your story and don’t want to wait on your phone to ring for a publisher. It’s fun to be on your own.
LTS: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on the road to publication?
LB: Believe in your story and trust your writing instincts. My rejection letters are full of good constructive criticism. But I stayed with a character I knew like the back of my hand and I thought deserved an audience. Also, I kept writing. I wrote a set of characters that are relentless, desperate, and tough. They made me the same way.
LTS: On the subject of writing styles, are you a plotter or pantser?
LB: I’m a plotting panster, ha! Well, I outline, list, write biographies of each character, even a fake wikipedia page for Helene, then I wrote the story. Since there are original songs written for the story (some made the final print) this book was challenging to write out. Everything started in notebooks with number 2 pencils and eventually became computer zip files.
LTS: Some authors meditate, others need to fuel up on coffee or listen to music. Do you have any rituals, ones that can be shared with the readers, that you must do before you hunker down for a writing session?
LB: The Ballad of Helene Troy was pounded out with rock music blaring while I was fueled by beer and diet dr. pepper. Writing friends don’t believe me when I tell them that I couldn’t write a word of this book without music playing, but it’s true. When writing blocks happened I would hit the gym (although I gained 20 pounds writing this book) or just play with my kids. But music was how I cranked up.
LTS: At one time or another, most writers hit the wall and their work stalls because of the dreaded writer’s block. What do you do to get around or over this mental wall to resume writing?
LB: I work out, goof off with my wife and kids, or just write stupid stuff like baseball statistics or create fake characters of unfinished short stories, or write song lyrics. I strummed my electric guitar a lot which really helped with this story.
LTS: Who is your favourite author and how has he/she inspired you to write or influenced your writing style or choice of genre?
LB: Ernest Hemingway taught me short, choppy sentences and to hate adverbs. Chuck Palahnik taught me lean, mean prose. Nick Hornby taught me snarky, spicy dialogue that made characters sound real. Douglas Copeland taught me that contemporary (Gen X & Y) characters can have meaningful points of view. Malcolm X taught me to say what you mean and mean what you say. All of them and many more contribute to my gritty, realistic style. I hope I don’t have a genre, but if I do, then maybe contemporary pop culture literary fiction. Does that sound pretentious enough?
LTS: What do you foresee in your future over the next five years and do you hope to branch out from literary fiction into other genres? Can your fans expect a sequel to The Ballad of Helene Troy in the near future?
LB: I’m almost done with my second book, a fictional take on the Amanda Knox murder case with a Law & order style. It’s going to be called Italian Radio. I hope to have it out by late May 2013. Yes, there will be a sequel soon to Helene. Feedback on the book has been asking for one. It will be nice to know what happens with Helene Troy in the months after the ending. I’ll start working on it later this year.
