To celebrate the release of his new novel Keep Her Close today (December 5), we asked author Erik Therme to open up for readers, and let them in on 10 things he'd like them to know all about him! Here's what he had to reveal...
Erik Therme writes an exclusive piece for Female First
I’ve met Darth Vader
Inasmuch as I’d love to say I met Mufasa—I mean, James Earl Jones—I accomplished the next best thing: I met David Prowse, the man inside the Darth Vader suit. When I was eight, a Star Wars promotional junket came to town, along with a contest for two lucky kids to wear Jawa costumes. Through astronomical luck, I was not only chosen as one of the Jawas, but I also got to pose with the Dark Lord himself. Definitely the pinnacle of my childhood.
I’m easily distracted when I write
A typical writing session for me is as follows: open Word, type a few sentences, check e-mail, check Twitter, type a few more sentences, check Facebook . . . aaaand rinse and repeat. It’s a miracle I ever get anything written. And it’s probably the reason it takes me forever to finish a book. I do have moments where I get into the zone and write big chunks without distraction, but those are usually few and far between.
I'm a dungeon dweller
Some authors enjoy a brightly lit room with windows and fresh air, but I thrive in the dark reaches of my basement office where no one can hear me scream . . . usually in frustration over my work-in-progress. My office is where I spend most of my weekends and evenings, sporting pajama pants and Mogwai slippers (from the movie Gremlins). I'm convinced both are magically tied to my muse. That, and lots and lots of Mt. Dew.
I have a terrible memory
I struggle to remember people's names, important dates, and pretty much anything of significance. If not for Post-It notes and phone reminders, I'd probably forget to eat and sleep. How I manage to write novels (and keep track of character traits and plot storylines and hundreds of other tiny details), I have no idea. Apparently, my memory affliction only applies to "real-life" scenarios.
My wife is an avid knitter
This factoid isn't about me, but I feel it has to be said: my wife knits the most fantastic stuff ever. Scarves? Check? Baby booties? You know it. Sweaters? Just try and stop her. Be sure to check out her amazing creations at her Etsy shop or Facebook page: Knit By Design.
I read all reviews
Shortly after the release of my debut mystery, Mortom, a woman left a review that said she “disliked the characters so much that she wanted to throw the book across the room” . . . but she couldn’t stop reading and finished the book within 24 hours. Not every review is this much fun, but I do make it a point to read (and contemplate) each one. If someone didn't like my book because of the characters or plot, I can accept that. If the review is nothing more than something along the lines of "this sucked" or "don't quit your day job," I probably won't lose any sleep.
I’m a movie junkie
I managed a video store in my younger days, and I'm slightly horrified at how many movies I've watched in my lifetime. (I tell myself it's story and character research.) I'm not very discerning when it comes to genre: horror, documentaries, Disney . . . as long as it entertains me, I'm in!
I was in a heavy metal band
Back in high school, I played guitar in a local band called Atomic Sculptures. We were far from phenomenal, but we did occasionally get paid for shows, and we always had a lot of fun. Most of the song lyrics were written by our band’s lead singer, Damian (yes, that's his real name), but once in a while, he’d let the other band members contribute. Since I was already writing horror stories, heavy metal song lyrics weren’t much of a stretch.
I love to organise
I'm a semi-compulsive organiser. I can easily spend hours making spreadsheets, lists, or reorganising the nooks and crannies of our house. Writing (for me) is the ultimate form of organisation: You put words and sentences and paragraphs on paper (or a screen), then spend countless hours rearranging them until they are exactly the way you want. How much fun is that?
My guilty pleasure is reality "survivor shows"
Outside of mowing my lawn or getting my mail, I'm not a very outdoorsy person. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, I’m obsessed with reality shows like Mountain Men and Alaska: The Last Frontier. I think it's because I'm so far removed from that reality, that it boggles my mind that people in this world can be that resourceful and adventurous. And I commend them. As I sit on my couch, under my blanket, eating my Hot & Spicy Cheddar Cheez-Its.
Erik Therme's new book Keep Her Close is available now via Amazon and other retailers.