Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Rush Leaming
Book Title: Dead Tree Tales
Released: 06/08/21
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Dead Tree Tales”?
Leaming: The idea first came to me in the mid 90’s, the idea that the impending destruction of a famous tree would stir up a whirlwind of trouble in a community. I envisioned it as a multi--character, complicated interlocking of storylines. The crime element came later, and actually Part-Two: One-Hit Wonder, the sniper targeted right-wing targets came from a screenplay idea I had but never wrote.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Leaming: Most of them come to me in the moment! I usually don’t spend much time on names.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Leaming: I’m a binge writer, not an everyday writer. I sometimes go years or more in between projects. But as on this book, when I’m in the throes of it, I write my first drafts very fast, using my iPhone! I’ll write everyday about 3-4 hours in the morning, then in the evening spend a couple of hours reviewing, revising and often expanding on what I wrote in the morning.
If "Dead Tree Tales” were adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Leaming: Charlie Harper - Jake Gyllenhall
Elena Vazquez- Michelle Rodriguez
Mayor Jim - Billy Bob Thornton
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Leaming: I don't write! Go to gym or for a walk.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Leaming: Travel, travel, travel
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Leaming: Crime stories have tension built in to them. What I tried to do with this book as well as my first novel, Don’t Go, Ramanya, was to use the structure of a thriller and page-turner as the framework of the story, it then see how far I could push it and how deep I could dive beneath the surface—how many layers could I add?
What are you working on next?
Leaming: A collection of short stories to be published early 2022: “The Man Who Screams at Nightfall...and other stories”
Learn More About the Author and Dead Tree Tales here:
https://leamingrush.wixsite.com/nightfall
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
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