Misha Burnett has been frequenting my Twitter circles for about a year now. He is somewhat notable as an author of Weird fiction in the Pulp Revival movement, and has gained some popularity there.
Not long ago, he had the courtesy to sit down and answer some questions for me about his life and work.
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? Where do you live now? What did you want to be when you grew up?
I was born in a suburb of Chicago, grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and currently live in St. Louis. I have also lived in a suburb of Dallas, Anaheim, and Tucson. And I'm probably forgetting a few places. I never particularly wanted to grow up, but I always figured I would be doing something exciting in space.
What made you want to start writing? What motivates you to keep writing?
I read a lot when I was a kid, pretty much everything I could get my hands on, including a lot of my mother’s New Wave SF, much of which was way too old for me. I can’t remember ever not writing stories and poetry. Nothing really motivates me to keep writing, when I want to write I do it, when I don’t want to write I do something else.
What is your latest book about?
My next collection of short fiction is coming out this fall from Cirsova press. This one is called An Atlas Of Bad Roads and is a Horror collection.
When did you start writing (originally, not this specific book)?
As I said above, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t. I probably started writing seriously, with an eye to eventual publication, about twenty years ago, after my divorce.
How did you come up with the idea for this book specifically?
I had a number of published short stories that had reverted back to me, and as it happened, I had enough Horror stories to fill a collection.
How was this book different than any of your others?
The theme. I have a collection of Fantasy stories (Dark Fantasies), a collection of Science Fiction stories (Endless Summer), a collection of Urban Fantasy Detective stories (Bad Dreams & Broken Hearts), and now this one.
How did you go about publishing your book? Would you do it that way again? Why or why not?
I pitched the idea to a small press that I have worked with before. That is, in my opinion, the best way to go about it. There are a number of small presses that produce a quality product, it’s just a matter of being able to fit your work into their catalog and publishing schedule.
Are you planning on writing more? If so what are you working on now?
I’m working on a Science Fiction short story at the moment. I have written novels in the past, but I find the short story form fits my style better. I have a couple of projects in the works, including a possible joint story collection with another author. I don’t like to discuss projects until the contracts are signed.
Can you tell us about your other books?
In addition to the collections I’ve talked about above, I have a series of four novels called Catskinner’s Book, Cannibal Hearts, The Worms Of Heaven, and Gingerbread Wolves. Collectively I call them The Book Of Lost Doors, and they are Weird Fiction, based primarily on William Burroughs Nova Express novels.
What helps you to write? Music, pets, reading, specific pen, etc.?
I like to have music that suits the theme of what I am writing, and have dozens of playlists for different
types of scenes. I have recently gotten into the habit of praying before I write, and so far that is doing me a lot of good.
What has writing taught you?
Discipline and imagination are not opposites, in fact one cannot really exist without the other.
What authors inspire you?
Tim Powers, Ray Bradbury, Rodger Zelazny, George Alec Effinger, Samuel Delany, Frederick Brown, Clive Barker, William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, Roald Dhal, Tanith Lee, Ursula Le Guin, Joseph Wambaugh, Donald Westlake—how much time have you got? I read everything.
Do you go back and reread your writing after it’s been completed?
Often, actually. I also like to listen to the audiobooks of my work—I have a wonderful voice actor who reads my books, Brandon Cassinelli.
What is your advice for writers?
Don’t try to do everything yourself, but have a working knowledge of how everything is done. Learn all the phases of producing a finished book, from editing to proofing to design and layout, selecting cover art, typefaces, kerning—everything. Authors are partners with publishers, and your publisher should involve you in every aspect of publication. Or get a different publisher.
Is there anything else you want to add?
No matter what you do, someone will tell you that you should be doing it differently. Don’t listen to trends or what the market is doing or what some yahoo on the internet says is going to be the next big thing. Don’t try to fill a certain number of pages, or draw out a story to a certain number of volumes. Use as many words as it takes to tell the story, and then stop. Don’t be afraid to write “the end”.
You can purchase all of Misha Burnett’s books through his Amazon author page. Just click the image below!