John Baker’s Blog

1. Why do you blog?
You always hear aspiring authors lament about finding the time to write. I am happily married, have five children, work full-time and do freelance on the side, and I still find time to write. It’s usually in minutes that I can steal throughout the day, but I’m still writing. I wanted to share a little bit of what it’s like to still work on your dreams even when life is demanding your undivided attention. Also, there is that therapy that all writers use by getting their thoughts and emotions onto ‘paper’. I have used the blog to share experiences, brag about the family and show off some writing.

2. Which author and/or book has most influenced you?
Well, coming out of my teens I was given the works of Hunter S. Thompson and Charles Bukowski all at once. Those two became quite an influence on me for many years – and not necessarily for the better in certain aspects. But both of them were extremely gifted writers. For overall influence, I would have to note William Goldman. He is a very powerful and emotional author, truly a gifted fellow.

3. Which three blogs do you most visit?
Let’s see. I have to visit The Whatever daily – John Scalzi has a remarkable wit and is a fantastic writer. Neil Gaiman has an online journal that I have enjoyably read for a few years now. And for guilty pleasure alone, The Obscure Store for some of the craziest news headlines – proving forever more that reality is stranger than fiction.

http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/
http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/
http://obscurestore.typepad.com/obscure_store_and_reading/

4. Why do you read fiction?
The old reasons still apply here, I read to escape. Not to escape from my own life but to escape into a different life. I have a wonderful life, true, but I still want to hear stories and tales of amazing places and amazing deeds. Over the years it has developed from the youthful excitement of jumping into a new world to admiring the craft involved and the emotions that can be brought forth through written words. I would suggest reading some Martin Cruz Smith to see how someone can truly make sentences into works of art.

5. What makes you laugh?
The genuine laughter of my wife and children makes me laugh. When you can see the ones you love laugh without censoring their actions, just plain old out-and-out belly-laughing, that is pure joy. And of course, watching something stupid or clumsy happen to someone else. Mel Brooks said it best: Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.

Steve Thorn blogs at Steve Thorn Blog, which can be found here: http://www.stevethorn.com/blog

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