Brian Bandell is back. If you missed the last time he was here, we discussed his debut novel mute. Now he strikes back with his new novel, Famous After Death. It’s a thriller about a murder gone viral. Speaking of viral, let’s get this interview underway and see if it goes viral.
DBC: You and I initially met on a writing website www.authonomy.com. Are you still a frequent member on that site?
Brian: I used Authonomy for many years to trade feedback with authors. I met many talented writers there and they helped me a great deal. Unfortunately, Harper Collins is shutting Authonomy down this month.
(09/30/15 was Authonomy’s last day. I hope it went out with a bang.)
DBC: I know you spent some time putting Mute together to the point it was the best that it could be. Did you put the same amount of effort into Famous After Death or was it much easier since this was not your first time around and already having a publisher?
Brian: I wrote Famous After Death knowing I had a publisher, so that was a relief. The real test was to craft a story that would catch fire with readers. I observed how criminals have been using social media and how people celebrated violence online. I also researched how people can post things online without identifying their IP address. Both novels took tremendous effort and many years.
DBC: What effect has your job had on your exposure as a novelist and vice versa?
Brian: Working as a senior reporter at the South Florida Business Journal has helped me make connections. Many people this heavily populated region know me through my journalism and that had led to successful events. I’ve used my LinkedIn, Twitter and email address book with contacts acquired as both a journalist and novelist to invite people to book signings.
DBC: How did this project, Famous After Death, differ from Mute as far as preparation, production and its initial launch?
Brian: Mute launched as an ebook first, and then in print a year later. That made it difficult to do events initially. Famous After Death launched both versions at the same time so that was easier. Mute was a very personal book, with a plot of science fiction murder mystery and it was very emotional for me to talk about how it related to my life. Famous After Death is very topical. When killers post videos of their victims on social media, it brings this ugly topic up. So I’ve been talking about how social media is being used to promote violence and how it influences people when such acts are shared and celebrated online.
DBC: George Lucas once quote a colleague of his stating that movies are never finished, they’re abandoned. To an extent, I believe that also happens in books. Because to me, I believe, when one story ends, another begins. So what’s in store for Mute fans?
Brian: Something very big is in store for Mute fans. I wrote a sequel and I’m editing it now. A few select people are beta reading it. Imagine a couple in love, but a mere touch between them could prove fatal, for them and the entire world.
DBC: You built an excellent platform coming out to begin your writing career. Care to share some advice for anyone trying to break into the writing business today?
Brian: Keep churning out more books. If one book doesn’t work, write another. I have multiple books at different stages. The more you write, the better you get and the greater your chances of success.
DBC: Any hints on any other future projects from Brian Bandell?
Brian: I have a signing at Murder on the Beach on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. It’s an independent bookstore in exciting Delray Beach at 273 Pineapple Grove Way. I’ll be presenting at the Miami Book Fair on Nov. 22.
DBC: Thanks for returning to the Daily Brew and sharing with us some of your latest endeavors. For those that would like to keep up with Brian you can catch him on twitter @brianbandell, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bandellwrites . Famous After Death is currently available at amazon.com at the following link:
http://www.amazon.com/Famous-After-Death-Brian-Bandell-ebook/dp/B00ZQAD2UE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1434489015&sr=1-1
And if you haven’t had a chance to get your hands on Mute, you can get it at this link: http://www.amazon.com/Mute-ebook/dp/B008GHMQ60/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341154061&sr=1-5&keywords=mute
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