Interview & Giveaway: THE MAD RAMBLINGS OF A JOKER

Interview with Author Brandon Dillon 

Q: Why did you choose to write in your particular genre?

A: I didn't really pick, it's more like it picked me. As a kid and now as an adult I have a hard time expressing my feelings. One day in my early teens a friend committed suicide, and I didn't know how to deal with that, so I wrote out a letter to him, and it just kind of went like that, but I never really showed anyone until I was an adult, after two combat zones, and I showed my therapist, and got the courage to do my first open mic, and from there things just kinda led me here. Short answer: poetry is an amazing way to deal with the trauma of the world.

Q: Where did your love of writing come from?

A: In the beginning, just dealing with life and the trauma and pain that comes with being alive. But what I have found I truly love is going to an open mic (absolutely terrified to read on stage) and feeling the energy of the room, the people, the night air, and just getting up there and baring my soul, my heart, my fear, my emotion, and seeing and feeling people pick up on that and give me their emotion back! There isn't anything quite like it.

Q: What does your perfect writing spot look like? Is that what your ACTUAL writing spot looks like?

A: My perfect spot would be at a desk in a dimly lit room, with a lamp, one of those that kind of hums when the light is on, maybe a beer and just quiet, no noise, just me and my demons arguing on what to write about. My actual writing spot is usually in my truck while my kids do swim practice or some other sporting event or waiting to go into work at night. Sometimes I'll write in bed before I go to sleep, pretty much anywhere I can scribble something down is my current writing spot.

Q: How do you write? Any backstory to your choice?

A: I love to write with just a pen and paper. It just feels right, like that's how it's supposed to be. I actually dislike typing out my writings; for whatever reason, it starts to feel like work whenever my fingers start clicking away on the keyboard. But that pen gliding across the paper, hearing the scraping and scratching, the smell of the ink invading my nose, drawing the curves and bodies of the letters, to me that's where the soul of writing is.

Q: What cultural value do you see in books?

A: Books are the life blood that link the generations and cultures together bringing us back to that one single thing we all share, we are all humans, flawed and scared, full of life, love, and adventure, and it’s through books and reading that we can experience the life of a Pharaoh, or the king of England, the life of a small mischievous boy, or flying through the stars in a galaxy far, far away. Whether a fantasy story about middle earth, or a book of arithmetic, we would not be where we are now as a species without written words. This is the reason I love to read my two boys bedtime stories and encourage them to read. I want them to have a love of reading because it is so important not just for them and us, but for future generations.

Considering the cultural value of my own contribution, there was a time when I didn’t see any value in my writing besides processing my feelings. My mom said they would help someone one day, and I didn’t understand then what she meant. My writing is harsh and dark at times, but it deals with the veteran community and the mental health community, and I believe it will help people understand they aren't alone. There is a huge stigma even nowadays surrounding mental health and suicide. People are scared to speak up. I think my book’s cultural value is in showing others they aren't alone, and its ok not to be ok.

Q: How does your book relate to your life path?

A: I'm not really religious or spiritual, but my life path I'm on now is dealing with my trauma and trying to show other people that even though the world is harsh and cruel, it is ok, we can still live here even if we are a bit broken. 

Q: What was the hardest part of writing this book?

A: The hardest part was just putting myself out there. In an open mic or social media post, you read it or post it, and it's over. I mean, even the social media post, you can delete it like it never happened. But this, this book is eternal. It’s forever. My soul has been stripped naked and shown to the world for everyone to see till the end of time.