Today, I’m happy to introduce H. Berkeley Rourke, a fellow Creativia author. Hello, and welcome to my blog. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
So, tell us about your newest release or WIP:
I am currently working a WIP called, for the moment, The Sons of the Fatherland. It is in progress at near 20,000 words currently. I guess it is about half done, maybe a little more than half.
What is the story about?
It is a story of domestic terrorism authored by a Neo Nazi type group called The Sons of the Fatherland or more regularly just the Sons.
Who is the main character?
Jonas Schmidt.
What inspired this tale?
Probably the revelation that there are over 900 hate groups in the U.S. whose tactics include killings and many other forms of attempts to terrorize the population into adhering to their beliefs.
How did the story come to you?
Not sure what you mean except to say that as with all my stories it came as a start, a moment of what if, a moment of sitting in front of the computer thinking and typing to see if anything came of it, then it has carried me.
Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?
Yes. Because there are so many hate groups in the country and I wanted to set it in an area that I knew of but that I also knew was populated with these hate groups.
If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?
The most surprising piece of information came to be the existence of so many groups that deny the existence of the holocaust in WWII.
Do you relate to your character?
NO! I hate him.
Is your protagonist anything like you personally?
Yes. He is very directive as I tend to be at moments that I do not like.
If yes, then how?
Just in his personality being very directive.
What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?
The lack of any kind of current concentration of news, information, anything, about the issue of domestic terrorism in the U.S.
Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?
I hope to have it finished and published in 2016.
When will the novel be available for purchase?
Not sure. That will be up to my publisher, Creativia.
Let’s meet your character. Who are you? What is your name?
Jonas Schmidt
Are you a fictional or historical character?
Fictional
What should we know about you?
I am the founder of a group of some forth Sons of the Fatherland. We may come to your city and kill you.
Tell us about your story:
This is a story set in Couer d’ Alene, Idaho and elsewhere throughout the U.S. It is a story of domestic terrorism that is being perpetrated with a hope of creating more strife.
When and where is your tale set?
Current times. Couer d’ Alene, Idaho, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, other cities of the U.S. with the last of those being Houston.
What is your personal goal? I mean, what do you ultimately want?
The establishment of a government ruled by National Socialism.
What is standing in your way? What conflict(s) do you face?
The conversion of the population to hatred of all people of color and Jewish people.
Okay, let’s learn more about you, as a writer Who is H. Berkeley Rourke?
I am a 77 year old American male. In some ways I am typical American, others not so much. I attended elementary school and high school in the same community, went into the service largely because I knew I had to after high school, took a degree at a small Northern Arizona College called Arizona State College at Flagstaff then, now NAU. Then a Master’s degree, and finally a Juris Doctor degree after doing a poor job on the GRE. I always say about me that I have been a warrior, a teacher and a warrior of the word. Now I write the words that come to my head.
What inspired you to start writing?
A moment of horror for a dear friend.
What is your favorite book you have written and why?
I cannot choose one because I have written in several genres. If it were a stand alone it would have to be my novel 2024, an apocalyptic story of the near future.
When you are not writing, what do you do to recharge?
Read, constantly, I read a lot.
Are you an Indie Author or are you part of a publishing house?
I am an Indie author with Creativia.
Do you read books within the genres you write?
I read books from all genres. Sometimes I read books from other Indie authors and provide them with reviews.
Besides being an author, do you have a second job?
No. I am retired.
What do you enjoy most about being an author?
The creative aspects. Looking at the characters once finished in my mind, looking at their deeds, their ideas as set out in the story, I love the finished products.
OTHER BOOKS BY H. BEREKELY ROURKE:
I just read this amazing interview. 900 hate groups?? Put me down for that book. That sounds like one book everyone should read. Berkeley, wow. And Sahara, what an interview!
Thank you, Carole. If you feel up to it, we can do an interview for your WIP. Just let me know.
Thank you. will let you know. 🙂
Great interview. I love Berkeley Rourke’s books and can recommend his Josie DuPuy series wholeheartedly.
I’ll be sure to let Berkeley know. Thanks for reading my post. 🙂