Interview with Eric Butler
Author of Donn, TX 1969
I love horror, science fiction, action-adventure, mysteries, and historical fiction. My first novel, The Shadow Within is a horror based romance. You can find more of my work at EricButlerAuthor.com where I will soon have a Victorian supernatural mystery serial.
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How would you describe Donn, TX 1969 to a new reader?
- It's a fast-paced horror story. These are stand-alone tales that take place within a larger collection. You can read them in any order, and even skip some. Each gives more information about the overall mythology, but it's not necessary to enjoy every year. Each story takes place in the same place with many of the same people, but in a different year.
What was the inspiration behind Donn, TX 1969 ?
- I wanted to have a series I could revisit and share stories without having to feel like every one of them had to be a full-length novel. I live in Texas and thought it would be fun to base it in my state.
Which authors do you admire? How have they influenced your writing style?
- Richard Laymon is the big one. Many compare my first novel, The Shadow Within, to Laymon all the time. I would say him and Robert Jordan have been the biggest influences on how I tell a story.
Can you tell us a little about the locations in your book?
- There’s a place in Texas the locals avoid at all cost, where the lost go missing and the damned reside.
You won’t find it on any map, there are no road signs to guide you, and once there, may God have mercy on your soul.
For when the scarecrow awakens, the harvest of the living begins.
Welcome to Donn, TX
Gateway to Hell
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
- Write, write, and write some more. Get an editor, and don't lose heart when you get bad reviews. Use it to get better.
What's your writing process?
- I'm more of a by the seat-of-his-pants kind of writer. I'd like to be more organized but they usually get thrown out first.
Which character in Donn, 1969 has had the greatest impact on readers?
- Everyone loves the bad guy, The Scarecrow.
If Donn, TX were to be adapted for TV or film, who would you see in the lead role? Who did you have in your mind’s eye when you wrote him/her?
- I'd love to see Tommi Rose and Erin Moriarty play the sisters. I had Jon Bernthal in mind for Frank.
How have readers responded to Donn, TX 1969?
- The series has been a success overall, but many people have enjoyed the creepy horror and story flow from this particular part of the series.
Where next? What are you working on now?
- Donn, Tx 1926 will be out next month, and I am working on sequels to my novels, the Pope Lick Massacre and The Sins of the Past.
