Interview with Jack Weiand by Lloyd Gardner

I met up with author Jack Weiand, sat down and had some coffee with him and pretty much discussed his book Rocket 88 and about the future.

LLOYD: So where did the idea for Rocket 88 come from?

JACK: It was festering in my mind for a very long time, I just didn't know where to start and where to end. I knew that I didn't want to write anything like Stephen King's "Christine" or like "The car". I didn't want it to be about a car that went around murdering people, I wanted a human factor in the story, I wanted to give it a significant purpose that involved human nature and what humans are capable of, faced with odds and adversity.

LLOYD: What was the worst part of writing it?

JACK: Coming up with the ending, and stretching it out, if it's one thing I hate is fillers. That's why it's basically a short story. Had I continued to keep adding to it? I would've been on it for years and I certainly did not want to make it boring. Remember this is my first time out of the gate as an author. The one thing I learned is, never go back. Just keep writing, keep pushing forward, you can change things after.

LLOYD: So why an Oldsmobile Rocket 88?

JACK: It's one of my favorite classic cars, especially the 57 model year, it's big and it's bad ass.

LLOYD: The ending left me feeling...how can I say this, it was like "NOOOOOO"

JACK: (Laughs) I get that a lot. I wanted to piss people off and leave them wondering.

LLOYD: So there's gonna be a sequel?

JACK: Maybe, maybe not... I'm currently working on 8 other stories, so as far as a sequel? It's on the back burner and it would have to be one hell of a story to top the first one.

LLOYD: What's the most difficult part of writing?

JACK: Well for me? It's getting it down, some days I have massive bouts of inspiration and my hands can't keep up, some days? I get nothing... and then I get frustrated and I have to walk away from it. The mind is bound by nothing when it comes to imagination, no rules apply but you want to make the story believable and make people want to read it.

LLOYD: How do you feel about critics?

JACK: I pay no attention to them, they're not the end all to be all and they certainly don't get the final say.

LLOYD: I think Rocket 88 should be made into a movie.

JACK: I completely agree (laughs) (shakes his fist) C'mon hollywood...

LLOYD: Who would you want to direct it?

JACK: Oh man, there are so many talented directors out there, anyone who see's the same vision as I do and has a huge budget (laughs)

LLOYD: So what are you working on now?

JACK: Well I don't want to give away too much. One is called "Red eye in the sky" and one titled "Miracle Man" just to name a couple but there are others.

LLOYD: When can we see them out?

JACK: I don't have a direct time frame but soon.

LLOYD: Thank you so much Jack, any last parting words?

JACK: Yes, download my book Rocket 88 it'll make me a happy man. Thanks to all.
http://www.amazon.com/Rocket-88-ebook/dp/B009KP8YP4/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361494611&sr=1-4&keywords=rocket+88