When did you first consider yourself a writer?
1997 took a writing class at community college. Before that they didn’t have a Creative writing department. The teachers inspired me to continue writing. That’s when I first thought of myself as a writer.
Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?
Liked to mix it up and write memoir, fiction and poetry. Write under two different names Edgar Rider is a straightforward storyteller. I also write abstract poetry under pen name Bob Eager.
What are some day jobs you have held?
Worked in restaurants, coffee shops, a museum, domestic violence shelter and worked for two school districts.
Can you share with readers a little bit about your latest book?
Transcending in the Fictional Burnout is a collection of stories about overcoming adversity. Some of the stories delve into finding true purpose and others teach what kind of person not to become.
Tell us more about your main character. What makes him or her unique?
In one story, Charred Fried Works, the main character works a dead end job and ends up in a nightmare life and death world of exaggerated circumstances. The main character Ed ends up in a Real life Twisted Tall Tale.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Herb Maynard. He is a killer who could be used in other stories. There is no end to stories about him. He is featured in two stories in this book. The first story, Making Maynard, discusses his troubled childhood. This leads him to end up committing murder. Playtime in the Desert is the second story featuring Herb Maynard. He is all grown up and chooses the desert as his hunting ground. He ends up facing a shelter group who give him the fight of his life.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book? It is a collection of short fiction stories. They all fall in the same category of comeback stories. It was challenging to get them to fit together. This is mostly due to different genres such as science fiction, horror, action adventure and speculative fiction.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Stories had some truth real experiences behind the stories but they take exaggerated directions. This makes it such a fun project.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor.
James Thurber inspired my style. It is mostly due to universally relatable storytelling. And he turns ordinary situations into extraordinary events.
Who is your favorite fictional character and why?
Herb Maynard. He’s in two stories, one as a troubled boy. He then appears in another story and battles a shelter group. The character has endless possibilities. He could come back from the dead.
How can you discover more about Edgar and his work?
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | Book Link
Waking Writer 