Who are you?
My name's Eric. I'm a writer magic and a software engineer. This blog is more about the writing aspect, although, really, I comment on whatever I want to. Lots of video game talk, movies, Disney princesses, books, and being irritated at people who use the word "irregardless". It's "disirregardless".
I am 6'0". My sign is Taurus. My blood type is O positive.
When and where were you born?
I was born in Minnesota in 1981, lived in the metro area until I went to college in Eau Claire, WI. Then moved back to the MN metro area and now live in the sub-suburbs.
What was your first job after college?
I was an ad trafficker for TV news web sites. That means I scheduled and set the myriad of ads you see on the side bar and banner of the websites of WTNA and KMSP and so on. I did not create the flash banners or the pop-ups. That was a corporate decision.
What kind of video games do you play?
I used to be a Nintendo man up to the FFVII era. Then I was a Playstation man up to Kingdom Hearts II. Now I'm a PC man, though I have a Wii U.
Who are your writing influences?
Stephen King, Joss Whedon, Neil Gaiman, Peter David, John Scalzi
Why do you write?
On a lot of writer's blogs, you'll find common reasons for writing. Why do you tell stories, the header will say in bold and italics. I have something to say. I want to inform the stupid reader. I feel compelled to write--if I don't write, I'll go crazy. I want to spread my message--political, social, or otherwise. I was deigned by God. To stop my racing thoughts. To make money. Because I can't paint. I need validation that I am good enough. I want to be remembered. I'm getting back at all the people who snubbed me in my life. These are all valid reasons to tell stories, and many are peripheral to my central motivation.
I tell stories because I have no stories of my own.
It's true. I really live a dull life. I don't travel very often. I've only been out of the country twice. Once was to Cancun with my family. The other was on a Carribbean cruise. I haven't even been to Canada, and I live in Minnesota. I've never lived anywhere but the Minnesota metro area. My parents are still together and love me very much. I have one younger sister who is "interesting", but otherwise normal. I've only kissed one girl, had one girlfriend, had one sexual partner, and one wife (and if you can't tell, these are all the same person). I have two children who were born by C-section without incident. They are healthy and normal (you know, for a two-year-old and an infant). I have never been to the emergency room. I have never been to the hospital, except to visit. I have no tattoos. I have no pets. I've never smoked. I've never used any drugs. No one close to me has died. I have never been arrested. I've never been in a fight. I have never switched schools or majors. I finished college in four years, maintaining the same degree throughout (software engineering). I have never pretended to be something I'm not. I'm too stupid to. I've never even been stung by a bee.
So when I get to parties, I have no amusing anecdotes to tell. I end up listening to other people's. My life has no drama or adventure (not that I want it to--I don't do well with drama and adventure), but still there's that desire to experience a different kind of life. An escape, without the inherent dangers and risks. I have no stories to tell, so I make up my own.
Where can I find your writing?
Here's a nice list. Also I have accounts on FanFiction.net and an Amazon author page.
What are your favorite books?
- Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah & James Howe
- Old Man's War by John Scalzi
- World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- On Writing by Stephen King
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J.M. Barrie
- The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower #7) by Stephen King
- Jumper by Steven Gould
- Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
- Butcher Bird: A Novel of the Dominion by Richard Kadrey
- Tigerheart by Peter David
- Darkness of the Light by Peter David
- The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
- The Help by Kathryn Stockett
- Looking for Alaska by John Green
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
- Room by Emma Donoghue
- Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
- Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
- You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost): A Memoir by Felicia Day
- The Only Pirate at the Party by Lindsey Stirling
- Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture by David Kushner
- Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics by Jason Porath
LIKES:
- Alcohol
- Bad horror movies
- Barbecue
- Coffee
- Computers
- Disney Princesses (especially Ariel, Rapunzel, and Elsa)
- Female dwarves
- Game of Thrones
- Harry Potter
- Imaginary monsters/monster girls
- Les Miserables
- Mega Man
- Mermaids
- Minnesota
- Movies
- Red-haired girls
- Robots
- Singing in the car
- Sleeping
- Story criticism/analysis
- Taco Bell
- That Guy With the Glasses (a.k.a. Doug Walker, "The Nostalgia Critic")
- Unlikely animal friendships
- Video games
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
- Writing
- YouTube
DISLIKES:
- Smoking
- Network television
- Calling someone on the phone
- Music today
- Stupid kids names, like Ryann the girl
- Boring books
- Getting no sleep
Labels: me