Melina Lobo Interviews Jerry Roth

Interview with Jerry Roth, author of the thriller novel, Bottom Feeders.
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Book Blurb:

After leaving an abusive relationship with Morris, her ex husband, Jenny starts to notice a change in their son’s behaviour whenever he came back from his Father’s house.
A string of drawings by her son leads her to believe that Morris is behind the abductions of several boys in the area and she sets out to prove his guilt.
Robert, Jenny’s current husband is the new prison warden and has his hands full when he learns about a secret that has been kept hidden under his very feet.
The Devil.
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Author Interview: 

1. Tell me (and the readers) a little bit about yourself, including a quirk that you have. 

A. I was born in Columbus, Ohio, and I graduated from The Ohio State University. I’m a huge movie fan and devour the classic horror films from the past. One of the hobbies that possessed my life was the sport of Disc Golf and even had the opportunity to write sports articles for the Disc Golf Pro Tour for a season. 

One thing about me is that no matter what—if I start a novel, I gotta finish. I’ve heard others say that life is too short—if a book isn’t working—you must let it go! I hope to be in that camp someday, but I just can’t do it. I think I’ve learned far more from the novels I didn’t want to finish than the ones that made me turn the pages at break-neck speed. 

One of my quirks as a writer—I always write my first chapter of every novel LAST. I always find myself flailing to finding direction on the first chapter so, I start with chapter two and go right into the action—later, I’ll go back (since I know how the story ends) and write a compelling first chapter. 


2. How did the idea for your book, Bottom Feeders, come about? 

A. If you are a reader of Thrillers, Suspense, or Supernatural, then you know what you’re getting when you crack open the book. This wasn’t so true when I was growing up. Authors that I cherish: Stephen King, Anne Rice, and John Saul (for example) were creating the expectations for their genres that we have now. Before, we, as readers, were afraid to sink into “Popular Tropes,” these pioneers novelist planted the seeds of what we want in our reading. 

When I first sat down behind my keyboard to create Bottom Feeders, I thought to myself, what excited me when I was young? Although this novel is no way intended for children, I wanted to capture the excitement of treasured things such as The Twilight Zone television show. Every week Rod Serling would twist our expectations to leave us reeling but, more importantly—leave us thinking back to what just happened. 

Another inspiration came in the form of the prison in the story. What some readers might have missed is that every character in this novel is in a prison of their own—some trapped by their past—some by their destiny, and others by their circumstance. I savored the idea of showing the reader that although you don’t see walls around the characters—invisible or not, they’re still there. 

More than anything else, I wanted to write a novel about the supernatural with elements of horror—grounded in the real world. Early novels by Stephen King showed ordinary people in extraordinary situations. I wanted to create a novel that was a love letter to the stories I grew up with and cherish, still today. I hope to bring the reader into my story so that they can feel what the characters are feeling and give them a nostalgic taste of what I experienced when I first discovered the paperback novels and got lost within the covers. 


3. Are you planning to release another book anytime soon? 

A. I’m never more content than when I’m writing. My goal is to create three books a year, and so far, I’m right on that pace. I would say that Suspense/Thriller/Supernatural stories are my strong suit, but I’ve been branching out to include an Urban Fantasy novel that I just completed. 

One concern from me is my reader’s expectations. Over the years, I’ve watched other, quite successful authors, struggle to spread their wings—only to have their readership dismiss their evolution. I know that I don’t have much control over my reader’s expectations, but I still want to write many different genres. 

As for when I will release another novel, I can’t say. Bottom Feeders is getting such a great response from readers and reviewers, but because this is my debut novel, I will need to gain more of a following before I can think about sending another book into the world. But with help from great reviewers (like yourself), people are finding my book, and good things are starting to happen. 

More than anything else, I want every book to be better than the last (easier said than done), but that is my goal for the reader who spends money to read what I write. People nowadays have so many choices to spend their money on, and books have slid down the list as a priority. So, when someone buys my novel, I don’t take that lightly. 


4. Did you always know you wanted to be a published author/poet? 

A. From the first moment I could read a book myself, I knew I wanted to be a writer. One of my earliest writing creations was a handful of blank papers folded in half and stapled to make a spine. In this crude first book, my Uncle Mark helped me design simple “Star Wars” panels of Tie Fighters and X-Wing Fighters flying through the galaxy—along with dialogue bubbles saying dramatic words like, “Laugh now…but cry later,” Darth Vader said. It was in these handmade comics that I learned what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. 
Years later, riding the bus back and forth to school, I soon became the kid that told stories about the movie trailers I saw on television—I wasn’t old enough to see these adult movies myself. Not seeing the movie didn’t stop me—far from it! I would just make up my version of what I thought the film would be like. It got to where my friends on the bus asked me to describe the plot of the latest Friday the 13th flick or Dirty Harry or the latest Rodney Dangerfield movie—to pass the time on the bus. 


5. Did you look up to any author or poet while growing up? 

A. When it comes to poetry, I’m no expert. I read the usual required reading in college by Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, and Edgar Allen Poe. But because I was such a Stephen King fan, he turned me on to his wife Tabitha King. I came across a poem she wrote called “A Gradual Canticle for Augustine.” I think you can look it up on the internet. It’s one of the most moving poems I’ve ever read. Poems to me are like paintings—I don’t know how to do it, but I know when I like something, and I know when it’s great. Check out Tabitha King’s work, you won’t regret it. 

There were two authors that had the most influence on me growing up. One was Roald Dahl and the second was Stephen King. I’ve already gushed about King, but Roald was an author that I believe showed generations of children how to imagine. I guess you can make an argument for Dr. Seuss but if there was an author that bridged the gap between childhood reading and adult fiction, it would have to be him. In my mind, Roald Dahl was the bike you had with the training wheels secured tight for safety, and he taught you to be brave enough to take them off. 


6. I’ve always talked about this, but if your book was made into a movie, who would you want to play the main characters? 

A. Because I’m such a movie fan—this is the hardest question of the bunch! Without giving away too much of the twists and turns in Bottom Feeders, I would have to say that for me Robert Deville—Joaquin Phoenix. He’s such a versatile performer and his acting range could lend such depth to the character. As for Jenny Deville—Charlize Theron has tackled such brutal roles in the past that she would bring a universal humanity to the character for all women dealing with abuse—and overcoming the past. 


7. Lastly, do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers out there? 

A. Writing is such a strange thing. There are writers (like myself) that have been practicing the craft for their entire lives, and you only see their breakout moment—and assuming they were born that way. Succeeding in writing is about getting up every day and writing something or reading something even if you aren’t in the mood (especially if you’re not in the mood). 

My advice to aspiring authors is to change. Don’t be afraid to evolve. It’s taking criticism and applying the critique that will make you a better writer and help you find your voice. I can’t say hearing something is wrong with your writing won’t sting, but by the end of your journey, you will grow. 
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Links:

My Complete Review on Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAml17zAiQc/?igshid=1in5xavmdzfz0

Jerry Roth on Instagram: https://instagram.com/_jerryroth_?igshid=1pz84v2criox

Amazon India: https://www.amazon.in/Bottom-Feeders-Jerry-Roth-ebook/dp/B088KQJX67

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Bottom-Feeders-Jerry-Roth-ebook/dp/B088KQJX67

Bottom Feeders on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53362521-bottom-feeders

Melina L. 🦄