Spooktacular Archives - Tena Stetler

Oct 18th Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer by Stephen B. King an Interview

Give a Spooktacular welcome to Stephen B. King author of Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer. Yeah, that’s pretty scary in my book. Perfect for Halloween.

Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron. Take your choice of a Bat Wing Chocolate Chip or Pumpkin, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Stephen and his obsession with Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer. I have to admit after close to twenty years as a paralegal for a criminal law firm, I’d never wanted a Glimpse into what made a serial killer tick. But I digress.

Let’s start with what makes you angry Stephen.

Negative people. Most of us authors have been criticized dreadfully by people who could never write a book, let alone get one published. It’s hard (though very enjoyable). I’m going through a very tough time now with a woman who has made the most spiteful, untrue accusations about one of my books, as yet unpublished, and at times I think about giving it all away. I am furious with her, but what can I do other than defend my reputation, hope she desists, and refuse to let her define who and what I am?

That’s all you can do. There will always be nay sayers, authors must have an unbelievably thick skin. You’re right it’s a tough industry. Glad you didn’t give up!

Now lets move on to what is your favorite Halloween experience of all time?

I saw Alice Cooper perform live one Halloween, which was spectacular. Being an ex guitarist myself I really loved his live show. Here in Australia, Halloween is not the big event that it is in the states; but fun none the less. I love watching a bunch of kids, parent(s) in tow, knocking of doors for treats (we Aussies never give tricks – well, rarely)

What would you do if a Vampire showed up at your door?

OK, here’s a little known fact (I read Bram Stoker): A vampire can’t cross the threshold of a home unless he or she has been invited. The problem is that they own hypnotic powers so will probably weasel an invite out of you. So one thing I wouldn’t do, was ask them in for a drink.

Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?

Can I pick two? In Thirty-Three Days, Jenny, a lonely introverted woman who devoted her life to her students, gets a chance to go back in time and save the world, in doing so she finds love. She is the bravest person imaginable. In Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer, Patricia Holmes is brought into the investigation in an era when psychologists were viewed by police as not welcome. She is a clever, insightful woman who through her and her alones actions saves lives and brings a maniacal murderer to justice. I guess this shows I have the utmost respect for strong willed women.

Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?

Thirty-Three Days did come to me in the middle of the night, and I had to get up and write it down because it sent shivers up and down my spine. Glimpse was completely different. The spark of inspiration came when I was driving along and a random thought snuck into my head: I was five years old when I first saw someone bleed out. Now, I’ve never seen anyone bleed out at any age, and that isn’t even an expression I’d use myself. The killer, in one of his rantings in his diary, asks the question: who knows where random thoughts of inspiration comes from? I don’t, but that odd thought while I was driving was a seed, and it grew into a plant, then a tree. The line is the opening for the first of his ramblings as he writes his memoir, and charts his life to explain why, and how, he became a mass murderer.

SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:

Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>

Favorite scary movie: The Exorcist
Favorite scary book: Pet Sematary by my namesake
Last scary book read: Duma Key (same author)
Favorite color: yellow
Stilettos or flipflops or boots: On my wife stilettoes, on me flip flops (I’m Australian)
Coffee or tea or flaming drink: Coffee, black
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Nothing like the smell of a new book
Pencil or pen or quill with blood ink jar: The quill would be fun

Favorite scary song: Spiders and Snakes

Favorite costume: Hard to go past Dracula

Favorite dessert: Blood Orange Cheesecake

Favorite junk food: KFC (don’t tell my wife she wants me to lose weight)

Favorite thing to do to relax: Chase bats? Movies

Champagne or gin or magic potion: All alcohol can be magic

Paranormal or Historical: Paranormal

Wonder Woman or Top Model or Witch’s Ball: WW I’m a sucker for a good looking woman

Favorite scary TV show: X Files

Hot or cold: Hot

POV: The killers

I’d die if I don’t have: Time left

Review or Not: I do

Tell us a bit about Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer.

In 1999 Australia, Sergeant Rick McCoy investigates the murder of a woman found packed inside a suitcase.
The Killer abducts another victim and threatens to dismember her slowly. His life is further complicated by a marriage in tatters. Frustrated at every turn, he is paired with glamorous Criminal Psychologist and profiler, Patricia Holmes.
While trying to rebuild his marriage, he finds himself in a desperate race against time to free the victim and fight his desire for his new partner.

Available at: Amazon The Wild Rose Press

A sneak peek between the pages of Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer.

“Pat, I know you went to uni with the boss, because he told me. I am an old-fashioned cop who believes in what I do. This is a hideous case, with clearly a deranged murderer who takes delight in abducting, raping and torturing women. If we don’t stop him, he will keep going because he likes it. Believe me, I’m willing to take any help from you that will get me closer to this guy.”

“He’s not deranged. He just sees things differently than you or I do. To him his behavior is normal, and you cops are the abnormal ones. That’s probably because of his upbringing. Tell me everything you know, let me try to get a feel for this guy, Daryl has already told me quite a lot, but I want your take on the facts. I will tell you one thing I think already, he lost his mother at a very early age. I think she went out to the shops and never came back. She abandoned him, that’s why he selects his victims from shopping areas.”

“Oh come on, how can you know that?”

She uncurled her legs and leant forward on her desk. “My role, if I am to be any help at all, is to theorize. To observe the facts and make deductions from them. It would be fair and reasonable if I were wrong twenty percent of the time. I could live with that; eighty percent is good for this kind of work. Our man abducts women, from supermarkets, therefore he does it for a reason and not by random chance. By him replicating that, it would make sense if he is hurting his mother for leaving him. Rick, people who commit these sorts of crimes don’t do it just for fun, although often they enjoy the act. They can feel driven to do it; it satisfies an urge or need that they have. Psychopaths hear voices, which tell them what to do and how to do it. But Sociopaths have no conscience, they don’t feel guilt, and you can’t argue with them logically. They often will feel incredibly superior, and they will lord that over you; tease and taunt, just to show how clever they are. They will shift the blame so if you don’t stop them it’s your fault, not theirs. Rick, this is my field, I’m not going to be able to tell you where he lives, because I don’t use a crystal ball. But, I might be able to tell you the kind of place he might live in, the sort of up upbringing he may have had, and most importantly, the kind of things to look out for if you interview him. I’m only offering to help you, so, please, tell me everything, don’t hold back; what do you have to lose?”

He nodded slowly, and took a long draft of his beer. She’s right, what do I have to lose?

About the author Stephen B. King:

I left Perth, Australia many years ago to go East and find fame and fortune in the music business as a long-haired rock guitarist. I wrote poems and music in my wild days. I gave it all up for love and got married (as you do when the right one comes along). Then, real life took over, children came along and I threatened to write a book for so many years my long-suffering wife eventually pushed me into it by buying me a laptop and said: “No more excuses, do it.” And so, began this amazing journey. Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer is number seven, with books 2 and 3 of the trilogy also contracted, so I think, now and again, she regrets buying that laptop.

Web: www.stephen-b-king.com
twitter: @stephenBKing1
Facebook: @stephenbkingauthor

It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer.