A story with Butts in the title? Where can you go wrong? LOL Check out this month's interview with the author of Wrangler Butts and share your thoughts about his story. Don't forget to vote for next month's story too! Without further ado... I bring you: RedDirtWriter.

I love to get to know a bit more about our authors, so how about we start this interview with a little bit about you? What don’t we know?
Okay, let me think. I’m not too unique, or at least I don’t think I am. I guess I’d say that I’m a reader first and foremost. I was that kid in grade school that when the public library had their summer reading challenge, I read that many books during the first week. I was the guy in junior high whose dad would yell “Get your damn nose out of those books and get outside and do something useful.” That’s me. I’m perfectly happy to be lost in a world of my own imagination.

Okay, a very important question… Vanilla or Chocolate?
Oh, that’s an easy one. Vanilla. The stronger the vanilla flavor the better.

Now that we have that out of the way, when did you first begin writing?
I started writing fiction pretty recently. Wrangler Butt was actually the first fiction I’ve written. Maybe something in the dim recesses of high school, but nothing I can remember. I’d been a long time follower of on-line sites like GA and the stories with rural characters weren’t the way I wanted them to be, so I finally decided either shut up or give it a shot. So I did. Man, my writing has improved since I started, but now the challenge is not to lose my voice behind all the rules. Like everything, it takes practice. But it’s still about the story, and I’ve been making up stories and telling them to anyone who’d listen since I was three or four.
Apparently long before I could read, I would flip through the books and make up my own tale based on the illustrations.

Who supports you the most? A reader that became a friend, family, fellow authors?
I have several loyal readers who keep in touch and are so supportive. Also the person who works with me on the on-line stuff is great to bounce ideas off and see what he thinks. But I was terrified when I sent my first submission. I think it took three days for me to get enough courage to send it. I just knew I’d be shredded, but that’s not what happened at all. I got a few, very gentle, suggestions that I should have someone proof read for me.  Mostly I got great emails that have continued since where my readers share their appreciation of the stories. I’ve actually gotten that email saying “I’m hard and crying, now what do I do?”

Definitely reader support has kept me doing it. I’m always a little disappointed when a posting doesn’t get much response.

When did you get the idea for Wrangler Butts?
Well the name came from a friend of mine in college. She drove a pickup and had a bumper sticker that said “Wrangler Butts Drive Me Nuts” I always thought it was hilarious. But then she also did mud wrestling, so she was a bit of a unique personality.

The story itself was total discovery writing. The initial Darrin and Mitch are based on people I knew when I was much younger. Well, more like a combination of several people. But as the stories have evolved, the characters have developed personalities that are uniquely their own. I’ve been writing them now for a couple of years and they’re like old friends. It’s so comfortable to write about them. They have a cameo in a new novel I’m working on, and it was such a nice familiar feeling to be writing about them again. But the little dickens, they still throw me a curve ball from time to time.

Can you share a bit about your current work with us? Anything coming up real soon for readers?
Oh wow, lots of stuff actually. I tend to have several things going so I can switch around if I need a break from one of them. I’m continuing to work on my current online project “Lariats and Lacrosse Sticks” about two college roommates who fall for each other. My first published piece “Heart of the Pines” is coming out on December 1 under the pen name of Jon Keys as part of DreamSpinner Press’s 2013 Advent Calendar. I also am now one of the “Wednesday Briefs” group and posted the first chapter of a new serial titled “Controller” last week. It’s a story about the ups and downs of someone who’s new to college, and still working on the whole relationship thing.

I have another novella “Home Grown” submitted to a publisher and should hear back in December. Fingers crossed. It’s a romance between one of the venders at the farmer’s market and a hard-core foodie who is one of his regular customers and how they’re dealing with baggage that each of them have. A little further out I’m finishing a new story called “Rekindling” that I’m submitting for DreamSpinner Press’s Open Call “Juicy Bits”. I’m also working through the edits on a new contemporary western called “Drawing the Devil”. Set in the homophobic world of rodeo, it’s a story about an up and coming bullrider and one of the rodeo bullfighters (rodeo clowns).

Hmm, let’s see. Oh, I recently finished the rough draft on my first M/M/F story. “Three is Just Enough” is about a young polyamorous trio who are working out the intricacies of a relationship between three people. And, in a final fit of insanity, I’m doing NaNoWriMo starting November 1st. “Obsidian Sun” is a story that I’ve been planning for a long time and I’m excited for it to see the light of day. It’s one of those that everyone has, the one you keep back until you’re good enough to do it justice. But I’ve decided to just “Let ‘em buck” as Mitch would say. This will be a first for me, an alternative history fantasy with a cool magic system based on weaving.

Wow, it’s a little daunting to see it all written out. I’m really not as crazy as that list looks. There are other plot bunnies, but new ones at this point get put in the plot bunny pasture where they can all play together and keep each other entertained until I need them.

One last question. The final question. One you must answer with all honesty… What are you wearing?
It’s a lazy cold weekend and I’m taking full advantage of it. I have on a tee, sweatshirt and pants from UnderArmour. Maybe wearing athletic clothes will inspire me to work out. Nah, probably not.

LOL! Thanks for the great interview! Okay folks, you know the drill. Share the story love and share you thoughts on the story. Check out the options below for the stories for next month, and don't forget to vote!

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