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Q: It's been awhile since we sat down with Jerome Wetzel, just after Book One was released. Jerome, why is the first interview
no longer on your web site?
JW: I didn't think that it was really relevant anymore. It was mostly just biographical information about me, and plenty
of that has changed anyway. I'd rather talk about the books than myself.
Q: Fair enough. Why is your name different on the covers of the two books?
JW: Jerome Wetzel is my penname, but I was trying to make it easier for friends and family to find me, so I used my real
name on Book One. Any future editions will be authored by Jerome Wetzel.
Q: How does it feel to have Book Two out now?
JW: Great, although I haven't really thought about it that much. I am finishing up the editing of Book Three, and beginning
work on Book Four. It was more of a relief to finish Book Three, the first whole trilogy, complete!
Q: What's in store for the end of the first trilogy, and when can we read it?
JW: It will be released this fall (2007), likely in September or October, slightly earlier than the first two. It really
ends the Goose / Human War. With Dr. Smith dead, the main battle is over, but the resistance isn't finished. Book Three
will answer the question, what do you do when you think all is lost, but you aren't ready to just quit yet?
Q: Major characters die often in your books. How does Book Three compare to the first two in that area?
JW: Book Three definitely has a body count, although most of it is saved for the end of the book. It was the most painful
to write. Killing Dr. Smith was bad enough. Writing the deaths of some of the characters at the end of Book Three was very
painful for me.
Q: So is everyone dead now?
JW: No way! There will be survivors, for now. As to how many, you'll have to wait and see. I'm not telling. But there
will be some significant.
Q: You've said that Book Four will be drastically different from the first three books.
JW: Yes. It begins twenty years later, and will cover a very tumultuous six months for goose society. The High Patune
is dead, and there is a power vacuum to fill, with many geese wanting their slice of the pie. It should be quite interesting
to see how it all goes down. I'm not even sure yet. And that is only the first part of the second trilogy. The power struggle
will have many consequences and implications for the future.
Q: So the second trilogy will focus more on the geese?
JW: If you've noticed, my goose parts have grown considerably from book to book. For the first time, other geese besides
Auby will be main characters. Quite a few, actually, all geese that you've met prior to Book Four, although I am developing
some new supporting goose characters.
Q: Will the books still chronicle the humans then?
JW: Oh, yes. The survivors of Dr. Smith's group are scattered across the globe: slave camps, secret bases, even a whole
human city built underground! And, of course, Egypt. One of them has been living in the base below the pyramids that they
discovered in Book Two. Plus all the kids have grown up, so there are plenty of additions to the human cast.
Q: You left quite a few unanswered questions in the first couple of books, and you've said that they won’t all
be answered in Book Three. Can we expect you to tie up any loose ends in the second trilogy, or are you going to stretch
it out until Book Nine's finale?
JW: Most of the loose ends will be tied up by Book Six. Almost everything ancient will be resolved, from the Atlantis
survivors to Geisha. If I had to choose an overall arc for the second trilogy, it would definitely be the meaning of the
prophecies.
Q: Does that leave you anything for the third and final trilogy.
JW: (laughs) Yeah, but expect another drastic shift between Books Six and Seven. My goal is to really keep the readers
on their toes. I don't want the series to get predictable or stale.
Q: Who is your favorite character in the series?
JW: Well, I love the Big Three of course: Levi, Tommy, & Walt. But Katie has really captured my imagination, and
I've got lots of surprises for her coming up. I have also really loved where Anne's character has gone, and is going. I
think it'll be different. Working on the second trilogy, I'm completely getting into the character of Brock Kennedy. Brock
is the first of the kids whom I began to write for, but I'm really enjoying working on all of the second generation. Jay,
Chloe, Terry, and the others are really going to get into the thick of things. While I hate her, Jenas is a very interesting
goose to write for. And I really like Okpa, for all of her faults, she's a goose to be admired.
Q: Ok, away from the plot stuff, how has your life changed since the first two books became published?
JW: Really, it hasn't. I mean, yeah, I'm more focused on the writing part of my life, but I still go to work all day,
and I'm in grad school, so I've kept busy.
Q: Have you read any good books lately?
JW: Marley & Me was a fun read, and Devil in the White City was pretty interesting. I also enjoyed The End of Lemon
Snicket, and, like the rest of the world, I am very much looking forward to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Q: The Barenaked Ladies album Everything to Everyone greatly influenced Book One, and to a lesser extent, Books Two and
Three. Any other music inspiring you?
JW: Well, there were two new BNL albums released lately, but I've been rediscovering some of their old work. "Jane"
in particular is a song that I will be drawing on. And "Hundred Years" by Five For Fighting is in the back of my
mind as I do the time jumps. I'm also pulling in some current politics in my writing. It's a constructive way to work out
my frustration with the current situation.
Q: Are you referring to the Iraq War?
JW: I don't mind saying, yes. And the president in particular.
Q: Ok, so on to less sensitive topics...
JW: (laughs)
Q: Are you working on any other writing projects?
JW: I wrote an issue for Dribble for Kids, a fantastic web comic by Nick Arganbright, the designer for Book Two's cover,
that will be drawn soon. I did a six week initial run of my own web comic, Excerpts from The Morning Show, but I'll be the
first to admit that the art is pretty bad. I don't think anyone read it, so I doubt that I'll do more, unless there is some
demand. I also have toyed with some other projects, but mostly my focus is on An Actor's Nightmare.
Q: What about the AAN Short Stories on your web site?
JW: The one I'm working on now is a multi-part saga about Tommy and Liz, and the framing story is during Book Three, so
you kind of get a little preview there of what is to come. Vince will probably get a similar, long treatment in a year or
so. I want to hit all the important characters with at least a one shot eventually, as I did for Wesley, Auby, and April
so far. I will be putting out quite a few stories, of course, that cover the years between Book Three and Four, some of which
will be released prior to Book Four, and may be worth checking out so you are up on what's going on before it comes out.
My goal is to make the nine books a stand alone series, but to really add some depth and understanding for those who want
to tackle the short stories, too, so they're not just wasted.
Q: Will those stories ever be available in book form?
JW: That's the plan. I want to get Volume One around the same time as I release Book Four, and I will probably include
some stories not released online, as an incentive to pay the money for it. Volume Two would ideally be out a couple of years
after that. I don't know how many volumes I'll do. I guess until I feel that the story has been really all told, and every
little loose end is tied up. I want a manageable plot for the casual reader, but plenty to satisfy, or maybe not completely
satisfy, but make happy the reader who wants to know all about everyone. With such a large cast, not every character really
gets the ink that they deserve. This is my way of making up for that. And to tell some really fun back stories.
Q: Cool. Well thanks for talking to us. Can I interview you again when Book Three comes out?
JW: Absolutely. Thank you. And let your readers know they can direct questions both for themselves or for your next
interview to questions@actorsnightmare.com
Q: You heard the man.
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