Today I’m talking to William Vitka. Best known for Infected, he is about to release the first part of his new crime series: BARTENDER. As a little aside, I’d like to mention that Vitka and I have a few collaborative projects coming up this year so watch this space. They’re sure to rock your socks off.
Hello Vitka. Thanks for agreeing to this short interview. Firstly, I just want to say I’m looking forward to the release of BARTENDER.
Vitka: Nice talking to you again, Tony. And yessir! I’m looking forward to unleashing Bartender on an unsuspecting public.
Tell us a little bit about Bartender. To someone who doesn’t know your work, how would you best describe it?
Vitka: Bartender is my first crime novel. It’s about a bartender named Kieron Palmer, a cop, and an evil Russian mobster. I had been writing only horror, so this is a serious departure for me. On the plus side, it allows me to show that humans can be the worst monsters of all… And I think it has the single greatest twist. Ever.
You’re best known for the Infected books. What’s on the horizon for you? A continuation of your recent work, or something new?
Vitka: Infected 2 is in the can—which is actually book 4 of the Hroza Connection series—and I’ve also started writing the first part of my HP Lovecraft children’s books AND I’ve started writing my silly novellas: The first one is called Assquake, about a stripper who wants to destroy the world with her butt. Yep.
If you were to talk to your readership in person, and you only had one shot at it, what would you say?
Vitka: Ye gods, do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to tell Microsoft Word that ‘murderboner‘ needs to be added to the dictionary?
There’s a lot of discussion, both online and in the press, about the ‘state of publishing,’ and the ‘rise of amateur writers.’ What do you think? Has the advent of independent publishing really just handed a loaded weapon into the hands of amateur hobbyists, or is it all about empowering authors more than ever? What are your thoughts?
Vitka: It is absolutely about empowering authors. A hobbyist can still be very serious about writing. As with quite literally everything, yes, there will be many crappy products, but I also believe independent publishing (and self-publishing) gives people who are serious about writing the tools that they need.
Getting away from books for a moment, what else are you up to at the moment?
Vitka: I didn’t know there was something other than writing…
For the other writers reading this, what advice do you have to offer them? What works for you when it comes to setting pen to paper?
Vitka: Just do it. At this point, you are really the only person in your way. Write. And then keep writing. Don’t stop.
Lastly, I used to do something like this a few years ago in my interviews. I’ve adapted it for this latest batch.
I have five questions for you. Ready? Here we go. Give me your honest answers.
1. If there were to be a film of your life, who would play you in the lead role?
Vitka: Tyler Durden.
2. Following the same line of thought, if there were to be a film made of any of your work, who would you cast in the roles of the main characters?
Vitka: Infected would star Jensen Ackles as the narrator/Poppa Bear, Olivia Wilde as Helene/Momma Bear, Ian McShane as Editor Shaffer, Wood Harris as Fred, and Anthony Mackie would make a good Ben.
3. What are you reading at the moment?
Vitka: Audio, Video, Disco by my friend J. Newerk: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Video-Disco-J-Newerk-ebook/dp/B00JDZJRSE
4. What are you listening to at the moment?
Vitka: The newest album from Warpaint.
5. This is stolen directly from James Lipton, but what the heck. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Vitka: Clearly, there’s been some mistake.
Lastly, where do you see yourself in twelve months time? What will you be doing? Where will you be in life? Where do you hope to be?
Vitka: Writing full time.
Well, that’s the end of our little interview. Thanks for participating. I’m sure everyone will love [New Title/Series].
Vitka: As always, thank you so much, Tony.
William Vitka is a journalist and author. He’s written for CBSNews.com, NYPost.com, Stuff Magazine, GameSpy, and On Spec Magazine to name a few.His debut novel, INFECTED, was published in late 2012. His anthology of short stories, THE SPACE WHISKEY DEATH CHRONICLES, was published at the crack of 2013. His second novel EMERGENCE will knock your socks off. And his third novel, STRANDED, is even better. He lives in New York City.
Tony Healey 