SIX MINUTES WITH BRADLEY WIND:

Joining LitPick today for Six Minutes with an Author is Bradley Wind. Bradley is the author of A Whole Lot and one of the 40 authors who contributed to the short story anthology, Words to Music.  A Whole Lot is published by Kindle Press and won the Kindle Scout program in Oct 2015.

In addition to being an author, he is an artist and IT Director. He has been a busboy, newspaper delivery boy, deli worker, corporate artist and seed seller. Bradley’s interests include chickens and bees.

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How did you get started writing? 

My degree is in Painting from Tyler School of Art, and probably from early high school I was telling stories to myself about whatever I was painting - often painting over figures or sections as the narrative would evolve. I'm certain that was the roots, but after reading Ken Kesey's “Sometimes a Great Notion” and an odd relationship with a girl from Chicago, I had an idea and just started. No classes, no degree. 

Who influenced you?

Hm. I immediately think, “What writers influenced me,” and there are so many - that's hard. 

Early pre-writing years off the top of my head would be Salinger, Kerouac, Tom Robbins, Paul Bowles  - since I started writing, I've been influenced by nearly everything I read and listen to. 

That's no exaggeration. I'm constantly sending myself notes and ideas.

Sometimes song lyrics, a movie, a conversation, podcast, magazine article, Facebook/Twitter post...so much to take in, so much all around to help direct your view and generate ideas. Today I was listening to the WTF with Marc Maron podcast and sent myself a note about how people can delude themselves. http://www.wtfpod.com/

Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting? 

Favorite book? Not really. I've spoken of myself as having no taste. heh. We live in a time of great abundance (for some), where choice is the main culprit in causing anxiety, but also positively leaves us floating in wonder. "Did I choose the right thing? Should I have gotten something else?” is how many are left feeling after even just buying a soft drink, but you know...having 500 drink choices is amazing. I'm lucky, I think, to be able to find so many, so much to enjoy. Favorites come and go. Lately, I've been listening to Oranssi Pazuzu, Chet Baker, and daily the Discover section Spotify offers to locate something new. I listened to about three Little Feat albums this morning, before that I think it was the recent DJ Kicks compilation. Ha, yes, that's not quite what you're asking. Please forgive.

I'd say the places where I tend to focus, that which I'm drawn to, are related to Philosophy of Mind or the potentials for the human brain...in my writing...so far.

I've got a book I'll be releasing later this year called “Bulb” that explores a world without privacy, where everything is recorded by programmable light - and brain evolution is more...man influenced. It's speculative fiction or scifi, but I tried to write it without a focus on genre. The link between it and “A Whole Lot” are in the way they both examine brain potentials. I suppose I'm also very American in my interest in underdogs.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author?

Bah, everyone has opinions, advice and flatulence. If I had to share a few things, I'd say read a lot of books by respected authors, read some books by crappy authors. You are the only one born on the day, time, and location from your parents, the only you in existence - bring that to dinner and dig in. 

Where is your favorite place to write?

I have no favorite. Lately I've been dictating to Siri during my work commute.

What else would you like to tell us?

Don't open the hive without smoking the bees first. 

A low watt lightbulb in one of those cement blocks with a big rubber tub on top is good to keep the chicken water from freezing in winter.

Search ebay for the same electronic item you’re thinking of buying on Amazon.

Virtual Reality will be reshaping the way you experience life in a far larger way than most now imagine.

The nanotech revolution is just beginning.

There is no such thing as security, you'll forget this and need to be reminded.

Merry Christmas and remember what Mitch Hedberg said "A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.”

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Bradley, thank you for spending six minutes with LitPick! We’ve enjoyed getting to know you.