Interview with Norm Applegate, Author of "Blood Bar"
Tracee Gleichner
June 03, 2009
About the Author
Norman Applegate is an author and consultant, with a growing body of work to his credit. Born in Glasgow Scotland, growing up in Toronto Canada and now residing in Florida with his wife Cheryl, Norm Applegate works and travels for an international consulting company, then occasionally scares the "heck" out of his family with his thoughts and writings.
His early years in Toronto were filled with aspirations of the late 60īs hippie music scene, and as a drummer in numerous bands led to a short lived career playing the bars and clubs in the Toronto area. The band Photograph, signed to a recording studio, made some noise on the coast to coast CBC radio show, the Entertainers, and after the legal issues strangled them into submission, they went their separate ways. The life of drugs, sex and rock and roll were over, sad but true.
His first novel, "Into the Basement," a raw dark thriller introduced us to his unlikely heroine Kim Bennett and is scheduled for a movie release in 2009 with Triad Studios. The cast for the movie includes Courtney Gains, Naama Kates, Jonathan Breck, Two Foot Fred, Nicola Fiore, Jamie McCall, and a seasoned crew of horror and TV actors.
His follow up novel, "Into the Spell," continued with Kim Bennett and the dark world of hypnosis, the paranormal and murder. Early 2008, Norm released a short story called "Jumpers," with a Twilight Zone feel to it in the horror anthology "From the Shadows."
Currently Mr. Applegate is a resident of Sarasota Florida, where he is working as a principle for the movie "Into the Basement," a new horror thriller, and a sequel to Blood Bar.
For more information about Norman and his upcoming projects go to http://www.normanapplegate.com/.
About the Book:
Vampires donīt exist...yet, on the brownstone back alley side streets of New York, a vampire dies. Desperate, his lover turns to Kim Bennett, author Norm Applegateīs quintessential heroine whose passion for S&M led to celebrity status as a hell-and-back murder mystery sleuth whoīs been there, done that, and then some. This time, Kim finds herself caught between a secret vampire societyīs attempts to locate The Black Testament (a sacred document written by Jack the Ripper), the modern-day vampire hunters bent on their destruction, and a white knuckled journey of self-discovery that catapults her into the bowels of hell and the arms of the ultimate vampire.......courtesy of The Haven, New Yorkīs ultimate BLOOD BAR.
This author agreed to an interview. Here are his answers:
Where are you from?
Lately not sure, and yet I can definitely say born in Glasgow Scotland, raised in Toronto, and have been living in Florida for the last twenty-eight years. I have traveled steadily for awhile, 2 million miles on Delta, with visits to Australia, New Zealand, London, Paris (My favorite) and this year Rome, oh yeah, Alaska, Hawaii and just about every city in Canada and the USA. I was a hypnotist and did the traveling listen to my voice mesmerizing road show through most of these countries.
When and why did you begin writing?
Always wanted to write a book, didnīt know how, thought it was beyond my capabilities, but while traveling through New Zealand it started. The hypnosis career changed my life, and realizing nothing is impossible, began writing short notes, tales, and just life experiences to my wife back in the States.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
That moment was when a few readers, strangers actually, people I had never met, sent me emails, or talked to me about something I wrote. The book was Into the Basement, abduction, torture, murder, the usual romantic stuff that makes you squeeze your thighs tight, warms your face, and blush sinfully. It surprised me, thrilled me to know people liked what I liked...I wasnīt alone from that point forward, my dark side had an outlet, freedom.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I read non fiction, history, science, factual books. I wanted to write a raw dark murder novel that was realistic, it took five or so years for my first novel. It morphed, changed, re-wrote and found in myself an emotional escape, an outlet, a place to go in my mind where I feel disconnected from reality but satisfied, heck, Normieīs world is a dangerous place to visit, but puts a smile in my heart, so I write and havenīt stopped, now on novel number four.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes, I have found my voice. I weave factual information into the plot. For instance, in Blood Bar, a vampire tale, the references, and murder descriptions to Jack the Ripper are all real, as are the unknown facts about the Brooklyn Bridge, did you know John Roebling the builder, died before the bridge was complete, tetanus, cut on something they believe, I think he was bit by a vampire. Let me show you what I mean, hereīs an excerpt from Blood Bar and how I use some factual information around the numbers 666.
"The vampire fear of the sun," Kim whispered. "Doesnīt the Book of Revelation suggest that 666 is the number of the beast?"
"And the Devil," Mortimer said.
Kim couldnīt help herself, "Itīs the sum of the squares of the first seven prime numbers, 22 + 32 +52 + 72 + 112 +132 +172 = 666."
Mortimer shot a glance at Cheyenne, she was right, "Itīs also a palindromic number."
"True, pure symmetry the number remains the same when you reverse it." Kim said.
Mortimer was having a newfound respect for Kim. "Youīre a lot smarter than you appear," he said
"Oh really, did you know if you sum all the numbers on a roulette wheel it totals 666, how about the first Apple computer sold was priced at $666.66?" Kimīs voice had a bite to it and Mortimer understood the shot she took at him was well deserved.
Cheyenne was silent. This number game was beyond his capabilities and he was surprised with Kimīs knowledge.
How did you come up with the title?
Blood Bar, A Vampire Tale...what the hell is a blood bar? Sounds creepy, but intriguing. The premise for Blood Bar, was what would happen if you found out you were turning into a vampire. Where else to be initiated but a bar. So I built the plot around my murder mystery sleuth and heroine Kim Bennett, sheīs in my first two novels, murder at a bar for vamps, gothic dressed men and woman, and your basic role playing vampires, however itīs fertile ground for picking up fresh meat...if you like that sort of thing. Are you going ask if blood bar exists, I canīt disclose that here for fear of being arrested...blushing sinfully.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Oh hell, Iīm scared...or maybe, if an unlikely hero, Kim Bennett, with her seedy San Francisco S&M been there done that background can survive hell, maybe thereīs a chance for me in this cruel world.
How much of the book is realistic?
Everything...
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I believe writers leave something of themselves in the words and pages they write. We pull from what we know, change it up a bit, fantasize, embellish, but when I write about people itīs usually a combination of individuals I know mixed with some deviate characteristics. All the cities I write about I have visited, or lived there.
What books have most influenced your life most?
When I was young, twelve or thirteen I was engrossed in war novels, particularly Naziīs, The Gestapo, Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, and the classics. One of my favorite writers is Albert Camus and his book The Stranger, and of course Machiavelliīs The Prince. I would say I use Machiavellian principles with some of the decisions my bad guys make. Come to think of it Kim Bennett can be a bitch sometimes.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Iīm lucky, I have a mentor, USA Todayīs best selling author David Hagberg. My writing has improved because of his influence, if you havenīt read his works, do it now. He writes realistic CIA terrorist novels.
What book are you reading now?
One of my favorite horror authors, is John Everson, a Bram Stoker Award-Winning author, and Iīm reading his latest book Sacrifice, published with Leisure Books, chilling! If you like horror, you have to read John Everson, heīs one of the best.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I think I fall into the same trap as most people, I read the top selling authors, thatīs the competition, you have to know whatīs selling and what the public is buying.
What are your current projects?
Just finished re-editing Into the Basement, was never happy with what my previous publisher did to it. Next is the screenplay to Basement, written by Nicholas Grabowsky and myself, we have a producer/distributer interested, and the movie is cast with Courtney Gains, then my next novel in the Kim Bennett series that Iīm tentatively calling Black Sun Rising, is another vampire tale. You can go to www.intothebasementthemovie.com to read more about the cast, director J.L. Botelho, and see his trailer for Into the Basement...itīs wicked, prepare yourself, you donīt want little kids watching this, seriously donīt let your kids see this.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Nicholas Grabowsky, he wrote the novelization of Halloween IV, numerous novels and screenplays. After reviewing my first two books, Into the Basement and Into the Spell, we became friends, and asked me to submit Blood Bar to his publishing company Black Bed Sheet Books, and Iīm happy I did, great friend.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes, and along with writing Iīm a consultant, alway traveling, living in hotels which affords me the quiet space I need to write, but I do see the day where I walk away from consulting to day dreaming and writing 24/7.
What do you think makes a good story?
Characters, they drive the plot, create the drama, and pull us into the story.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
"Move towards me, tilt your head, Iīm feeling greedy; give me all of you." Yeah, Vampires are sexy!
Iīve talked about Blood Bar, let me share the synopsis:
Vampires donīt exist...yet, on the brownstone back alley side streets of New York, a vampire dies. Desperate, his lover turns to Kim Bennett, author Norm Applegateīs quintessential heroine whose passion for S&M led to celebrity status as a hell-and-back murder mystery sleuth whoīs been there, done that, and then some. This time, Kim finds herself caught between a secret vampire societyīs attempts to locate The Black Testament (a sacred document written by Jack the Ripper), the modern-day vampire hunters bent on their destruction, and a white knuckled journey of self-discovery that catapults her into the bowels of hell and the arms of the ultimate vampire.......courtesy of The Haven, New Yorkīs ultimate BLOOD BAR.
Blood Bar on Amazon.com
www.normanapplegate.com
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