Dear Reader,
If you are interested in writing that isn't afraid to offend, but at the same time not necessarily attempting to, you might like what I write. I don't attempt to shock just for the sake of it. That's gratuitous. If the plot and characters evolve as a result of explicit content, the writer is justified. If strong language offends you (alot of people use it; so do I and my characters), you will not like my writing. If blatant, but not romanticized, drug use bothers you, you will not like my writing. If sex, sometimes explicit turns you off, you probably won't like my writing. Honestly, my writing is like an "R", sometimes "NC-17" rated movie. If you can handle that, then...
As you have noticed, if you visited my books page, I've written some horror fiction. In my early teens, I was addicted to Star Trek, the original series. I watched it as many as four times a day and recorded them on my dad's Sony tape player, and at night I fell asleep to the voices of the Starship Enterprise. Around the same time, I obsessively watched The Twilight Zone. About the same time I discovered the Science Fiction Book Club. Here I acquired a few influences, but most notably, Clifford D. Simak. As much as his subject matter, his writing style feels comfortable to me. Years later, I discovered he was (he died) also from Wisconsin.
In high school a friend turned me on to Stephen King's Nightshift. Of course, there's nothing special about being influenced by the master of horror. King is an aberration. He's incredibly prolific and a very good writer. I don't want to blow my brains out, so I don't bother to attempt to remotely compare myself to him.
When I was eleven I asked for and received a typewriter for Christmas. I don't remember the pivotal moment when I decided I wanted to be a writer that led me to ask for the typewriter, but I do remember that it felt natural, it felt right. I believed there was nothing in the world better to be than a writer. Why would anyone want to be anything else? Given that, it doesn't mean I'm special. It doesn't mean I'll ever become a bestselling author. I'm not so deluded that I believe that undiscovered literary genius weaves its way through my work. But I am deluded enough to believe that there might be a few people out there whom might enjoy my work.
Mike Sharlow
any comments? contact me mic10459@msn.com