Author Steven Van Patten interviewed by Michael Vass

About a year ago I had the opportunity to review a novel by author Steven Van Patten. The book was Brookwater’s Curse, a vampire novel that stands out among the genre on many levels. I found the story to be engaging, the characters unique and a refreshing change.

Since that time, Steven Van Patten has come out with the follow-up book to Brookwater’s Curse. I am currently reading that, and will be providing a review for that as well. But I took the time before finishing the second book to interview Steven.

Michael Vass: Congratulations on the second book being published. It must be a thrill to continue to see your work being in published form and accepted so well across the world.

Steven Van Patten: Thanks Michael. It has been exhilarating to hear the responses I've been getting. I mean, when this whole thing started, it was just me, a laptop and my overactive imagination. Now, it's non-stop e-mails and praise and I'm still very much an underground hit. I'm very grateful for whatever happens from this point on.

Michael Vass: For my readers that are unfamiliar with you, please tell us a bit about yourself.

Steven Van Patten: Well, I'm a Brooklynite -- born and raised. I went to Long Island University, where I majored in Media Arts and Minored in English. Grew up in Fort Greene but I'm currently living in Crown Heights. When I'm not our trying to grow the Brookwater's Curse franchise, or home writing feverishly, I'm usually out stage managing any number of TV shows. I've worked regularly on shows like Total Request Live, and BET Tonight with Ed Gordon, but I also done countless concerts, major sports events and things like that.

Michael Vass: Did you always imagine that you would be a writer?

Steven Van Patten: Well I always had a knack for it. In school, the grades spoke for themselves. And I always had this imagination thing. It's definitely my blessing and my curse. It's a blessing because it's definitely a gift from God. It's a curse because sometimes I can't control it.

Michael Vass: Was your education a major factor in your desire to be a writer? What did you take in school?

Steven Van Patten: Honestly, school was only part of it. I don't think my teachers expected what I was capable of, so many of them let me be. My mother pushed me pretty hard to broaden my learning scope past school. So I read voraciously as a kid and still would be if not for the fact that I've been too busy writing my own stuff to get into anything new these days.

Michael Vass: What were early influences for you? Are there specific books that inspired you?

Steven Van Patten: Aside from the million comic books currently living in a closet at my mother's, Stephen King, James Baldwin, Walter Mosley were big literary influences. So, Dracula, Frankenstein and Interview with a Vampire all got same time and attention as Go Tell It On the Mountain and Devil in A Blue Dress and The Fire Next Time.

I should also mention that movies were another big influence -- and the movie Blacula left an indelible mark on me -- no pun intended. From a special effects standpoint it certainly has not stood the test of time, but it is one of the first examples of a person of color maintaining a high level of dignity during a horror movie.

Michael Vass: What made you decide to pick a vampire story for your book?

Steven Van Patten: I wanted to explore how the world we currently inhabit would seem to a black man who had been around during the slavery era. So for me it was the matter of my taking two things I love -- vampires and black history -- and meshing them in a compelling way.

Michael Vass: What was your motivation to have almost all the major characters in the books to be African American, Hispanic, and Asian?

Steven Van Patten: I'm big on leaving stereotypes behind, and I wanted to create something new. The world is full of flavors -- so to speak -- so why not use them all? How often do we get to see or read about a black woman turning into a werewolf? Or an Vampire Samurai Lord? I mean, I look out my window and I see everyone, so why not put everyone in my story?

Michael Vass: How long did it take you to write the book? And your second novel?

Steven Van Patten: The first book, what with the trip to Africa and all the research involved, took 7 years. This is also during the time I was working at MTV almost full time. The second book took 3 and a half, because there was less historical stuff to double check.

Michael Vass: Was it hard to get the book published? Did you get any requests to change the characters or storyline?

Steven Van Patten: I'm self-published, so as far as all that goes, the decision making stops here.

Michael Vass: Often writers include a bit of themselves inside the stories they write. Is there any character that reflects a bit of you in these books? Do any reflect other people you know, or are famous?

Steven Van Patten: I'd say they all do, but none more than Christian Brookwater. He is my mouthpiece and my gauge. He is my Darth Vader, my Kermit the Frog, my Mickey Mouse, my Spider-man. He's the cornerstone of the franchise and I feel a certain kinship to him, even though he only exists in my head.

Some of his romantic exploits may mirror a few of my own in a vague sense, but I was careful to stay away from specifics. No one character in my stories is one person in particular exclusively. There is a lot of mix and match.

Michael Vass: How much has the works of Bram Stoker and/or Anne Rice, or the multitude of films about vampires affected your writing. You seem to have included some parts of the mythology and excluded others, how did you come to that conclusion?

Steven Van Patten: Every person who dabbles in this genre plays with the rules a little. From silver, to stakes to sunlight. No two writers agree completely. I decided that I wanted to be logical. I wanted to come up with some ways that vampires could have been around and just undetected. So yes, for example, my vamps cast reflections and eat real food, and therefore don't give themselves away to the general public so easily. When Bram Stoker and Anne Rice put their stories together, they did what made sense to them and ultimately, their belief in what they were doing helped the books resonant. I can only hope the same holds true for me.

Michael Vass: Your books have strong influences from Africa , werewolves, and Asia. How did that come about?

Steven Van Patten: My love of history, whether it be African-American, American, or Asian is a large part of who I am. I enjoyed Bruce Lee flicks as a child just like everybody else. The only thing is, Bruce Lee inadvertently led me -- thanks to a film festival, to the work of Akira Kurosawa... which led to a host of things, including me studying Kendo for two years. And of course, the birth of one of my other main characters, Lord Ebichara Tanata.

As far as werewolves go, they are just as fascinating as vampires, because they are part-time monsters who have to reconcile the two sides of themselves. It's the ultimate analogy for the addictive personality. I love it. The possibilities are endless.

Michael Vass: Taking a peek into the future do you see yourself continuing to write about the supernatural characters found in your first 2 books? Is there another genre that you want to delve into?

Steven Van Patten: I am going to draw the line with Volume III as far as Christian Brookwater goes. I may do a spin off book at some point featuring Jeremiah the new werewolf, maybe, but I feel this part of my work is over soon. The 2nd book really burned me out. Also, to be honest, the creation of the villain Emmanuel took me somewhere I don't normally go. Not sure how many times I can stare into that abyss, coming up with what motivates these evil creatures while I sit alone in the middle of the night.

Of course, I'll contradict that now by announcing that I have plans to do a serial killer story. As with the BC series, it will be unusually multi-cultural. But there will only be one of those. After that, I have a comedic side that I intend to start exploring soon.

Michael Vass: How has the publishing experience been?

Steven Van Patten: Like anything else, it has it's ups and downs. The hardest lesson for me has been that coming up with the story and selling the story involve two completely different sets of skills.

Michael Vass: Do you have any book signing or other appearances coming up that my readers might be able to see you at?

Steven Van Patten: I will be attending Wagfest in Atlanta the week of October 2-4. There may be some other stuff before that, but that's the big one.

Michael Vass: I like to ask in all my interviews if there is a cause or organization that you champion. I always like to help promote a good cause whenever possible. Is there any organization or cause you would like to present to my readers?

Steven Van Patten: Ever since the Iraq War started, I've made it my business to send a few bucks to Disabled Veterans of America as often as I can.

No matter what your stance on the war is, the troops deserve our love and respect.

Michael Vass: Speaking directly to my younger readers in the world, is there something you would like to share with them?

Steven Van Patten: Pull Your Pants Up. That and there is more to the world than just Hip-Hop. Not everyone is going to be a rapper, so let's get some other skill sets going.

Michael Vass: Where can my reader purchase a copy of your books?

Steven Van Patten: The easiest way would probably be Amazon.com, but if you want an autographed copy you can hit me up at www.brookwaterscurse.com.

I thank Steven for the interview. I hope that it has inspired future writers and given my readers the desire to check out Brookwater’s Curse and the follow-up book. I look forward to speaking with Steven more in the future as his next book is ready for the public.

July 28 Update

Just a quick update. It was a long weekend for me as a friend got married and had a wonderful wedding. I was there as both a guest, and I took photos and video of the joyous day. Which of course has thrown me off my pace.

But I am also working on getting an interview with a member of the reality television show Mommy XXX, as well as currently reviewing 2 music groups. Add to that an interview with author Steven Van Patten, and things are hectic.

So I have not gone on vacation, though I need one. Just busy making sure that I can provide the content you want, and the quality you expect.

More soon.

Michael Vass

Review - Brookwater's Curse - 3.24.2008.1

In between creating 25 blogs for a client in the past few days I had a bit of time to wind down. In that time I became aware of a new author and his first published book. Actually a friend of mine became aware of this, and due to the fantasy nature of the book, I was told about it. It’s about Vampires. But it has a perspective that really has not been addressed before. The lead character is an African American.

The book, Brookwater’s Curse, is a trip through American history via the diary of the titular character, written by Steven Van Patten. We get to experience America through the eyes of one of our Ancestors and his growth in that time. It’s a unique view. And overall is done well.

This is a self-published book. I need to mention this because there are a few edges to the book that are rough. The graphic image on the cover of the book looks a bit cartoonish and might lead some to overlook the book thinking it is something for kids or teens. That would be a mistake. Throughout the book there are points where a historical event, or a new character/species, is mentioned and the fonts change as if there was a hyperlink. And there is the occasional typographical error. All of these things are minor and infrequent issues. None are enough to take you out of the story or breaking the spell that is being woven.

What the reader will get is that Mr. Christian Brookwater was a man born in a horrible time in America that tried his best to endure. His problems were not only the Slavery that existed but his own birthright. And then things go downhill in his life. Until he is “rescued” which leads to even more pain. Brookwater is a man that gains many achievements, and at each crest he tumbles. I really felt bad for him. And then you are lead to his real challenge, which is the issue the book starts with.

I found this book interesting because, like other novels in this genre, there are other monstrous peoples. There are werewolves, rachasas, and ghosts. Each is dealt with and explained in time and with an explanation that flows with the story and makes sense in the world presented.

Let me pause, I hate when a book or movie gives you a world with certain rules – and then breaks them. A quick example is Alien vs. Predator. It sucked, mostly because they broke the rules. The molecular blood that can go through floors of metal did nothing to a woman’s face. People exposed to the Antarctic weather in a t-shirt aren’t cold. And the rule breaking goes on and on. It ruins the story. The best movies and books create a world that has rules and sticks to them, no matter how illogical or fantastic they may be. Like the Lord of the Rings or Blade Runner.

But as I was saying, not only do we get to learn of these other peoples we get to understand other cultures as well. The ancient samurai are as vital to this story as is Harlem, and Africa.

In every step we get to learn of Brookwater as he deals with events in the nation from a unique perspective and an appreciation that is seldom conveyed in other books even in this genre. And as you read through the story you come to understand that it has not been discussed before. That a void has existed, and was completely ignored like the existence of people of color on Friends.

But don’t think that the inclusion, actually emphasis on, people of color is the only asset of this story. It is a well thought out, and researched story. No matter the race of the characters the story would be involving, but the inclusion of race adds an aspect that makes it both unique and accented.

But the book does have problems.

The first 2 chapters are probably the worst of the whole book. It’s rushed and feels forced. The detail and pacing seem rushed. In a few points in the book you want to learn more about an era or event. At others you question other factors. One thought for me came about money. Mr. Brookwater always seems in need of cash, either due to his generosity or his manner in resolving certain situations, and I wonder why he never opened a bank account, as say characters in the Highlander series did. And in certain events the flow of action seems somewhat fuzzy. As I mentioned earlier there are also the typos and font changes.

Perhaps the main issue I have is the end of the story. It doesn’t actually end a trend that is more common these days, and that annoys me. We are literally brought to a conclusion of certain events while leaving a huge vacuum in others. It is obvious that the story will continue in another book, which I look forward to reading. But there is nothing that makes me more annoyed than being invested in the characters and then having to stop just as the major plot is being expanded on.

Of course this is a smart way to launch a second book. As I mentioned, I will get the next book and read that as well. I would expect most who read this first book will want to continue the story. Because I think the investment in the characters is too involving not to continue.

I have avoided discussing any of the specifics of the characters and events in the story for a reason. They are worth reading about. My favorite characters are Christian Brookwater, Lord Tanata, and Melody. I expect them all to have much more emphasis in the next book. The potential is strong for each.

The author of the book, Steven Van Patten, has done a great job of making a world that is fresh and interesting in a genre that has become formulaic. His perspective on the strengths, weaknesses, and personal struggles of the characters is endearing. His style of writing is engrossing and generally quite good. His attention to details of history, and cultures, adds to the depth of the story and its base in reality.

I recommend Brookwater’s Curse to fans of vampires, fantasy, and afrocentric stories. Even if you are not a fan of these, but enjoy reading a good book I would say you should give this a read. And I expect that most of those that read the first book will be glad to hear that the second book is near its publishing date and will be available shortly.

Do let me know your thoughts when you read this.