B.K. Berrell, a husband, father, Veteran, retired law enforcement employee, devoted writer and author, has completed his new book “A Tightening Noose”: a gripping and potent work that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat! This book twists an original crime story with the unruly justice of two outlaws as they search for the truth.
I started writing towards the end of high school. I’ve always possessed a creative drive and energy, but it took awhile to manifest itself in the written word. When I was a kid I tried drawing, but I was terrible at it. I practiced all the time and never got better. I saw what other kids were drawing and eventually gave up.
When I got to junior high my friends and I started a band. I tried playing the bass; I was horrible. I couldn’t tune my instrument, couldn’t distinguish pitch, and was completely illiterate when it came to reading sheet music. I practiced all the time, my fingers cramped and blistered; I still sucked.
I loved music though. I started a punk rock band and installed myself as the singer. I could yell, curse, and smash things just as well as anyone, but I simply had no musical talent.
I found that I wrote good lyrics though. My mother had always encouraged me to write so I started to fill up lined, marble notebooks. It came in fits and starts, I’d write a lot and then get busy and lose focus. About four years ago I seriously committed and have been writing, almost daily, ever since.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There is but if I have to reveal it here then I haven’t done a good job of relaying it. I want people to read my work and draw their own conclusions, rather than me have to spell it out in this format.
What books have most influenced your life most?
The books that have influenced me most are Tai-Pan by James Clavel, American Tabloid by James Ellroy, 1984 by George Orwell, and Lestat by Anne Rice.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
My next book will be a sequel to my first novel, A Tightening Noose. It will follow the characters from the first book as well as introduce new ones. It will delve deeper into the conspiracies introduced in the first novel and expand on there scope. It will mirror current events and predict future ones. I hope to have it out sometime this summer. I recently finished the manuscript and I’m in the process of getting it edited.
Do you have a blog/website?
I do not have a blog or website, yet. I’m working on the website. Unfortunately I’m as tech savvy as I am musically inclined. I do have facebook though so feel free to friend me, I haven’t turned anyone down yet!