My next interview is with speculative fiction writer Brad Kelly, the author of House of Sleep!
Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?
Brad Kelly: I am a writer of primarily speculative fiction. I have written two novels and am midway through my third, as well as a host of short stories. I am a former Michener Fellow but tend to write outside of the MFA style and paradigm. I’m not sure they knew what to do with me while I was there. If you’re into speculative weirdness with a more literary aesthetic, my work might be for you.
What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?
Brad Kelly: Blood Meridian and other works by Cormac McCarthy, a Canticle for Lebowitz and Riddley Walker. Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson, William S. Burroughs’ “Cities of the Red Night” trilogy, Stephen King was huge for me as a kid—the Stand, It, Dark Tower, etc. Kafka, for sure. Borges was a genius on multiple levels and any speculative writer would benefit from perusing his short work. The figure of Philip K. Dick is ever-present in my mind, and the books in his VALIS phase serve as some kind of proof to me about how far-out a writer can go and still resonate with people. He has a a tremendous body of work that any writer should delve into. I read Dune every few years and while its influence on my writing is limited, it has been enormously important to how I think about life.
What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?
Brad Kelly: I’ve struggled to understand exactly what genre I’m writing in. I have an immense love for science fiction, and yet what has always prevented me from going full-steam in that direction (and working in, say, space opera) is that even the best sci-fi tends to believe that reality, at its core, is rational or can be rationally explained. I’ve had experiences that suggest to me that there is something far more mysterious at the heart of things. So, I write speculatively and edge into what might be called “weird fiction” like, say, Jeff Vandermeer. I don’t want things explained. There’s more depth and intrigue to me when “important” phenomena aren’t totally legible—I mean, I struggle to understand daily life half the time, so why should my characters be able to explain, for instance, a chthonic time demon or a hole through the fabric of reality.
I am solidifying in a sort of sub-genre that I’m calling “psy-fi”--psy for psyche, psychological, maybe psychedelic. The way that science fiction tends to play these wonderful “what if” games with scientific or technological concepts, I like to play that with matters related to how the mind works: time, dreams, language. What I love about writing in this sort of niche is the combination of freedom and limitation—no idea is off the table, exactly, but you still have to keep to the rules of the world you’re creating. I think limitation is where real creativity emerges.
Alexis: Interesting! I love writing that sort of challenges the way we perceive reality. There’s something very philosophical about it.
The cover of House of Sleep by Brad Kelly
Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)
Brad Kelly: My favorite character to write—though not my favorite person—is a guy who goes by the Diving Man. He’s the founder of the House of Sleep, an enigmatic guru figure with an adventurous and implausible past. Parts Willy Wonka and Timothy Leary and even a little bit of Judge Holden from “Blood Meridian,” he is obsessed with saving the soul of humanity and his means for getting there are. . . let’s say questionable. He came to me first in a dream and his style of speech and worldview seemed to pop out fully formed—which is very unusual for me and my process. I think he’s incredibly dangerous, and I think he’s also fascinating. I hope that readers enjoy reading him as much as I enjoyed getting him on the page.
What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?
Brad Kelly: My day job is considered essential, so a lot of my life is the same as before the pandemic. I’m trying to keep up the workout routine which is critical for sanity. So. . . if I’d recommend anything, I guess it’s squats. I wouldn’t recommend drinking too much. Though, I guess I also wouldn’t recommend not drinking at all.
Alexis: Yes, I do find exercise very helpful. I’m a huge fan of long walks and bike rides, myself.
What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?
Brad Kelly: I am a student of the tarot to a degree. I read cards for others (not so much since Covid) and explore the symbology for myself. I read every Tarot book I can get my hands on. As a writer, I find it an indispensable system. Each card, and the way they’re networked together, is a rich reservoir of symbols. The act of reading them for another person is a kind of writing, in that you’re trying to thread all these images together into a cohesive narrative that “works” for the person. I don’t invest too much mysticism into it. . .I basically think they operate like any other kind of art. But, tarot is amazing. I think every writer should spend some time trying to understand the cards.
Alexis: I think tarot is fascinating for the archetypes and psychology behind it, as well as the strangely compelling stories the cards tell. Each one is like a little bit of micro-fiction. If you like tarot, you should watch HBO’s Carnivale, a show that really uses tarot in a fascinating way, both in its opening and as a means of story telling.
What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?
Brad Kelly: I was somewhat obsessed with the first few seasons of Fargo. I go through Twilight Zone phases where I will watch a streak of episodes. Movies are difficult to find time for lately, but I’m a huge fan of Denis Villeneuve. . . I think he’s the best thing that’s happened to sci-fi cinema since the original Blade Runner and I’m giddy about seeing his version of Dune when it comes out.
What’s your favorite animal?
Brad Kelly: Owls. Easy. I write with about twelve tchotke owls sitting watch over me. They are symbols of wisdom, of seeing in the dark, of silence. I find a lot of solace in them and seeing them in nature is a rare treat. Such unusual and beautiful creatures.
Alexis: I love owls! I actually have an owl box in my front yard, though no owls live in it yet. I got it one of the people in my neighborhood had one, and in the evenings I’d walk by and see their little owl (a Western screech) peeking its head out of the hole.
I also have a strange owl story. Once on a late night drive down in South Texas, my husband and I saw one of the largest owls I’ve ever seen, just standing in the middle of the road. That area is known for its Great Horned Owls, but this owl looked larger than any Great Horned Owl on record. There are lots of stories of Lechuza in that area, and I wonder if the eerily giants owls are the inspiration.
Do you have pet(s)? If so, share a picture of your pet!
Brad Kelly: This is Lucy. She is ridiculous.
Brad Kelly and his dog, Lucy
What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?
Brad Kelly: There’s an old adage about finding your voice, which I think is important and yet mysterious. Beyond that, I would only say a couple of things. One is that you have to focus on the craft at every level: sentence, paragraph, scene, chapter, book. The other is work hard but do not rush. Revise, revise. I come across a lot of writing that has something wonderful at its core but is clearly a second draft—we live in an impatient era and writing is a patient—extremely patient—game.
How do you choose what books you want to read?
Brad Kelly: I wonder this myself. It feels like there is a through-line to what I’m picking, but I can’t seem to figure out what it is. Some of it is research (reading a lot about tunnels and underground spaces right now) but most of it is following my whimsy. I suppose what attracts me is works that seem to have an avid fanbase but that are not otherwise well-known or celebrated. Titles and covers, too. We’re not supposed to judge by them, but how can you not. For instance. . . I bought a book by Anna Kavan called “Machines in the Head” last year. I didn’t know anything about it, I just thought the title was compelling and totally original. And it turns out the book is both of those things. If a book has interested me, I usually try to read a page from somewhere deep in and see if it resonates. This strategy has never failed me.
More About Brad Kelly
Website: https://www.bradkellyesque.com/
Book: House of Sleep
Social Media: Twitter