Meet Paul Pate, Author of Detective Perez: Welcome to Rust City
What inspired you to become an author/illustrator?
I’ve drawn pictures as long as I can remember. In my early twenties one of my roommates had a big comic book collection. I never really paid any attention to them until then. Suddenly, it dawned on me that my love for movies, stories and fiction can be combined with my love for drawing. I’ve been having fun with it ever since! I also asked this author/illustrator named Tim Broderick to write a story for me to illustrate. He said, “No. Write it yourself.” I thought that was good advice and I took it to heart.
How did you come up with the idea for Detective Perez: Welcome to Rust City?
It is just a mishmash of all the junk that I like. I lived in the declining city of Flint, Michigan and I really fell in love with the place. So, I came up with my own fictional version of it. I love the Law and Order shows so I came up with my own detective. I came up with this vampire killing character named Bubba, so I threw him in there. I wanted to write a chaotic story about these characters making the best of their bad city.
What do you think readers will remember most about your books?
I hope they simply have fun reading them and looking at them. I try to have fun writing and drawing them. Detective Perez: Welcome To Rust City is not a real deep story. But, it is heartfelt. I hope readers can connect at least a little to some of the characters. If they get a laugh, that would be cool.
What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
Just do it. There’s no excuse these days. Publish it yourself! Then sell it or pitch it to publishers if that is your thing. You’re not an author until you write something. But, if you’ve written something, you’re an author! Now go for it.
Are you currently working on other books?
I’m currently illustrating a children’s story called Arrowheads and Dragonstones by G.K. Allen. I’m also writing Detective Perez and The Rust City Stabber. I can’t wait to start drawing it. It’s gonna be killer!
You can find out more about Paul Pate and his books and illustrations at www.paulpate.com.
I’ve drawn pictures as long as I can remember. In my early twenties one of my roommates had a big comic book collection. I never really paid any attention to them until then. Suddenly, it dawned on me that my love for movies, stories and fiction can be combined with my love for drawing. I’ve been having fun with it ever since! I also asked this author/illustrator named Tim Broderick to write a story for me to illustrate. He said, “No. Write it yourself.” I thought that was good advice and I took it to heart.
How did you come up with the idea for Detective Perez: Welcome to Rust City?
It is just a mishmash of all the junk that I like. I lived in the declining city of Flint, Michigan and I really fell in love with the place. So, I came up with my own fictional version of it. I love the Law and Order shows so I came up with my own detective. I came up with this vampire killing character named Bubba, so I threw him in there. I wanted to write a chaotic story about these characters making the best of their bad city.
What do you think readers will remember most about your books?
I hope they simply have fun reading them and looking at them. I try to have fun writing and drawing them. Detective Perez: Welcome To Rust City is not a real deep story. But, it is heartfelt. I hope readers can connect at least a little to some of the characters. If they get a laugh, that would be cool.
What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
Just do it. There’s no excuse these days. Publish it yourself! Then sell it or pitch it to publishers if that is your thing. You’re not an author until you write something. But, if you’ve written something, you’re an author! Now go for it.
Are you currently working on other books?
I’m currently illustrating a children’s story called Arrowheads and Dragonstones by G.K. Allen. I’m also writing Detective Perez and The Rust City Stabber. I can’t wait to start drawing it. It’s gonna be killer!
You can find out more about Paul Pate and his books and illustrations at www.paulpate.com.
Stacie Theis / beachboundbooks@yahoo.com / copyright 2012