Welcome Author Jake Keet!

I'm actually kind of excited about this week's author. Jake and I graduated high school together (Go Dolphins!) all of ten years ago, and I have always found him to be a witty and hilarious person. Fast forward to this year, when I find he too has published a book! So, of course, he had to join my blogstravaganza! /S.

Fill in the blank: 

If you like Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb, you'll love my book.

Your main character is stuck on an island. What 3 things do they bring? 

Cigarettes, Lighter, Half Gallon of Makers Mark

How long do they survive? 

He's a fairly off the cuff guy, so I would think indefinitely if there is a good food source. He could boil stream water in the makers bottle right?

Be completely honest: how much of your main character is really you? 

Much of the main character is myself along with much of the other characters. He makes a lot of decisions that I would hope to not make, and drinks to excess constantly throughout the book. I am a lot more even keeled than that since my college days are behind me. Most of the things that the characters complain about are thoughts that I have had in similar situations, although I amped up his xenophobia for comedic effect.

Also be honest - how much of your villain is based on a real person? 

The main villain is a very real person, but I would rather the reader get there and get a good laugh.

What do you tell yourself before you start writing?

Okay, here we go. What would happen next?

Look to your left, what's there?

Piles of audiobooks from the library down the road. My alphabetized vinyl record collection. My bookshelves.

Why did you write your book? 

I was sitting with my wife and infant son and the idea came to me in a quick flash and I thought it was pretty funny. Within about an hour I had written a handwritten outline. Amazingly enough, this outline served as the basis for the entire first half of the book.

Why did you choose to go indie? 

I chose to go indie for a number of reasons. This was my first novel and I wanted to make sure that my novel was untouched by any hands that I didn't want on it. The only people that helped me make corrections in the book were my brother Tommy, who edited the book, and my mother Doody, who corrected all my egregious comma splicing and other grammatical failures. The other reason why I chose to go indie was that I am busy with work and have no idea where to begin courting publishing companies. It sounded like a lot of work.

What's the best part about being an indie author? 

It sounds way cooler when you tell people at record stores. Right? You guys listen to Pavement?