This isn’t the first appearance at BMR for today’s author, but he sure has been busy writing since he was here last. Today he’s featuring the fifth book in his Son of Earp series. He’ll also make you think twice before accepting drinks from other folks. Welcome Chuck Buda!
Which urban legend scares you most?
The urban legend which scares me the most is the organ thief. It is horrifying to imagine waking up in a bathtub with my kidneys missing. Too many times in my life, I have accepted drinks in bars and at parties that could have been easily laced with a substance to render me unconscious. The thought of someone rooting around in my innards, removing the precious cargo and leaving me to fend for survival is truly terrifying. STAY OUT OF MY BELLY!
What’s your favorite season of American Horror Story?
Rather than show my age and admit that Season 9: 1984 is my favorite, I would choose Season 2: Asylum. I found the second season extremely satisfying in how the characters from the first season were reimagined with different roles and personalities. Yet, some of the intricacies of the first season were utilized to increase the depth of the story. I can’t remember enjoying such a twist in celluloid. The second season twist reminded me of Stephen King’s books, The Regulators and Desperation, which did something similar.
If you watch horror movies, are you the person who yells at the characters, covers your eyes, or falls asleep?
When I watch horror movies, I typically cheer on the monster or the killer. I do empathize with the protagonist but there is something visceral about living vicariously through the eyes of evil. Covering your eyes during the “good parts” defeats the purpose of the scare. And nobody should speak to the screen at home or in the theater. I’m not sure how one could fall asleep during a horror film but I am going to have to try it out. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre might be a good choice to attempt such a feat!
Would you and your main character get along?
I believe James Johnson, the main character in the Son of Earp series, embodies many facets of my own life. So I would answer in the affirmative. James and I would get along famously. James is young in spirit and tries to always do the right thing. Me too. James gets himself into lots of trouble, allowing his emotions to get the best of him. Me too. James is a champion of underdogs and stands up for what he believes in. Me too. James is a lover of adventure and a romantic dreamer. Me too.
What do you do to get inside your characters’ heads?
My stories involve multiple character point-of-views. Jumping into different heads in alternate chapters allows me, as a storyteller, to add depth and perspective to the tale. Spending an entire novel in one character’s mind is not always appropriate for getting the most out of a story, but it can serve a purpose. However, I find the added value of multiple viewpoints refreshing and necessary to round out the tale. It also enhances the suspense of opposing motives between characters.
If you could spend the day with another popular author, who would you choose?
If I could spend a day with another popular author, I would have to choose Bernard Cornwell. His historical fiction is incredible. The characters are so rich and the realism of the settings and periods are breathtaking. In my humble opinion, his books are instant classics and should be revered as much as James Clavell and Gore Vidal. I would study at his side the entire day, absorbing the masterful techniques that breathe life into his fiction.
Dark forces collide in the O.K. Corral.
James Johnson, illegitimate son of the legendary Wyatt Earp, strikes out on his own with his mentally disabled friend, Carson. They travel to the legendary Tombstone, Arizona where fortunes are made or men die in their pursuit of riches. With gold in the nearby hills, folks are too busy toiling in the hot sun to notice the dangers that exist within their town.
After stepping boot first into a new line of work, the boys befriend an odd loner who doesn’t quite fit in. And James falls for an angel. But people have secrets and their pasts follow them like a dusty shadow. James and Carson must survive multiple threats to their lives as a new showdown comes to Tombstone. One which pits vampires against witches.
Can James and Carson avoid burial in Boot Hill? Or will the battle lines drawn in blood send their souls straight to Hell? This is a nerve-rattling tale of supernatural horror. Read this book to continue the terrifying series today! Corral of Blood is the fifth novel in the Son of Earp series by Chuck Buda.
Purchase Link
Author Bio and Social Media
Chuck Buda writes across multiple genres including westerns, horror, and crime thrillers. He loves to eat pizza, drink whiskey and craft beers, listen to Norwegian Black Metal and search for answers about Bigfoot and UFOs. Plus, he works very hard to fit quotes from Seinfeld or Big Bang Theory into every conversation. That’s a ton of fun in one man.
Join his mailing list for free stories and things of weirdness:
https://www.authorchuckbuda.com
Follow Chuck on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/chuck-buda
Follow Chuck on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Chuck_Buda
Chuck Buda co-hosts The Mando Method Podcast on Project Entertainment Network with author, Armand Rosamilia. They talk about all aspects of writing.
Books and Such 
I’ve never known anyone who routes for the big bad in movies before. That’s very interesting! Wonderful answers to all the questions and the series intrigues me.
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I do also sometimes when the characters make stupid decisions in horror movies, lol.
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Another great reason to cheer the monsters! LOL
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Thanks, Lady Tessa! I’ve always been a bit of a contrarian. But it mostly calms my fears to cheer the monsters. I appreciate your interest!
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Excellent answers. Still chuckling at, “Stay out of my belly!” LOL!
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Thank you, Victoria! My belly has only so much room and it needs to be fed a steady diet of pizza, beer, peanut M&Ms, beer, ice cream, beer, cookies, beer…it’s exhausting to be my belly.
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LOL!
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Another excellent interview! Yikes! Definitely stay out of my belly. But I loved what Chuck said about having facets of himself in his character. Thank you, Teri!
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Thanks, Jan! Embodying elements of ourselves is intrinsic to the writing as you know. It is one of the reasons why it took me so long to publish – I was afraid that people would identify too much of me in the work. The fear of putting my thoughts out there for the world to see kept me writing only for myself for decades. It took a lot of faith, courage and support of loved ones to go for it. I would not be where I am today without everyone else.
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Great interview from a great writer, great person… and a great friend.
Armand
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Speaking of support of loved ones… I owe everything to this guy. Armand Rosamilia is the most selfless, encouraging, prolific writer and I fell in love with his writing voice early on. He made me who I am today (well, the good parts anyway). Everyone should read his stories!
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It’s great to see Chuck here again. Best wishes on the Son of Earp series. Thanks, Teri.
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Thanks, John! I appreciate the well wishes and I hope to dive into straight westerns soon as well.
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Great interview! I enjoyed reading Chuck’s answers. Thanks for sharing, Teri!
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Thanks, Jill! I really appreciate your response. God bless!
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Another great interview guest, Teri, and more books I MUST check out. Your Son of Earp series sounds like just my cuppa tea, Chuck, so I’ll be heading to Amazon shortly! (Obviously, the Dark Forces are calling me!)
Here’s to continued success with all your writing! 😊
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Thank you, Marcia! I hope you enjoy the adventures of James and Carson.
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Wonderful answers, Chuck. All the best to you.
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Thanks, Craig! Same to you, my friend.
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Another wonderful interview! I’m with you on Season 2 of AHS. The best, I think. Have you seen Midnight Mass? (the series on Netflix) I was kind of hoping that AHS would run along those lines, but sadly, it didn’t quite get there for me.
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Just finished Midnight Mass last weekend and it was a thumbs up for me. I might have to do a rewatch of The Haunting of Hill House.
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Shucks! Another one on my To Be Watched list. I need to see The Haunting of Hill House and Stranger Things. Please boo me now for being so slow with these shows.
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Both are soooo good. You should get started immediately, Chuck.
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Thanks, Sue! American Horror Story has terrific writing and acting, making it diffifult to choose just one series (even though we did HAHA). Midnight Mass is on my To Be Watched list. I have heard great things about it from other authors. I’ll let you know what I think once I squeeze it in.
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a fab interview, so interesting and different. Good luck with your writing. Thanks Teri.
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Thank you, Jane! Different is my middle name LOL. And best wishes to your writing as well!
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We are twins! LOl. Thanks and much success to you too.
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The cover of this book is chilling, Teri. I enjoyed Chuck’s responses to your queries and I also don’t think anyone should speak during a movie.
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Love the feedback on the cover, Robbie! Phil does great work on my covers. We met in NYC at a rock concert for a band we both knew personally. Funny what you discover over drinks in a bar. He does lots of work with the Robinson’s of the Black Crowes. Check out SMAY Design and tell him I sent you. I also cheer for the ushers against talkers in a movie theater!
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Thanks for sharing about your cover designer, Chuck. Yours is certainly exceptionally creepy and eye catching.
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Right? That’s an awesome cover. No mistaking the genre, lol.
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Fun interview, Chuck. And I agree: it’s a good idea to keep your kidneys, if at all possible.
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Thank you! At least one kidney, right?
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Oh gosh, Chuck. You and I could have fun. Whiskey (yep) Heavy Metal (deffo) I managed metal, thrash, and heavy rock bands so it is my thing. Big Foot and UFO’s is hubby’s thing but I have been subjected to 50+ years of listening to him go on about it, watch it on TV, and so on…And we have seen some very strange things UFOs if you like, but do not get me started. Fab interview. Oh! and I wrote a piece of 100 word Flash Fiction recently, for an online TV show, and it had to be called harvest (time of year I guess), so I wrote about organ harvesting from prisoners. So watch yourself!!
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I want to read that story now. If I’m ever allowed to cross the pond, you and I are going to crank up Saxon and do shots of American whiskey. And then you can scare me with more tales! I MUST meet the hubby too!!!
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LOL we must! What a hoot! xx
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I’ve never watched American Horror Story, but Chuck’s answer to that question has got me curious about it. Now just to find out if it’s shown here in the UK.
The organ thief myth sounds horrible. I have almost to close my eyes just thinking about it.
Great to meet you, Chuck.
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I really hope you can get it, Hugh. Some seasons are better than others, but it’s one my favorites. The themes are different every season, but sometimes there are crossovers.
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Are they the same characters in each season, Teri? Or are the stand-alone episodes (like the Twilight Zone)?
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Each season is its own story, but several of the same actors play different characters each season. They’re a talented bunch.
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Now THAT is definitely nightmare fuel about the drinks. Have always worried about people who just chug anything. Can also relate to cheering on certain monsters. It’s like, “thank you for your service.”
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