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Robert Gregory Browne on hypnosis and comparisons to Dean Koontz: Part 1
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Robert Gregory Browne, the author of KILL HER AGAIN, answers questions about his latest novel and some of his personal experiences that have helped shape his writing. Yesterday, The Examiner ran a review of KILL HER AGAIN as part of The First 39, a series that reviews the first 39 pages of a novel.
Sandra Ruttan: Have you ever seen a ghost?
Robert Gregory Browne: No, I'm afraid I haven't. I'm not sure I believe in them. Although my father died when I was young, and I do sometimes feel his spirit around me -- probably more wishful thinking than anything else -- and I'm not sure that qualifies as a ghost.
SR: You write thrillers that have strong paranormal elements, central to
the plot. How did you get interested in writing about the paranormal?
RGB: I've always been attracted to things that are slightly beyond normal. I was a big watcher of The Twilight Zone as a kid, have always enjoyed movies and books with a supernatural twist, and, of course, fell in love with Stephen King along with everyone else. My books have been compared to the work of Dean Koontz, although I think mine are on the grittier side, but the blend of genres -- which he pretty much invented -- was something I long thought I'd like to try.
The words paranormal and supernatural, however, conjure up certain images that don't really apply to my work. There are no ghosts or vampires, and I don't think there ever will be. My stories are about normal people -- cops and federal agents mostly -- who find themselves caught up in something beyond their scope of understanding. And half their battle is trying to understand it
SR: In KILL HER AGAIN, you have a disgraced FBI agent who is experiencing visions that could be images from past life. Do you believe in reincarnation, or is writing about it a way of playing with ideas and sorting out what you think? Or do you just focus on what works for the story, regardless of your personal views?
RGB: My personal views will always come through in my stories in one way or another, but I certainly have no trouble writing against those views. Reincarnation is something I think COULD be true -- I've seen no evidence to the contrary -- but I tend to believe things that can be proved. I have, however, had a certain fascination with the subject for many years.
SR: Have you ever been hypnotized? What kind of research did you have to do for KILL HER AGAIN?
Updated to add: part 2 of the interview is now online.
KILL HER AGAIN is available in stores now. Robert Gregory Browne's thriller, WHISPER IN THE DARK, was released earlier this year, along with a chilling book trailer on Youtube.
Sandra Ruttan can be contacted via sandra@sandraruttan.com
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