Bridget chats with Indie author
Robin Burks about her debut novel, Zeus, Inc. Burks discusses
her absoulte love for all things Greek mythology related, which powers she
would steal if she could from one of the gods, and gives an inside look as
to the direction she'll be taking book two.
Bridget: What draws you to Greek
mythology? What do you love about the gods of Mount Olympus?
Robin Burks: I took a course on Greek mythology in college.
In fact, the professor in the book is based on my actual professor in that
class. It sparked an interest that I never fully could shake. I love the
personalities of the gods. They're so over-dramatic, obviously increased
versions of us, the mere humans. And the drama! There was always so much drama
in the Greek stories.
Bridget: If put in the same position
as Alex was, how would you have handled finding out that the Greek gods are
real?
Robin Burks: Alex is actually based on a braver and tougher
version of myself. I think I might have been quicker to accept Greek gods
because I think I would want to believe. Alex had that issue of not really
wanting to believe, but she had no choice as it was thrown in her face.
Bridget: Who is your favorite Greek
god and why?
Robin Burks: Oh, that's a good question. I'd have to go with
Athena. I've always envisioned her to be the most intelligent of the gods and
she's the one that seems to be the most level-headed.
Bridget: I liked how Mr. Brentwood
drinks Zeus's tears and steals his powers. If you could do the same, who's
powers would you choose?
Robin Burks: I think I'd have to go with Zeus, too. Being the
father of the gods, I'm imagining there's not much he couldn't do. And throwing
around lightning bolts would be a nice skill to have. Plus, if there was a way
to harness that energy (as I wrote about in the book), that really would help
save the world from its reliance on limited resources.
Bridget: The ending of the book
brings a vampire to Alex's office asking for help. What kind of adventures is
Alex going to experience in book two?
Robin Burks: I'm already researching the Greek idea of the
vrykalakas, which is their version of the vampire. I have always wanted to
write a vampire story, but it's been done to death (no pun intended). But I
haven't read much from the Greek mythological point of view, so I still want to
pursue that in the next Alex Grosjean book.
Bridget: What was your favorite part
about writing Alex's story?
Robin Burks: My favorite part about writing the story was
those moments that just came to me and I just typed mindlessly. In particular,
I'm thinking of the scene where Alex visits Hades and Charon is singing that
song. I had researched some old poems about Hades and I took that research and
wrote a song about it. I love that scene - it's the one that I love the most
when I think about Zeus, Inc.
Bridget: What was your inspiration
for Zeus Inc.?
Robin Burks: I had a dream one night and
it was about a world powered by the gods. And that was the basis for Zeus, Inc. From there, I typed
up several different first chapters, but somehow thought that the lead
character should be a detective.
Bridget: Are any of your characters
based on anyone in your life?
Robin Burks: Alex is a rougher version of myself. Much of her
back story comes from my own life. I do live with my elderly mother and help
take care of her and I lost my father when I was a teenager, just like Alex. I
also have a big black cat named Karma, who appears in the novel. Aleisha is
based on a relative of mine, someone I would also go to the ends of the earth
for if she were in trouble.
Bridget: Thank you to
Robin Burks for stopping by TeamNerd and the fun interview!
Find out more info on the
author and her books on her site.
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