[Interview] Gregory Peterson – Ex Umbris: Step into the Light

A few days ago, while intoxicated on cough syrup and jalapeno flavored cheese doodles, I ran across a novel on Amazon’s kindle app.  For a paltry two dollars American I downloaded it and immediately began reading it.  The novel is Ex Umbris: Step into the Light by Gregory Peterson.  (You can get it right here by the way).

Greg has chosen the ballsy move of self-publishing.  As someone who is also interested in publishing works and getting cashy money for it, I decided to try to get in touch with him.  I searched high and low for literally minutes before finding his email address and firing off a few questions.  Immediately I was met with a response and a picture of him in nothing but a bathrobe (Which I’m keeping by the way).

Besides a spell in the Harry potter universe used to remove women’s undergarments, What is Ex Umbris?  

Ex Umbris is a story that melds all characters from different religions and mythologies in contemporary society. The story follows and angel of death, Arro, who is tasked by the Fates of Greek mythology with taking the life of a small child. Arro decides to go against their wishes, and goes on the run with the girl.

How did you come up with this concept?  Moon beams?  Too much peyote?  Cold nights and copious amounts of booze?

I have always been pretty obsessed with mythology so I always wanted to do something like this. I grew up reading Greek mythology, and I focused my oh-so useful Anthropology degree in it. However, and this is so cliche, but I had a really weird dream one night about a fallen angel with black wings locked in a cage in a carnival. Thats where I got the idea for Arro.

What were your influences in writing this book?

Mythology in general. I loved using these characters because so many people already know them, but I get to put my own spin on them. Anthropomorphic angels of death were very fun to write. I also have to name drop Neil Gaiman. I love all of his novels and he has always been my biggest influence in writing.

Walk us through your writing process.  I know that a full time day job, killing it at the gym, and being debonair with the ladies would consume the soul of normal men.  How do you find time?

Well I actually wrote this book three and a half years ago when I was laid off from my previous job. So that explains that. Work and other things take up so much time, and that’s why the editing process took so long. I’m six chapters into book two and that’s taken me about a year or so on and off. Here’s hoping Ex Umbris makes me rich so I can do this full time! …or I get laid off again. ..

Why did you choose to self-publish?

I self-published because it’s easy and honestly I didn’t even submit this book to publishers. Everyone I talked to told me self-publishing is the new way to go and a lot of publishers will take you more seriously if you already are self-published for future novels. I’m also terrible with rejection.

Tell us where we can find this book, despite the fact that I will have mentioned it already and will post a link at the end of this interview.

Ex Umbris is currently available on the Kindle and will be available in the coming weeks on all e-reading platforms (ibooks, sony, nook, etc) you can follow the progress by coming to like my book on Facebook (do it!)
www.Facebook.com/exumbrisbook

How does Greg Peterson relax when he finds some down time?  Feel free to use the third person in your answer.

Greg likes to hang out with friends, I go to the movies weekly because I’m obsessed with them. I go to the gym and I play a lot of geeky games.

If you could shape shift into any animal, what would you be and why?  (I have picked a Golden Eagle as they are all kinds of badass.)

This is tough. I would have to say Dolphin. I love to swim and they can beat up sharks. Plus they can do tricks. Hard to imagine a life better than that.

This is you section of the interview to post whatever you like.  Plug a gig or a website, link a video of you doing the Lindy hop, post a profanity ridden tirade about reality TV being the death rattle of the American experiment.  It’s your time now.

Come like my Facebook page!
www.Facebook.com/exumbrisbook
I am also the manager of: www.fiveanddimecomics.com
I also blog off and on at www.tumblr.com/gpeteisthesexy

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Greg was too humble to post directly to the Amazon.com page that contains his book.  Since I am not as humble, and awesome by the way, I will post it.  You can find Ex Umbris: Step into the Light by Gregory Peterson on Kindle now.  Don’t have a kindle?  Buy it anyway and support the arts.

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I wasn’t kidding about the bathrobe …