WHY I WRITE: OR LIFE, DEATH, AND JEFFREY KOSH

                  

I always loved writing, and, somehow, I did it even when wasn’t a writer.

When I was a kid, used to invent new stories from old ones; using puppets and the house scenery to lay out new worlds and new characters. I did this with two dear friends, yet, it was always me directing the drama.

Teen years: I became a Dungeon Master. One of those nerdish guys refereeing adventures of –well, you know that fantasy game with warriors, elves, dwarves, and dragons. That was my school of storytelling, I made my bones on writing whole stories (called campaigns) divided in daily – or weekly – episodes (called adventures). My players learned early to not expect too much dice-rolling in my games; I liked drama and character’s development.

Later, it almost became a job. That means they paid me to direct tournaments. I hated that, but loved the extra bucks. In the ‘pro’ world of role-playing gaming I found new grounds, becoming a ‘Storyteller’ (that was the name for a Game Master in World of Darkness games) for Vampire’s chronicles. I became a ‘Keeper’ for Call of Cthulhu, a rpg based on H.P. Lovecraft’s works. And a Director for rpgs based on Star Trek, Star Wars, and so on.

That was also hard. Being a GM means you are screenwriter, director, set decorator, all rolled into one. Add to that you must play the whole world in which your players live, and you must act all the characters they meet; from peasant to mighty dragon, and you get the idea how much my mind was crowded.

Life decided I had to make a break from writing fantasies, and I ended up doing all kinds of jobs: from waiter to masonry, from real estate to receptionist. Hell, I also worked for a mortician, once.
However, my passion stood with me.

I wrote stories for me, mostly, eager to sculpt on paper whatever weird idea came to my mind. I had several creative jobs, too: from special effects for a Sci-Fi series (can’t tell you which one) to photography and advertising. Yet, being the odd guy I am, I always ended jumping to a job to another.

Then, I had this strange idea: writing a novel. It all started on Facebook. I had some published authors as friends. They read a short tale I released weekly on my page for free, some kind of serial chiller.

It was titled‘Black Schooner’ and is the real ancestor to my actual success: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
They liked it, and encouraged me to write and publish at Lulu. So, in June 2011, my mind was invaded by this strange guy, Dr. Axel J. Hyde. He was a killer, but it wasn’t his entire fault, because there was something inside, urging him to spill blood and behave as an asocial individual.

Feeding the Urge had its first spark of light in a stormy night of January the 1st 2012, in Ao Nang, Thailand. If you look at the publishing date, you’ll find it’s different, but I assure you I uploaded those damn files that terrible night, and by the way, it was already Jan. 2nd in Thailand.

This creature, moved with a bump and a hump, yet received some of the best reviews I couldn’t dream for.
Next, came‘Spirits and Thought Forms: Tales from Prosperity Glades’. It is an anthology of short stories set in the same fictional town of ‘Feeding the Urge’, some kind of companion to the novel, explaining most of the mysteries I left unsolved in the main title.

Later, a small publishing house contacted me, requesting a short story for an upcoming anthology based on alternate historical worlds with zombies. I submitted ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ and ‘The South Will Rise Again’. The anthology never appeared, but I self-pubbed both stories on Kindle select program and that allowed me a bit of visibility.
Then, I had this weird idea of trying my hand on a non-horror story. It started as a small piece of erotica and slowly grew into a full-length novel titled ‘Thrill of the Hunt’.

Yet, destiny had other plans. I was halfway in the story when the town I’m living in suffered a major power outage for three successive days. There was nothing I could do without electricity, so spent my days chatting with my wife. And don’t ask me how, the idea for REVENANT came out of those chats.

As ‘Feeding’,this thing infected me with a feverish need. Set in 1850’s Louisiana, and mixing traditional Voodoo belief with ancient European folklore, I wrote this story in an artsy and stylish way. Remember those horror comics’ books from the late ‘70s?

They were the ancestors of today’s graphic novels, full of grim and dreary atmospheres, narrated often in third or second person … but always in present tense.

I love REVENANT. Now, I’m almost ready to publish ‘Thrill of the Hunt’, and am really curious to see my readers’reaction to this evil and wicked tale of sex and betrayal. I also decided to go on hiatus after this, because this writing career is ruining my marriage.

Nonetheless, I cannot.

I discovered that writing is my life; I can’t simply choose to stop writing as much as can’t stop breathing.
Not writing is death to me.

So, forgive me, but I’m going to haunt the writing world for a long time….

Oh, I almost forgot! I’m also a cover artist and formatter. If you need that kind of service just contact me at: jeffreykosh@gmail.com

If you want to see some samples of my art: http://jeffreykosh.blogspot.com/p/my-graphic-art-services.html


About the Author 

Jeffrey Kosh is the pen name of an American horror author now turned into a Digital Nomad. He had various art experiences, before discovering his love for writing fiction. His various careers have led him to travel extensively worldwide, developing a passion for photography, wildlife, history, and popular folklore.

All these things heavy influenced his writing style. Extroverted in public, he is very private in his work, preferring complete isolation to ‘tune’ his mind to the ‘Great Tales Radio’. He believes stories are already out there, waiting to be put on paper. Jeff currently lives in Ao Nang, with his wife, but is heating engines to depart for a new adventure in another country.

He loves kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, and never relaxes ...

Jeffrey Kosh Website:

http://jeffreykosh.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJeffreyKosh

http://www.facebook.com/feeding.the.urge

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5763856.Jeffrey_Kosh


Author Page at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0074F2VGU

Author Page at Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/JeffreyKosh

Author Page at Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JeffreyKosh

BOOKS FROM JEFFREY KOSH

Feeding the Urge
Spirits and Thought Forms: Tales from Prosperity Glades
Dead Men Tell No Tales
The South Will Rise Again
REVENANT
Kamp Koko by Night