dead medium – Jackson Paul Baer

Today, we’re talking to our friend from the UK, Peter John. Now, besides having two first names, Peter is a talented writer and a social media guru. Sit back, relax, but don’t let your guard down too much as his characters just might come to life.

You’re the author of DEAD MEDIUM. How would you describe the book in only three words?

Grumpy Old Ghost

Share your favorite passage from the book in one paragraph or less.

“I think we should start by lighting some candles,” Barbara suggested.

“Always with the candles, I don’t see how they help?” Victoria groaned. Barbara pulled four small, red tea-light candles from her bag.

“They work I tell you!” Barbara said as she placed the candles on the table. She put coasters underneath them to protect the wooden surface.

“How do you know?” Victoria asked, “Have you ever tried without them?”

“We have never had a reaction from the spirit world without them,” Margaret pointed out. Victoria looked over at her.

“We have never been without them to know!” Victoria said. Deborah put her hand in the air.

“I quite like them; I think they’re rather pretty,” she announced.

“They calm the spirits and make them more amiable and approachable”. Barbara explained as she begun to light the candles. May watched the candles burn and felt no calming effects; she was more worried about them becoming a fire hazard. Penny seemed to like them, however, so maybe Barbara did have something there.

You’ve been presented with the opportunity to be a best-selling author but can never write again or write forever but never have a bestseller. Which scenario sounds more tempting?

This one is a bit tricky. I would love to become a best selling author if only for the opportunity to spend more time writing. Obviously this question wouldn’t allow me to do that so I guess I would have to go for the other option. Becoming a best selling author is not the be all and end all for me. As long as there is someone out there enjoying my books then I feel that I have achieved what I set out to achieve.

If you could live on a college campus and never leave or in a small town but be able to travel, which one would you choose?

I would choose the small town. I live on the outskirts of London but I would be much happier living in a small town or village that nobody has ever heard of.

Okay, how about America or Canada?

Canada. I always envision beautiful open countryside when ever I think of Canada.

Who is your favorite 90’s band (I’m thinking Counting Crows, Blink 182, Hootie & the Blowfish)?

Blur. I love their punchy tunes and humorous lyrics.

And what about your favorite comedy on TV (I love The Office and Seinfeld)?

The list goes on! Red Dwarf, Only Fools and Horses, Black Books, Spaced, The Big Bang Theory, The Vicar Of Dibley to mention a few.

Is there anything you’re currently working on?

My Current WIP is called ‘Just Medium’ which is a spin-off/sequel to ‘Dead Medium’. I am also working on extending ‘The Trump Diary’ which is the diary of May Elizabeth Trump’s life before ‘Dead Medium’.

Who is your favorite author and if you could ask him/her one question, what would it be?

Piers Anthony and my question would be: Is Xanth real and would I need a visa to go there?

Lightning round:

Ocean or mountains? Ocean

Peaches or plums? Peaches

Skittles or M & M’s? Peanut M&Ms, hold me back!

Happy or sad ending to a novel? Happy every time. There is enough sad in the real world.

Beer or wine? Beer. Silly question.

Flying or driving? Flying. It’s faster and I don’t have to concentrate. I used to like driving but now I avoid it if I can.

Edgar Allan Poe or Walt Whitman? Edgar Allan Poe. Creepy and suggestive horror. Atmospheric, chilling and no more gore than it needs.

You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take two things with you as well as two people. What and who are you bringing?

For a start, I would only bring one person. It would be nice to get some time alone with my wife. We live with my elderly mother and are constantly surrounded by other people’s children. Don’t get me wrong, we love them all to bits, but sometimes it would be nice to spend some time alone, just the two of us. As for what I would bring. I guess food and water would be the most sensible answer but a pen and some paper always comes in handy.

You’re able to sit down with any leader in world history. Who would you choose, what would you talk about, and would you rather have him over to your house or meet at their place of royalty

Winston Churchill. I would like to meet with him at No.10 and would mainly talk about his experiences as an author. Obviously WW2 would enter the conversation but he was a writer before and after he was prime minister.

You can wish for one thing and one thing only, not world peace and no more wishes. What’s it gonna be?

Immortality, I would love to see how the future turns out.

Peter John was born in Bromley Kent, England in 1973. He gained an interest in creative writing at the age of 14 and was published during the 1990’s in several poetry anthologies. Happily Married to Jo since 1996 and currently living in Sidcup Kent, not so far from the tree.

Dead Medium

The deathly silence is about to be broken. She disliked the company of others and death did little to warm her spirit. She had led an independent life and she faced death in much the same way. She was finally alone, finally free from the mindless babble of others, at least that’s what she thought. May Elizabeth Trump was the rarest of spirits and she was none too happy about it either. She was a dead medium, a ghost who can speak with the living, and her services were to become in great demand. Flung into the limelight and smothered with unwanted attention, May soon discovers that it is not only ghosts with long awaited messages that have taken an interest in her. Something dark was lurking in the shadows, stalking her. Even the dead are not left to rest in peace. Dead Medium: A humorous, character driven story and a unique vision of life after death. Not your average ghost story.