Interview with Eric Weule, Author of Caffeine & Nicotine

What can you tell us about your new release, Caffeine & Nicotine?

Caffeine & Nicotine is a surf noir mystery with a touch of the supernatural. It is the second book featuring Kelly Jenks.
The novel focuses on a series of murders and a missing young woman. There’s plenty of coffee, cigarettes, mystery, and music. And, maybe a couple of ghosts.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

My family read The Stand out loud every night during the summer of 1982. It took the whole summer, but it was the defining moment in my life as far as wanting to be an author. I started writing the day after we finished and I haven’t stopped since. I took a couple extended breaks, but stories are always running through my head. Once a writer, always a writer.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

This isn’t even a fair question, there are so many books that I love. Hundreds of them. So, I will narrow it down to the five most influential books I’ve read.
1) The Stand by Stephen King. The book that started it all for me. He’s written a number of better books, but it is definitely the most influential.
2) Gone South by Robert McCammon. Boy’s Life is up there, too. Gone South was the first book I read that blended horror with mystery and I loved it.
3) The Tomb by F. Paul Wilson. Repairman Jack is one of my favorite characters in fiction. I am, and always will be, in awe of Wilson as a writer.
4) A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. Kinsey Millhone is up there on my list of favorite characters. She was also my first fictional crush. Grafton was one of the best.
5) Every Dead Thing by John Connolly. Charlie Parker is my number one. Connolly is my favorite writer and he is a constant influence on my work.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Robert McCammon would be my first guest. I would ask him if he regretted taking a decade off from writing. The struggles he went through to get Speaks the Nightbird published just blew my mind.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I love watching the characters evolve as I write. They’re just ideas in my head, and then they become their own independent beings. It’s like raising kids, only much faster and no diapers or college tuition.

What is a typical day like for you?

I work full-time at my day job. I write an hour or two every night when I’m actively writing a novel. Other than that, just normal life shizz. Feed the dogs, hang out with my partner, Stephanie, and enjoy what life has to give me.

What scene from Caffeine & Nicotine was your favorite to write?

There’s a very cool scene near the end of the book where Ryan and Jackie go surfing. I loved writing it, but it was stressful because I had to nail the feel and emotion of what they were sharing while riding waves. The hardcore surfers who have read it gave me props for that scene, so I’m happy.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

My philosophy is to work hard and take care of the people I love. I can’t control the world, I can only make sure I’m doing right by my family. That’s all that matters.

Do you have any reviews of the book you’d like to share?

“Mystery, crime, and the supernatural are all mixed in Caffeine & Nicotine by Eric Weule, an engaging story with a lot of fun characters and a gripping plot. If you enjoy atmospheric writing, terrific descriptions, and humorous narrative, then this is a great treat for you.” – Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

“A solid and absorbing piece of work” – Debra Doyle, co-author of the Mageworlds series

“The dark and intriguing backdrop of Caffeine & Nicotine by Eric Weule captivated my interest immediately. This is a brilliant tale of suspense, human relationships, and the mysteries of the afterlife.” – Lesley Jones for Readers’ Favorite

“It is as if Mr. Weule has taken the best elements of the genre and modernized them, but done so immersed in finely tuned relationship studies.” – Austrian Spencer, author of The Sadeiest

“It is dark and gritty, a mixture of crime and the supernatural, with several subplots weaving through the main story, all tying in nicely. The author has a way of writing that draws you in and makes you feel as though you are there in the story and offers plenty of action to keep you interested.” – Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite

Eric Weule is the author of the new book Caffeine & Nicotine.

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