Bernard Amador, author of The Rut, To Know a Fallen Angel, Cyber-Eugenics: The Neural Code and The Hei, was interviewed as he exhibited his books at the first annual Self Publishing Book Expo in New York City. The Rut and The Hei are published by Hudson Mohawk Press and To Know a Fallen Angel and Cyber-Eugenics were published by Bernard independently. Here’s what Bernard had to say in response to our questions about The Rut:
Give us a concise description of your book, The Rut.
The Rut is a story about a moose on the loose and gay adoption in the North Country of New York State. A young gay couple adopts a child and has a fateful encounter on the highway with a male bull moose.
How did your book come about?
My partner and I were having brunch at the Ole Tyme Café in Rouses Point, New York. As we read the newspaper and discussed the act of creation and gay adoption, we came across a story about the growing population of moose in northern New York and how it was resulting in an increased number of car accidents. The two worlds collided and there was the inception of The Rut.Can you tell us about the story and a bit about the main characters?
The story is set in the North Country of New York State. It explores gay adoption in an entertaining way for both gay and general audiences. Ean is a young gay man who works as a Forensic Case Manager at a social services agency, and has been married for three years to Stacey, an Assistant District Attorney. Stacey feels compelled to adopt a child who Ean names Tur (“Rut” spelled backwards), who was about to be placed in foster care. As the journey with Tur begins, the young family has a fateful encounter on the highway with a male bull moose.
What has been your experience with the subject of your book?
The subject of gay adoption has been a constant topic of discussion in my relationship. When I embarked on writing the novel I did a lot of research on moose and the rut, the time of year when moose are looking to mate. I also had to do a little research on adoption and the raising of a child. I read many articles in the papers in the North Country, read many books, and articles on the Internet.
Does your personal experience relate to what happens in the story?
The three main characters, Ean, Stacey and Erica, whose role it is to raise the child in the novel, were written from the knowledge obtained growing up in a large family of thirteen children and many grandchildren.
What are some of the rules or prejudices you’d like to see changed about your subject?
One main prejudice is the whole issue of opposition to gay adoption. I would like to see gay adoption to become more accepted and become mainstream.
How did you do your background research?
I clipped articles out of local papers in the North Country of New York State in addition to reading books, conducting Internet searches of specific locations and visiting those locations.
Where do you research information for your books?
I read books, newspapers, conducted Internet searches, scouted locations, etc.
How has the community responded to your work?
I haven’t had much community response; however, those who have read my work seem to enjoy it. Also, people who stopped by my exhibit at the Self Publishing Book Expo seemed very intrigued by the topic and cover design.
How did your work on this get started? Where do your characters in The Rut come from?
Once I read the article on moose in the North Country and discussed adoption with my spouse I began to think of the story, do research and create the characters in my mind as I thought of the story. For example, when I read about moose and the Department of Environmental Conservation I immediately thought of the character Mark and how it would make an interesting story for him to become a love interest of the main character Ean.
You have a background in psychology. What role does your psychology background play in your writing?
I think one of the most difficult aspects of writing is developing fully round characters with a psychology. It is easy to give a character a description, what they look like, how they dress; however, finding how a specific character will emotionally react to a situation and incorporating their history as to why they reacted the way they did is part of the creative process and is a strong part of my work to help build a character that pulls the reader into their life and the overarching story. My psychology studies helped a lot with that.
What do you find to be most exciting about writing?
The most exciting thing about the writing process is the reality of the endless possibilities and the blank sheet before me or on the blank computer screen. With the first stroke of the pen or tap on the keyboard there is discovery of the self and the world.
How did you get your start in writing? What, if anything, lit the “spark” to get you started and keep you motivated?
My writing began with my memoir To Know A Falling Angel. It was a process of catharsis. That was the spark. What continued to fuel me was the echo of two of my writing professors at SUNY Purchase.What are you currently working on?
As I am adapting The Rut into a full-length feature screenplay, and I am also working on another screenplay and novel.
What are your favorite and least favorite things about being a writer?
I would have to say that sometimes my least favorite thing about being a writer is struggling with the idea that I need to find the time to start. My most favorite thing about being a writer is when I am in the heart of writing and I have those moments when the writing makes me one with my emotions and the laughter spurts out of my mouth or the tears stream down my face.
What do you do in your spare time, when you aren’t writing?
I like to travel, see the world and learn about different things because it fuels me with ideas to continue to write.
What was the last book you read and would you recommend it?
The last book I read was Anna Salter’s Predators. I would recommend it with the disclaimer that it is quite disturbing.
How have the books you’ve read influenced the books you write?
Reading books fuels me with the continued intake of ideas and structure. For example, 
Umberto Eco’s The Role of the Reader helps with both ideas and structure.
Umberto Eco’s The Role of the Reader helps with both ideas and structure.What do you do when you’re having writer’s block to “shake” it off?
I don’t believe in writers block. When one feels that they are unable to write it is because the mind is in a process of defragmenting so that the writer’s neurons are making the connections between the data that it has taken in and the data that have been stored up to create something new.
Have you ever had to overcome real tragedy or hardship in your life?
Yes, the loss of a full childhood. That was the catalyst for To Know a Fallen Angel and the start of my writing career.
What makes a good book?
That is so subjective. A good drama would be one that when a reader begins reading, they have a hard time putting it down, whether it’s plot or character that is driving the story the reader is compelled to continue. If a comedy the dialogue or action is so humorous that the reader just can’t quite part with the story.
What do you enjoy more, writing or discovering other people’s work?
When I was younger discovering other people’s work drove me. I could not get out of the library. Now that I am writing, it is equally enjoyable because my writing does involve much research. I just hope that the works that I created will inspire others as I have been.
Thanks to Bernard for an interesting interview, and we look forward to his next interesting writing project!