Meet Bryan Asbury | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bryan Asbury and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bryan, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m originally from Pueblo, Colorado. Pueblo is commonly referred to as the “steel city” because the steel mill has been a major industry in our town for nearly a century now. In fact, driving into the city, one of the first things your eyes are greeted with is the ominous smoke stacks off on the horizon. It’s a small town and sometimes gets a bad rap, but it’s my home, and it’s often the setting for the twisted worlds that I create in my stories. Growing up, not only was I an only child, but living in a small town, there wasn’t a lot for a kid to do, especially in the early to mid nineties. You could bum around the mall or play video games with friends, in-person mind you, there was no on-line gaming back then. But then there were movies. . . fantastic escape routes from reality. I would get lost in those movies and television shows. Stuff like “Tales from the Crypt,” “Cape Fear,” “Falling Down” and “Unlawful Entry,” just to name a few. To me they were suspenseful, gripping. terrifying and even sometimes inappropriately funny. They were movie magic, and I was hooked! Then my parents bought me what has become one of my favorite books up until this day, “Night Shift” by Stephen King. It was my formal introduction into how amazing short stories could be. I’m sure I was way too young to be watching and reading this stuff, and I’m also sure that my warped writing style is the by-product of some of this.
I was an average student in school, but excelled in English and art. I began to dabble with writing short stories that mimicked “The Twilight Zone” and “Tales from the Crypt.” I would share them with some of my friends and I loved the creeped-out reactions that I would get. All these factors seemed to work together to influence who I am today as a creator.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There are extreme horror writers, there are gory, gross-out horror writers, there are suspenseful horror writers and then there’s what I’m doing. It’s horror in nature, but it’s like a mutated, hybrid Frankenstein variant that encompasses elements from almost all genres. I like to put it this way. I’ve never aimed to write the scariest or the goriest stories, but what I’ve always tried to do is write the most entertaining stories and I think that’s what will ultimately win over an audience. I also hate artificial dialogue. When I hear something or read something and it just sounds “off” or not like how people really speak, the story just kind of loses me. I’ve always tried to sort of become the characters that I create, at least for that moment in time when I’m composing a story. It can be mentally taxing at times, but the end result is a more authentic character and that’s what I’m becoming known for. Persistence is the key, that’s one thing my parents always taught me and they were absolutely right. If I could add one more thing, it would be vision. If you can pair those two, I feel like you have a recipe for success. I’m not yet where I want to be in my writing journey, but I know I’m on the right path. Trust in yourself and the people close to you as they will never steer you wrong. Take a leap of faith, be fearless, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Brush off the naysayers as they are just dead weight.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There’s a lot to Colorado, and it’s a melting pot all in it’s own. Some spots me and my wife enjoy include: Bishops Castle, Glen Eyrie Castle, Garden of the Gods, San Isabel Lake, Cave of the Winds and Mount Princeton Hot Springs. We also enjoy ethnic cuisine, so for us, some notable restaurants include: Little Nepal Indian Restaurant, Narai Thai Restaurant, Casa Bonita and La Carretta Mexican Restaurant.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Where do I start? There are so many people, places and entities that have been instrumental in helping me along the way. I’d like to start off first by mentioning my wife and secret weapon, Amber. She’s always had my back along the way. From my first appearance at Analogue Books, a small bookstore in our town, to when I made the news and began my Barnes and Noble tour, she’s always been there to cheer me on. The nights we’ve spent laughing together and bouncing ideas off each other for stories and scenes has helped me more than I can even express. My friend Ivan, who recognized my ability, before I even fully realized it in myself. My parents, who have probably bought about thirty of my books by now and that’s being conservative, haha. Richard and Mary Lou Brill, who are always the first to share my posts. Geoff Sturtevant, Drew Blood, Natalie Brown, Otis Jiry and everyone from the “Chilling Tales for Dark Nights Network.” They took a chance on an unknown writer and gave me relevancy and a platform when nobody else would. Tracy Harmon from the Pueblo Chieftain, Nova from Fox 21 News Living Local, Ashley Hamilton from the Littleton Barnes and Noble in Colorado, Joe, Jesse, Pat and Art Razo. All the co-workers who have made me feel that what I’m doing matters. I appreciate all of you!

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