Get to know Josh…

Josh Berk is the author of THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN, GUY LANGMAN: CRIME SCENE PROCRASTINATOR, and STRIKE THREE, YOU’RE DEAD – the first in the “Lenny & The Mikes” series. For more info, visit his website. For too much info, visit his Twitter.

Let the conversation begin!

What one word describes you?

“Not that good at following directions.”

Do you bake or buy?

Eat.

What song best describes your work ethic?

“I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement” (Ramones)

What is your concession stand must-have at the movies?

Popcorn and M&Ms and then you dump the M&Ms into the popcorn. My sister invented this. She is a genius.

What is one quality that you really appreciate in a person?

As Oscar Wilde once said, “I’d rather talk to an interesting jerk than a boring nice person.” What I’m trying to say is, a quality I appreciate is when people don’t fact-check my quotes.

What is your favorite board game? 

Scrabble, even if it often ends in bloodshed.

What would you rather have: a nanny, a housekeeper, a cook, or a chauffeur?

I kind of like driving and don’t really mind cooking. Hanging out with my kids is okay. So I’ll go with housekeeper. Who likes keeping houses? Not this guy.

Would you rather be trapped in an elevator or stuck in traffic?

I have a border-line psychotic fear of being trapped in an elevator. Whereas I actually rather like being stuck in traffic. Just turn the radio up loud and let it rock, baby. (Who am I calling “baby??”)

What do you think you do best in your writing? Bragging is encouraged.

I’m pretty good at dialogue. I’m also really good at similes. I’m so good at similes, I’m like … a someone who is … good … at … a thing.

What book are you reading now?

Ten Little New Yorkers by Kinky Friedman. He’s my favorite mystery writer.

Name one entity that supported your writing journey outside of family members.

I just want to say the entire community of YA authors is a very supportive and cool bunch.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I never think about it! That way lies madness!

What initially inspired you to pursue a career in writing?

I grew up in a family of book-lovers. Both my parents were librarians and encouraged a love of writing and reading from an early age.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

If an idea scares you or seems too impossible to pull off, try it anyway! Don’t be limited by fear and don’t worry about perfection. Even if you throw away every word you wrote at the end of a day, it was still a productive day as long as you wrote. You learned something and the only way to get better is to practice.