Ask the Author: Bear J. Sleemann
Answered Questions (10)
Bear J. Sleemann
That's a question that cuts to the heart of why we write. To try and unravel the mysteries we find both within and around us.
Honestly, since relocating to these mountains, since feeling the pulse of the Japan Alps beneath my boots and the weight of their ancient silence… well, the line between reality and the stories I tell has blurred.
There's a mystery here, beneath the snowpack and the wind-blasted pines, in the way certain locations seem to hold echoes of events that happened centuries ago. It's in the eyes of the old men, the ranchers, farmers, loggers, and hunters who live in these remote alpine villages, their faces etched with tales that words haven't quite captured.
Perhaps the greatest mystery of all is the invisible hand that guides us, that brought me to these mountains, to this moment. That feels like a novel I'm still unraveling, page by page.
Honestly, since relocating to these mountains, since feeling the pulse of the Japan Alps beneath my boots and the weight of their ancient silence… well, the line between reality and the stories I tell has blurred.
There's a mystery here, beneath the snowpack and the wind-blasted pines, in the way certain locations seem to hold echoes of events that happened centuries ago. It's in the eyes of the old men, the ranchers, farmers, loggers, and hunters who live in these remote alpine villages, their faces etched with tales that words haven't quite captured.
Perhaps the greatest mystery of all is the invisible hand that guides us, that brought me to these mountains, to this moment. That feels like a novel I'm still unraveling, page by page.
Bear J. Sleemann
He thought he was safe deep within the mountain cave, the raw earth his only solace against the storm raging outside. His fingers tightened around his compound bow, his only comfort in the consuming darkness. Then, the wind died. A silence heavier than the snow fell, dragging in the stench of wet fur and things rotting beneath the mountain. And from the fathomless depths of the cave, a voice – ancient, desiccated, chillingly amused – whispered, "They can't protect you from me."
Bear J. Sleemann
Hi Akiko-san
I’m not currently planning any book signings, but if you’re ever in the Azamino area, let’s definitely connect for tea, and I'd be honored to sign your copy of the book.
Sincerely,
Bear
I’m not currently planning any book signings, but if you’re ever in the Azamino area, let’s definitely connect for tea, and I'd be honored to sign your copy of the book.
Sincerely,
Bear
Bear J. Sleemann
Hi Akiko-san
Thank you for your kind words about Bear Mountain The Alpine Crucible! It means a great deal to me that the story resonated with you, especially someone who knows the soul of the Japanese Alps as you do.
I’m not currently planning any book signings, but if you’re ever in the Azamino area, let’s definitely connect for tea, and I'd be honored to sign your copy of the book.
As for Miyamoto Kumayama no Jakku… he emerged from those shadowy places where history and imagination intertwine. While not directly based on one figure, his spirit is imbued with the echoes of samurai like Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi, as you likely know, wasn’t just a master swordsman, but a strategist, writer, and a philosopher in his own right. His writings, particularly “The Book of Five Rings”, delve into not just combat tactics, but the cultivation of a warrior’s mind and spirit – a lifelong pursuit of discipline, self-awareness, and what Musashi called “the perception of that which cannot be seen with the eye.”
Jakku, much like Musashi, embodies this tension between action and introspection. The scars he carries are not just physical, but emotional and spiritual, reminders of the cost of living by the Bushido code in an age where its tenets are often tested, even betrayed. There's a poignant beauty, I think, in exploring how those ancient ideals endure even amidst the unforgiving landscape of the modern world.
Thank you again for your thoughtful message. It's through conversations with readers like you that these stories truly come alive.
Sincerely,
Bear J. Sleeman
Thank you for your kind words about Bear Mountain The Alpine Crucible! It means a great deal to me that the story resonated with you, especially someone who knows the soul of the Japanese Alps as you do.
I’m not currently planning any book signings, but if you’re ever in the Azamino area, let’s definitely connect for tea, and I'd be honored to sign your copy of the book.
As for Miyamoto Kumayama no Jakku… he emerged from those shadowy places where history and imagination intertwine. While not directly based on one figure, his spirit is imbued with the echoes of samurai like Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi, as you likely know, wasn’t just a master swordsman, but a strategist, writer, and a philosopher in his own right. His writings, particularly “The Book of Five Rings”, delve into not just combat tactics, but the cultivation of a warrior’s mind and spirit – a lifelong pursuit of discipline, self-awareness, and what Musashi called “the perception of that which cannot be seen with the eye.”
Jakku, much like Musashi, embodies this tension between action and introspection. The scars he carries are not just physical, but emotional and spiritual, reminders of the cost of living by the Bushido code in an age where its tenets are often tested, even betrayed. There's a poignant beauty, I think, in exploring how those ancient ideals endure even amidst the unforgiving landscape of the modern world.
Thank you again for your thoughtful message. It's through conversations with readers like you that these stories truly come alive.
Sincerely,
Bear J. Sleeman
Bear J. Sleemann
Writer’s block is a wily beast, and I haven't found a single method that always works. Sometimes a change of scenery helps, a walk in the woods, I go running from our ranch directly up the Alps for a few hours, swimming in the glacial lakes or rivers. Other times, I find solace in reading, letting the words of masters inspire me back to the page. And then there are those stubborn blocks that only a good dose of whisky and a late-night jam session with my old blues guitar can seem to break.
Bear J. Sleemann
The best part about being a writer? The freedom! It allows me to live life on my own terms—skiing in the Japan Alps when the mood strikes, immersing myself in the worlds and characters I create. It's a privilege to craft stories that move and challenge readers, hopefully leaving them with a sense of wonder long after they've turned the last page.
Bear J. Sleemann
Write every day. Write like your life depends on it. Write even when it’s hard, when doubt whispers in your ear, when the blank page seems to mock your every effort. Read voraciously, live passionately, and don’t be afraid to bleed onto the page. Invest in a good coffee and master the fine art of slow coffee pour-over using good quality fast filter paper, you're gonna need it.
Bear J. Sleemann
Inspiration can be a slippery thing, but I’ve found it often strikes when I least expect it, chopping wood, those strange, vivid dreams that hit around 4 AM, or while backcountry skiing through silent forests, dwarfed by the towering Japanese Alps. Sometimes it's a chance encounter, a fleeting image, or even the soulful notes of Bill Evans on the piano that sparks something. But more often than not, inspiration waits for me at my desk, which overlooks the snow-capped peaks of the Japanese Alps. There’s something about a fire crackling in the hearth, snow falling outside, and a blank page that ignites my imagination. Once those first words hit the paper, the story takes over, flowing with a life of its own.
Bear J. Sleemann
I'm currently elbows-deep in a prequel to The Alpine Crucible, exploring how Jack and Megumi first crossed paths—and believe me, it's a story that crackles with tension from the very first page. This one delves even deeper into the dark underbelly of AI, those hidden agendas shaping our world from the shadows. Expect a wild ride through the digital underground, with appearances from some familiar faces from Bear Mountain. It’s a prequel that stands on its own two feet while laying the groundwork for the larger saga to come.
Bear J. Sleemann
The seed for BEAR MOUNTAIN was planted years ago during a harrowing 10-day backcountry ski mountaineering trek with my wife through the Japanese Alps in Winter. We got caught in a brutal blizzard, utterly lost, when we stumbled upon a vast, hidden cavern network. It felt like something out of time, a place where ancient secrets might linger. That experience sparked a story idea—what if this cavern held dangers far greater than we could imagine? This, combined with my wife's fascination with technology's potential to both save and doom humanity, fueled the twisting, apocalyptic tale that became The Alpine Crucible.
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