The Dark Side Of The South: Rising Southern Fiction Author Harlinn Draper
- Sarah Bloom
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Join me as I explore the twisted mind of Harlinn Draper, a rising southern fiction author, and uncover the what’s inside his head.
Sarah Bloom: Thank you for inviting me into your beautiful home and sitting down with me today to discuss your new book, "Roughneck." It's an honor to be here.
Harlinn Draper: Nah, man. It's my pleasure, Sarah. Thank you for giving me this platform to share my words. Thank you for being such a kind and helpful influence.
Sarah: Of course, Harlinn. Don’t make me blush now. As I understand it, this is your first interview, correct?
Harlinn: Yes, that's right. I did a weird little mock interview for a small paper once, but it was more for fun than anything else. I don't even remember the name of the paper, but it might be on my blog. This is my first real interview, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to reach a wider audience. By the way, do you mind if I smoke?
Sarah: Not at all, it's your home! Your backyard is stunning, by the way. It's such a serene spot. Do you find yourself writing here often?
Harlinn: Occasionally, yeah. It's a good place to unwind and listen to the birds. My writing often takes me to dark places in my head, so it's nice to have a peaceful retreat. I don't have a fixed writing spot, though. I might write in my chair, at the kitchen table, or even while driving or walking my dog. I used to try and carve out time for myself to write, but it felt forced. Now, I just write whenever inspiration strikes. Some days I might churn out 10,000 words; other days, just 10. My files are a mess—full of different versions of stories, random quotes, and snippets. I've got about 50 pieces up on my Werdsmith portfolio and probably another 400 on my computer.
Sarah: Do you smoke while you write?
Harlinn: Not always. I'm more of a coffee fiend when I'm writing. Sometimes I get into a writing psychosis and don't even think about smoking until after I'm done. Smoking is just a part of my daily routine, it’s like brushing my teeth or taking a shower. It's just who I am, you know?
Sarah: No judgment here. Florida's a medical marijuana state, so you're all good. Now, let's talk about "Roughneck." It's a pretty dark, violent story about redemption and revenge, featuring an antihero trying to escape the oppressive grip of the state police after they've taken everything from his family. Does that sound about right?
Harlinn: Yeah, that's pretty much the gist of it. Floyd, the protagonist, is a rough-around-the-edges guy from the wrong side of the tracks. He's got no father figure and a wild group of friends. He commits crimes, but often with good intentions, helping those he meets find a better path in life. I wanted to portray him as a good person at heart, despite being a cold-blooded killer. It's a bit like rooting for the bad guys, similar to how I felt watching Rob Zombie's "The Devil's Rejects." This story actually started as an interpretation of a song by my late friend, Jon Booth. The song, "Roughneck," inspired me, though it's probably not the story Jon intended. That's the beauty of art—everyone can see something different in it. I left some things vague in the book on purpose, like what happened to Charity or why Floyd killed Willard after they dealt with Lonnie. It leaves room for the reader's imagination.
Sarah: I was curious about what happened to Charity. I thought maybe Lonnie tried to kiss her, she pushed him away, and he reacted violently.
Harlinn: That's a plausible theory, but Lonnie could have had darker intentions. Maybe he was planning to kill them all. I don't have a definitive answer, and I think that ambiguity adds to the fun of reading it. There's no right or wrong answer.
Sarah: What else are you working on? What can we expect next from Harlinn Draper?
Harlinn: Fuck, man, where do I begin? I’ve got so much shit. I’ve been working on a series that spans 75 years. It'll be split into three books: "Beyond the Moonrise Mist," "Southern Bones," and "Historical Trauma." I'm finishing up the first one now. But while working on those, I started another project about a woman who loses her family and discovers foul play. It flowed so quickly that I had 20,000 words in just a day. It's called "Sins of a Final Retribution," and I think it'll be finished first. I plan to submit it to an agent I've been in touch with. It’s kinda fucked up of course, but it’s got a lot of depth and I think if you like “Roughneck” you will probably dig “Sins of a Final Retrebution”.
Sarah: That sounds incredible! Can we expect to see it published by a major publisher?
Harlinn: We'll see about that, haha! "Sins of a Final Retribution" will be available on Amazon in May. It might catch the eye of a major publisher later, but for now, I enjoy the control that comes with independent publishing. It’s fun, I don’t have to answer to anyone.
Sarah: Let's shift gears a bit. What were you like as a kid?
Harlinn: I was a bit like Floyd, minus the criminal part. Well I did get arrested a few times, no murders though. I grew up tough, always getting into fights but never anything too serious. My parents were divorced and mean as fuck to each other. I grew up pretty angry. I really liked to fight, then I started boxing and calmed down a bit. I was the kind of kid who was curious about everything, always pushing boundaries but with a good heart underneath it all. As I grew up, I liked getting fucked up with my friends. I got a little too heavy with boozing when I was married to my first wife. We were both alcoholics and toxic to each other. The divorce took me into a pretty heavy drinking and cocaine stage of my life that lasted longer than it should’ve. Moving to florida and meeting Jennifer was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Sarah: That's a fascinating parallel to your character. Did you have any role models growing up?
Harlinn: My dad was my biggest role model, but he wasn't around much, becuase we lived in Ohio and he stayed in Kentucky. I looked up to my older sister and some of my friends. They taught me a lot about loyalty and standing up for what you believe in, even if their methods weren't always the most conventional.
Sarah: It sounds like those experiences really helped shaped your writing. How do you think your childhood influences the themes in your work?
Harlinn: Oh fuck yes! Absolutely. Growing up in that environment made me see the world in shades of gray rather than black and white. It's why my characters often have complex motives and why I explore themes like redemption and the struggle between good and evil. Or what the definition of evil even is. I want readers to see that even the most flawed people can have a shot at redemption. The characters, they’re never really gone. They're always in your mind, waiting for the moment to step out in the real world.
Sarah: That's a powerful message. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Harlinn: Just that I’m so fucking incredibly thankful! I'm grateful for all the support everyone has given me, especially in the writer community and so happy for the chance to talk shit. Writing is my way of making sense of the world, and I hope it clicks with people. Keep an eye out for my upcoming books. I should have a couple finished in the upcoming year. I’ve got to make something out of this. You’ve been amazing Sarah, and thanks for joining me today.
Sarah: Thank you, Harlinn, for sharing your side of the story and your journey with us. It's been a pleasure.
