BJ BOURG
1) Where are you from? Why?
I’m from a small town in southeast Louisiana, because that’s where I was planted. I aim to be here for another eleven years, which is when I hope to retire. At that time, the folks in Gatlinburg had better make room for me, because I’m coming.
2) Generate a relevant formula.
24 ÷ (Wife + Kids + Dogs – Work) = Best Hours of My Day
3) It says on your website that your love for story-telling began at age ten. What was the first story you ever told?
It was a series I called My Dream. It began when my mom would force my brother and me to pray and read the Bible every morning. One morning, instead of praying and reading, I said to him, “Want me to tell you my dream?” He wanted to hear it, so I made up a story about us living in the wilderness, fighting bad guys and wild animals, and rescuing beautiful women. He took to it like an addict to drugs. He begged me each and every morning to tell him my dream, and I was all too happy to oblige him. To this day, I think he really believes I dreamed it all.
4) You have over 19 years of law enforcement experience, including your present work as Chief investigator for a Louisiana District Attorney’s Office. On your website, there’s a picture of you in military uniform and another picture of you using a gun. Is violence necessary to achieve peace?
To be clear, I was never in the military. The outfit I’m wearing is a Ghillie suit I made in connection with my work as a police sniper. Thus, I’ll answer your question from a law enforcement perspective.
As long as there are bad people out there willing and able to commit violent crimes, the option to use force is absolutely necessary to preserve life and maintain peace. Thankfully, the majority of disturbances and arrests are resolved peacefully. If most officers had their way (I would love to be able to say “all officers”, but I’m not naïve), every situation would end peacefully. However, we do not always get to dictate how things end. If suspects decide to fight, we have no choice but to meet force with force.
5) What is your opinion of “literary” fiction?
Over the years, I’ve read a few definitions of what literary fiction is supposed to be. While each definition was different, they all sounded boring. Now, I could be wrong. There might be a number of literary books I could enjoy, but I doubt I’ll ever have time to find out—there are several mystery novels in my office that I’ve been meaning to read for years.
6) What is there, and what should we do about it?
There are too many people getting killed each year by drunk drivers. As individuals, we should make a personal commitment to never drink and drive, and we should prevent our friends and family members from drinking and driving. We should teach our children the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving, as well as the dangers of getting into a vehicle with someone who has been drinking.
7) What’s the most disturbing thing you feel comfortable telling us?
I allowed myself to get talked into judging a beauty contest…twice.
BJ Bourg is a veteran cop who writes in his spare time. He has had over a hundred stories published in over twenty-five publications, including four print anthologies. He lives in southeast Louisiana with his beautiful wife, two wonderful children, two rambunctious dogs and one slithering snake. For more information, please visit his website at www.bjbourg.com.
