This week I had the chance to catch up with Dane Cramer, the author of The Nephilim: A Monster Among Us. However, what makes this article both woefully awkward and incredibly pitiful is that I am actually Dane Cramer. So, I’ll be playing the part of a notable author as well as a renown correspondent. Yeah, it’s a stretch – and a little embarrassing. But, if I don’t do it this way it will never actually happen.
Me: I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. I know how busy you must be.
Dane: From what I understand, you are every bit as busy as me.
Me: Touché
Dane: Gesundheit.
Me: Hmm… Okay, let’s just jump into the first question. Where did you get the idea for the story behind The Nephilim?
Dane: Well, I wrote the initial scene years ago, while I was finishing up my first book. I did it for kicks, just to see if I could write a suspenseful scene. At about that time The Da Vinci Code was popular. In that story, Dan Brown took an uninformed swing at Christianity. So, I thought that I should write a book that provided an informed defense of the Christian faith. I began to think of how I might weave a story of a mysterious Creature into an apologetic novel. The Nephilim was the result.
Me: What type of defense of the faith does the book provide?
Dane: I chose to take on some popular notions regarding the reliability of the New Testament. I tried to articulate those notions the best that I could. At the end of the novel I tried to provide sound arguments against those notions.
Me: Where did the characters come from? Were they based on real people?
Dane: Some of them, like Sheriff Frank Bragg, were based on people that I knew. Others, like Cliff Janowski, were a composite of real people and made up characters. The remaining were just made up without anyone in particular in mind.
Me: And the Creature? Who, or what, is it based on?
Dane: I have to be careful – I don’t want to provide any spoilers.
Me: Keep in mind that I’m publishing this on your web site, where the readership is relatively low. It is unlikely anyone will even read our interview.
Dane: Good. Let’s just say that every encounter with the Creature was based on an actual reported encounter that someone had claimed to have experienced.
Me: “Experienced” with what?
Dane: Of that I don’t know. All of their encounters have remained unsolved to this day.
Me: Well, it seems that you took the position that the Creature was not something out of the book of Genesis. Is that correct?
Dane: Have you even read my book?
Me: Kinda, but not really. I’m actually you, remember?
Dane: Oh, that’s right. Yes, I think my book takes an exegetical swing at the popular notion that the Nephilim of Genesis are with us today. But, I’ll let the reader make up his or her own mind on that.
Me: I hear there is talk of a movie?
Dane: Who have you been talking to – Mom?
Me: Yes, Mom loves the book.
Dane: She does. But Mom doesn’t have a lot of pull with the movie industry. So, I doubt that there will be a feature-length film.
Me: So, what’s next for you? A sequel?
Dane: I’m kicking around the idea of a sequel. But I haven’t made up my mind. I’ve also considered trying to write some comedy. I just don’t know. Right now, I’m working with a voice-over actor who is helping to produce the audiobook of The Nephilim. We hope to have it out by November. He’s doing a good job, and I’m excited about that.
Me: Any other writings?
Dane: Yes, I try to keep up with my blog, where I post short articles. Readers can subscribe to the blog and get update notifications by email. It’s fun to do.
Me: Well, I appreciate your time. Good luck with your future endeavours! Perhaps we can sit down and talk some other time?
Dane: Sure. Tell your smokin-hot-wife I said “hey.”
Dane Cramer is a backpacker, Christian blogger, jail chaplain, and author of two books: Romancing the Trail and The Nephilim: A Monster Among Us.