Welcome, readers, to a distinctive and satirical tale, stepping into Bryan Charles Vish’ world of Epic Exploits in Temporal Tomfoolery: An Overly Epic Time Travel Tale. Hailing from the vibrant Metro Detroit area, Bryan’s creative journey began at Western Michigan University, where his passion for storytelling blossomed amidst laughter and performance during his foray into stand-up comedy. A standout moment in 2013 saw his short film featured at Gilda’s Laughfest, marking a milestone in his artistic pursuits. Bryan’s evolution from script and screenplay writing to novel and short story writing stands testament to his wide exploration of storytelling mediums. In this interview, we’ve stepped into the magic and humor of his latest work, where the ordinary collides with the extraordinary in the whirlwind journey of our protagonist Joshua Miller. Throughout our conversation with Bryan we learn more about the creativity behind Epic Exploits in Temporal Tomfoolery and what led him to creating this temporal tale.
Can you give us a brief overview of Epic Exploits in Temporal Tomfoolery? What inspired you to write this particular time travel tale?
I’m gonna toot my own horn a bit and say it’s a laugh-out-loud story about Joshua Miller, a guy who’s more into burgers than big ambitions. It’s written in a style that’s all about poking fun at the little things we all go through every day – those moments that are so normal, they’re kinda ridiculous. Joshua’s life is pretty much a series of unremarkable events, but that’s sort of the point.
Then, things get wild when Joshua bumps into the idea of time travel. He teams up with Bobby Cole, this quirky inventor, and they dive into the crazy world of trying to build a time machine. This part of the story is a mix of some out-there science fiction and a good dose of humor. I’m basically laughing at how we’re all chasing something different from our daily grind, using time travel as a metaphor.
I was inspired by the events leading up to 2016. I even wrote my initial draft in 2018 just before moving out to Denver. It was originally going to be a novella. For various personal reasons, I shelved the project until 2020. It was during that year since I had some free time, that I wrote a couple of novels that I am currently editing. As I began working on Epic Exploits, other events began to influence my writing.
Having a background in stand-up comedy, I can’t help but comment on the world around me. It’s in my nature.
Time travel stories often explore various themes. What themes or ideas did you aim to explore in your book, and why did you find time travel to be a compelling vehicle for your narrative?
The whole idea for Epic Exploits kicked off with me wondering, “Hey, what if all that clickbait wasn’t just a bunch of nonsense?” That’s where I started. Take Bradford Simpson in my story – he’s sorta like this 
guy from an old internet tale, the John Titor story. This Titor dude claimed he was a time traveler and had this whole blog about it. When I first read it, I couldn’t help thinking how outlandish it all was.
Then, looking back at everything going down around 2016 and all the way up to now, it just struck me how this story still felt spot-on. I’ve dabbled in stand-up and writing comedy back in my college days, and I get how comedy dates. And comedy about current events dates quicker. That’s partly why I put the manuscript on hold for a while – I thought I’d need to totally redo the story to keep it fresh.
But I wasn’t just aiming for laughs. I wanted to dig into how life can get so monotonous. Like, we’re all stuck in this same old routine, day in and day out. How the drive to generate revenue for a soulless corporation that would replace you at the drop of a dime wears us down, eating away at once made us, us. So, the absurdity of the time travel escapade serves as a metaphor for the human inclination to seek extraordinary means to break free from the ordinary.
Laughter is promised in your book. How did you approach incorporating humor into a time travel adventure, and are there specific comedic influences that inspired you?
Humor was at the core of the story from the start for me. I initially had it in my mind that this was going to be a graphic novel. Having gone to school for video production, I briefly had aspirations of making this into a film. I settled on the novel format for practical reasons. The story was in my head and I needed to get it out.
But I didn’t want to write a typical novel. Even satire novels can seem too structured to me. And I always liked Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide series. I really got into how he blended sarcasm with his prose. Having grown up watching Mel Brooks (starting from a very young age), I’ve always had a love for quick jabs and over-the-top parody. I coupled these small parts of what influenced my writing with my natural ability to be a smartass, for lack of a better term.
Tell us about the main characters in your book. How did you develop them, and do they have any traits or qualities that you find particularly interesting or relatable?
Bobby and Josh both represent different aspects of my personality. In a way, their back-and-forth bantering is like the inner turmoil in my head. The problem is, that I don’t naturally have an inner monologue. So, a way I developed to help me work things out is I create a version of myself to perform, essentially carrying out a sort of Aristotelian argument. Their relationship is also to an extent my brother and I. Oddly, the character I feel particularly relatable is Clarence P. Tweed. I don’t want to give too much away, but he’s a wild character. Does not like penguins.
Time travel stories can be complex to write. How did you manage the intricacies of crafting a narrative that involves temporal elements, and did you face any unique challenges during the writing process?
Trying to make the science part of the story not only sound accurate but be plausible, was a challenge. I tried to use actual theories surrounding the concept of time travel and black holes, in particular our ability to create singularity events. The basic concept is that black holes are ways to not only travel vast distances across space but to different points in time. That would mean, logically, that there is potentially a way to control this phenomenon.
Yeah. Researching all of that, while interesting, was not my typical read. Einstein, Tesla, and especially Michio Kaku were not at the top of my summer reading list.
What can readers expect in terms of the epic adventures promised in the title? Are there particular scenes or moments that you are especially excited for readers to experience?
Yes! The heroes fight the Y2K Bug! Not a computer virus. An actual massive, Godzilla-like insect that had been frozen in a glacier since the last ice age. If you close your eyes while reading the description of him (just go with it) he’ll have a vague orange aura about him. Almost as if he the embodiment of everything wrong with society in the story. Tiny insect hands though. Especially for how big he is. The battle takes place at Cedar Pointe. Because rollercoasters.
Without giving away spoilers, can you discuss the level of intrigue and unexpected twists that readers can anticipate in your book? How important are these elements to the overall storytelling?
Clarence P. Tweed is not who you think he is. For this particular story? Not important. More like a seed for something in the future. Yes, all of the novels I was working on in 2020 are part of different series.
What do you hope readers will take away from Epic Exploits in Temporal Tomfoolery? Are there specific emotions or thoughts you want to evoke in your audience?
I hope they will at least walk away with a satirical perspective on life. It’s something I do in my personal life as well. I enjoy encouraging people to reflect on the mundane aspects of our lives and the way we live. To think critically about consumer culture and the capitalist mindset, hopefully, prompting readers to consider the impact of these systems on their values and lifestyles.
But most importantly, the importance of critical thinking. Question your personal beliefs. Challenge your deeply held convictions. As the saying goes, “The finest steel must go through the hottest fire.”
As the author, do you have any favorite scenes, characters, or moments in the book? What makes them stand out to you?
Anything with Tweed. It’s the craziest aspect of my personality. Honestly, I’m surprised I didn’t write the entire book about him. Maybe I will next.
Are there any hints or details about your future projects that you can share with your readers? Will you continue exploring similar themes or venture into different genres?
Yes, I am currently working on a parody of superheroes called Caped Chaos, I have another novel I will be publishing soon called Escape from the 9th Circle. Which is a comedic, parody sequel to Dante’s Inferno. And I have a serious novel series I am currently editing that falls into the Historical Fiction category. This story is centered around Robin Hood, however, I’m taking a very different approach to the character. I used no American influence. And only used the original ballads to craft the narrative. I’m particularly proud of this story party because it is a departure from my usual satirical style but mostly because it was not a script first. All of my other novels were originally some form of a script, either comic book, film, or TV series. This one I set out to write a novel and make it the opening of a series.
How can the readers connect with you?
As of now, the best way to get ahold of me is through LinkedIn. I know that’s an odd one, but I have been trying to stay away from social media, in particular Facebook and Twitter, or X(?), or whatever that– you know what? We’ll leave it at that.
My mother always said, if you have nothing nice to say, say it behind closed doors. I should probably stop before I get in trouble. I might offend the Elon Musk fans.
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Epic Exploits in Temporal Tomfoolery: An Overly Epic Time Travel Tale
Dive into the hilariously chaotic world of Epic Exploits in Temporal Tomfoolery: An Overly Epic Time Travel Tale, where everyday monotony collides with the extraordinary possibility of time travel. Follow Joshua Miller, an average man trapped in a mundane life, whose evenings are a masterclass in 
mediocrity, lounging on a worn-out couch, surrounded by the relics of unfulfilled dreams.
But Josh’s life is about to take an unexpected turn towards the fantastic and absurd. When he stumbles upon the possibility of time travel, his ordinary existence is thrust into a whirlwind of chrono-quests, conspiracies, and comedy. This novel blends the mundane with the magical, taking readers on a journey that is as heartwarmingly familiar as it is wildly imaginative.
Epic Exploits in Temporal Tomfoolery is not just a story; it’s an adventure that questions the very fabric of time and reality, all while making you laugh out loud. It’s a tale for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in life, offering a hilarious escape into a world where the possibilities are as limitless as time itself. Experience a story that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, perfect for fans of humorous science fiction and anyone who loves a good time travel conundrum. So, buckle up for a ride through time that you won’t soon forget – where every page promises laughter, intrigue, and an epic adventure!
Purchase Epic Exploits in Temporal Tomfoolery
It will be available outside of Amazon soon. I have it being distributed through IngramSpark.
