Interview with Bear J. Sleeman: The Mind Behind Bear Mountain Trophy Trout Lake
Exclusive for Northern Frontier: Japan's Grittiest Americana Magazine
Interviewer: Hana Takamura
Location: Bear Mountain Ranch, Northern Alps, Japan
Hana Takamura: "Bear, Bear Mountain Trophy Trout Lake is a bloody, adrenaline-fueled beast of a novel. Where does this story come from? What inspired this chaotic, visceral world?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "Hana, I've always been a rancher at heart. Growing up in Bilpin, NSW, my love for Americana—the guns, the grit, the freedom—has never wavered. Trophy Trout Lake is my take on the modern western, infused with slasher horror, bloodshed, and justice. It’s about what happens when the American dream crashes into the nightmare of corruption, betrayal, and vengeance. And, you know, nothing speaks to that quite like a chainsaw-wielding anti-hero taking on a town full of bad guys."
Hana Takamura: "Jack Rennell is quite the protagonist. He’s brutal, but there’s a depth to him. How does Jack’s character reflect your views on toxic masculinity, revenge, and justice?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "Jack’s not just about violence; he’s about calculated, sniper-precision justice. Think of it as the sniper triad—patience, precision, power. Jack’s been wronged, so he’s on a warpath, but there’s honor in his brutality. He doesn’t kill for pleasure—he’s avenging the dead. Every drop of blood spilled is for someone he loved. And as for masculinity, you can bet I packed him with all the grit, toughness, and heart that a man like Jack needs to survive in a world where evil wears a familiar face."
[Excerpt from Bear Mountain Trophy Trout Lake]
"Jack tore through the fog of Trophy Trout Lake with a chainsaw roaring in one hand, a pump-action shotgun in the other. The soy-boy beta cuck commie filmmaker screamed as the teeth of the saw caught him across the gut. Blood sprayed in an arc like red rain. Jack grinned, not because he enjoyed it, but because the world was a better place with one less bastard. He fired the shotgun, blowing a biker off his Harley. 'Bear Mountain's got rules,' Jack growled, voice like gravel, 'and you broke 'em.'"
Hana Takamura: "Your love for the American West is clear. Tell us more about how that influences your writing—and your real life at Bear Mountain Ranch."
Bear J. Sleeman: "Hell yeah, Hana. I live and breathe the Wild West spirit—freedom, independence, and grit. Up here at Bear Mountain Ranch in the Northern Alps, we live old-school: guns, trucks, ranching and hard work. My wife, Megumi, she’s a hell of a shot—just like me. We spend our days fly fishing for gnarly bull steelhead in Bear River, wrestling grizzlies, and making moonshine. The ranch is my sanctuary, and it bleeds into every word I write. That’s the real backbone of Trophy Trout Lake—it’s my life on paper, just dialed up to eleven with more chainsaws and more blood."
Hana Takamura: "Speaking of the real-life crew, you and your brother Wyatt, and your best friend Steve 'Jugs' Smith, are practically legends around here. Especially with stories like the one where Steve downed 20 jug pints in one session at the Bear Mountain Loggers Truck Stop and fought off a gang of bikers. How does your friendship with these guys translate into your characters?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "well, shit, Jugs is one crazy badass som' bitch. He earned that name right. And Wyatt—he’s the coolest brother a man could have. I gave a bit of Jugs to Steve 'Jugs' in the book—hell, that bar fight in Bear Mountain Loggers Truck Stop? It’s practically ripped from real life. Wyatt, Jugs, and I grew up around guns, hunting elk, wrestling bears, and burning diesel in our V8 pickups. We love to roll coal, we bust out burnouts, and Sheriff Grizzly just laughs 'cause he knows we’ll end up helping him clean up this damn town. So, yeah, those characters? They’re us, only way more violent and a lot more dangerous."
Character Profiles from Bear Mountain Trophy Trout Lake
- Jack Rennell: Fresh out of prison, this one-man war against decay is scarred and bent on revenge. He carries a chainsaw and a pump-action shotgun, slaying those who betrayed him.
- Paul Rennell: Jack’s brother, equally dangerous, helps steer the revenge train with cunning and military precision.
- Megumi Rennell: Jack’s wife and a deadly sharpshooter. Behind her graceful smile is a woman who can outgun most men.
- Steve 'Jugs' Smith: A larger-than-life badass motherfucker with an appetite for pints, brawls, exotic big boar sniper rifles and brotherhood. His fists are as dangerous as any weapon in our Fornicatorium armory.
Hana Takamura: "Your mantra—God, Gold, Guns, Guts, and Glory—is legendary. How does it reflect in Bear Mountain Trophy Trout Lake and your life at the ranch?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "That mantra? It’s our brotherhood creed on Bear Mountain. God gives me strength, Gold motivates us, Guns protect us, Guts push us through, and Glory—that’s the reward at the end. This is what life’s all about, especially up here in the wild backwoods on Bear Mountain. In Trophy Trout Lake, Jack’s after all of that—justice for his family, the gold they buried, the glory of revenge. Same for me at Bear Mountain Ranch. We work hard, live free, and fight for what’s ours. God, Gold, Guns, Guts, and Glory—it’s what makes a man a man."
Hana Takamura: "You’ve painted quite the visceral picture with Trophy Trout Lake, Bear. But let’s talk about the culture of Bear Mountain. Your characters embody a tough, unapologetic masculinity. How do you feel about the current conversation around toxic masculinity in our society?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "It’s become a circus of fragile egos and watered-down manhood, Hana. Today’s world wants to castrate masculinity, but let me tell you—men need to be men. We need to embrace grit, strength, and a little bit of chaos. My characters aren’t just tough; they’re unapologetic in their actions. They live by a code—a code that demands respect, loyalty, honor, and the willingness to do what needs to be done. There’s beauty in being a savage, in owning your darkness, and that’s what I celebrate in my work."
Hana Takamura: "That’s a refreshing perspective. In your novel, the Bear Mountain Loggers Truck Stop is a character in its own right. It’s more than just a bar; it’s a sanctuary for the wild and the wicked. Can you dive into that?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "The Loggers Truck Stop? It’s the heart and soul of Bear Mountain. It’s where legends are born, and the air is thick with testosterone, smoke, whiskey, live outlaw country music, and the scent of steak and elk. You got bikers, loggers, wildland fire fighters, ranchers—everyone crashes there after a long day of hard work or troublemaking. Jugs downing pints while brawling with bikers? That’s just another Monday night. It's a refuge for those of us who love the freedom of the road, the taste of good whiskey, and the thrill of a good bare knuckle brawl. That’s the real Wild West and Bear Mountain is the last fronteer, and it’s all captured in that grungy, neon-lit honky tonk dive."
[Excerpt from Bear Mountain Trophy Trout Lake]
"In the heart of the night, the Loggers Truck Stop twanged and banged like a wild beast. Neon lights flickered as the sound of breaking glass echoed like a war cry. Jack was there, surrounded by familiar faces—Wyatt nursing a whiskey, Megumi cleaning her gun with the precision of a surgeon, and Jugs, who had just shot-gunned another pint.
A gang of leather-clad bikers strutted in, their laughter like nails on a chalkboard. But Jack, fueled by rage and a few too many shots of bourbon, smirked. 'Boys,' he said, raising his shotgun high, 'time to show you how we play in Bear Mountain.' With that, all hell broke loose, and blood painted the floor like a grotesque piece of pop art."
Hana Takamura: "You’ve mastered that blend of horror and action, creating a thrilling atmosphere. Tell me, does your real-life love for the wild extend to other interests, like war films or books?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "Absolutely. There’s a certain rawness to war films—the brotherhood, the struggle, the stakes. I’m a sucker for classics like Kelly's Hero's, but I also love slasher flicks. They speak to the primal side of humanity, and that’s what I tap into in my writing. When I’m not tearing through my latest manuscript, you can find me with Megumi, binge-watching war movies, or delving into literature—War and Peace, The Art of War, The Holy Bible, and The Book of Five Rings are staples. Each of those teaches something about strategy, power, and the fight for survival. That’s the essence of life, isn’t it? Surviving against all odds."
Hana Takamura: "And what about hunting? I hear you have quite the reputation for wrestling grizzly bears and hunting bull elk."
Bear J. Sleeman: "Hunting is in my blood, Hana. Nothing compares to tracking and coming face to face with a big bull elk in the wild, feeling that adrenaline pumping as you line up your shot. And wrestling grizzlies? Well, that’s more of a bragging right. It's about respect for the animal and the raw thrill of life. It’s dangerous, but so is sipping your cup of tea without a saucer. And that’s what I want to convey—life is a game of high stakes, and those who dare to play are the ones who write their own stories."
Hana Takamura: "Your passion is infectious, Bear. It seems every element of your life—your ranch, your family and friends, your marriage to Megumi—feeds into your writing. How does that balance work for you?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "It’s a wild ride, that’s for sure. Megumi keeps me grounded, even as we tear up the roads in our diesel trucks and chase elk. She’s my rock and my muse. We balance each other—she’s got the grace, I’ve got the grit. It’s that partnership that enriches my stories. We’re living the dream up here, crafting our own legacy—one story, one hunt, one whiskey-fueled night at a time. And when the sun sets, and we look out over the ranch and the Bear Mountain Badlands, we know that every drop of sweat and blood was worth it. That’s the real story of Bear Mountain.
Hana Takamura: "Before we wrap up, what’s next for Bear J. Sleeman? More blood-soaked action?"
Bear J. Sleeman: "Well hell, you bet. I’ve got ideas brewing—more slasher westerns, maybe even some horror thrown in. Plus, I’m working on turning Trophy Trout Lake into a series. Imagine Jack Rennell’s chainsaw tearing up TV screens across the world. But before that, I’m heading down to Bear River for some fly fishing with Megumi and Jugs. Got my eyes on some monster gnarly bull steelhead. After all, it’s all about balancing bloodshed with some peace."
Hana Takamura: "I can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next. Thank you, Bear, for giving us a glimpse into your world. I’m sure our readers will be just as enthralled by your life and your writing."
Hana Takamura: "Sounds like a perfect Bear J. Sleeman day. Thanks for sharing your world with us, Bear. Looking forward to seeing more mayhem on the horizon."
Bear J. Sleeman: "Anytime, Hana. Keep your powder dry, and Stay Hard!"
Northern Frontier Magazine - Where East Meets West with a Whole Lot of Grit
No comments:
Post a Comment