Kenneth W. Cain talks about writing and several things associated with it.

Okay, Kenneth Cain. This is a little Q & A to get to know a little more about you and thicken up those stalker portfolios.

 http://www.amazon.com/Volume-Collection-Stories-Fiction-ebook/dp/B006S84DNI/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1334258696&sr=1-2

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

I am not a big sweets kind of guy believe it or not, so chocolate isn't really my thing. On the rare occasion I do seek it out, though, I think I prefer the darker chocolate.

2 – What are your feelings in reference to LEGO’s?

They are a good means by which to get a young mind starting thinking, creating, imagining.

3 – I know a lot of people as what the favorites are in regard to horror movies, but my question to

you...what is your drama comedy and why?

Does Breaking Dawn count? 

I mean, they really push it in an attempt to create drama, but the wife and I thought it was damn funny.

4 – What is the story/novel you are most proud of?

The one that has not been written yet. I tend to look back on my own work and want more out of it. I'm not fond of reading my own stories due to this, because in those moments my mind is working hard to make changes even then. An old art teacher of mine once told me a painting is never done, but at some point you have to let it go. I suppose writing is much like this for me.

5 – What is the most interesting thing you have learned?

I suppose you could say I have been surprised by some of the subject matters I have written about. At some point you try to dial into a specific realm within the genre, but I'm not really sure what that is for me right now. I enjoy writing about so many different subgenres it is hard to define myself under anything but what some people consider a lackluster title, dark fiction. It is something I have been trying to work out, but I'm happy where I am with my career thus far.

6 – Do you do a lot of research for your writing?

Yes. A lot of what I write comes from personal experience or dreams that have a foundation in my life, but I think you have to try to get it right. A writer needs to be as convincing as they can with the lie they are telling. Sometimes that requires a lot, and other times it doesn't require much at all.

7 – Tell me about the novels you have written?

These Trespasses was originally a novella. At the time I was more focused on short stories than anything longer (I didn't think I had it in me to write anything longer than a short piece). It was a certain submission call that made me consider shortening the story. I stripped away everything except the part where Bernard becomes the alien and started sending it out. The story was shortlisted a couple of times, but soon I was on to another project and the new shortened version fell to the wayside. A few weeks later I dug up the discarded portion of the story and decided to post a rough serial story on my website. Eventually it gained a small audience that kept asking for more, and before I knew it I had recombined the two halves and formed a novel length story of what I hope is a unique alien invasion.

http://www.amazon.com/These-Trespasses-The-Saga-ebook/dp/B004MDLTYC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334258506&sr=8-1 

Grave Revelations is the sequel to These Trespasses, and was released in the same year. This story features a little different version of the main character Marty, but it also focuses on a couple other characters from the original story. We get to learn what happened to Sandy and much of her background. We also get greater insight into what makes I (also known as The Infinite or Marty's brother, Jake) tick. I really wanted to stir the pot on this one, and try to create a stand-alone novel that doesn't entirely rely on the last book and yet has ties to keep them bound.

http://www.amazon.com/Grave-Revelations-The-Saga-ebook/dp/B005OKA5RY/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1334258669&sr=1-4 

Some people ask me if Reckoning is the last book in the series, why did I label this as a Saga rather than a trilogy. That is a fair question, as Reckoning does complete the story chain—at least as far as my characters have informed me. There are a couple of books I have planned as a side story to the main storyline, but I didn't want to interrupt the flow of these books to tell those tales. We will have to see how things play out, but as of now I have a more of a horror take planned on some side story of I, and I also have a thought on trying to explain the life of Yu (from Grave Revelations) a little. Reckoning itself no longer features Marty as the main character. Now we follow Jacob, but if you want to discover his story you will have to read on, as saying anything would give too much away.

I also have three other novels I have been working on, so you might see something else at some point.

8 –If you could not write, what would be your artistic outlet?

Well, I used to paint a lot, but I'm not as good as I once was. I fear I'm terribly out of practice and it takes a bit of an odd eye to appreciate the sort of art I produce. Photography has come to the forefront a bit, so who knows.

9 – How do you like to tell a story? Character driven, location of importance, or something else entirely?

I like to create a mental framework and then let my characters take over, so I guess you could say character driven. My characters are very much alive to me, and I find myself submersed into their world, and able to relate to them on a very personal level. I have been afraid for them, I have been happy with their successes, and I have cried at their pain.

10– What kind of music do you listen to when writing?

I enjoy a wide variety of music and often let the Apple Genius choose for me, but if I were to name some bands: Metallica, Sinatra, Beethoven, Pink Floyd, Joe Satriani, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and a lot of 80's music to name some.

11 – What is the most difficult thing you find about being a writer?

Speaking up and promoting myself. I don't like to trouble people, or to offend them. I wouldn't say I am completely shy, as those who know me know that I am not. But, I suppose I have sunken into my shell a little as a writer. Being locked up in the house writing stories all day can do that. While I know several authors who seem to have no problem being bold and boisterous about their work, I have a bit of trouble with it. This year I want to try to break out of that shell a little, but I have to say I am always extremely flattered when some takes the time to read my work, and even more so when they take the time to relay their appreciation of it. I am humbled by the entire experience.

12 – Something about you that no one would believe.

Spring is one of my favourite times of the year, because while I love to destroy in my stories and explore the fears and haunts of mankind, I truly enjoy the budding of a spring flower. Nature itself pleases me, and I love to witness the harmony of it all, and sometimes I attempt to capture it in painting or photo.

13 – Unicorns or dragons?

If we are going to use imaginary creatures I much prefer a mix, so a Dragicorn or a Unigorn. Those two creatures are really frightening in my mind.

14 – Okay, now promote yourself here, what else have you done that you would like people to know about?

I have quite a bit going on right now, some of which I can't talk about; unsure if that is a good or bad thing. I do have a short story out recently in Post Mortem Press's Lovecraft themed anthology, Torn Realities. My story is entitled "In The Shadow of The Equine" and is about a father's struggle to protect his son from a strange creature that is invading their campsite (loosely based on Chincoteague). Of course, you can always find out more about me at my website: http://kennethwcain.com