Ramblings of an Anxiety Ridden Mind...

Interview with the brain nomming Zombie Zak

2012-02-21T16:22:00.002-05:00

Okay, Zombie Zak, this is a little Q & A to get to know a little more about you and thicken up those stalker portfolios.

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Milk, from the source of all the world's goodness, milk makes chocolate extra yummy.

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

Need more; build more, more pieces, more zombie bits, aye, aye, aye!

3 – I know a lot of people ask what the favorites are in regard to horror movies, but my question to you...what is your favorite comedy and why?

Army of Darkness. That movie is chock full of schlock, fun, silliness, corniness and out and out fun. Not a scary movie in the least. Full of one liners to make any deadite proud, AOD is my favourite comedy. And, besides all that, did ya see all the dead things in that movie? They own that story ...

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

"Zombie Unicorns" (published in Necrotic Tissue, 2009) - my first published piece of work. Why am I proud of it? Well, it was a challenge, a gauntlet thrown down, and I picked up my pieces and put something together that was just plain on the off kilter side. And I liked it. And, apparently, so too did the editor, so, win-win! And, being my first published credit, that's just total groovy.

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

How to dial "9-1-1"...It's amazing what kind of delivery service you get from those guys. You just call the number, indicate that there's a lot of killing and other so called bad things happening, and voila, they send out dinner ... tasty walking snak packs ...

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

Absolutely! Texture, feel and ambiance are important; one can fake a lot of things, but facts are hard to refute. If you can nail the sense of doing something right in the written word, then little details can be worked out and hopefully one can tell a cohesive story. I like to have accuracy in the details, I don't like to gloss over facts (even when sometimes it's necessary, but that's the way of that. Every effort should be made to make sure that the story is the tightest it can be.)

Beyond that, research also allows for an expansion on impressions. By reading up on seemingly meaningless trivia, sometimes an important factoid spills out that could help make the story better, or, prove that something else needs to be done to get it back to there.

7 – Tell me about the novels you have written?

No novels yet, just the one book of poetry (Chaptered and Versed, Poetic and Cursed.) It began in Africa ... errr, no, not really. However, it began as a desire to compile and collect a bunch of my random poetic splatterings and see if I could book form it - turns out I could, and that it was liked by others. Thus, there will be more, just when and where is left for tomorrow to figure out.

http://www.amazon.com/Chaptered-Versed-Poetic-Zombie-Zak/dp/1453695672

8 – Do you consider yourself prolific?

In poetry, yes. I write bits and passages and whole pieces all the time. The "muse" as it were, overcomes and I spill out my words onto the screen or written page (and yes, occasionally I hand write them.) Most times, I sit down, putter around and start with a word, or a phrase, and an entire poem will erupt out as it is want to do.

In fiction writing ... less than I'd like, but the drive is to do more. I have a large framework that I've been building for some time, and if I can push my zombie butt to keep working at it, then the answer will become, prolific.

"Pro-life-ick" Yes, I consider life to be ick ... But suitable for nomming on, though!

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

Yes.

Or rather, yes, I like to tell a story that shows that a character is worth something. That he/she/it can be more than just the archetype of its origin. (However, some characters are still good when they remain true to type and never change.) I feel that location is important to the relevancy of the story. Having an Egyptian zombie in New England, for example, is rather awkward, unless there is a foundation and a rationale that makes sense. Logic is a buzz that I'm a big fan of. I might miss it sometimes, but the effort is to craft a story that puts one ready in mind, if not in mindset, of where, what, how and whom the story is about. I believe strongly that if you can't craft a good character (whether likable or detestable) then the story fails. However, if you can craft the character with such win (good or bad person) then the story can transcend the limitations of environment or other elements. Character is king ... because without it, there's no story.

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

Random, completely, totally whatever the iPod decides to play, that's OK by me. I don't find the music as an assistance to the writing process. I do, however, find it to be of assistance in providing an alternate distraction to pull me away from what I'm doing, so that I can re-focus on what I'm trying to accomplish. Every so often, I'll just pull away from the story I'm writing, and listen to the tune that's playing and allow the brain to float freely; once done, the mind returns sharper and finding better footing to finish.

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

Thumbtacks - they get into the weirdest places and then there's oww ... Beyond that, the simple thing about spending time harvesting the words from my mind and splattering them onto the page. So many things going on in my un-life, that I want to clone myself so that I could get more done ...

12 – Something about you that no one would believe.

I like cookies. Wait, no, people already believe that ('cause it's true!)

I have never seen the movie, "Titanic" ... and probably never will.

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

--Old School (published by Bellfire Press), a collection of horror stories about classic horror monsters and a return to what made them really scary. My contribution to the anthology, is a poem for each story, and a poem that ties them all together.

http://www.amazon.com/Old-School-Belfire-Press/dp/1926912195

--Rogues in Hell (to be published by Perseid Press), is a collection of stories continuing the Heroes in Hell series from the '80's, revolving around the greatest assortment of characters from all of Earth's history ... but in Hell, where they belong! I have a story that will be in this book when it comes out.

--Who's Afraid of the Boogeyman (to be published by Perseid Press), is a collection of horror stories, that contains my short story entitled, "Bad Mustard" - "I hate mustard, but I love Olive Oil."

--Chaptered and Versed, Poetic and Cursed (published by Twisted Library Press) is my first collection of poetry with a horror bent. And zombies. Because, you can never have enough zombies.

--Baconology (published by Twisted Library Press), is a collection of horror stories that revolve around bacon ... because, bacon always makes everything better! And, I have a story in this collection.

There's a couple of other books that I have stuff coming out in this year, too ... but if I tell you about them now, without knowing when they're coming out ... I might have to eat your brain.

Come visit or follow me on Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube or any other place that I show up on ...

https://www.facebook.com/ZombieZak.ZZ

http://zombiezak.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/TeamZombieZak

Twitter: @ZombieZak

http://www.amazon.com/Baconology-Bill-Tucker/dp/1463699522/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329860053&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Chaptered-Versed-Poetic-Zombie-Zak/dp/1453695672/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329860111&sr=1-1

Interview with Patrick Rutigliano

2012-02-06T13:09:00.000-05:00

Okay, Patrick Rutigliano, 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/Black-Corners-Blood-Red-Patrick-Rutigliano/dp/1453756531

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Chocolate so dark light cannot escape its surface.

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

Mostly positive...until I remember the time I sliced my finger open with a pocket knife trying to get one of the blasted plastic bags open. It was a fine day for stitches, I assure you.

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 favorite comedy and why?

That's a tough one as I haven't gone out to see a strictly comedic film in years. Most of the comedy I like is rooted more in the Vaudevillian tradition of sharp, verbal exchanges (sadly, all but a dead art in modern film). The Marx Brothers were brilliant. However, the nerd in me says, "Spaceballs." Definitely, "Spaceballs."

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

As far as short stories go, probably, "The Enemy of my Enemy." It's got trench warfare, bizarre chemcial weapons, and giant lice woven together with (what I'm told) is a squirm-inducing narrative. What more could you ask for?

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

Clive Barker's pants have more personality than most people I've met.

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

It depends entirely on the work. If a story is based largely in some element of daily life going horribly amiss, probably not. If it requires an exploration of time periods I haven't lived through or anything with which I'm unfamiliar, I tend to tear my hear out over details until I get it right.

7 – Tell me about the novels you have written?

I've technically only written one full-length novel so far. It's a rather mad love letter to the old pulp hero stories. Dark, post-apocalyptic, period pulp with a twist of Jung would be the best way to describe it.

8 – Do you consider yourself prolific?

Not especially. I used to write short stories pretty frequently (about one a week), but my speed has since slowed down. Nowadays, I aim for one book's worth of content per year--two if I can get away with it. Compared to some of the writers I know (i.e. Eric S. Brown), that's not much at all, really.

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

It depends a bit on the format. With poetry, imagery is everything. The length of flash fiction limits the amount of character development you can squeeze in, so again, imagery is usually the most vital aspect. However, with short stories and anything longer, everything takes a backseat to the people inhabiting them. A reader needs another personality to invest in to keep them going for the long haul.

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

Oddly, I'm one of the few writers I know who can't stand music while I'm writing. I don't like any noise at all, really.

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

For me, it's knowing that I can write the best book or story I can possibly craft and that it still runs a very real risk of never being read by more than a handful of people. For a creative individual, there is no starker prospect. The lousy pay doesn't help either.

12 – Something about you that no one would believe.

I engaged in naval warfare with my brother via the magic of theme park special effects. No, I'm not kidding. I shot him with a torpedo. Oh yeah, and I rode a giant bee.

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

Firstly, my short story collection, "Black Corners of a Blood-Red Room" is available via Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble(.com), and directly through the Twisted Library online store. It contains forty-six grisly tales exploring everything from organ-harvesting robots to a vampires disgruntled with the portrayals of his kind in cinema. I guarantee you a good time.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Corners-Blood-Red-Patrick-Rutigliano/dp/1453756531

Also, the above-mentioned novel, "Surviving the Crash," will be serialized on my blog in the coming months before being independently published. Progress on the book can be followed here: http://www.patrickrutigliano.blogspot.com.

Interview with John Irvine, contributor to April Fool and other Antipodean horror stories

2012-02-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

A: Oh, definitely dark. I think milk chocolate is at best a teaser for beginners, or at worst a cop-out for the weak stomached and under-cultured.

2 – What are your feelings in reference to LEGO’s?
A: LEGO? You mean those funky wee plastic bricks? Legend has it that they were designed for kids, but if you think about it for a minute, who do you see playing with them the most? Adult men. Same with model trains… these so-called toys were invented by adult men for adult men who then spread the rumour about them being for kids so they could ‘help’ their kids play without seeming to be overly interested themselves. Personally, I prefer a good old wooden top with a string.

3 – I know a lot of people ask what their favorites are in regard to horror movies, but my question to you...what is your favourite comedy and why?
A: No need to think much here: my all-time favourite comedy is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Why? It has great music, outrageous characters, fabulous costumes, excellent acting and it’s off-the-wall. It’s very funny yet has some serious messages lurking in amongst the corsets, fishnets and heels… I’ve watched it in excess of 50 times. May even be more.

4 – What is the story/novel you are most proud of?
A: This is difficult because I’ve written thousands of poems and hundreds of short stories. However, one story I really enjoy re-reading is something called Nobby, about a dog. It’s never been published, but it brings a tear to my eye every time I read it. I do have to admit to being a serious dog lover. In poetic terms, I suppose one of my favourites is a sonnet I wrote years ago called Another Drink. It’s a very introspective and revealing piece.

5 – What is the most interesting thing you have learned?
A: Well, not standing at the windward rail on a yacht to take a leak was important. But probably not applying your expectations to other people if you want a peaceful and stress-free life is the one I’d regard as ‘the most interesting’ thing I’ve learned.

6 – Do you do a lot of research for your writing?
A: Depends. I’m mainly a poet who writes horror stories for light relaxation. My stories tend to be flash length as I don’t have the patience or discipline to write anything longer. I don’t have a novel in me, not even a bad one. Yes, I sometimes research for stories, mainly to get background facts right. Dates, places and so on if they’re genuine. Sometimes the research is more fun that the writing. It’s not hard to get fascinatingly sidetracked on the Internet.

7 – Tell me about the collection you have with Dark Continents?
A: Well, Tracie McBride and I are both Kiwis, and some of our work reflects that. When she asked me if I was interested in doing a collection for the e-book I declined at first because the requirements were for a minimum of 20,000 words. If you added all my short stories together I doubt they’d make that total. However, between us we’ve put together a collection of stuff and decided to keep an Antipodean theme throughout. Tracie currently resides in Australia with her family, and I spent 29 years wandering about all over the place there before returning to NZ in 1996. So you see we both have a fairly good grip on things Australian. Of course, not all the stories are Australian-oriented… some are NZ-based as you might expect.

http://www.amazon.com/April-Antipodean-horror-stories-ebook/dp/B006SLDKSO/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328072455&sr=8-1-spell

8 – How do you like to tell a story? Character driven, location of importance, or something else entirely?
A: I’m not all that experienced, really. I’ve never done English Lit, for example, or attended any writing classes, on or offline. I have no degrees in anything, so I’m really at a loss trying to explain how I come to a story. I don’t ever plan a sequence of events; I usually thrash blindly along allowing the story to drag me behind in its wake. I usually end up in a totally different place than I thought I would. The basic idea will come often as a phrase or sentence, usually unbidden and at devilish times of the night. Mostly, what comes has no reference to anything I’ve being thinking during the day, although sometimes a phrase in a song will trigger an idea. It’s the same with my poetry, although I do write poetry to prompts which can be a lot of fun. I also love writing utter nonsense. Lewis Carroll is one of my poetic heroes. I suppose, however, that my fiction writing is character-driven.

9 – What kind of music do you listen to when writing?
A: Varies a bit, but Leonard Cohen or Pink Floyd mostly. Although I do write a lot without music playing. I don’t specifically need music to write to.

10 – What is the most difficult thing you find about being a writer?
A: Oh, without doubt finding a reliable publisher! We’ve all got walls papered with rejection slips. Well, we did before the Internet and email of course. Now one is fortunate indeed to receive a terse, unsigned email rejection. It’s this that convinced me to accept an invitation to join up with Dark Continents… they have a fresh and innovative approach to the eternal problem.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe.
A: That I am insecure and lack confidence. I learned to hide it many, many years ago by developing a smart mouth and honing my sarcasm. Sometimes, oft times, I think I have become the mask.

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

A: How many pages have I got? I’ve been a drifter for a lot of my life, accumulating the odd marriage and a few kids. Never been much of a family or career man. I’ve been a lot of places and seen some amazing things, stuff that has come back to me since I started writing (seriously) in about 1998. I’ve been a company rep, motorcycle racer, bistro cook, jet ski shop manager, house sitter, web page designer, farmer, farm manager, yacht deck hand, singer/guitarist, manager of a jungle resort in PNG… there’s more, but that’s enough.

I have had several collections of poetry published, both horror and ‘normal,’ and have been a contributing editor in about 10 anthologies. DCP recently released a new collection and an anthology of mine at the World Horror Con for which I am very grateful. Folks may see all the books I’ve been involved with on my website www.cooldragon.co.nz which has samples to read and links to purchase.

Oh, and I do rather enjoy the temptations of Bacchus…

Dean M. Drinkel talks about Through a Forest Dark, part of the Dark Continents Darkness and Dismay release.

2012-01-27T17:31:00.000-05:00

Okay Dean M Drinkel, this is a little Q & A to get to know a little more about you and thicken up those stalker portfolios.

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Definitely Milk.

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

If you mean the children’s toy then yes, love it, always have. Luckily I have two nephews that love it too and this past Christmas I bought them some Star Wars Lego sets.

If you don’t mean the children’s toy then let me know LOL

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 favorite comedy and why?

This is Spinal Tap! Can’t stop watching it – very very funny. Would love to make a film like this one day. Love Christopher Guest’s movies ever since. I have also made shorts based on two of my own comedy plays and by God, these are so funny that we need to make feature length films about them.

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

Great question – without sitting on the fence, I love everything I create (otherwise I wouldn’t ‘put them out there’) but for different reasons. As well as writing stories I write and direct short films and in the theatre.

A couple of years back I directed Clive Barker’s play “Frankenstein in Love” in London. We staged it in a small theatre, it was very claustrophobic. For those that aren’t familiar with the play, the first act finishes with one of the characters being flayed. We didn’t have a big budget but we managed, with low lighting and some clever thinking, to create something very memorable – which led to many walkouts (girls screaming / fainting – nice) due to the violent nature of the scene!!!! As a director I was very happy with that.

Also, my first short film “The Imp Of The Perverse” (inspired by Poe’s short story) also screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Again, low budget so we had to think on our feet – we created something quite atmospheric and I managed to get some great performances from the two actors I cast.

Last year, my story “Y for YHWH” which appeared in the anthology “M is for Monster” was also a great success and received some amazing reviews – I was compared to early Clive Barker which was a great honour.

From “Monster” I came up with the idea of an anthology based on “Phobias” – I pitched this to Dark Continents and they let me run with it. I have to say with 28 writers, it wasn’t always easy but we got there in the end and I have to say, produced a very high spec product. James Powell created an amazing cover which has literally blown people away. We had a signing event at Forbidden Planet in London which went down a storm – loads of copies were sold and the store was very very happy with us. It was brilliant to walk into the store, see the book everywhere and then they asked to sign numerous “pre-sold” copies!!!!! I hope we can do a sequel.

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

I am educated to degree level and when I look back at my life (not that I’m that old!!!) it suddenly hits me that I was schooled in England, Saudi Arabia and the US at various points in my life – not bad hey?!

It is quite fashionable nowadays to take time out from leaving school to going to University. I didn’t, but sometimes I look back and wished I had. I didn’t get a bad degree but I think if I had done it a couple of years later, with a bit more “experience” under my belt then maybe I would have done even better. In my thesis I also argued that the Salem Witches really were witches – not sure if that was the best way forward.

As I’ve got older – I’ve studied a lot more history and in the future want to write something about Napoleon, Louis XIV and Arthur Rimbaud.

One thing though – life is too bloody short!!!!

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

Depends – at the moment I am completing a short antho on the Titanic so yes, that has meant

some research.

7 – Tell me about the collection you have with Dark Continents?

It is called “Through a Forest Dark” – four stories set in Paris, two of the stories are connected whilst the remaining two are independent. However, there are common themes running between the stories and there are references to the poet Dante posted throughout the collection – even the title is taken from The Inferno.

I have to say, the stories are quite dark with a good smattering of violence and sex (though not necessarily violent sex it must be said) – these are definitely not for the faint-hearted, just the way I like it.

There is another story that is part of the connected ones – this story is called “The Rape Of Emmanuelle” – we decided not to include this story at the time but I am hoping to have it as an “added extra” either in a future collection or as a stand-alone story. Again, this is a very dark piece and does push a boundary or two!!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Through-A-Forest-Dark-ebook/dp/B006SAM1XA/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327703253&sr=8-1-spell

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

Without sounding pretentious, the way I look at it is that the basic foundations for any story I write run through my head, perhaps like rivers, and whenever I need to, I dip in my toe and see how hot the water is!!! Sometimes it can be a character’s name that interests me and then I can go with that. The last couple of years I have been spending more and more time in

France

and that is becoming more and more evident in my stories and also how I write them!!!

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

I’m always getting into trouble for my eccentric taste in music – I can listen to Opera, French Baroque but then also a great deal of Pop music – the Killers, U2, Robbie Robertson for example. I’ve really been getting into Florence and the Machine, David Lynch’s new album is brilliant as is Tom Waits.

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

Probably the same as most, money!!! Time also can be a pain – you have to learn the juggling act! Also – if you have a life – it can get in the bloody way. The more writers I meet, we all seem to suffer from insomnia – is this because our minds are always on the go? I often say I didn’t want to be a writer, I had no choice, I AM a writer.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe.

Leonardo DiCaprio came to my 30^th birthday party which was in Cannes a couple of years back, oh and I was frequently abducted by aliens when I was a child but that happened to everyone, right?

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

I am a published short story writer, poet, film writer / director as well writing / directing for the theatre. I was runner up for the Sir Peter Ustinov Screenwriting Award for my feature film screenplay Ghosts in 2001 (an International Emmy Award). My first short story collection, The Burial is soon to be re-issued. I have recently contributed to M Is For Monster, Monk Punk, Estronomicon, Theaker’s Quarterly and Morpheus Tales. In 2011, I compiled and edited Phobophobia for Dark Continents Publishing. 2012 sees the release of my anthology Cities of Death (Static Movement) and Titanic Tales (Dark Continents). I am currently working on a horror novel set in the South of France which should see publication, fall 2012.

Matthew Tait, author of Slander Hall, talks about writing and Tim-Tams

2012-01-25T14:22:00.000-05:00

Okay, Matthew Tait, this is a little Q & A to get to know a little more about you and thicken up those stalker portfolios.

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Dark Chocolate. I like anything exotic. Over here we have these awesome chocolate biscuits called Tim-Tams and they’ve recently brought out a dark chocolate range. Suffice to say I can’t get enough of them.

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

Fellow Tales of Darkness and Dismay author Daniel I Russell might be the better one to answer that question because my own feelings toward Lego’s are almost entirely non-existent. I don’t own any Lego and don’t believe I ever have. However, if I were to purchase such educational plastic I’d have to go with some STAR WARS Lego.

3 – I know a lot of people as what the favourite are in regard to horror movies, but my question to you...what is your favourites comedy and why?

OFFICE SPACE. Hands down no other comedy comes even close in my mental rolodex of favourites. It’s rich enough for repeat viewings and very powerfully portrays the horrors of working a 9-5 desk job … which is something I’ve always tried to avoid. Perhaps that’s why the full-time writing lifestyle appeals to me like no other.

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

A few years back I penned something called CAR CRASH WEATHER – which ended up receiving a commendation. I’m very proud of it because it was the first time I stood back and thought: I think I can actually do this

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

Interesting question. I’d have to say the most interesting thing I’ve ever learned came very early on in life: finding out that stars are actually other suns … most of them a lot larger than ours.

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

Not particularly. I find the best fiction comes from the heart … or what I think of as instinct or faith. When dealing with the tropes of other worlds and metaphysical horrors there’s really not all that much research required … because the entire story is one big playground and the canvas is huge for invention.

7 – Tell me about the novels you have written?

SLANDER HALL is about my tenth attempt to tell a coherent tale. Of course, most of the early ones are just far too ghastly to ever see the light of day. A few years back I wrote something called DARK MERIDIAN and now it has a sequel called OLEARIA. I plan on doing a few more drafts but I hope it eventually sees publication. We all have our muses, and I guess DARK MERIDIAN is my Clive Barker book but bristling at the seams with my own philosophies. Last year I released a collection of short stories to Amazon called GHOSTS IN A DESERT WORLD – and I think there’s enough continuity in the stories to give the whole thing a ‘novel’ feel. Right now I’m in the closing stages of a huge thing called DAVEY RIBBON. If anything eventually breaks me out into mainstream I think it will be this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Slander-Hall-ebook/dp/B006SRR6NS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327518689&sr=8-1

8 – Do you consider yourself prolific?

I’ve become somewhat prolific in the reviewing world with my work at HORRORSCOPE and now HELLNOTES – and I’m very thankful for the new world this has opened up. I’ve been introduced to some heavy-hitters in the genre I love the most. Something that I only used to dream about.

http://hellnotes.com/

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

Character. Definitely. Some of my favourite stories are actually the ones where not a lot of action takes place … except for in the protagonists head. Perfect examples of this would be Gerald’s Game by Stephen King. There’s not a lot of dialogue in any of my stories: I’m more a fan of syntax that’s bulky and weighted with metaphor.

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

I’m going to give a very similar answer to the one I gave Nerine. J

It is no secret among my writing friends how much Clive Barker has influenced me over the years. Not only as a writer but ultimately as a person. His keen insights and philosophies have always been pertinent with my own. When composing, I like nothing more than listening to Danny Elfman’s soundtrack from the film Nightbreed. The opening sequence of music never fails to induce a frisson of pleasure. But I am just enamoured to the music of Lord of Illusions or even Candyman. There is a haunting quality to all of it – an apocalyptic ease I try to imbue into everything I write. When editing, the tune changes somewhat and my heroes from the nighties all get a spin: Nirvana, Bush, Alice in Chains and most of the music featured around that era.

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

Convincing other people that you are not wasting your time. On the surface it appears you are doing very little: merely sitting in the act of typing. But obviously there is a lot more going on. What Stephen King called ‘dreaming awake’ or ‘creative sleep.’

12 – Something about you that no one would believe.

I really dig romance. Not only up on the big screen but also how it relates to real life.

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

After being very stoked with sales I now have my collection GHOSTS IN A DESERT WORLD available for free over at Amazon and Smashwords.

http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Desert-World-ebook/dp/B005MK1BW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327518941&sr=1-1

Chantal Boudreau talks writing.

2012-01-24T15:42:00.000-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

White chocolate – I refuse to be limited by other people’s choices.

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

I have this fantasy about being trapped in a vault with a huge selection of every shape, size and colour. Oh the things I would build...

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 favorite comedy and why?

I love zomedies, like Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland and Fido, because I’m drawn to dark humour. On the other hand, I’ve watched episodes of The Big Bang Theory multiple times and laugh myself silly over the same jokes. That show kills me.

4 – What is the story/novel you are most proud of? My novel, Elements of Genocide, yet unpublished. It is my most daring, and I pushed a lot of my own comfort boundaries. Published, it would be my short story, “Little Sister”. It made it through to the finals in Fangoria Online’s Weird Words competition, when there were thousands of entries.

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

So many things from my research, it’s hard to pinpoint one thing. I think perhaps the most interesting thing is how much a horrific erotic sex scene between two female Spiders can make people squirm, while still holding their attention.

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

I love doing research. I’ve researched languages, assorted wildlife from puffer-fish to bears to crows, a variety of obscure mythologies, plant use, genetic manipulation and even the type and nature of coffee grown in Haiti. Researching for a story or novel is part of the plotting and discovery process for me. Just because you write about the supernatural and fantastic, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include elements of realism in your tale.

7 – Tell me about the novels you have written?

I’ve written seventeen to date, three of which have been published and one that is scheduled for release as an ebook this month. There are eight in my Masters & Renegades fantasy series so far and two more in planning, although only one has seen print so far. Magic University was my first ever written and has been published through May December Publications. It takes place in a single 24 hour period and I think it has a pretty interesting and unusual cast of characters. MDP also has published the first two books, Fervor and Elevation, in my dystopian science fantasy series. The third book in that series, Transcendence, is with test-readers at the moment. The series is set in an alternate world where people possess psychokinetic powers that they refer to as “magic” which they use to fuel their technology, but it is also a place where power rests in the hands of the scientists who essentially control government and use the benefit of society as an excuse unethical treatment of individuals. I also have a tribal dark fantasy trilogy and two dark fantasy/horror novels based on obscure mythologies that I have high hopes for. My one and only urban fantasy romance, with Christian overtones, When you Whisper, should be available from Trestle Press as an ebook by the end of January.

8 – Do you consider yourself prolific?

I suppose I am, but it’s relative. I’ve been very prolific in the past two and a half years, considering I have a full-time day job and a family that requires my attention. Before that I hadn’t written for years, because of school and other responsibilities. Then again, I generally max out at about 6,000 words on my best days, while I know of other writers who can manage much higher daily word counts and pump out far more short stories than I do.

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

My stories are primarily character driven, but plot is also extremely important to me. I am a die-hard plotter and I won’t start writing until I have the framework of my story established. I usually begin with the idea for an ending, along with a few major plot points. I decide on my characters, do whatever research is necessary and set up a chapter-by-chapter outline, revising my ideas until I have a consistent and carefully thought out story. Once I know my story well and can envision it in a cinematic way, I start writing, filling in any outline gaps and flushing out specific details. When the first draft is done, I set it aside for a few months so that I can look at it with fresh eyes for the first edit.

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

I like edgy, primarily alternative rock, with some soulful pop, folk and global. My playlists have included Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, Evanescence, The Fray, Billy Talent, Afro Celt Sound System, Finger Eleven, Skillet, Korn, Adam Lambert, Pink, Sarah Slean, Tori Amos, Seether, Three Days Grace, Trapt, Fuel, Bif Naked, Our Lady Peace, Nelly Furtado, Evanescence, Paramore, Megan McCauley, Avril LaVigne, Nickelback, Good Charlotte, and Creed.

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

Not being able to just be a writer. If you want to be published, now days you have to be promoter, blogger, editor, salesperson and social media mogul. I’m an introvert at heart. I love writing, but everything else associated with it is extremely challenging for me.

12 – Something about you that no one would believe.

Anyone who really knows me wouldn’t put anything past me, so I don’t think I could come up with anything I could actually mention in public here.

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

Well, I designed my own website, despite being a bit of a technophobe. You can find it at: http://www.writersownwords.com/chantal_boudreau . You’ll find free reads on my blog on that site as well as details regarding my published works and links to some interesting things, including the sites of writers I admire. You can also find everything I have happening at Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Chantal-Boudreau/e/B004O1FP2E/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 and if you want a taste of what I do via excerpts, teaser tales and research documentation, you can find all of those at : http://www.scribd.com/chantal_boudreau .

A.J. Brown and Suzanne Robb talking about Darkness and Dismay and writing

2012-01-23T14:15:00.003-05:00

An Interview with A.J. Brown and Suzanne Robb – Based on a real conversation

Suzanne Robb –

Hi,

From Darkness and Dismay, would love to do an interview and same for you. I am getting questions together tonight and will send them to whoever is interested tomorrow.

A.J. Brown –

You beat me to the punch, Suzanne. I was about to send you a message as well.

I do my interviews a little different than most. I have only one set question and it is the first one. Then I build the interview from there. It can be as funny, serious or demented as you wish for it to be. And as short or long as you choose.

So, let me ask you the generic question and we can go from there. Answer it however you feel free to:

Who is Suzanne Robb?

Suzanne Robb –

I am an anxiety ridden LEGO lover.

I also do my interviews the same way, I ask really off the cuff questions and then based on the answers go from there, like you, I let the person make it as fun, demented, or serious as they like.

My question to you, milk chocolate or dark chocolate?

A.J. Brown –

Dark Chocolate all the way.

Did you say LEGO lover? We are kindred spirits then. Which LEGOs do you like?

Suzanne Robb –

Did you say dark chocolate? That seals it we are kindred spirits.

I like the Star Wars LEGO's, and have the collection issued about 5 years ago for their anniversary. My prized one is a foot and a half tall Yoda. About 4,000 pieces. My goal is the Death Star one day.

I also like the random stuff you can pick up at the LEGO store.

How about you, what are your favorite sets?

And to break tradition, I will not ask favorite horror movie, but favorite comedy.

A.J. Brown –

Favorite comedy? Hmmm... Blazing Saddles, hands down. Greatest comedy ever made.

And my favorite LEGOs are the castle ones. I have probably 50 or so of the sets. However, my second favorites are the Star Wars sets. I have the huge collector's editions of the Tie Fighter, X Wing and the Rebel Blockade Runner. I also want the Death Star one day.

I hear you have a book out now. Can you tell me a little bit about it?

Suzanne Robb –

Blazing Saddles is a great one, I like Young Frankenstein.

I already had one book out already, Z-Boat a suspense thriller with zombies,(shameless self-promotion) BUT I bet you are talking about the one with Dark Continents called Were-wolves, Apocalypses, and Genetic Mutation, Oh My!.

It is a collection of three stories. The first one is a tale that changes the myth of were-wolves a bit and has a horror/humor element. The second one is about a dysfunctional family trying to fend off the coming apocalypse. The last story is a sci-fi one in which people alter themselves in a genetic level, and well, of course something has to go wrong.

How about you? I have heard rumors from sources you also have a book out, care to share with us what we can expect?

A.J. Brown –

Young Frankenstein is one of my favorites. Teri Garr rolling in zee hay is one of the greatest scenes a young boy (as I was the first time I saw the movie) could see.

Well, I tell you what, Suzanne, the collection from DCP sounds great, but before we get to that one, why don't you go ahead and tell me a little about Z-Boat first.

And, I do have a collection coming out. Along the Splintered Path was released by Dark Continents Publishing and it features three stories. A man dealing with his childhood and the scars it left behind not just on him, but his little brother's mind; a young man trapped in a valley in the mountains after a nasty fall and in the middle of winter when a snow storm kicks up... what he finds and, well, I don't want to give too much away about that one. The last one is about a homeless man who has a bag of money land beside him on the sidewalk and where the money came from and just what he does with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Along-the-Splintered-Path-ebook/dp/B006SCJGI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327345882&sr=8-1

I think readers are going to like what they read. I really do.

Suzanne Robb –

I love Marty Feldman, I- Gor, makes me laugh every time. I was just a kid too, but there is great humor in that movie no matter how old you are.

Z-Boat comes across as a zombie on a submarine story, but is actually a lot more. At least this is what I am finding. It appeals more to the mystery/thriller/suspense people. I can understand why as the zombies appear in the last act. It is also very character driven. A lot of fun to write a story in the strict confines of a submarine, though at times I have to admit feeling a bit claustrophobic.

Your collection sounds interesting, very psychological in nature. I would assume the stories are very character driven, you?

A.J. Brown –

I-gor. That cracks me up. Where wolf? There wolf.

Z-boat takes place on a submarine? Wow. That would make for a tight read... oh, I know, that was lame, but I couldn't resist. Where can we find Z-Boat?

As far as my collection goes, yes, it is very character driven. All three of the main characters are different and face their own challenges and deal with their own thoughts and it's those thoughts that drive them to do what they do. I think it's important that stories focus on characters in order to make them realistic and make the journey the reader takes worth their time and money.

Suzanne Robb –

There wolf, I love well done comedies. Galaxy Quest is another one that is very well written.

Z-Boat can be found on Amazon, and any store that has Ingrams. Yes a submarine, I always got annoyed with zombie movies as I did not think slow moving brain eaters were a real threat to people who could drive, lock themselves in an attic and so on. I decided to come up with a place and a scenario where the people were forced to deal with the zombies, and these aren't slow.

I enjoy a good character driven story; the ones that evoke an emotion at the end are the best for me. Sounds like you enjoy getting into people's heads. Do you like to scare them, show them a different way of looking at things?

I also notice that the last two stories are dependent on location, wrong place wrong time, right place right time. Was that done on purpose, or have I had too much sugar today and reading into things?

A.J. Brown –

I agree that so many of the zombie stories/movies out today make no sense. Zombies shamble. They can't run... and how in the world could other zombies be created if they all eat the brains (which, if you watch the movies, they never do)?

I like your concept for Z-Boat and will check it out. Sounds like a fun read. Now, back to your collection for Dark Continents, Were-wolves, Apocalypses, and Genetic Mutation, Oh My!. Horror, humor, an apocalyptic story and a sci fi piece, all in one collection? Did you intend to spread your wings, so to speak and show a wide range of writing or were you going for a certain feel with this book?

I love character driven stories more than any others. If you have no feelings for the characters you generally don't care much for them or what happens to them. At least that's the case for me.

When I write, the first thing I think about is the characters and the situations they are put in. How would I or someone else react in that particular situation? I try--keyword there is try--to make the characters as real as possible and if what I put them through scares someone, then that makes it all that much better.

The scenarios in all the stories are pretty much a combination of the wrong place and right time scenarios. If you think about it that is what life is. Someone goes into a bank to deposit their check. It's the right time for them to do so. But, what if someone comes in with a gun to rob the bank. Uh-oh, wrong time after all. Then what if the robber decides to shoot someone? Still, worse timing. Or maybe someone buys a lottery ticket on their way home from work and the next night they win a hundred million dollars--right time, right place. But, then say they die before they claim the winnings? Everything in life is about placement and timing--why shouldn't our stories be the same way?

Suzanne Robb –
I am in total agreement with you on the zombie thing. Probably why I prefer the 28 days series, they are at least fast. I wanted to make the zombies a challenge and the way they turn is not some experiment gone wrong, it is actually more reality based which is why they are not the typical zombies. The book itself however is very character driven and has a lot of the old mystery suspense elements to it.

As for Were-wolves, Apocalypses, and Genetic Mutation, Oh My!, it is funny because I am not a horror writer, at least I do not think of myself as that. I love to write creative non-fiction, and parody. A friend told me to give horror a shot and a year later this is where I am. I suppose I am still looking for my niche as it were, but I love the horror/parody stories. That and changing mythologies around to something new.

http://www.amazon.com/Were-wolves-Apocalypses-Genetic-Mutation-ebook/dp/B006SBC2UQ/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kstore_4?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC

I love character driven stories, they are what make the tale worth reading. How do you "try" to make your characters real? Research, watching people in everyday situations, or some other mind reading secret?

Interesting take on the right place/right time, wrong place/right time elements. I do not think I read a lot that emphasize that element, which you are in fact right about it being a mainstay of life.

What other elements do you try and put into your stories to make them more real?

A.J. Brown –

I'm going to have to pick up Z-Boat--it sounds like it's right down my alley.

So, you don't classify yourself as a horror writer? That's fine, but tell me how do you feel about writing in the genre now that you've been doing it for a while?

What do I do to make my characters real? I pay attention to what's going on around me. Things like mannerisms and conversations. I listen to folks even when they think I'm not. I also pay attention to feelings and the way people respond to hurt, joy, sadness, anger, whatever... even sicknesses. There is desperation in all of those things, to be seen, to be heard, to be felt, even when someone is excited and happy. I try to put that in my stories.

One thing I think is crucial in character driven--or even any story--is to use your surroundings as a character. Your scenery can be used to set the mood of the entire piece, therefor creating everything you need to develop your characters as well. Think about how many times you've read a story where it starts with a storm. Immediately you have the image of what the weather is and you have somewhat of a mood created.

Suzanne Robb –

It is weird to think about writing in the genre now because I know so little about it. Most of the people I meet read all these horror authors and I have no idea who they are. I know comedy/parody/non-fiction people.

I do think that it has broadened my horizons and made me stretch my imagination to some degree, and then in another way it scares me at how easy it is to come up with scary scenarios.

Interesting what you say about your stories. I have degrees in Anthropology and Psychology and was basically taught to look at what is going on around me, look at body language, and also to look at the surrounding area to re-build the past.

I know what you mean, a storm sets a mood and is visual. A dark room, a musty hotel with peeling paper. All these little things help the reader create a picture in their head.

Do you write outside your genre?

A.J. Brown –

You're not alone, Suzanne. I've been writing in the horror genre since 2005 and I still have no clue who most of the folks are. I'm still learning with each passing day. And, you know what's really scary? It's not just coming up with the stories that chill you to the bone, it's the simple fact it's outside your box and you’re spreading your wings and trying something new. It’s a daunting task. What is the scariest thing you've come up with since writing in the genre?

I've never taken Anthropology or Psychology--I just don't think I'm smart enough to do so--but, watching folks and listening to the world as it passes by makes writing horror easy--they say write what you know and if you've lived at all, then you know a lot of stuff. If you've paid attention to the life around you, then, really, writing is not so difficult.

Sometimes I write outside the genre, but rarely. I enjoy the darker stories and the way they feel. However, I can write humor if I want to and I could probably write--gasps--romance, but that's not a road I want to go down...

Suzanne Robb –

Good to know I am not the only one who draws a blank when someone asks what horror writer inspired me to write. C.S. Lewis or Roald Dahl just does not go over well, trust me.

I agree it is daunting to step outside and create new stories. For me the one that shocked me the most was one based on a relationship gone south. Based on experiences it was a bit too easy to seek out revenge.

I think all people are smart in their own way, and I bet you could take psychology or Anthropology. I did and I am not that smart. I did take a cannibalism class that was one of the more interesting classes I have ever taken. Imagine a whole semester devoted to how to eat a body and make sure no one knows you did it.

I felt like a serial killer when I would talk to my friends.

Do you write dark humor or fun humor? Also, this romance thing intrigues me, not many men go for that genre, is it the Fabio covers?

A.J. Brown –

Roald Dahl is probably one of the more underrated writers of his time--he gave us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after all.

Did you say you took a cannibalism class? I should have consulted you when writing Round These Bones--seeing how there is some cannibalism in there.

I tend to write fun humor, when I write it. I love to pen song parodies in the vein of Weird Al. I've tried my hand at Bizarro, but I just don't think I have it in me. One thing about romance--I never said I have written any, just that I could and NO there would be no Fabio on the covers, but maybe Ashley Judd in something skimpy...

Suzanne Robb –

I agree about Roald Dahl, I fell for his writing with The BFG. He also has many other collections that are very much adults only.

Yes I did take a cannibalism class, was one of my favorite. Not sure what that says about me?

Ah Weird Al. Have to love music, without it I could not write. In college I used to make up new lyrics to remember things for tests to Sir Mix-a-lots baby got back, again not sure what this means about me.

Ashley Judd in something skimpy, and your favorite movie by her? For me it is Kiss the Girls, she kicks butt in that one.

Fun humor, will we ever see a collection of that from you?

A.J. Brown –

That's the thing about the publishing world: there are too many underrated writers who never really get their due and then there are entirely too many who are vastly overrated. I won't name names.

Since you like to make up song lyrics as well, and without music you wouldn't be able to write, what do you listen to when you write and who are your favorite bands/singers?

And since you took cannibalism, next time I have a story that involves that subject I'll let you know. I would like to know a bit more about that anyway... not that I want to eat anyone or anything like that... no, nothing like that at all.

Favorite movie by Ashley Judd? I'm not sure I have one. Kiss the Girls was great, but I've liked most of what she's been in.

And fun humor. Maybe one day. I would like to put together a collection of stories where my parody songs segued into the next piece.

Suzanne Robb –

I know what you mean about the publishing world. There are some writers who are everywhere and I say what is the big deal, and then there are some I say WOW why don't more people read this!

As for music, I listen to a lot of scores, usually ones by Ennio Morricone or Hans Zimmer ( I have a tendency to write the lyrics of what I am listening to at times, makes for interesting beta read) Others would be Orgy, Arcade Fire, Portishead, Andrew Bird, Peter, Bjorn & John, I adore Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and a lot of indies like Reichenbach Falls, Luisa's Bones, Wolf Parade...

Anything you want to know about cannibalism I am game. One anthropologist did report that human flesh tastes a lot like marmite, just saying.

That fun humor collection sounds like a good idea.

How about you are there any musicians you prefer to listen to while writing?

A.J. Brown –

I haven't heard of some of those bands. I'll have to look them up. As far as what I listen to when writing, mostly I don't anymore, but if I want inspiration, Concrete Blond, Motorhead and Carbon Leaf all help me get into my dark place.

Is there anything else on the horizon for you, Suzanne, anything else the readers can look forward to in the near future?

Suzanne Robb –

On the horizon for me are two anthologies. One is called Read The End First I am co-editing with Adrian Chamberlin. It is apocalyptic in nature and 24 writers each took on an individual time zone and end the world in a unique way. The other is Anxiety Disorders, a collection of non-fiction stories I have compiled and edited for Hidden Thoughts Press.

And yourself? What other interesting reads do you have in store for us?

A.J. Brown –

Right now, only one slated to come out in the near future, in Night Terrors II. It's a fun little tale about boy and girl and shadows.

Suzanne, it's been wonderful talking with you. Now, I have one last question: Coffee or cappuccino?

Suzanne Robb –

Coffee, if I were to have cappuccino I would have to sign some sort of non-responsible clause for what happens. I have far too much energy as it is.

Great talking with you as well, and my last question

Dog or a cat person? (Brownie points if you like Boston Terriers)

A.J. Brown –

Coffee it is. I don't care much for the crappuccino at all.

Interestingly enough, I like both, but my real preferences are Oscars and all of their bad attitudes.

Suzanne Robb –

I have no idea what an Oscar is...though I think of the Muppets when you say that.

I like both as well, but am allergic to cats

A.J. Brown –

Hahahaha--it's a fish.

Suzanne Robb –

Ah, never would have guessed that ever.

Are they hard to keep?

I was going to get a water dragon until I found out they need an enclosure as large as my bathroom when full grown.

A.J. Brown –

They are great fish and you can feed other fish to them. And, really Oscars are pretty easy to keep, including the water chemistry. They get kind of big, but it also depends on the tank you have them in.

A Water Dragon, eh?

Suzanne Robb –

Feed other fish, I sense a cannibalism theme in the things you like...

I had Beta fish at one time and some gouramis but they had babies, fry, I guess they call them, and they ate them all! Turned me off fish. As for the water dragon, yeah, he was super cute.

I am not one to take animals to a pet store. I will try to take them all home and convince myself a Toucan, a stable of cats and dogs, and multiple fish, and a variety of rodents can live happily.

So um, out of curiosity if you had a dog, what would you feed it?

A.J. Brown –

Depends on what I have. I do have a dog and, for the most part, I try to feed her moist food since she's fourteen years old and a little long in the tooth. But, if I had to feed her meat... you know... flesh... I guess she would eat it. Or maybe not.

Suzanne Robb –

Interesting, good to know. (making mental note that if I ever have dinner at your house to eat salad)

A.J. Brown –

Hahahaha--my wife is a great cook and I don't think she's ever cooked people, though I could be wrong there....

Suzanne Robb –

You might want to check, just saying.

Though you are the cannibalism obsessed one.

A.J. Brown –

Yes, I am... and the cutting obsessed one as well.

Suzanne Robb –

Right, so keep an eye on you and sharp things too. Got it.

A.J. Brown –

Yup.

Welcome Andy Taylor, writer and LEGO cannibal

2012-01-20T01:23:00.000-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

-Can I say Sour Gummi Bears instead?

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

-The most awesome thing invented since air. You’re talking to the guy who cannibalized a bunch of other LEGO’s so he could make his very own Zombie Survival Center complete with reinforced walls, a small power plant, water reclamation center, and tiny farm. I’m of the type that believes you’re only as old as you feel.

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 favorite comedy and why?

-That’s like asking me what my favorite bar is…oh wait, that’s The Venice Café in downtown Saint Louis. Still, it’s hard to say a favorite comedy. I know I’m going to get groans for this but it’s a tie between Tommy Boy and Idiocracy. Tommy Boy because Chris Farley was always my favorite comedian (one of only three famous people I shed a tear for on their passing, the other two being Johnny Cash and Charles Schulz), and he is at his best in Tommy Boy. Idiocracy because, well, because it’s Idocracy, Mike Judge’s best work next to Beavis and Butthead.

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

-The novel I am currently working on would have to be the one I’m most proud of and the happiest with (usually a bad sign). It’s the comedic tale of a zombie fanatic who accidentally ends up with his very own horde of the undead, my childhood dream.

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

-Monkeys can’t really fly.

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

-Most defiantly but never through Wikipedia. I actually enjoy doing research, learning new facts is always fun, plus it helps you kick ass in Trivial Pursuit. Even if I’m making something up I’ll still do research for anything involved. Take my story There Are Needs and There Are Needs, the town of Pecanon, WY is a fictional place but since the setting was during the California Gold Rush I looked up the most common route used during the time and found a spot in Wyoming that was the halfway point. There were no town there but it seemed to me that if someone had built one, they could have made a lot of money resupplying travelers, thus Pecanon was born.

7 – Tell me about the collection you have with Dark Continents?

-My collection, The Drunk and the Dead, combines two of life’s greatest joys, booze and zombies, then adds some of our favorite classic monsters for a laugh. Drunken Monsters has a man attending an AA meeting full of the creatures many of us grew up with, There Are Needs and There Are Needs finds a lonely drunk in the old west combatting the dead, and When A Zombie’s Heart Breaks is a first person account of what it’s like to be a zombie, if said zombie was a cynical asshole. I have to say that out of everything I’ve ever written, I had the most fun writing Drunken Monsters. The argument between Count Dracula and The Phantom of the Opera had me laughing the whole time I was writing it.

http://www.amazon.com/Drunk-Dead-ebook/dp/B006SB597Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327040459&sr=1-1

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

-I like to tell a story with great characters and good dialogue. One of the things I hate the most when reading a story is a character I can’t connect with at all or don’t care about so I try to craft characters that a reader will feel for.

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

-Depends on what I’m writing, though for the most part it’s Rockabilly or The Blues with a healthy dash of the King of Cool, Frank Sinatra. If I’m writing something angry I’ll put on some Death Metal, maybe Cannibal Corpse or Morbid Angel. If I’m writing something happier I’ll put on Ska or Rockabilly, usually Mad Caddies, The Chop Tops, or Cherry Poppin Daddies. If it’s something sad than The Blues comes out, either that or Bob Marley, Reggie depresses me for some reason.

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

-Slowing down, I always want to keep going. Even sleeping is an issue because I feel like there is something I can be doing and late at night is a great time to get some writing done, at least for a night owl like myself.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe.

-I’m a major Star Wars fan but I despise George Lucas; if I ever got the chance to meet him, despite the consequences, I would punch him in the face. Also, I can stick to walls, shoot webbing, and lift a car…wait, that might be someone else.

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

-I’m a reviewer over at littlebunnycthulhu.com as The_Undead_Review, my zombie alter ego. One of my favorite things about reviewing for the site is the wide definition they have of horror such as including the film Arlington Road or the book How We Die (a book that includes anyway a person can die). I’m also the head of a Saint Louis based paranormal research team and have been lucky enough to spend time at some of the most haunted spots in the county.

Please come and see what William Todd Rose, author of the books: STFUaD, The 7 Habits of Highly Infective People, Cry Havoc, Sex in the Time of Zombies among others.

2012-01-15T20:43:00.001-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

I’d gladly take either if you’re offering.

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

When I was a kid, I was more of a Lincoln Log and Tinker Toy type of guy. I can’t actually remember messing around with Legos until much, much later in life; but once discovered, I loved them. How can you not? And I totally want to go to Legoland in Florida. Have you seen pictures of that place? It looks awesome.

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 favorite comedy and why?

Does Big Trouble in Little China count as an action comedy? I love the campiness in that film, the exaggeration of characters and events. It’s actually one of my favorite movies in any genre.

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

That’s a really hard question. They all have a really special place in my heart. I feel like a parent who’s about to lean down and whisper into one child’s ear, “You know you’re secretly my favorite, right?” That being said, it would be either The 7 Habits of Highly Infective People or The Dead and Dying. I poured a lot of myself into those books, more so than anything I’ve ever written. I love the characters in both of them equally.

http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Dying-William-Todd-Rose/dp/1453746412/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326677956&sr=1-1

Due out from Permuted Press in February

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

That it takes the same amount of force to rip off a human ear as it does to tear through 12 sheets of regular bond paper. So if you ever want to know if you’ve got what it takes, you can now put yourself to the test.

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

Well, I didn’t learn the ear fact from personal experimentation. Or did I? I’ll never tell. All kidding aside, I really do. And that’s one of the things I love so much about the Internet. I usually write with a word processor up in one window and a web browser in the other so I can quickly toggle between the two. If I were ever suspected of committing some horrendous crime and forensics explored my browsing history, I’d have a lot to explain. “Mr. Rose, why were you looking at an article entitled How To Butcher The Human Carcass? And what about this series of links on effective torture and brainwashing techniques?” This was really driven home when the Casey Anthony case was suddenly everywhere in the Media because, not two weeks earlier, I’d been searching for an online guide to creating homemade chloroform.

7 – Tell me about the novels you have written?

My first published book was Shadow of the Woodpile, which was an attempt to combine the narrative style of the 50s Beat writers like Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs (both of whom I admire greatly) with the horror genre. I followed this up with what I think of as a pre-apocalyptic novel called Cry Havoc which is set in the beginning stages of the end of civilization. On this one, I challenged myself to write a novel of at least 40,000 words within a consecutive 24 hour period, which was a lot of fun. After that I released Sex in the Time of Zombies, which is a collection of short stories exploring the roles of sex and sexuality in an undead apocalypse. This was initially a fan freebie, but was later picked up for a print version by Living Dead Press. Sex was followed up with an experiment in brutality titled Shut the Fuck Up and Die!, which was my foray into extreme horror. That one is odd in that it is probably my least accessible book in terms of content and tone. I’ve had people tell me that they tried to read it but couldn’t get past the first chapter because it makes them too squeamish and uncomfortable. And yet I’ve sold more copies of it than all of my other works combined. Anyhow, after STFUaD, I released The 7 Habits of Highly Infective People, which is a novel of contagion, drugs, time travel, and the living dead. This one was on the market for about a month before Permuted Press asked to see it and a second, revised and expanded edition should be out this year. Before signing the contracts with Permuted I also published two novellas as fan freebies. Apocalyptic Organ Grinder is set 150 years after a religious cult brought humanity to the brink of extinction by releasing The Gabriel Virus. No zombies in this one, just “a bunch of miserable people trying desperately to survive”, as one reviewer said. The other novella is the first in a planned series. Undead Nocturne: Even Dead Men Die is kind of a homage to the hard-boiled detective/film noir genre which introduces zombies into the mix. Finally, there’s The Dead and Dying. This one is interesting in that I actually stopped working on it to write Shadow of the Woodpile and then went back and finished it up. It was submitted to Library of the Living Dead Press and was accepted, but there were a lot of delays in its publication. It should have been my second book published, but ended up taking close to two years to see print.

http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Woodpile-William-Todd-Rose/dp/1448633060/ref=pd_sim_b_1

8 – Do you consider yourself prolific?

Not as much as I used to be. I’ve hit a slow point because of some contractual obligations, but I’m still working away, even if I can’t publish for a while. I’ve got three major projects I’m currently working on, pretty much simultaneously.

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

Characters are definitely the most important element in my writing. If the reader doesn’t care what happens to them then everything else is kind of pointless, in my opinion. I’ve also realized lately that weather factors a lot into my writing. Especially with The Dead and Dying. One of the minor characters in that one was a meteorologist before civilization collapsed and thunderstorms, blizzards, and tornadoes all play a role in the plot.

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

That really varies. All of my books to date have had a “soundtrack” to the writing. But those soundtracks can contain country, goth, industrial, heavy metal, 1940s era, classical: they really run the gamut. While writing The 7 Habits for example my playlist contained a lot of darkwave bands peppered with electro-medieval and even some Lady Gaga thrown in for good measure. Lady Gaga may seem like an odd choice but take this challenge: read the section in the book where the song appears, when Bosley is confronted by Clarice Hudson at the bar. Think of that scene while listening to the lyrics of Bad Romance and you’ll see that song is perfect for that scene. If you take songs out of context, it’s really amazing how well they can mesh. In the revision of The 7 Habits there’s a scene which goes into more detail about how Clarice actually become infected to begin with. Since she was a Gaga fan, she was listening to Teeth at this point in the book. “Take a bite of my bad girl meat” implies something totally different in the world of the living dead.

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

The most difficult part is getting your name out there. You can write the greatest novel in the world (which I’m not saying I have) and nobody will ever read it if they don’t know it exists. I do a lot of indie writing and publishing with small presses, so the advertising budget that a major publisher has just isn’t there. Which means you have to be creative in your marketing.

12 – Something about you that no one would believe.

I am actually a black belt space pirate who came to Earth in my gerbil-powered ship, The StarSucker, to plunder the planet of its coffee beans. You didn’t say it had to be true. Well, the coffee bean part … that has the ring of truth to it.

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

Well, when not writing I also have a side project called Dead Hooker Scenario, which is basically just me and my computer making electronic music. I also spend a lot of time in Second Life, where I am the U.S. Public Relations Manager for Club Re:Noize and also design avatar accessories (as you can probably tell by my interests, I’m a bit of a hermit). And of course, for more information about my books and writing, I can be found online at www.wiliamtoddrose.com

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55221

http://www.amazon.com/Cry-Havoc-William-Todd-Rose/dp/1450538029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326677739&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Time-Zombies-William-Todd-Rose/dp/1935458957

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/33168

Lucky Friday the 13th, Nerine Dorman author of Blood and Fire among other things has to say -

2012-01-13T12:43:00.003-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

When I have a taste for it, definitely dark. I like my sweet with a little bitter.

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

Are those the funny little building block thingies? Sorry. I’m sooo out of the loop it’s quite sad.

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

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

The Exorcist. It cracks me up every time I see it.

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

At the moment, Inkarna, which is my next big puppy due for a 2012 release. They’re all my puppies, really. But I have a soft spot for my Khepera novels and, of course the collaborations between me and Carrie Clevenger.

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

No matter what I encounter as an editor, authors will always find new and unusual ways for me to want to crawl up the walls.

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

I write what I know. I know a lot of stuff. Some of it is useful. Some of it’s not very useful, but it’s certainly interesting. At least to me.

7 – Tell me about the collection you have with Dark Continents?

Blood and Fire is a collaboration written with Carrie Clevenger. We were initially going to self-publish it but then the call for subs came out and we felt we’d rather make dealing with vendors someone else’s problem. Okay, that’s the not so serious answer. To be honest, I’d rather have the backing of a publisher and the additional exposure of being part of a stable instead of going at it off our own bat. I know enough about publishing after more than a decade in the media industry that it’s simpler not to reinvent the wheel. I like Dark Continents immensely; I love their philosophy of allowing authors their creative integrity. It’s an honour to be part of the team.

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

I like to tell the story as though it’s happening. I like to immerse my readers in my world as though it’s tactile. Part of my day job entails being a travel writer. I need to make people feel like they’re actually there when the shit goes down.

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

It varies. My go-to music is usually Type O Negative and A Pale Horse Named Death. Of late I’ve been hitting Bat for Lashes, Azim Ali, Fear and Bullets, Elysian Fields, Fields of the Nephilim and Mazzy Star. When the mood calls for it, it’s Rob Zombie or the Gladiator soundtrack. Sometimes Bauhaus or Siouxsie Sioux. JS Bach’s Contrapunctus on church organ is spectacular and puts me in a real vibe. If I’m really fucked up, I hit up Diamanda Galas.

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

Finding the time to write. On good days I can manage about 3k words. Usually I’m lucky if I get away with about 900. I’m also a freelance editor, so I have those obligations to meet too.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe.

I cry easily, especially when there’s a film depicting violence against animals.

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

I’m following in the footsteps of Poppy Z Brite, Storm Constantine and Neil Gaiman. These authors are as gods to me. International Horror Critic Award Nominee Don Webb had this to say about my writing: “The United Kingdom has Tanith Lee, the United States has Caitlin Kiernan, and South Africa has Nerine Dorman. An interesting Dark triangle.”

No. I’m not humble.

Useful links:

Follow me on Twitter @nerinedorman

My blog: http://nerinedorman.blogspot.com

My facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nerine-Dorman-author/173330419365374

My books at Lyrical Press: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=authors&authors_id=107

Just My Blood Type: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/68457

Blood and Fire on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-and-Fire-ebook/dp/B006SD3F2S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325536729&sr=8-1

Come on over and find out about Daniel I. Russell a LEGO fan (sort of) and fantastic writer who has an amazing promotion going on!

2012-01-11T23:09:00.002-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Milk, preferably rocky road please.

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

I have a love and hate relationship with Lego, mainly hating it on Xmas day. My eldest son is mad on Lego Star Wars and Xmas day is usually spent building all the various ships and things. There is such a thing as too much Lego. However, I do adore the videogames and am currently building a Tatooine landscape out of recyclables for my son to play on.

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 favorite comedy and why?

Shaun of the Dead…and not for the obvious horror reason! It has most of my favourite comedians in it and just has the right vibe of some of the best comedy shows out there.

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

I think, oddly enough, Critique. It’s something that is way out of my writing comfort zone, swapping my usual blood and guts for something more restrained and thoughtful. It also has some strong messages in there, which goes against my normal writing for entertainment’s sake stance.

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

To play the drums. Something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a teenager and last year I thought what the hell and bought a kit. Not such an alien concept to me anymore and it’s bags of fun!

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

I try to write what I know, so I’ve had lots of characters with similar jobs, circumstances and problems as myself. But sometimes research is a necessary evil. For example, a curry or lasagne is the most fancy thing I can cook from scratch, so for Critique, I needed to learn a few elaborate dishes.

I even got to interview porn stars for my novella Come Into Darkness. That was interesting, just how it’s just another day at the office for them and all the other behind the scenes stuff you wouldn’t think about.

7 – Tell me about the collection you have with Dark Continents?

My novella Critique is my part of the Dark Continents line up released on New Year’s Day. It’s a story about desolation and redemption. A food critic who hasn’t had the most noble of lives meets a force that is determined to change him for the better…whether he wants to or not. Lots of horror and very fine food!

http://www.amazon.com/Critique-ebook/dp/B006SBRAYO/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326341480&sr=1-3

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

I don’t really think about it to be honest, I just do it. I consider character to be the most important thing I suppose, as without having the reader on their side, no one cares what happens. Perhaps it’s our voyeuristic nature. Even though the character is fictional, we like to place them in a situation and see what they’ll do. Like watching a rat in a maze.

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

Swedish rock, it seems, has to be the first run of the day. Plenty of Whale and Psycore. Then it depends what I’m in the mood for. Punk for action and Portishead for tension.

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

Honestly? Finding readers and controlling jealousy. There’s a lot of competition out there, lots of readers all wanting you to read their work, which is great! Means we always have great stories and I wish everyone’s hard work would pay off. But trying to carve out your own readership is tough and takes more time than writing a book in the first place.

And it’s a bitter pill to swallow when after writing a book, editing it, submitting and finding a publisher and going through the process with your editor, cover artist, etc, that a writer with no experience whatsoever can release a self-published Twilight rip off that is full of grammar issues, poor plot and barely formatted only for it to sell more copies. You can at times feel there’s no justice, or that you’re the sour old hack throwing venom at his monitor…but just like the music and movie industry, that’s life. Get on with it or get lost. I always have to write so that’s that.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe.

Tough question as I’m really quite open about everything and don’t have any deep, dark secrets. Actually, there is something…but I can’t divulge it yet. Ask me again this time next year and I’ll spill my guts!

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

Okay, we; besides the new novella releases Critique and Come Into Darkness, I also have the novel Samhane which is available in paperback and digital and was nominated for a 2011 Tin Duck Award. I also have various bits and pieces of republished works on my Amazon Kindle page.

If readers are intrigued and want to combine a few of these, we have a special offer for January. Simply buy Critique for Kindle and forward your proof of purchase to admin@danielirussell.com and the guys will send you the three ebooks Roots, Penanggalan and The Bell Jar Heart for free!

Come on over and see what Kim Curley has to say about Earth's End, and her story in it.

2012-01-10T12:45:00.000-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate? Dark chocolate!!

2 – What are your feelings in reference to LEGO’s? My son is a huge LEGO fan. I really like the Bionicle series and where they went with the storylines.

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 favorite comedy and why? I love, “Desk Set,” with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. It may be a cliché, but I love the report between the actors and their characters. The dialogue is amazing: it’s clever and fast-paced. Also, there are a lot of literature references in this movie, as the main character works in a reference department. The plot still holds up to today’s standards.

4 – What is the story/novel you are most proud of? I’m working on a children’s fiction novel that I’m in hopes of finishing this year. The message is a tried-and-true one: tear down those barriers in life and learn to live with one another! It’s a story I told my daughter roughly 20 years ago when she was sick in bed, so it means a lot to me.

5 – What is the most interesting thing you have learned? Just write it down!

6 – Do you do a lot of research for your writing? I use to hate researching papers in high school. Now, I enjoy it. In fact, I enjoy it so much that I’ve been given subtle “reminders” to actually take time to write my stories down (thanks, Bec’s!). Otherwise, I’d just keep on researching all the time.

7 – Tell me about your story in Earth’s End? “Faith” deals with a planetary tilt and a small group of human survivors trying to maintain their existence in underground caves. Just when they think they’re in the clear to begin living top-side, the character’s get caught up in a much different struggle to survive when members of an ancient, advanced civilization threaten their humanity. “Faith” is about staying strong, even when you think things are dire.

8 – How do you like to tell a story? Character driven, location of importance, or something else entirely? I have to say I’m extremely character driven. Probably because of the way my dad brought me up about people and why they behaved a certain way. He’d tell me that there are two-sides to every story. So, when I write about my characters, I really get into their backgrounds, why they are who they are. A lot of it doesn’t get included in the story; it’d take up too much space.

9 – What kind of music do you listen to when writing? It depends on what I’m writing. I listen to soundtracks from Hans Zimmer, James Horner, Howard Shore, Klaus Badelt, Michael Giacchino, James Newton Howard, and John Williams. Also, I really like groups like Apocalyptica and Crystal Method. Danny Elfman is good to listen to when I write kids lit, especially the “Nightmare Before Christmas” soundtrack.

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

Being my own worst critic.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe. I had a letter printed in Circus magazine once. During the mid-80’s, Al & Tipper Gore were asking that albums (cd’s) be printed with warning labels on them to warn people about “questionable” content, i.e. the bad language. The article stated that some stores refused to sell those particular “labeled” albums to minors. I let it be known that if a kid walked up to me with money he/she earned to pay for an album, I’d go in and get it for them!

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

As a teenager, I wrote a few articles that made it into the teen section of my hometown newspaper.

I’m a 2010 graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature of West Redding, Connecticut.

I’ve been a SCBWI member since 2009.

“Faith” will be my first published piece for a book-thank you Wicked East Press!

I edit for writer’s when I get the opportunity. Warning: I am a thorough editor and have been told I’m too picky!

Feel free to follow me at the following links:

http://cupcakesblogcorner.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/kim.curley1

http://twitter.com/kim_curley

Thank you for taking the time to ask me questions, Suzanne! I really appreciate you taking the time and allowing me some space on your blog!

Bio: Kim Curley began her writing journey in 2008, taking an online course titled, ‘How to Sell Your Fiction Novel.’ With the encouragement of a friend from work, she enrolled in a correspondence course and became a 2010 graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature of West Redding, Connecticut. In 2009, she became a member of SCBWI-Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Although she enjoys writing children’s lit, her goal is to branch out and write for adults as well. She prefers writing fiction/fantasy, to provide escapism for readers everywhere. “I write what I would want to read, when I get the chance to read.” A housewife and mother, she resides in the Pacific Northwest. Her story for Wicked East Press Sci-Fi/Apocalypse Anthology, “Earth’s End,” titled, “Faith: An Apocalypse Story,” is her first published piece for a book.

Say hello to Autumn Christian author of "A Gentle Hell"

2012-01-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Milk for hangovers, PMS, and family gatherings. Dark chocolate for nights alone, glittery costumes, and writing about tragedy.

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

I love them. I have never been against the LEGO movement. In fact several of my friends are LEGO’s.

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 favorite comedy and why?

It would have to be Ace Ventura: Pet Detective 2. And mostly for the memory of watching it with my brother and rewinding the part where Jim Carrey punches out the “Monopoly” guy about 38 times.

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

Well, I’m most proud of the bible and its influence on bringing a friendlier face to genocide. Wait, no, you mean my stories. Well, this is awkward.

No, but seriously, I’m quite fond of my dystopian horror novel The Crooked God Machine. (You can put up a link if you wish, it’s here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Crooked-God-Machine-ebook/dp/B006PNJ2L4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325696215&sr=1-1) It’s currently published on Amazon and

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

The empire never ended.

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

Yes, but it’s not a linear process. My entire life is research. I call myself a scientist, and this makes boys wary. “What do you mean, I’m an experiment?” they ask as I bring out the hunting knives and the blotter paper. It’s brought me to interesting places, warehouses, communes and Oklahoman dairy farm. It’s had me frantically researching Cotard’s Delusion and Gnostic scriptures in the late mornings. It’s had me swallowing the pill when someone says, “here, take this. You’ll like it.” It’s had me alone in the night going down a dark road, thinking, “this is a terrible idea,” knowing that you’ll never be the same afterwards.

7 – Tell me about the collection you have with Dark Continents?

My collection from Dark Continents is called “A Gentle Hell,” and it’s four short stories of quiet tension and uncomfortable nostalgia, featuring machine implants, pathological women who get bit by rabid dogs, goddesses who kill God, and carnivorous deer. I’d recommend it for the demon or the suicidal child in your life.

It can be found on Amazon in ebook format here http://www.amazon.com/A-Gentle-Hell-ebook/dp/B006SLDFGQ

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

It feels very much like a ritual to me. Floating images, characters, locations, they all flow into each other. I close my eyes and type what I see.

I’m going to be pretentious and say that sometimes I feel like a shaman having to go down into the underworld to dredge this stuff up, but just as often I feel like an idiot child playing with aforementioned LEGO’s but just sort of smashing them together instead of making anything profound or beautiful.

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

I’m fond of dubstep, gothic country, dark ambient, IDM. I like to make playlists for my novels, and rearrange them depending on how the novel progresses. Some of my favourite artists for writing are Portishead, Queenadreena, Apparat, Sun Glitters, and Soap&Skin. To be obscure and hipster about it.

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

Pretending you’re not a writer. This is by far, the hardest part, living your life everyday like you’re a normal human being that is not being constantly assaulted by the space monkeys of thought processes hurtling at you from all sides. When they find out you’re a writer, you’re done for, you might as well have just come out as a drug addict. No one will respect you ever again. At least, unless you pretend to be fancy and take people out for sushi and buy them Nicaraguan cocaine for their birthdays and stop crying whenever they mention bad Amazon reviews.

Oh, but aside from that, probably the suicidal tendencies that creep up on me every time I open a word processor.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe.

I’m a 1^st degree black belt in Kung Fu San Soo. Does anyone believe that? I’m not sure. I wouldn’t believe it.

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

In addition to A Gentle Hell, I’ve published a dystopian horror novel called The Crooked God Machine, and it can be found here (: http://www.amazon.com/The-Crooked-God-Machine-ebook/dp/B006PNJ2L4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325696215&sr=1-1) I’m also currently working on a demon lesbian horror/romance, and if you’d like to follow my progress or want to stalk me and send me bones in the mail you can find me at http://autumnchristian.net

Meet Tracie McBride - Author of "Ghosts Can Bleed"

2012-01-05T12:18:00.001-05:00

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

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Dark for cooking, milk for scoffing.

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

You’re talking about the little plastic building block thingies, right? I have three kids, so I don’t get to have feelings about Lego; I just have to buy the stuff. You want to talk to my husband about that, though – he still has all his original and intact Lego sets from his childhood.

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 favorite comedy and why?

I’m going to go old school and say Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it’s the most quoted blasphemous comedy movie in existence. And it has a catchy theme tune.

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

No novels yet (that’s on my Plan for World Domination for 2012), but my favourite short story is Baptism. It’s currently sitting at Number 1 over at www.patronquo.com and will be reprinted in 2012 in Horror For Good: A Charitable Anthology alongside stories by such horror greats as Joe McKinney, Ramsay Campbell and Jack Ketchum.

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

What, like ever in my entire life? That’s too hard. Most interesting thing I learned today was never to feed the leftover Christmas ham to the dog; not unless you have a gas mask and are prepared to wear it.

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

Short answer – no. Long answer – nope. I’m quite lazy when it comes to research, which is why I like to write about things, places and people that reside only in my imagination.

7 – Tell me about the collection you have with Dark Continents?

“Ghosts Can Bleed” is a collection of most of my published short fiction and poetry from 2005 to 2010. 41 pieces covering the range of speculative fiction – horror, fantasy and science fiction – and all bite-sized, with no one story longer than 5000 words. According to one reviewer, it’s perfect for reading while waiting for your weekly appointment with your shrink.

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

For me, a story often starts from a small seed – an unusual turn of phrase, a snippet from a dream, something I’ve read in a newspaper article – and I build the story out around it, fitting characters and plot to until it all starts to make some kind of crazy sense. I like to experiment with form, point of view and voice, which you can get away with more easily in a short story. For example, a story I have forthcoming in Dagan Book’s Fish Anthology is written in three alternating viewpoints, with each viewpoint character an unreliable narrator, so the reader is left to ponder on which character, if any, is telling the truth.

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

I don’t. When I’m in The Zone, I don’t hear anything.

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

Finding the time to do it. Actually, that’s not quite accurate – if I could just figure out how to function without sleep, then I’d have plenty of time. Servants would help, too.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe.

In my teens, I was briefly a bikini model.

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

If you head on over to my Amazon Author page at http://www.amazon.com/Tracie-McBride/e/B005FD2VTA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1, you’ll see a list of all the publications currently readily available that contain my work. Otherwise, I’m quite proud of my blog, ‘cos I made it all on my own self. It’s here at traciemcbridewriter.wordpress.com. That’s also the first stop if you want to be kept updated on any new work I have coming out – currently I have 16 poems and short stories scheduled for publication in 2012.

*You can also find more of Tracie's work in

April Fool and other Antipodean horror stories - with John Irivine

Available here - http://www.amazon.com/April-Antipodean-horror-stories-ebook/dp/B006SLDKSO/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

A review from The LEGO Zombie Apocalypse!

2012-01-03T13:46:00.001-05:00

http://bricksofthedead.com/2012/01/03/zombie-book-review-z-boat/#comment-15187

Available Now!

2012-01-02T14:03:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Were-wolves-Apocalypses-Genetic-Mutation-ebook/dp/B006SBC2UQ/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1325527951&sr=8-22

Working with Dark Continents Publishing

2011-12-27T18:18:00.000-05:00

I have an e-book collection coming out with Dark Continents Publishing. It has been edited by the fantastic Tracie McBride, and with a great cover. Release date is January 2, 2012...are you ready?

Say Hello to Craig Saunders...author of Rain

2011-12-16T16:53:00.000-05:00

Q. You seem to write a lot of horror, is it your favorite genre?

I do write mainly horror. I began writing fantasy (I wrote four – 100K each!), then sci-fi, then humour. I think primarily I’m a horror writer now, though I like to write humour still. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to fantasy...epic fantasy takes too damn long to write. I’m really impatient.

Q. Do you like to scare people with your writing?

Nope. I think that’s kind of a side effect of good horror. I much prefer to make people engage with my characters. I think a lot of horror goes all out for shocks, but I think the best horror makes you care, and sometimes even leaves you feeling happy at the end. Although, yes, I like people to freak out. And maybe make them wet themselves a bit with fear, too. But in a nice way.

Q. You have a novella out with Blood Bound Books, tell me all about it?

‘Scarecrow’ is about a family of lunatics that punish an ordinary couple for an imagined slight. It’s about one of my darkest fears, really – that of seemingly senseless violence that pervades society. I find the random act of human violence far more distressing, personally, than supernatural horror.

Q. You also have two novels that are coming out with two different publishers, what are those about, without spoiling them too much?

‘Rain,’ from Twisted Library Press, concerns a day in the life of John March. He’s having a great day. He inherits a fortune, but something else, too – a bequest of a box with odd markings and a vial of water within. Then it starts to rain. There’s something in the rain, something evil. It wants the strange bequest...and it will do anything to get it. It’s atmospheric, horrific, and suitably sick. My wife refused to read it after dark, so I guess it’s pretty effective!

‘Spiggot,’ from Grand Mal Press, is a comic police novel, concerning the adventures of a degenerate police officer called Spiggot, whose soul is shunted into the body of a mad axe murderer in a mental hospital. There’s a whole cast of insane characters; Spiggot’s partner, Trout, his sole redemption, his arch nemeses, The Egyptian Lady from Stoke and the Amazonian, and a sadistic copper called Dave Grayne.

I’m really proud of both books. I promised myself when I started out that I would always write books I’m proud of. So far, so good.

Q. Who were the most influential writers on you that were not horror based?

Outside the horror genre, Lee Child, for style. George R.R. Martin (though he writes horror, too – check out Meathouse Man, if you haven’t – it’s one of my favourites of his) for sheer audacity. I think any writer who throws caution to the wind is to be admired. I like a lot of horror, but I read outside the genre more often than within. Terry Pratchett, too, I believe is and always will be one of the greats. I think there’s a lot to learn from every book you read, but reading a novel by a truly great author gives you something to aspire to, whether it’s within your genre or not.

Q. Do you prefer writing novels or novellas?

Novels, definitely. I always want to write novels. I just don’t have the time to write novels exclusively, and sometimes an idea just doesn’t want to be a novel. You can’t force a short story to be a novella, and you can’t force a novella to be a novel. The idea pretty much dictates how long a story will be, ultimately.

Q. What are your favorite movies in general?

I love Star Wars (IV, V, VI – in case you thought to ask!) and all time, I’d have to say the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I like fantastical movies, rather than those based in real life. I live real life every day – I don’t want to watch it when I’m trying to escape! Same reason I don’t watch soaps on the television, or reality TV. In fact, come to think of it...I don’t watch television at all!

I really don’t watch many movies anymore, either, or read as much as I’d like – I have three children...what spare time I do get, I spend writing.

Q. When you are writing something scary or horror based, do you find it easier to read something in another genre so reduce the risk of being influenced?

Definitely – I don’t know how other authors work, but I suspect this is the case. Personally, when I’m writing horror, I don’t read anything similar. That said, I usually read in between books, rather than when I’m writing. When I write I do it flat out, and there isn’t usually any time for anything else!

Q. Do you think the market is being saturated, or that for the first time writers are able to make their voices heard due to the advances in technology?

Again, it’s just my opinion, but I think the market is saturated. In some ways, it’s good – good for writers to get their voice heard, good for readers to be given a wider choice (I think the range of books offered by the bigger publishers is simply too narrow). But when that voice is shouting among so many others, no one’s going to hear it anyway. I like the idea of there being some kind of checks and balances on what’s publishable – I’d also like someone with a modicum of sense to be in charge. If I see one more Da Vinci knock-off published, I’m going postal.

Q. What is your favorite type of food?

Japanese food! I lived in Japan for five years, and I can honestly say the only thing I miss about Japan is the food. Sushi’s my favourite. A sushi bar just opened in Norwich, my closest city, and my wife’s treating me to a trip when my first novel comes out.

Q. If you could go on holiday anywhere, where would you go?

Norfolk’s coast! I get really nervous travelling. I don’t really want to get on a plane. If I could fly under the influence of some kind of heavy tranquiliser, like Mr. T, then I’d say Maine. I’ve always wanted to go to Maine.

Q. What was the scariest book/movie you read as a child?

Headhunter, by Michael Slade. I think I was around eleven or twelve. I think I found it horrific, rather than frightening, though. I don’t really find books or movies scary. I just find everything else terrifying! To be honest, though, I creep myself out sometimes when I’m writing...but that’s because I’m a wuss.

Q. I have heard a rumour you are known as ‘Slug Man’ care to explain?

Haha – I always wear shoes going into my study. My study’s in a brick outbuilding, and in the rain the slugs like to come in to play...after treading on one barefoot (they squish very well between the toes) I always wear shoes when I’m writing!

Q. What other projects are you working on that you want to share –

I also have a novel due out in May from Evil Jester Press, called The Love of the Dead. I can’t wait for that one. That’s the third novel acceptance of 2011...and the last, I should think! Cutting it a bit fine now for anymore!

My Amazon page is here: http://www.amazon.com/Craig-Saunders/e/B003TYAKFO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1323728364&sr=8-1

My blog page is here: www.petrifiedtank.blogspot.com

Rain, my debut novel, is available here: http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Craig-Saunders/dp/1466220961/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323718960&sr=8-1

William Cook - Writer, Artist, and all around great guy

2011-12-13T19:03:00.000-05:00

Please meet William Cook, a multi-talented individual. He writes, a book is actually coming out soon which you can learn about here - http://bloodrelated.wordpress.com/

He is also an artist, you can look at his work here - http://nzartist.blogspot.com/

He is a poet - http://williamcookpoet.blogspot.com/

He has a facebook fan page -

http://www.facebook.com/pages/William-Cook-Artist-sometimes-writer-of-the-Macabre/155003097894582

Click on the links above to find out more. Several interesting comments about his serial killer novel, I know many people who love that genre.

Also poems, and some great drawings.

No matter what you will find something that catches your eyes.

Rain by Craig Saunders

2011-12-12T15:27:00.001-05:00

Great new book out by a talented writer..get it while it's hot folks!

Rain - It's not just a horror story

Craig Saunders weaves a tale about John March, a simple man who runs a bookstore. Mild mannered and polite with his usual customer Mr. Hill. Doesn't sound scary, until something unusual happens to Mr. Hill that sets into motion events John never could have expected.

The "rain" itself is a character in this book and it causes havoc and chaos all over.

Saunder's knits together three story lines in the end into a very nice patter, that is both horrific at parts and emotional at others.

(I admit it I cried at one part)

This writer has what it takes you make you afraid of the rain, cry about loss, and question what we really know about the world.

I know we will see a lot more from this wonderful writer.

Promo Poster for Z-Boat

2011-12-02T15:12:00.001-05:00

Z-Boat is Live!

2011-11-30T12:37:00.001-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Z-Boat-Suzanne-Robb/dp/1467945749/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322786071&sr=1-16

https://www.createspace.com/3725430

Final TOC for Read the end First

2011-11-28T16:56:00.002-05:00

Read the End First

24 Apocalytic Tales

24 Time Zones

1 – Suzanne Robb

2 – A.J.French

3 – George Wilhite

4 – Craig Saunders

5 – John McCuaig

6 – David Dunwoody

7 – Sean Thompson

8 – Gregory Norris

9 – Rebecca Snow

10 – Dave Jefferey

11 – Patrick D’Orazio

12 – Emma Ennis

13 – Wayne Goodchild

14 – Adrian Chamberlin

15 – Henry Snider

16 – Stephen North

17 – Brooke Fabian

18 – Michael S. Gardner

19 – Pat Shand

20 – Hollie Snider

21 – William Todd Rose

22 – D.A. Chaney

23 – Richard Payne

24 – Darren Gallagher

Introduction by Joe McKinney

Blurbs provided by -

Graham Masterton
Jonathan Maberry

Scott Browne

David Moody

Scott Poole

Sean Page

Marianne Halbert

Nancy Kilpatrick

Intro by Joe McKinney

This project is coming to a close and I must say I am proud of all the stories, the contributors have worked incredibly hard and have blown me away with their creativity.

I need to also thank my co-editor, Adrian Chamberlin, for his help, he kept me sane through the process.

I hope to have a cover posted soon..

Final Cover for Z-Boat

2011-11-21T15:09:00.000-05:00

I have no life

2011-11-14T18:27:00.000-05:00

So I have not posted here in weeks, nor talked to many of my friends in months...essentially I have no life.

I am on the home stretch of editing two anthologies at the same time, trying to organize cover art, get introductions and back blurbs, and prepping for the release of my first book.

All the while trying to jot down ideas for stories when I have them so I might come back and write them one day, if I ever have a life again..

On a good note, had a story accepted into a skeletons anthology, and one into the 2012 Doomsday anthology..sadly not writing much new stuff BUT hope to start that in December when I am finished with the edits..

As for now I am not ignoring or snubbing I am torturing writer's with edits.

Thoughts on the recession, small presses, and promotion

2011-10-27T17:09:00.000-04:00

Seems like the small presses are being hit by the recession, then again who isn't.
Recently a publisher I had a few stories accepted with decided to cancel all but a few anthologies. While I did not lose as many stories as others, I did lost one that saddened me.

I hope to find it a new home though, or add it to a collection perhaps. It also reminds me, that for an anthology to sell you must promote it if you are a part of it. Many people are upset by presses that do not pay anything but a contributor copy, but what is the motivation to offer more? Once a writer gets paid, they rarely promote their work. At least from what I have seen. I have seen authors promote more for the love anthologies than I have writers's who got paid pro-rates.

Where is the logic in that? Of course it is going to affect the publisher, so I do not think people can really be mad when doors close up, anthologies get cancelled, or delayed. All people involved need to promote, the publisher, the editor, and the contributors.

Just my thoughts, and who knows what they are worth in this economy.

As for updates, Zippered Flesh I got a nice rejection and was told if I still had to story in a few months to submit it for a volume 2. Wolfology has been cancelled, and the other three I am waiting to hear back on.

Sad news for many this week and I feel for them all, but I do hope this makes writers more proactive in promoting their work.

Update - Mood=tense - too many stories to hear back on this month

2011-10-17T15:02:00.000-04:00

So it is just past mid-October..as of now I am waiting to hear back on

Machine of Death

Zippered Flesh

Wolfology

Doomsday 2012

Skeletons

Also hoping to get a few more subs for the Anxiety Disorders Anthology..and editing stories for the Read the end First anthology.

The weather has turned cold so it is when I have my highest output, I tend to focus more in colder months, less to do outside I suppose.

If and when I hear on these anthologies, or any updates on my book..will be posted here as soon as I can.

Available

2011-10-12T17:55:00.003-04:00

http://www.amazon.com/Undertaker-Tales-Teach-Mortuary-School/dp/0615545823/ref%3dsr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1318454248&sr=8-3

Undertaker Tales is now available

2011-10-01T23:32:00.000-04:00

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k1QwVgvIBg4q0r2qZZC

The TOC trailer for Undertaker Tales

2011-10-01T13:11:00.000-04:00

http://www.pillhillpress.com/shoppe-static-movement.html

Available here, part of a 3 book series that makes a full cover, on sale now for a great deal, my story is in Volume 2

So winding down really is not my thing

2011-09-25T23:49:00.002-04:00

Ten days have gone by and nothing to show for it. I did write one story, and edited about a dozen more. I have researched publishers of non-ficiton collections, and have also attempted to see if I can get a grainy idea of where I want the Z-boat sequel to go. I know wherever it goes it has to open to a third one, then again maybe not.

I have two other books beckoning me to write them, one is a werewolf tale, the other is a different take on zombies. So many ideas I wish I could hire people to type them all down for me, would be such a time saver. Alas, I need to do it and the feeling of accomplishment is worth it.

Z-Boat should be coming out sometime soon, line edits are done, and apparently it is in formatting. Not sure how long that takes, but am not going to complain as I want it to be the best it can be.

I have a few anthologies with stories of mine in them coming out, they were acceptances I received long ago and are finally seeing print, I am excited about them.

In the mean time I am trying to prioritize my short story submissions with working on my novel. I have about 8 or so short stories, but only 4 that need to be done between now and mid-October..no stress, then again I work better when the deadline looms and I can see the minutes on the clock ticking by.

Not sure if most writers are like that, but I sure am. The more pressure the better.

So I am off to try and get a few shorts off my plate so I can let the pressure start around the October 7^th or 8^th, just for fun.

Also looking forward to reading the stories in Read the End First, have about six of them in and they are great. Really interesting takes on the apocalypse, I think people will be excited about this anthology, and as I said I have a great person doing the introduction.

That is all for now, need to type on my stories..or catch some sleep..or edit….or read..or something.

Winding Down

2011-09-15T18:46:00.000-04:00

After being on a writing/editing kick for several months I am winding down for a bit. Perhaps it is the weather, the turning of the leaves, or just plain fatigue. Either way I am going to enjoy taking a bit of a break and enjoy some reading for a change.

One thing I want to comment on..and maybe this is just me..since I am a woman after all. When I see an anthology call open there is always some author that gets an automatic acceptance because of their name. If you want to do that fine, but what I wonder is why that automatic acceptance never goes to a woman.

Am I saying this because it is not me? Nope, I know well enough I do not have the name or skills to be that person, but I do know others that do. Yet time and time again they get overlooked.

I heard about a panel at a recent convention in which they talked about women being a minority in horror writing, and yes that is very very true. I do not know the statistics. I do not know if there are just more men. What I do know was when they did a reading, they were unable to tell the difference between a male versus female writer.

I would like to start small and I dare an editor out there with a small press to brag about the well-known female author who will be in the anthology alongside them.

Anyone up to that challenge?

Z- Boat Cover

2011-09-09T14:19:00.000-04:00

This is the almost finished cover for Z-Boat, have to say I am super excited...

Artwork done by David Naughton Shires and his company The Image Designs

About due for a real post

2011-09-04T00:31:00.000-04:00

Been awhile since I wrote an actual update. A lot going on which is a good thing.

I finally got to write my chapter for Collaboration of the Dead, glad to have that done. Now I just need to write a story for the Apocalypse anthology, All female zombie anthology, and a holiday zombie anthology, while working in my sequel.

I have hit the 30,000 mark and am putting it aside as I did the last one, some people get so absorbed they write a book so fast, as for me I like to do it in chunks then go back and read them over. When I write ideas are always bouncing around so it is a good thing.

I am waiting to hear back on -

Reaper Virus, Father Grim, Coffee 3, Wolfology, Machine of Death, Humor antho, Strange Tales, and Doomsday antho to name a few..I know I am missing a few because there are 15 stories out at the moment.

My anxiety antho is about half full and have been working with the contributors on that, really looking forward to this collection. Hope to have it filled by the end of the month.

Getting in all the swimming and walking I can before winter hits.

Getting ready for my book to come out, which makes me a bit nervous, not sure how it will be received, hope well, or at least okay for a first time novel. On the other hand I am proud to have finished it, and have found a publisher, that alone is something which makes me smile.

Other than that, just writing various ideas down, and hoping to find the time to get all these stories in my head onto paper.

I am also planning on editing my non-fiction collection and begin the query process on that, will take a long time, but I hope worth it.

Watch This

2011-08-30T00:26:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFkMtCjez4k

Live and let Undead

2011-08-27T13:52:00.000-04:00

This anthology edited by Hollie Snider features stories by many talented writers.

Here is the cover a few tweaks are going to be made, but the artwork is solid and FANTASTIC

Ultimate Angels Anthology

2011-08-23T20:20:00.002-04:00

Read the end First TOC

2011-08-21T23:15:00.009-04:00

I am stealing a few minutes out of my day to post this TOC for my pet project...

Read the End First

24 Apocalytic Tales

24 Time Zones

1 – Suzanne Robb

2 – A.J.French

3 – George Wilhite

4 – Craig Saunders

5 – John McCuaig

6 – David Dunwoody

7 – Sean Thompson

8 –

9 – Rebecca Snow

10 – Dave Jefferey

11 – Patrick D’Orazio

12 – Emma Ennis

13 – Wayne Goodchild

14 – Adrian Chamberlin

15 – Henry Snider

16 – Stephen North

17 – Brooke Fabian

18 – Michael S. Gardner

19 – Pat Shand

20 – Hollie Snider

21 – William Todd Rose

22 – D.A. Chaney

23 – Richard Payne

24 – Darren Gallagher

I know each one of these authors will write a fantastic story, and end the world in a unique and interesting day.

Will make an actual post on things going on when I have more time..not sure when that will be..:)

The Apocalypse Anthology

2011-08-10T22:47:00.000-04:00

So this has been a project of mine.
24 Time Zones, 24 Writer's, 24 original ways to end the world

Have a fantastic line up of writers for this..will post them later.

Look What I Found by Norgus Press

2011-08-10T16:37:00.000-04:00

The cover of an upcoming anthology I have a tale in called The lens of the Innocent

Once Bitten

2011-08-05T19:57:00.002-04:00

Start the weekend on a happy note,

Got an acceptance into Once Bitten Never Die anthology, being edited by Jessica A Weiss, and put out by Wicked East Press.

Trifecta

2011-08-04T23:52:00.000-04:00

So I was accepted into 3 charity anthologies, 2 of which the proceeds go to buying Christmas presents for kids in foster care, the other to help fight illiteracy.

Then I was rejected three times, Code Z, Zombiality 2, and Writings on the Wall.

Now I have been accepted into three, Zero, Dead Souls, and Undertaker Tales.

Trifecta complete. I do hope this means that I am not about to start on the cycle of 3 rejections, uugh..then again I got some pretty good acceptances so I am good with that.

I also need to mention again Hollie Snider is the best editor ever..wonder if I can retain her? hmmm

Also my anthology has all authors on board, waiting for three to give me their story idea and then get cover art and all will be revealed..hard project to put together and organize but it is soooo close to being done. Cannot wait to share with others about it.

Acceptance I owe to the help of Hollie Snider editor extraordinaire!

2011-08-03T13:57:00.002-04:00

This is a submission I was chewing my nails over for months. With the help of Hollie it was accepted.
Here is the cover, the story is titled "A New Breed"

The tide is changing?

2011-08-02T21:25:00.000-04:00

Perhaps I am jinxing myself but I just got an acceptance into the Zero anthology, only 7 stories were selected and I am proud to be one of them. Release TBA

Here is the cover

New Interview

2011-07-30T23:36:00.002-04:00

Another attempt to sound interesting

This time in Dan Dillard's blog, feel free to follow him while you're at it :)

http://demon-author.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-am-not-horror-writer-i-just-happen-to.html

Also another rejection, I think editors really should not be allowed to do that on weekends, not cool!

Saturday you mock me...

2011-07-30T13:11:00.002-04:00

Well, got a rejection I was expecting, but two acceptances into charity anthologies, so all in all pretty happy.

I also came up with an idea for the Wolfology anthology, it is highly humor based so I am hoping it goes over well, new concept that will either be applauded or a cane shall remove me from the stage so to speak.

I am still waiting to hear back on several submissions, and edits on the book, and am working away at a good pace on the sequel. 22,000 words in and took a break to write a few short stories, and read submissions for the anxiety anthology.

Also only 3 more slots to fill then I can announce with great fanfare sort of, my new anthology I created and complied and will be co-editing with Adrian Chamberlin...though he will do most of the heavy lifting editing wise, as he is much better than me at editing horror stories.
I am very excited about this anthology and cannot wait to talk about it and share the cover, as nothing like it has been done before, and all the contributors have been wonderful as well as my publisher friend who is letting us publish through her company.

All in all, many good things going on, keeping me busy writing and talking to people

That is why Saturday mocks me :(

Though that is okay..I might swim later :)

Then watch some old 70's bionic woman, I watched an episode last night and wow..Lee Majors sings in it..fun stuff..

Here's hoping those slots get filled and news can be shared soon!

Update - Mood - bad..the humidity is sucking my will to live

2011-07-23T12:55:00.002-04:00

Well, I have not updated this in a good while, though for good reasons, been busy and many of the anthologies I have been waiting on are taking a long time to decide. I was accepted into two charity anthologies, rejected from the Code Z one, accepted for another one with more to come later, and still waiting on about 4 more in about the next month or so.

After that the rest of the deadlines are end of August, September, and October..ergo those updates will come much later.

I am still looking at submissions for my anxiety anthology, must say I have gotten some amazing ones so far and am looking forward to see what else comes my way. I am also putting together another anthology, will see how well that goes. It is going to take some research, but at least that is something I am good at, and it is anthropological research, something I am even better at.

I have hit the 13,000 mark with my sequel and hope to have a rough draft of it done by the end of October, beginning of November. With writing you have to strike while the iron is hot as they say, and when my book is released, I hope it gets positive reviews and my sequel will be accepted with no issues.

After that I am working on another novel, perhaps novella I have not decided. Depends how long I can get the story, minimum needs to be 50,000 but I may try and get it up to more. I like writing zombie stories that are actually other things in disguise; quite fun and I hope people like the change of pace.

I also have two anthologies that I would really like to submit to, but an not sure if I will come up with the right idea, or the time. Networking, meeting people, talking with them to help out Hidden Thoughts Press takes quite a bit of time.

I look forward to the weekends where I can just write, though I still have things to do. Perhaps in the colder months I will be able to write more, can’t do a whole lot when all it does is snow outside.

So that is the update for now, bummed about the rejection..but c’est la vie.

Hopefully the next one will be an acceptance. As soon as I know more so will this blog.

New Interview

2011-07-18T11:29:00.001-04:00

Have a new interview up with the Ginger Nuts of Horror, check out my latest attempt at being interesting...

http://thegingernutcase.blogspot.com/2011/07/interview-with-suzanne-robb.html?spref=fb

Dusting off the Blog

2011-07-10T17:11:00.000-04:00

Well, I have in interview on another blog and just in case that one person who reads it and is interested in what this blog may offer I thought I should come in and clean it up.

My anthology is doing well, at least I have gotten a lot of messages from people who want to buy it when it is available, or contribute to it.

I am working on 2 other book ideas, and 2 story ideas, and another story idea when the first two are done.

Other than promoting Hidden Thoughts Press, and writing I have no life at the moment..

I am excited about many anthologies that are coming out soon, most notable Attack of the 50ft Book..going to be a great one!

Come back when things are more interesting in a week or two when I get some rejections I can complain about :)

Anxiety Disorders Anthology

2011-07-06T23:38:00.002-04:00

I am proud to share the cover of the anthology I will be editing for Hidden Thoughts Press..

It will be full of stories from people who have suffered from or continue to deal with anxiety of any kind in their lives.

I am also working on anthologies, two other books, doing media relations and PR work..

Seems like my work is never done..:)

http://hiddenthoughtspress.lefora.com/2011/06/30/anxiety-disorders-anthology-2/

Interview

2011-06-29T15:19:00.001-04:00

http://armandrosamilia.wordpress.com/

My first interview, check it out!

Contract is Signed!

2011-06-25T22:41:00.000-04:00

So I got my contract today for Z-Boat, probably one of the more exciting moments in my life.
I thought perhaps after finishing it and having it accepted (which was a pipe dream to me) I would then be at a loss as to what to do...then an anthology opened by Ryan Miller 2012 Doomsday, which I had to submit to. Also Wolfology being done by Twisted Library Press and another novella type deal for Wicked East Press.

On top of that I have started to write the sequel to my first book, outline a different book, am now a contributing editor and Hidden Thoughts Press and will be editing their Anxiety collection..and doing some marketing and PR work for them and Evil Jester Press.

I am not sure if writing is feast or famine, or if it one of those things where once you break through the barrier you keep going setting higher and higher goals. Either way I am enjoying it and also meeting so many wonderful people along the way.

A few years ago if someone asked me if I thought I would write a book, and get it accepted for publication I would have blurted out NO! without hesitation..now things are different..

I have some more confidence, and done something a lot of people say they are going to do.

Here's hoping to more barriers being broken!

Blogging about what....

2011-06-16T13:43:00.002-04:00

As I have mentioned before, writers need to master the art of waiting.

I have tried distractions such as painting, staining my deck, walking the dog, biking swimming, but nothing seems to take the edge off. In the back of my mind I always know, there is the slightest possibility I might have an e-mail about one of my submissions, and now about my book.

I admit to never thinking I would get a novel published and now after a week to let it settle in and let my grey matter absorb this news I have to say it is very uplifting. I feel renewed in a way, not because I am published, but that someone saw my writing as good enough to publish.

I have a blog post to write for a friend and have a pretty good idea what to write about now, and no I don't mean my book, I plan to write about how it happened, and all the people who made it possible. how the forums and the writing community is one of the most positive and supportive I have ever come across. I am proud to be a part of it.

I hope to write two more books in this series, and work on another one a different publisher asked for. I also have some other projects I want to do and still want to submit to anthologies and what not. I also know that the friends I have made will make it possible.. a big thank-you to all.

It is Official

2011-06-11T17:06:00.000-04:00

I just got the e-mail, which I was expecting in a couple of months..

My book is going to be published by the Library of the Living Dead, and edited by Bill Tucker himself.

No words can say how happy I am right now..more later

A new day

2011-06-10T13:21:00.000-04:00

So I think with all the personal things as well as outside work that stress got to me yesterday.

I am tough, and one rejection is not going to throw me over the edge, I have 37 acceptances in 6 months, that is pretty darn good and a manuscript out for consideration.

All in all things are going well, also writing a novella/novel.

Time to move along, less anthology and more book work. Will mean longer wait time, work time, but I think it is a smarter move. I do not want to become a caricature hobby writer.

I forgot the whole reason I started writing was to be a novelist..

So still waiting on several acceptances but am going to work on other things and remain upbeat.

Another Rejection

2011-06-09T14:38:00.000-04:00

I know that part of writing is rejection, writers are supposed to have thick skin.

I got yet another rejection today, and am tired of them to be honest.

They make me feel bad and I don't like feeling bad. I had a lot of success in the beginning, but now seem to be getting many more rejections than acceptances.

I think it is time to stop, would rather go out while doing well, then try to stay alive in a game I am obviously losing.

Most likely won't update much..unless I get an acceptance which the way things are going, is highly unlikely.

The art of Waiting

2011-06-08T17:35:00.000-04:00

I think most writer's become neurotic during their careers as they wait for responses and looming deadlines to approach.

I don't think anyone starts out neurotic, just what I think. The more I write, the more neurotic I get.

In fact today I await a contract so I can announce it, and I also found out the big news I thought would take a month or so...will actually take three. Thus I have gotten several new gray hairs, and feel myself becoming more neurotic. More proof for my theory.

I have several stories in rejection/acceptance limbo and wonder how to deal with it in a healthy way. I used to take my mind off of it by writing for other submissions or working on my book, now that is not working because it is a vicious cycle. The more I write and submit the longer my wait to hear back list gets.

So I sit here, trying in vain to find something to write for, and checking my inbox obsessively in hopes at least one answer comes my way.

There has to be a better way? Then again if there was, writers would most likely not be so neurotic.

As of Today June 7..

2011-06-07T17:33:00.000-04:00

I have received one rejection and once acceptance..will list them when contracts are all sent in and squared away.

Still waiting to hear back on about 6 more...will let you know as results come in.

One will come in for sure on Thursday and I have fingers and toes crossed for that one, also still waiting on the big news..it has been a long week and may take a few more...hopefully sooner..but need to be patient, it will be worth it if is is good

Will keep updated as the day progresses

Encore une fois - Update

2011-06-02T21:22:00.001-04:00

So it is Thursday night and out of the 6 anthologies I am waiting to hear back on, I am still waiting.

On a good note thought, I have sent my book off for publication consideration. Not sure if it will happen, but they wanted to see it even though I emphasized it had not been fully edited. I am told that is a good sign. The publisher called the concept "intriguing".

Another good note, one of the rejections I got last week turned out to be a blessing. I saw an anthology call that my story with a lot of tweaking and returning to the original idea I had would fit. I sent it on with a brief summary of what it was about and the publisher wanted it book length, it fit what he was looking for "like a glove"

So a few anthologies left to submit for, then I am book woman, finishing the editing on one, and starting to outline the other. Sometimes rejections lead to much better things.

I still wait to hear about the other anthologies, but the momentum forward with books is taking the stress out of it a bit.

Update

2011-05-30T18:57:00.001-04:00

So just a quick update, got a rejection..seems the bad luck has not lifted...
Have 6 or 7 more responses coming my way over the next couple of days...

Hoping to get some better news.

That's all for now..

Will keep you all posted

Book is done and can the bad luck stop now?

2011-05-30T12:18:00.000-04:00

So it is the 30th, 2 subs have closed, 3 close tomorrow, 2 close on the 1st.

No news yet, but that does not necessarily translate to no news is good news.

On a side note, I finished my book and am halfway though the second round of editing and my friend Stephen North, author of the Dead Tide series is beta reading it for me, can't think of a better choice.

Glad I got this done, and as soon as editing is done I need to do a chapter synopsis, and a query letter, any input would be greatly appreciated!

Also, today proves bad things come in threes, in 24 hours 1 friend in the Er, 1 aunt on her way to the ER and 1 friend has passed away. Can it please stop now?

All for now, possible updates later

One rejection down, 4 more to go...

2011-05-26T19:21:00.000-04:00

So, I finally heard back from Veinarmour today on their Zombies Aren't Funny anthology. A rejection in a form letter. I'm bummed, and hope this is not the start of a bad roll.

Two end tomorrow and I will most likely hear back on the fairly soon. The other two end on the first of June, not sure how long it will take to hear back.

On a good note, it has driven me to work harder on my book. With over 30 anthologies under my belt it is time to move onto novellas, or novels..or at least finish my novel. I did 2,000 words today, and am not sure how long it will be once finished and edited. Might be a novella or a short novel.

I will still write for anthologies that spark my attention, but not so many like I have been. Though I have to admit the 5 I was waiting on, now 4 are ones that I really wanted to get into. I also have a list of about 10 others with later deadlines I truly hope to get into.

My mood is down, doesn't help that it is rainy and overcast and I feel like a loser...writing is a pipe dream and all that.

Crossing fingers that the next few days brings better news.

Oh Boy..many deadlines loom...

2011-05-25T12:18:00.000-04:00

So I will start with a good thing, I got an acceptance into Beneath the Pretty Lies by Wicked East Press which I am excited about.

On a tense note, the27 is the deadline for two anthologies I sent in to, and June 1 is the deadline for another 2, and there are 1 or 2 others that are going out this week and next.

Ergo I have stockpiled the chocolate, sad movies, and soothing teas...though chocolate is the best.

Things have been going well, but it is time to force myself to sit down and work on the book. I am setting a goal of 2,000 words a week starting now, that should have it done in about 6 weeks..this is a lower word count than I will most likely do..but I am setting it lower so IF I finish sooner I can pat myself on the back. Then once it is done, the fun editing process begins (sarcastic voice here)

Other than that, want to work on a few novellas and work my way up in the world..at least the writing world, see how it goes.

Wish me luck and chocolate

Quick Update

2011-05-21T23:51:00.002-04:00

So as I have stated before, my writing has improved tremendously since my editing guru Hollie Snider, who I shall refer to as Yoda from now on, helped me out.

Got an acceptance into Rhymefire eBooks, Undead of Winter Extreme Zombie anthology...I know for a fact, the competition was tough and had I not had Yoda's rules my story would not have even been considered, let alone accepted.

Going to bed rapture free and happy about an acceptance..good day over all.

The Rapture nears...or does it?

2011-05-21T15:55:00.002-04:00

Rapture smapture..

So apparently today is the day we all get judged and the rapture falls down on our heads. I don’t believe any of this, but on the off chance it is true here’s hoping I didn’t make the cut.

As I promised, I am to keep this blog apprised of all acceptances and rejections. I finally got the rejection for Zombie Kong, to be honest I was expecting it and would have rejected the story also. I wrote it when I had little idea how to format short stories, and knew even less about proper grammar.

Though on a good note I have re-vamped it and submitted it to another market, so fingers crosses.

Still waiting on many responses, will know more in the beginning of June, either I will eat too much chocolate or be happy.

On a side note I am grateful for the editors that I have worked with so far, they make the one bad experience more than worth it!

The sun is out, which is rare so I must go and enjoy it..enjoy the rapture

Smallville Ends...

2011-05-13T13:17:00.000-04:00

So it has been a few days, and blogger has been down so nothing could be shared.

I have finished a few more stories and sent them out. Still waiting on several others.

Met some good people that are actually inspire me to finish my book which is the kick in the butt I need.

Also, the weather here has been nice so I have taken advantage of it by playing with the dog and gardening.

Tonight is also the last night of Smallville. After a ten year run it is over, Clark Kent becomes Superman.
I love this show, and have to admit my nerd side loves Superman and many other comic heroes. I read all of them as a child and this show brought me back to that.
I will miss it, but understand why it needs to end.

One of my writer friends is being mysterious about a project so I might have more good news over the weekend..

And perhaps some acceptances, though I don't think so, more likely end of May beginning of June...ahh the waiting..did I mention I hate the waiting.

2011-05-11T12:02:00.004-04:00

Rain...go away

2011-05-04T21:37:00.000-04:00

I like rain, but not all the time. Most likely why I don't live in London.

I must admit though, that it makes me stay inside and write. there are several open anthologies that I am submitting to, and one I just recently got invited to write in.

The invitation only ones make me feel all happy inside, instead of me toiling over a story and sending it in wondering, I am asked by someone to write for their anthology.

Only two, so I don't have a big head about it, and even if I get no more invites, I still have two that make me feel happy.

There are many anthologies I am waiting on, about 20, though I think I might get into about 6 of them..just being realistic.

Several new anthologies have opened up too which is making my head explode. Seems like everyday I find something I want to write for.

Somewhere in all that I have to find the time to finish my book. I am trying to make the book priority, but it is difficult. I am right at the end and struggling to see it through. Hope I can, in fact I am going to open it up now and see what happens.

Awesome DAY

2011-04-28T13:13:00.005-04:00

So I had my story accepted in to the Bigfoot Among Us II anthology. Edited by none other than Eric S. Brown. The top writer of Bigfoot stories, and several Zombie ones as well. I Highly reccommend going and checking out his stuff, it is well worth a read.

I really have no idea what to say other that I am totally excited by this acceptance!

Like really happy. To celebrate, it's a walk with the dog, then some fetch..maybe some chocolate...

Some acceptances, an invite, and waiting...

2011-04-27T17:11:00.000-04:00

So it has been a week since I updated anything. Been busy with the whole writing thing. I found out two of my stories made the shortlist at Wicked East Press, one for the Once Bitten Never Die anthology, the other for Father Grimm.

Also several of the anthologies that feature my stories are now available, the most recent being Monk Punk, edited by A.J. French. In about a week or so, another one edited by Gregory Miller will be released called Best Left Buried. Very excited, will have five books out.

Also got an invite to write for Among The Damned: The Treskaideka Taboos & Other Superstitious Stories, to be put out by Panic Press.

I also got an acceptance into Earth's End: A Scifi Apocalyptic Anthology by Living Dead Press.

I am waiting to hear back on several other submissions, over 20 to be more accurate, however some of them have closing dates as far as November.

Until then, I have plenty more story ideas to get down and submit for, I have a list of at least 7 or 8 that I want to get done by the end of May. I also want to finish my book and begin the editing process..not fun as that is the part I hate the most.

When I started writing and submitting 4 months ago I never thought I would have accomplished this much so fast. I am appearing in 20 books, two calendars, and 1 kindle collaboration. I have 29 acceptances. My goal is to get to 40 by the end of the year, crossing fingers.

A toe in the door with Pill Hill

2011-04-20T17:27:00.000-04:00

So it has been a long time since I have updated the blog. I have added some new covers, links to new books that are available, and upcoming anthologies.

I am happy to announce that I got a toe in the door with Pill Hill Press by getting an acceptance into the E-pocalyspe anthology. I co-wrote it with two friends and had fun doing it.

I am convinced that Pill Hill will not accept me into any of their other anthologies, I hope to be proven wrong. I am sot sure if it is my writing style, or something else.

I have been editing stories and working on some new ones. Trying to get the creative juices flowing.

Also learning that sometimes you meet people that seem so nice at first, then turn out to not be who you thought they were.

I am of the mindset that you help people whenever you can. Whether it is to post a link promoting them, or sending emails to your friends asking them to help. I don’t do this expecting anything in return, far too old and jaded for that.

Most people do not know that writers get paid little, token payments of a contributors copy, or 1 cent a word. Most times for exposure only. They do this in hopes to get their name out there and one day write a book, and move on to more successful endeavours. What makes me mad is how easy it is for them to forget they struggled once too.

I am still waiting on several submissions, but will post when I know.

And I hope I never forget where I started, and continue to help my friends as much as I can.

Being more positive...

2011-04-12T11:28:00.001-04:00

So I have made a conscious effort to be more positive, and it had paid off.

I had a story accepted into Tales of the Dead - A Zombie Anthology with Living Dead Press.
I love when I get to work with new editors and publishers. It helps expand everything in a good way.

I am also still excited for the Collaboration of the Dead project, and am going to work on a story to help raise funds for it. Hopefully getting it done in time.

I have several others stories that I have submitted, but some have deadlines as late as Sept 30..so anytime between now and then. I will keep posted here.

I am also working on several others that have deadlines within the next couple of months. Trying to keep busy.

Hope all is well, and when I have the cover of the Living Dead Press anthology I will post it, it is so fun!

Collaboration of the Dead

2011-04-10T15:00:00.000-04:00

So last night when I was at my wits end with the whole writing thing..I saw a call for a writer to do a chapter in a Collaboration of the Dead book.

Right place right time as it was the first person who responded who got the job.

So back to the writing thing, not sure what I am going to do although I am going to write this chapter and do it to the best of my ability.

From there who knows...I have 13 stories out right now that have deadlines as far away as the 30 of Sept..some are sooner, some are whenever.

I have decided to write for a few more anthologies to see what happens. I am noticing that the stories that get accepted are never the ones I think will..so hopefully that is a good thing.

I also have 4 stories coming out in Unquiet Earth so I can't really complain, its just that rejections can be hard to take, especially when you have already had a craptastic day.

So whoever it was that put me in the right place at the right time to answer that call, thank-you

One of those days

2011-04-09T18:28:00.000-04:00

So I heard back on that third story I was hoping would get accepted, and unfortunately it was rejected. Apparently it was not my writing, but the story was just not a good fit for the anthology.

So out of three I got one.

Among other issues going on I have decided that writers fall into several categories starting from just plain horrible, and going up to phenomenal..I think I fall somewhere among mediocre.

As for now, from today on I am not writing. I am not one of those writers that can just take a rejection and shrug it off, thinking I will submit it elsewhere.
I would rather not spend hours slaving over a story to have it kicked back for no understandable reason.
I can do more productive things with my time. Why write if no one wants it?

Been a few days...

2011-04-05T11:47:00.000-04:00

Well I have been writing away, weather is rainy so it is the perfect time to get those ideas down.

I am still waiting on Twisted Fairy Tales, and feel like a piece of origami from having so many things crossed.

I did get a rejection, but it was a nice one. It was not the writing, or the story, it was simply because I was submitting to a second Volume of a series and there was a similar story in the first Volume. I came up with a second idea and will have to wait and see how it pans out.

I did get an acceptance into Unquiet Earth - An Anthology of Living Dead Flash Fiction, edited by Chris Bartholomew, which was nice. I might see if I can submit a few more.

I have let the book take a back seat, I got about 5,000 words done and some editing and decided to take a break. I don't want to burn out on it.

As of now I am waiting to hear back on several submissions, and as soon as I do will post the results here, good or bad.