Interview at NFReads.com

Check out my interview over at NFReads.com!

Interview at Dark Niche Publishing

Evan Bollinger over at Dark Niche Publishing interviewed me a few days ago and you can read it online. So go check it out!

Brief interview with me for The Awakened Modern

I have a short story appearing in the upcoming The Awakened Modern anthology, and today there's an interview with me over at the publisher's site.

Interviews break

Just to let anyone interested know, I'm taking a break from the author interviews for a while. This is no surprise to me as I had originally planned on the interviews only being a temporary run anyway.

That being said, I'm not opposed to further interviews, but am just taking a break from the weekly grind of dealing with them. If you are an author who would like to be interviewed, please feel free to contact me.

Mystery author Crystal Budy brings crime to Northern Ohio ... well, sort of

1.) Crystal, you write mysteries/thrillers set around Cleveland, Ohio. Other than the fact you live in the region, what drew you to write about Cleveland and northern Ohio?

I love Cleveland! It gets such a bad rap. Our sports teams suck, we have some of the worst winters around, and our river caught on fire ( :P ). But the city is gorgeous, the skyline is breathtaking at night, we have incredibly eclectic neighborhoods, and we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for pete's sake! There is so much history in Cleveland and so much beauty that I've always been drawn to it. It's very inspiring. I couldn't imagine not having based the North Coast Mystery series in Cleveland.

2.) If my memory serves, Elliot Ness spent some time in Cleveland, and then there were the infamous Cleveland torso murders from the 1930s. Have you ever considered writing a historical mystery novel set in Ohio?

Ness grave in Lake View Cemetery
photo courtesy of Crystal Budy

Eliot Ness did spend some time in Cleveland. He was the director for public safety in Cleveland and he's buried in Lake View Cemetery. I actually just recently visited Lake View Cemetery and took some pictures and one of them was of Eliot Ness' grave marker. He was in Cleveland during the time of the murders you mentioned. I would love to write a historical mystery novel at some point when I would have the time to devote to the research. I'm pretty anal when it comes to research. I like to get it right. People laugh because I have a whole shelf of books about the FBI because in researching for the North Coast Mystery series, I wanted to make sure I got things as close to real as I possibly could without sitting down and having a one-on-one conversation with the FBI.

3.) Sam or Dean? Why? And shame on any modern mystery writers not familiar with this awesome pair.

Dean! Sam's cool, but Dean has the car, the leather jacket, and he's just bad ass. He has that whole bad boy appeal. I like that. :)

4.) Your doctor has told you that you must give up either chocolate or caffeine immediately or you’ll keel over dead in a matter of days. Which would you pick to drop? Or would you tempt fate and live dangerously?

Hmmmmm … I can't live without caffeine. I've tried and it isn't fun! So I would have to give up chocolate. Which is an awful prospect. Maybe I should consider that whole living dangerously thing.

5.) Who are some of your favorite fictional characters?

I'm pretty partial to Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice. He seems like such a snobbish prick at first but you can't help but grow to love him when you realize that he has no idea he's being a snobbish prick! Sherlock Holmes is the original bad ass detective. Cara from the Sword of Truth series can kick some serious booty and is also pretty hilarious. And the nerdy child in me has to admit to being drawn to Harry Potter. ;)

6.) Do you eat snow? If not, are there any circumstances under which you would eat snow? A bet, maybe?

I can't say that I do. I suppose if my life depended on it, I would as long as it wasn't yellow. Or gray, for that matter. Whether or not I would do it for a bet would depend entirely on how much money I was going to get!

For more on author Crystal Budy, check out:
Website: Crystal D. Budy
Kindle page for Budy's novel Echo of Silence: A North Coast Mystery
Kindle page for Budy's novel Echo of Darkness: A North Coast Mystery
Amazon page for Budy's print novel Echo of Silence: A North Coast Mystery
Amazon page for Budy's print novel Echo of Darkness: A North Coast Mystery
Barnes & Noble Nook and print page for Budy's novel Echo of Silence: A North Coast Mystery
Barnes & Noble Nook page for Budy's novel Echo of Darkness: A north Coast Mystery

Interview with fantasy author Michael J. Sullivan

1.) Michael, according to the "About" section of your website, you've had quite the interesting path to writing and publication, one that has had plenty of twists and turns over the years. What do you know now that you wish you had known 10 or more years ago?

That success is possible. There are few businesses that can beat you down like this one. I wish my story was unique, but most writers have similar tales of woe in their own pasts. The fact that it takes a long time to learn to write well was never a problem for me. I was more than willing to put in my 10,000 hours to hone my craft. But the bigger issue is that the whole time you are doing that you have no idea whether that effort is an investment or a total waste of time. For me, I ended up feeling like Linus in the pumpkin patch, ruining my Halloween waiting for something that didn’t exist. It caused me to quit writing altogether for over a decade and if the story ended there I would have been like the character from "Field of Dreams" who got within inches of living out his dream only to have it pass him by. Fortunately, I did start writing again, but this time with absolutely no desire to publish. Freed from that pressure, the joy of storytelling returned to me. By that time changes in the industry had opened up whole new opportunities, and because my wife was adamant about getting the books into the hands of others, I was able to finally find an audience. There is no greater feeling in the world than hearing that something you wrote touched or entertained someone. If I had known in the beginning that I would eventually succeed, I wouldn’t have and would have a lot more stories completed. As it stands, I think I’ll probably die before I get a chance to write all the tales running around in my head.

2.) Which has been your most difficult novel to write? And why?

It’s a novel that hasn’t been published and maybe never will. It’s called A Burden to the Earth and it profiles a man’s descent into madness. This was a piece that I focused on style over substance, and the prose took precedence over everything else. I labored over each word and worked hard to construct each sentence to be “just right.” I still marvel at many of the turns of phrases or descriptions in that story. I’m very proud of the result, but it wasn’t much fun to write. The success of my Riyria Revelations comes from writing tales of adventure with likeable characters … basically the type of stories I “like to read.” I can appreciate Burden on an intellectual level, but in many ways it is the anti-Riyria, and if I had my choice of which book to be stuck with on a desert island, I would much rather have the popcorn than the fine wine.

3.) Beginning writers often think of success as coming from either hard work or luck. Which do you think is more important? Or is it a mix of the two? Or something else entirely?

Ha! I wonder if this question is a plant … have you been reading my blog? I’m actually pretty amazed at the whole “luck” argument and that authors will absolve themselves of much (or sometimes any) role in their own success or failures. Sure over the course of any career some breaks will fall your way and at other times not so much, but to say that you have to “get lucky” to be a success is a cop-out, in my opinion.

If we can define “luck” as “being in the right place at the right time” then you can make your own luck by being persistent. The bottom line is that if you keep putting out quality work over an extended period of time you’ll eventually “make it.” The trick is to keep stacking the odds in your favor by being smart and never taking no for an answer. Years ago, you had to rely on others (mainly agents or acquisition editors) so it was harder, but if one novel didn’t get any nibbles, you could write another one and try again … rinsing and repeating that enough times and you’ll eventually get a “yes.” Today, with self-publishing you are the master of your own domain and the only people you have to prove yourself to are readers.

So going back to what I think the keys to success are it’s actually pretty simple.

1.) Write a “good” book (in this case I define “good” as something that people like so much that they tell everyone they know about it) and will insta-buy any future work you put out.

2.) Prime the pump by getting your book in front of a fairly substantial number of people who love talking about books with others. Let these people become your evangelists to help spread the news through the only marketing technique that works, which is word-of-mouth.

3.) Write more books that fit the bill of #1. Once you have an engine that wants to consume what you create, you have to keep the furnace well stoked with new fuel. The rub of course is whether or not you can write a “good book” especially when such distinctions are completely subjective. My rule of thumb is if you write something that you want to read, and execute it professionally, then the likelihood that you can find an audience with similar preferences is pretty likely.

4.) What do you see as some of the major differences between writing novels and short stories?

I’ve only recently started writing short stories that I consider to be worthy of letting others read. I have a tremendous appreciation for those writers who cut their teeth in the short story realm because I personally find it to be quite challenging. I will probably always be a better novelist than a short story writer because I really like being able to slowly reveal a character’s background, and I need a long run way for some of my red herrings and plot twists. I like enticing a reader to stay awake for “just one more chapter” and revel when they are half asleep the next day. Having 100,000 or more words gives me the freedom to explore such constructs.

Short stories force the author to make very tough choices. You have only so many words to develop an appreciation for the main character and what conflict they are going through. You also need to choose your plot carefully .. .it’s not easy coming up with an idea that can be explored in its entirety in the span of 3,000 – 7,000 words. Quite simply, I’m awed by great short story writers. They have a delicate balancing act and walk a tremendously difficult tightrope. I personally think it takes a far greater talent than novel writing, and that’s probably why I’ll continue to make my bread and butter in long form fiction.

5.) You have teamed up with your daughter Sarah for the online comic Plotholes. What is the story of this collaboration and how it came about?

The idea actually was something that came from Robin (my wife) and I. We often joke about various things that we find funny or amusing about publishing or fantasy writing. My mind seems to naturally distil these musings into very concise ideas. Because of my artistic background it’s easy for me to visualize the concept of a cliff hanger or the impenetrable wall of traditional publishing.

These little notions pop up constantly. For instance, one day we were walking home from the Metro and we passed a tree that was completely devoid of any leaves that was fourth in line of a row of others that were in their full greenery. One of us (I can’t recall which) said, “What the heck happened to that tree?” and the other responded, “It was edited.”

That got Robin thinking about creating a comic strip as something fun to put on my blog. I’m a pretty decent graphic artist, and I am good at combining graphics and text, but I’ve never been a great illustrator. After seeing my first attempt, Robin turned to the real artistic talent of the house, our daughter Sarah and asked her to draw something up. Her version blew mine out of the water. Nowadays Sarah is really busy with her own Ugly Vampire comic so there hasn’t been a new Plothole in a while, but Robin and I have come up with a whole bunch of other subjects that we would like to see Sarah draw one day when she gets the time.

6.) You hear a clatter behind your house. Rushing out the back door to see what has happened, you find your characters Royce and Hadrian in a heap, looking as if they have fallen a short distance and landed atop one another. Noticing you, they disentangle themselves and jump to their feet. Weapons are drawn. What do you do or say?

“Hey guys! Good to finally meet you face to face, but what’s with the pointy things? You’re not mad about the time I … or the other time … okay you’re right. I may have this coming. But let’s try to look at this from another perspective, shall we? After all you forgave Wyatt and he did much worse things than I. What’s that? Oh right, I forgot I made Wyatt do those things. Hmm … well I really don’t have much to say … except that I do have an idea for a new story, and guess who would be perfect for it? You’ll love it! There will be adventure, Montemorcey wine for Royce and the finest ale for Hadrian. Hmm? Yes, there might be a tad bit of danger and yes some pain here and there. But I promise nothing that you can’t handle. After all you’re Riyria for Maribor’s sake! Come on what do you say? Up for a little fun? Great! I’m just going to slowly back into the house and go up to my office. We’ll have you on your way in no time.”

For more about Michael J. Sullivan
Twitter
Website/blog
Facebook (author)
Facebook (Riyria)

Bollywood meets Don Quixote in Daniel Rider's first novel, 'Indian Summer'

1) Daniel, your first novel, Indian Summer, is now available. Can you tell us some about it, and yourself as a writer?

Well, Indian Summer is kind of a modern-day Don Quixote, at least to start out. But it changes the mix somewhat. It asks the question "What if Don Quixote goes mad not for medieval romances, but for Bollywood flicks, instead?" That opens up the question of how does this guy — this very white, very American, very nerdy in some ways, guy — function and look in American society if he’s acting like an Indian superstar. Also, it asks the question, "What if Sancho Panza is a woman, and what if she has a crush on this crazy guy and that’s why she stays with him?" That’s the premise, at least — but ultimately it’s about these two lonely, somewhat damaged, best friends that go off on an insane quest to find him an Indian girlfriend, but ultimately end up being on a quest to find themselves.

As for me as a writer, I find myself in this odd position where I’ve always written, but I also spent a long time as an academic, teaching college English mostly. I quit teaching to be a writer and a stay-at-home dad, and I’m absolutely loving it. I’m just getting started now, and that’s exciting. I’ve had a couple poems published, two stories in this awesome anthology Dreams in Shadow, and some really cool things in the pipeline. Indian Summer is my first novel, and really a labor of love, a kind of hat’s off to my 20-year-old self and my Peace Corps service—although what happens in the book is a very twisted, wild, silly, surreal view of that time. Not looking through a mirror darkly, perhaps, but looking through a mirror dorkily … although there’s some darkness in there as well.

2) You have taken part in the HarperCollins authonomy web site, which gives writers an opportunity at becoming published. What has been your experience with authonomy, and how has it helped you as a writer?

Authonomy is a cool site. For those who don’t know, HarperCollins UK set up the web site as basically an alternative to the slush pile. Writers post part or all of their novel on the site and then critique each other’s work. There’s also a rating system, and every month the five works with the strongest support actually end up being reviewed by HarperCollins editors, and some of these books even get deal offers.

For me, I came to the site a little late, just four months before my book was to be published, so I missed out on getting critiques that would have helped me in the planning process, but I’ve enjoyed the chance to read and connect with other writers, especially those who have similar interests and styles, and to see what people think of my book. I’d definitely do it again.

There are some downfalls to the site. Not everybody writes good reviews — and by good, I mean thoughtful, not gushing. I want constructive ideas, not just “It was good” or “It’s not my thing.” And some people are more about themselves only, and not the community, which is an important aspect to Authonomy. But all in all, Authonomy is a great place to do two things: A) get feedback on your writing, and B) market yourself a bit. After all, you’ll need to do that when you’re published, so attracting readers here is good practice.

3) Who are some authors you feel have influenced you as a writer?

Oh, there are tons. Probably the big ones, the ones I really see guiding my own writing, are Sherman Alexie, David Lodge, William Faulkner, and A.S. Byatt. Raymond Carver is perhaps the biggest influence; my writing changed a lot after reading What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Also, for this specific book, Indian Summer, I took a lot of inspiration from Cervantes, Chaucer, and an author named Sonia Singh. Her Goddess for Hire and Bollywood Confidential never failed to put a smile on my face.

4) If chocolate did not exist, how would the world be different?

I was going to say that I’d be skinnier, but then I realized that wouldn’t be true. You see, my absolute favorite ice cream flavor is Breyers’ Mint Chocolate Chip, but I don’t get it very often because my wife doesn’t like the chips. But if it were just mint, watch out — we’d be eating ice cream every day!

5) Whole, 2 percent, or skim milk? Or something else?

Whole, because that’s what my daughter drinks.

6) A friend has e-mailed you, sending a link and telling you, “You have to check this out!” You go to the page and realize you are looking at the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List. Unfortunately, your face and name are right at the top of the list. There is a knock at your front door. What do you do?

Oh, man! This is a messed-up scenario! The thing is, I’m a stay-at-home dad and FIERCELY protective of my two-year-old daughter. She’s never even had a babysitter. And I certainly don’t trust the FBI to be a good first babysitter and take care of her. So my first thought would be for her. If my wife were home, then that would be okay. I’d have her take Katie into another room so she wouldn’t have to see her dad get carted away, and I’d cooperate completely. Hopefully, it would all be peaceful and quiet, and I’d get to the bottom of things and be released, though probably not with an apology. (There’s a good Indian movie called My Name is Khan, by the way that deals with an FBI arrest like this…)

If I were home alone, though — wow. There’s just no way this situation can be good. If I answer the door, my daughter sees me get arrested and then gets handed off to God knows who. If I pretend not to be home, they probably have a warrant and bust in — even worse! If I go out the back door — well, I’m pretty sure the FBI has encountered this tactic before and would have prepared for it, so this would be worst of all. So the best I can do is call my wife, tell her to get home quick, hopefully get the neighbor on the phone to look after my little girl, and then call through the door, “There’s a child here. I’ll surrender and come peacefully, but you’ll have to promise no violence.” Still, I’d put my daughter in another room for safety before opening the door.

Whatever happens, this is an ugly, scary predicament, with no good solution, other than waking up and discovering it was all a nightmare. But that would have been a cop-out answer, and I definitely wouldn’t want that kind of cliché on my record.

For more about Daniel Rider
Daniel Rider blogs
Daniel's Facebook page
Daniel's Smashwords page
Daniel's Amazon page

Talking novels and talking sandwiches with science fiction author David Weisman

1.) David, why did you write your novel Absorption?

Well, one of the reasons is a secret. But I've always loved science fiction, especially science fiction with complex and well rounded characters who are also easy to care about, and capable of surprising you. I also love stuff which is easy to read but leaves huge and oddly shaped thoughts fighting for space in your brain, and which may even change you a tiny bit more than you realize. So I wanted to add to the amount of the science fiction that I enjoy reading in the world. Also, I'm an introvert. On some days I enjoy the act of writing alomst as much as I enjoy playing mindless computer games, and I feel better afterwards, like I've actually accomplished something. In fact, some days the act of not having written makes me feel badly, as if I've wasted a day, unless I've done something else worthwhile during that day.

2.) If you could give only one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

Keep rewriting and sending your work to writer's workshops. Sometimes superficial mistakes cover up deeper ones, and until you learn to write well enough so that people understand what you're trying to say, they can't tell you how little it interests them. If your idea is interesting and you've expressed it through characters you care about, you can probably find an audience and a way to communicate with them - eventually. Even if you suspect most of the people in your current writer's workshop will not be part of that audience, let them help you clear the first layer of detritus off your masterpiece.

3.) What writing projects do you have planned for the future? What are they about?

My next book is about the Singularity, from a different point of view. Will the Singularity be a benevolent genius, or just a mind which might be slightly smarter than the most intelligent human alive, with all the foibles that implies? And why does everyone assume that it doesn't matter who builds the Singularity and what they try to teach it?

Ultimately though, a good novel is about people. This one starts with a scientist who gave up his American citizenship because the State Department felt his research had military implications. China was the only country with both the money and the will to finance the construction of an artificial intelligence using the carbon crystals he had invented. During the past twenty years he has come to think of the A.I. as a son, even though the Chinese told him it wasn't working yet. Then one day he discovers they have been training it for many years, and it does not think of him as a father at all, and has plans that will harm the United States. He can no longer be apolitical, and will be held prisoner if he refuses to help.

4.) When do you think it is okay for a writer to break the rules?

I think it's OK to break one of the many rules of writing if you understand the reasons for the rule, and can express to yourself clearly what you hope to accomplish by breaking it, and why you couldn't do that some other way. It's very easy to fall in love with your own writing, or to convince yourself something is fine because you are too lazy to change it, or even because you don't like being criticized. If one of those is your most important reasons for breaking a rule, you are better off cultivating some mindless conformity.

5.) Why should anyone read your book?

It is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It cures cancer. It will change your life. It only costs three bucks. I heard a story about a man who had the opportunity to buy my book and didn't. The next day he cleaned underneath the cushions of his couch and didn't find as much change as he expected. There was a woman who passed up the opportunity to buy with one click when she had the chance, and the next day it took her nearly fifteen minutes to find her keys, and she was late for work. If her boss had noticed, she might have been in trouble. Also, there's a story of someone's dog that was sleeping in front of a laptop that was showing the Amazon page for my book. The dog made no effort to buy my book, and left when it heard someone opening a can of dog food. The next day the entire town was destroyed by a nuclear bomb. Also, it is easy and fun to read, but may eventually leave some funny ideas in your brain.

6.) You are sitting down to lunch when you pick up your sandwich and suddenly, miraculously, it starts talking to you. It begs you not to eat it, but this is your all-time favorite sandwich. What do you do?

In real life, my first thoughts would be of ventriloquists and hidden microphones. Am I on Candid Camera? Nah, couldn't be, the show went off the air. Although the possibility that it is being filmed again without my knowing it is still more likely than a talking sandwich. My having hallucinations is more likely than a talking sandwich. Yet based on the phrasing of the question, I'm going to assume all of those have been ruled out beyond any possible doubt.

I'm going to get something else to eat first of all. I mean, this is a discovery that could revolutionize our understanding of science. How could a sandwich talk? It has no brain, and even if was some sort of exotic brain sandwich, the brain would already have been cooked. It would be a shame if a growling stomach led to the premature destruction of this amazing object, which could revolutionize our understanding of the world.

Now, my greatest fear will be the "Horton Hears A Who" scenario. I mean, nobody has ever heard of a talking sandwich retaining the ability for more than fifteen or twenty minutes in real life. Any rational scientist will decide that any films or recordings I make are fakes. I mean, there is no guarantee that the medication prescribed for me will be pleasant, if the doctors get me. So I'm going to talk to the sandwich, and try to determine how likely it is to retain this ability until I get it before reliable witnesses. Think how the conceptions of consciousness (assuming the sandwich talks coherently) as well as physics and biology will change, if I can demonstrate to the world the existance of a talking sandwich.

Yet somehow the possibility seems silly. If this were a story I would find myself forced into the 'Horton' scenario, perhaps pleading to the world on behalf of an army of sandwiches that only I can hear. Unlike Horton's microscopic people, perhaps they will also beg us to keep making more sandwiches, to prevent their species from becoming extinct. So at least they are motivated to communicate with us, and surely the rights of intelligent sandwiches must take precedence over the rights of the unspeaking animals that provide raw materials for their children? Right?

Or perhaps this is the world's only talking sandwich, and it has no hope of having its lifespan extended by science. All that remains is for me to learn what I can of the universe by discussing life with this unique being. Perhaps I can even pass some insight on to the rest of humanity, if I say nothing about from where it comes.

For more on David Weisman
David's blog: Breaking In Before Breaking Down
David's Amazon page

Author Ann Grant's writing roots tied in with the speculative and the spooky

1.) Ann, for those not yet familiar with your work, can you tell us a little about your writing and yourself as a writer?

I grew up watching classic science fiction movies with my father. I’ve seen everything from Close Encounters to the Steve McQueen Blob to those really bad Japanese Godzilla films. I can’t get aliens out of my blood, but I’m not a movie maker, so I write stories instead. My current work, Shadow Stations, is a series about two sisters who discover an invasion in rural Pennsylvania. I write about real people who encounter the impossible and maintain a sense of wonder in spite of everything. My writing process: I stay up all night, drink gallons of espresso, and know I’m on the right track when I can’t stop laughing.

 2.) As a writer, how do you go about getting reviews for your work?

That’s a tough question. I do what most writers do. I throw salt over my shoulder, step over cracks on the sidewalk, and lurk in alleys with bags of candy. Seriously, a few loyal fans wait for my books and post reviews, so I’m grateful for that. I’ve had some success with giveaways. I recently found out about Mail Chimp. One writer came up with a suggestion I think I’ll try. He gives away copies of his books and tells the recipients if they e-mail him the link to their review, he’ll send them a free copy of another book he’s written.

3.) Who are some of your favorite authors?

I’ve come across so many wonderful writers, it’s hard to know where to start. Off the top of my head, Irish writer Emma Donoghue (Slammerkin), Peter Benchley (Jaws), Daphne DuMaurier (Rebecca), Kathleen Valentine (The Old Mermaid’s Tale), Dave Conifer (Wrecker), Kealan Patrick Burke (The Turtle Boy), Hugh Howey (Wool), and so many more. Dr. Raymond Moody (Life After Life) is one of my favorite nonfiction writers. The book I would take to a desert island? The Bhagavad Gita. Nobody knows who wrote it.

4.) What do you hope the future holds for you as a writer?

I hope the indie marketplace continues to develop. I’d like to translate my books for overseas readers (right now it’s too expensive).

5.) You have written a non-fiction book about ghosts at the Gettysburg battlefield. So, do you believe in ghosts? Have you had any supernatural experiences?

The first sentence in Haunted Ground says “Mention ghosts and I used to be the world’s biggest skeptic.” My late husband Jack and I used to drive from D.C. to Gettysburg to hike on weekends. One day he told me about a haunted triangular field where a ghost supposedly tampers with cameras, camcorders, TV equipment, and even digital watches. The idea made me gleeful. The field itself has an ominous feeling if you’re at all sensitive to that kind of thing, but no, I didn’t believe in ghosts and joked about it. Well, our new batteries died the first time we walked through the gate. Many other people have documented unusual experiences in the Triangular Field and have even tested the area for geological anomalies, but never found anything. Yes, after years of hiking across the battlefield, I’m forced to admit the place turned me into a believer.

6.) Your doctor informs you that you have contracted a rare disease that allows you to only eat one flavor of ice cream for the rest of your life. If you even nibble at another flavor of ice cream, you will become sick, sick, sick! The good news is you get to pick the one flavor you CAN eat. What will it be?

An ice cream disease! Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food (trust me, it’s a flavor). The best way to eat Phish Food is with friends while you watch the Red Sox destroy the Yankees.

For more on author Ann Grant, please check out:
The Amazon page for the novel Shadow Stations
The Amazon page for the novel Lost Cargo
The Amazon page for Haunted Ground
The Shadow Stations site

Claudia Lefeve working on third book in Travelers Series

1.) Claudia, can you tell us some about yourself as a writer and your writing?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, until life got in the way. My stories ended up being shelved in the ‘save for later’ department of my brain. Once I started to hear the voices of my characters, I decided to write them down and publish. Unlike the old adage of “write what you know,” I like to write about the things I don’t, so I was immediately drawn to speculative fiction.

I’m coming up on my third year as an indie writer and in that time I’ve had three short stories (small press), one novella, and two novels published. And, after getting the rights back to my shorts, I will be publishing my own anthology very soon!

2.) What writing projects are you working on now?

I’m currently working on PARADIGM, the third book in the Travelers Series, as well as a new story that strays a bit from my young adult series. It’s about a girl and a mummy (and no, not an Egyptian one) that will probably fall under the paranormal romance genre ... well, we’ll have to see where the characters take me.

3.) What do your novels give to readers that they can't find elsewhere?

Some of my favorite reviews have been those that have regarded my writing as refreshing and interesting. The best part of being a writer is to create new worlds and characters, so I definitely take advantage. I’ve never been one to follow the rules, so I don’t. My characters don’t follow the mainstream formulas for life and love, and they’re often ambiguous ... are they good, bad, or both?

4.) On your website you claim to be a TV junkie. How has television, and some of your favorite shows, influenced you as a writer?

My parents weren’t the type to censor my television habits as a child, so as a result I watched a lot of TV growing up. My writing reflects the writing styles and story lines from some of my favorite shows: The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, X-Files, Lost, Buffy, and of course, Fringe. I find I am just as influenced by television writers such as Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams  as much as my favorite authors.

5.) Buffy vs. Angel, who wins?

Is there any question? Buffy! She’s logged more kills than Angel, she defeated The First, and she even killed Angel once (or at least she thought she did).

6.) Popcorn, potato chips or carrot sticks?

No rabbit food for me...definitely popcorn and chips. My favorite thing to do (especially at the movies) is to eat popcorn with Kit-Kats. And as a Texas gal, I just love me some Fritos!

For more about Claudia Lefeve
Claudia's website
Claudia at Facebook
Claudia at Twitter

Paranormal fiction author Sally Dubats opens up about writing, Witchcraft, cheese and peanut butter

1.) Sally, what type of books do you write? And what has drawn you to do so?

I started writing non-fiction about Witchcraft, but have begun writing paranormal fiction. I’m currently writing a series about a true Witch, and I was drawn to this work because there has been a huge misrepresentation of Witches in literature and film, and I want to add my two cents to the cauldron.

2.) Can you tell us a little about your past, professional and personal, and how it relates to your writing?

I have a long metaphysical studies background, a theatre background, and have been involved in writing one way or another throughout my life. All of this has converged to get back to my creative roots, back to fiction.

3.) What is the best thing about being a writer?

Getting lost in a world I created.

4.) What is the worst thing about being a writer?

Getting lost in a world I created. Just kidding. I think the worst thing is the expectation I place on myself that I’ll be the next J.K. Rowling and Disney will make a theme park after my books and subsequent wildly successful films, but then I wake up and get back to the writing.

5.) What is your favorite type of cheese, and why?

I love gorgonzola because it goes as well with Sauternes as it does Pinot Noir. And funny you should ask; I just saw a recipe for gorgonzola stuffed pears drizzled with Sauternes.

6.) A flying saucer lands in front of you and out pops a little green person. The little green person lifts a small object and points it toward you. Is the object a gun? A holy symbol? Some kind of communicator? You don't know. What do you do?

I was actually asked this in college! Seriously. It was a paper we had to do in Communications regarding the similarities between species! Apparently, among other things, assuming the least threatening position possible is the best answer. For me that would be curling up in a fetal position, but that could also be misinterpreted and I would be instantly vaporized. It is my best wish that anyone landing from another planet, green or otherwise, would be an evolved species here to communicate.

7.) What's your favorite brand of peanut butter?

That's a new question! Actually, I go to my local co-op and have organic peanuts ground for me. The taste is amazing; it's nothing like you've ever had. I also usually do the ground almonds rather than peanuts resulting in, you guessed it, almond butter. Peanuts aren't really a nut, and should more appropriately be called "legume butter."

8.) What's your favorite word?

My favorite word is Blaspheme because it teaches us to take responsibility. Eddie Izzard said it best, "Blasphe-meeee, Blasphe-youuuuu, Blasphe-everybodyyyy."

9.) If you could have any other name than the one you currently have, what would it be?

I was born "Dubats" and around me were famous names, British names, beautiful French names -- family names like Lamb, Chatfield, Drake, and Bonneville (pronounced Bone-veel). I was born with "Dubats" which is a chopped-off Russian name. We're not sure of the lengthier version. To top it off, I was born with a nick-name: Sally. I always wanted a three-syllable name, so I fantasized about the name "Elizabeth." I would add the name from my mother's side, "Chatfield" and be "Elizabeth Chatfield." Doesn't that sound elegant? I would practice my signature with that name. As I grew older, I realized I could never pull it off, and so I kept the original.

10.) Is it true you are hiding under government protection? If so, why? Spill it!

It is not true; I'm simply trying to find my identity between recluse author and "out there" bon vivant.

For more about author Sally Dubats, please check out:
The Amazon page for her novel The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds
The Barnes & Noble page for her novel The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds
The Smashwords page for her novel The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds
The Sally Dubats web site
Sally Dubats twitter feed

William Woodall author of young adult fantasy novels

1.) William, according to your website, you write mostly "fantasy novels for young adult readers, with a Christian flavor." What has drawn you to write in such a genre?

I think I've always enjoyed spending time with young people and talking to them about their lives and the issues they have. I was a high school teacher for several years, and kids are just interesting people, I think.  That goes a long way toward explaining the young adult part. As for the fantasy . . . well, I've always felt that fantasy writing is the purest expression of a writer's art, with the most creative freedom. In a strict sense, all fiction writing is fantasy anyway, since we're writing about people who don't really exist, doing things that never really happened.

I'm sometimes reluctant to classify my work specifically as Christian fiction, because I think people often have a mistaken idea about what that means. There's a tendency to think it either means thinly-disguised sermons, retellings of Bible stories in allegorical form, or (for kids) sweetness-and-light stories where nothing bad ever happens and everything is perfect. Worse still, people often think that Christian writers never write about anything except the conversion experience. But not all Christian writing is like that. Janette Oke has her beautiful Christian love stories, and Ted Dekker even manages to write Christian horror novels which appeal to a broad audience. Those are the types of Christian authors whom I admire most and would like to learn from. My characters will now and then discuss their faith and it forms a big part of who they are and the reasons why they do things, but they don't spend time trying to convert anybody and they don't indulge in long-winded sermons.     

 2.) Do you ever write in other genres, or have plans to do so?

I've sometimes thought about writing science fiction, or possibly other types of fantasy. I used to teach biology and chemistry, so I have the background for a good meaty science novel.  I just haven't gotten around to it yet.  

3.) Which of your books was the most fun to write, and why?

I think The Last Werewolf Hunter series has probably been the most fun to write, at least so far. Zach (the main character) has an entertaining sense of humor, for one thing, and he always kept me laughing.  Characters really do take on a life of their own after a while, and you end up getting to know them like you would a best friend.  The story took about two and a half years to write, and that's quite a while to spend with someone.

4.) Who are some authors you feel have had a big influence upon your own writing?

There have been several, but the ones I usually pick are C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and George MacDonald. Perhaps MacDonald would be the root of it all, since Lewis and Tolkien both admired him greatly and thought of him as a deep influence on their own work. He was a pastor of a church, a deeply pious man, and a deeply humble one as well. I've read some of his sermons and learned a lot from him. He has an amazing way of cutting to the very heart of whatever he wants to talk about and eliminating confusion. He writes beautiful stories which are hard to forget.  

5.) As a writer of Christian literature, how do you approach the sometimes unsavory elements that can pop up in writing a story?

My outlook on this subject is that a writer of Christian literature should never be afraid to take up difficult subjects and unsavory characters. These things exist in the real world, and they will certainly come up during the writing process. In various stories of mine, I've found it necessary to address alcoholism, child abuse and abandonment, occultism, fatal illness, and several other harsh topics. What interests me as a Christian writer is the way people cope with these things and how they relate to the main characters' faith at times.  Every human being at some point has to confront questions about what he or she believes and how to apply those beliefs to the real world of messy choices and difficult decisions. They won't always choose wisely. I think having a main character who loves God and tries to live that way even if he doesn't always succeed is something a lot of people can relate to.

 6.) Cats or dogs? Why? 

Two dogs at the moment. A half-Rottweiler, half-German Shepherd named Blue, whose only use as a guard dog would be if robbers could be licked to death, and a chihuahua who's meaner than a snake.  lol

For more on author William Woodall, please check out:

The William Woodall website

His Amazon page

His Smashwords page

Author Jeremy Brown brings action to life with thrillers

1.) Jeremy, for those who don't know you, can you tell us some about your writing and yourself?

I am 37, got married last October and recently completed the Ohio/Michigan Tough Mudder with a great group of friends. We decided to start doing adventure races and challenges like the Mudder a few years ago because we were tired of telling the same stories over and over. During the races we question our sanity, but afterward the feeling of accomplishment and shared experience is powerful and lasting.

My first books were published by Scholastic Inc. in 2006. It was a very lucky break and the books got bumped from midlist to lead series -- pretty good for a first timer -- and I thought, “Well, I’ve made it now. Smooth sailing from here on.”

Right.

Scholastic was great, but I encountered a few things that I’ve since learned are pretty common with big publishers. My editor left, then her replacement left, the department went through an overhaul, they canceled the rest of the contract, yada yada.

My agent at the time was very encouraging and wanted me to continue in the middle reader/YA vein, but I had different stories to tell. It may have worked out -- the young readers who read Crime Files in 2006 are now old enough to read my adult fiction. Just like I planned!

I self-published for the first time in April and love it. I also have a traditional deal with Medallion Press for HOOK AND SHOOT, the sequel to my crime thriller SUCKERPUNCH, which they also published.

2.) If you could meet any of your characters in real life, who would it be?

I’d like to share a table with former Tier One operators Patrick Darwin and Cal Wafer from FIND > FIX > FINISH, though I doubt they’d give me the time of day. Maybe I could just sit nearby and eavesdrop. Otherwise, it might go like this:

Cal: So that’s how we got out of Chechnya without detonating the nuclear warhead.
Darwin: Reminds me of a close call my team had north of a certain DMZ. Only we used a hot air balloon, not a submarine.
Me: I got poison ivy over the weekend. It’s wicked itchy.

3.) What are some of your favorite books?

Stick by Elmore Leonard
Without Remorse by Tom Clancy
Savages by Don Winslow
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

4.) You used to work building haunted houses (the amusement kind, not REAL haunted houses), so how did you land gigs like that? And are you still doing any work in that field?

My friends and I grew up scaring each other (and the occasional stranger), and when we got older decided it would be nice to get paid for it. So we designed and built a haunted attraction, put on makeup and wigs, and scared the hell out of people during October of 2000. We couldn’t believe how fun it was -- making grown men dive behind the furniture to get away from a clown; discovering no one can stand still when a chainsaw fires up; listening to countless declarations of wet pants.

We did that for a few years. I eventually sought full-time employment in the industry and relocated to a haunted attraction construction company in Florida, and quickly found out that once it became my job, scaring people lost a lot of luster. I quit that job and returned to haunting with friends for a few years, but we haven’t operated an attraction since 2005. Maybe someday -- the pants around here are way too dry.

5.) What is your favorite holiday? Why?

At the risk of being obvious: Halloween. I live in Michigan, and that time of year is fantastic. The colors and smells of falling leaves, apple cider, chilly nights. The first sighting of Halloween candy and cheap costumes is way too exciting.

I recently watched "E.T." for the first time since I was a kid, and I think the Halloween scenes had a huge impact on me. The utter chaos that is rampaging through the neighborhood -- monsters toting flames down the street, masked hooligans peering in windows, everyone in costume and having a blast -- that’s what Halloween should be.

6.) Aliens abduct you and take you away in a flying saucer. After what feels like days the saucer comes to rest between two planets. The chief alien points to one planet and says to you, "That planet contains giant libraries which hold all the secrets of life." Then the alien points to the other planet and says, "That planet is home to all those who have perished in your world, from famous people to those you have loved and more." Finally, the alien boss turns to you and says, "We will take you to one of these planets. Decide which." Which do you pick? Or do you have something else up your sleeve?

I would best the chief alien in Connect Four, commandeer the ship, and start shuttling people from the inhabited planet to the library planet. Then I’d fly back to Earth with a select group of famous dead people brimming with the secrets of life and we’d start a very popular blog and Twitter account.

For more on author Jeremy Brown, please see:
His website: Jeremy Brown
His Amazon page
The Medallion Press page for Jeremy Brown

Fantasy author Darrin Drader's two new projects

1.) Darrin, what can you tell us about your new/upcoming novel?

Which one? I have two projects to talk about right now. The first is the series of serialized fiction I'm working on, which is set in the shared world called The Endlands. Originally created by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, The Endlands is much more of a traditional fantasy setting than my other project. This series is called The Heroes of Gracia, and the first story is called The Vacant Forge. It serves to introduce the characters and also explain why they leave their life of relative comfort to go adventuring in the wilderness. There is a larger story arc that will emerge through the run of this project, but I'm keeping each story at the length of a long story or short novella (about 30 novel-length pages), and the larger story will unfold in a very much episodic manner. The Vacant Forge starts the story with a blacksmith's apprentice who awakens in the middle of the night to find his master dead. He, along with his friends, strike out to try and find out what happened and bring his murderer to justice. This will ultimately reach the highest reaches of power in the city they live in. The Vacant Forge is available now through Amazon.com.

The other project I'd like to talk about is a full-on novel called Echoes of Olympus. It's set in the classical period of Ancient Greece, but it's definitely an alternate history book. It begins with Alexander the Great's invasion of Asia Minor and is told from the point of view of Heliodas, one of the sons of Zeus. When he's gravely injured on the field of battle, he's found by a woman named Thermiandra, who was following a vision given to her by Athena that led her to him. Together with the Macedonian warrior Pelephon and the Egyptian wizard Archetus, they strike out on a quest that has implications not only for them, but for the entire world and the gods themselves. Echoes of Olympus will be released by Dark Quest Books in the near future.

2.) How does your day job relate to your fiction writing? Or does it?

Well, before the studio I worked for self destructed, there wasn't a lot of overlap. I wrote dialogue for a computer game, so if nothing else, it kept me in the practice of producing material daily, and writing good character dialogue.

3.) As a writer, what do you hope to bring to your readers?

I hope to bring entertainment, and I also hope to be able to tell good human stories that will touch people on some level. I'm not going to lie and say that it's of literary quality, as a lot of it features action at its core, but I occasionally like it to be a little more than just a fun romp through fantastic scenery.

4.) If you could be rich or famous but not both, which would it be?

Oh, absolutely, rich. Who wants to be famous? If I had all the money in the world, I'd be able to do what I wanted, go where I want to go, and not have to worry about making ends meet. If I was famous but not rich, I'd be constantly hounded by the media, have my personal privacy invaded, and possibly have me or my family threatened. That's no life!

5.) Who is your favorite relative, and why?

Come on, Ty, is this a fair question? Really? See that question above about fame vs. wealth? If I actually go on and answer this question it will be like choosing fame above.

6.) You are on a ship sinking next to a deserted island. You have been able to carry to the island enough food and water and clothes to last you a good while, but the ship is going down fast and you only have enough time to grab one more box of goodies. You have three choices: a case of beer, a crate filled with guns and ammo, or a box full of books. Which do you grab?

Obviously the books. I don't drink a lot of alcohol, so I won't be needing that, and I've seen enough Survivorman to be able to survive, especially so close to a ready supply of fresh fish. No, I'd need to keep my mind active, so I'd want to take the books. Hopefully they're a collection of MY books rather than some other passenger's romance books.

For more on Darrin Drader
DarrinDrader.com
Darrin's Smashwords page
Monumental Works Group

Martin Gibbs not your run-of-the-mill fantasy author

1.) What draws you to read and write fantasy literature?

I enjoy an occasional escape from reality. As such, I really only enjoy worlds that are distinctly separate from ours, where magic is possible. My first exposure was way back with some great Forgotten Realms books and a few D&D sessions with friends. It was a pleasure to disconnect from everything and go fight wizards, orcs, and other nasties in wonderfully imagined worlds.

That said, I never understood why so many fantasy worlds were still in the middle ages technologically. With all that advanced magic, why could they not have at least invented matches? I poke fun at that in my own middle-aged world because fantasy should also be able to keep itself in perspective and have the ability to laugh at itself. A warlock can erase a man from existence, but has no indoor plumbing.

2.) Which of your books was the most fun to write, and why?

For fantasy: Part II of A Drunkard's Journey, Dead Spaces. I am going through the editing process now with the editor, so it will be out in summer. The book was a chance to open the floodgates of disaster and chaos and just let things run wild — things could go along at quite a rapid clip. I have the third and final book drafted, but for some reason the last book is always the hardest.

I am working on a historical fiction piece under a pseudonym, about the Three Kings, and that has actually been my favorite. It's like writing a fantasy quest, but with characters everyone knows (at least they think they do). I really enjoyed reading the ancient histories and coming up with possible scenarios for their journey. This will come out by Christmas.

3.) What are some of your favorite books?

Fantasy: Wheel of Time (first five and last "three"), the first Nightrunner books by Lynn Flewelling, Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice.

4.) A time traveler snags you up and drops you in the middle of a battle 500 years ago. He offers you your choice of weapons. Sword, battle ax or M-16?

Since he didn't offer any bullets, and they will run out, I'm going with a battle ax. I have no skill, but some upper body strength — maybe I could survive a good ten minutes before I got cut down.

5.) You also write some noir crime fiction. Who are your favorite authors in that genre?

Ellery Queen, SS Van Dine.

6.) What's your favorite brand of peanut butter?

Peanut butter is of the devil and it must be destroyed. Unless it's served with udon noodles, Sriracha chili sauce and cilantro. Brand doesn't matter at that point.

7.) What's your favorite word?

Extant.

8.) If you could have any other name than the one you currently have, what would it be?

Ehud Gershom. Actually using that name for a book coming out this Christmas!

9.) Is it true you are hiding under government protection? If so, why? Spill it!

Absolutely not. But, perhaps... no, that happened just that one night on Bourbon Street. A chimpanzee named Solomon was smoking, absently twirling a rubix cube in his hand. He asked me if I'd want to know some juicy secrets, and being the open, naive, and completely degenerate creep that I am, I said yes. He had only opened his mouth to speak when a black helicopter swooped down and he was gone. Something hit my head and I woke up in a mental hospital, chained to a pink wall, my toes gripping flaming crayons.

So, the answer is no. Maybe. Yes. Absolutely not. Yes. Always.

I'm, sorry, what was the question?

To find out more about author Martin Gibbs, check out:
His blog: Out There Fantasy
The Spaces Between (Part I of A Drunkard's Journey)
Voltaire's Adventures Before Candide (Bizarro Space Fantasy Short Story)

Author Stuart Jaffe pens fantasy, post-apocalyptic tales

1.) Stuart, for those not familiar with your works, can you tell us a little about you as a writer and your writings?

Sure. I've been writing for close to twenty years now. Spent much of that time being published as a short story and non-fiction writer. My novels are now coming out and it's been a blast. I write some science fiction (After The Crash) but mostly fantasy. I have a post-apocalyptic series, The Malja Chronicles, that's best described as 'Xena meets Mad Max.' The first book is called The Way of the Black Beast.  I also have a paranormal-mystery series about a modern man whose office is haunted by a 1940s detective.  The first book in that series is called Southern Bound and it comes out this month. I'm working on another Fantasy series that, in today's market, would be called YA because the protagonist is a 16-yr-old girl, but I'm writing it for a general audience.

2.) You are also a co-host over at The Eclectic Review Podcast. What kind of things do you and your fellow host talk about?

My fellow host is my wife, a biologist, and we talk about, well, everything. Some past topics include GMOs, NASA, the publishing industry, robotics, the history of vampires, how your nose works, and much, much more. It's called Eclectic after all. It's a weekly, half-hour show that spends the first half on a topic and the second half reviewing books, movies, comedians, and everything else. We also have plenty of special episodes, such as our annual Schlockfest, where we break form and do something unique.

3.) Who are some of your favorite authors?

My all-time favorite author is John Steinbeck. His books were the first that taught me literature didn't have to be boring. Other writers I love include Jack Ketchum (horror), Brian Keene (horror), John Jakes (historical fiction). Also Kafka and Philip K. Dick. Plenty of others, too, but those are some that don't always get mentioned.

4.) Does music influence your writing?

Yes and no. I've played blues guitar for about twenty-five years, so I don't listen to music while I write. I can't. If I do, I start really listening and then I don't write. But I do feel my music background helps me in "hearing" the rhythms of a scene. More directly, I've drawn on my knowledge and love of the blues to create the Bluesmen -- a group of assassin-musicians that give Malja plenty of trouble in my post-apocalypse books.

5.) Since you have studied martial arts, how does this impact your writing?

For one, I know what can and cannot physically happen in a fight and therefore I can make a conscious choice to be realistic or not in my fight scenes. Also, I've learned how much thinking and how much trained reaction go into combat, so I can utilize that to create tensions or actions accordingly.  I've also trained in weapons, so in the second Malja book, The Way of the Sword and Gun, I have a scene in which two characters have a sword fight. Both are highly trained, so as a result, there is little flashy combat. Instead, they have to watch each other closely and wait patiently for the right opportunities. It's one of the climactic fights and, judging from reader reactions, one of the most exciting and intense fight scenes, even though there is little actual fighting.

6.) Do you think you could take out Chuck Norris? Come on, he's an old man now!

A few months ago I might've been up to the task. Unfortunately, an old knee injury finally said ENOUGH! I'm in the recovery process from having knee surgery, and my doctor said that other than Tai Chi, my marital arts days are over.  So, I'm giving this one to Chuck.

For more on author Stuart Jaffe, check him out online at:
The Stuart Jaffe Website
Stuart's Amazon page
Stuart's Smashwords page

Dan C. Rinnert novel has everything: assassins, zombies, conspiracies and ... baseball?

1.) Dan, your novel In Search of the Legendary Phineas Ray includes zombies, assassins and baseball. So, tell us how you came up with this interesting, and somewhat unusual, mix for a story?

The early drafts involved baseball, a government conspiracy and an assassin. Stuff like zombies, the unicorn and talking fish came about later, when I would look at mind-numbingly boring scenes and ask myself, “What is the most bizarre thing that could possibly happen right now?”

Imagine you’re trying to track down some information on a very old baseball card. You’d take the card to a sports memorabilia shop and talk to an expert on baseball cards. You’d have stuff like, “What can you tell me about my card?” and “Wow, that’s a very old card. Where did you get that?” followed by “My grandfather gave it to me.” And so on.

That’s all pretty boring stuff. Sure, you can describe what the expert’s wearing and how he’s acting, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s very very boring and, if you fall asleep writing it, your readers will probably fall asleep reading it.

But, if the expert’s just come inside from slaying zombies in the back alley, is covered with blood and carrying a chainsaw, well, now you’ve got something.

2.) What are your future plans for your writing?

I'm currently working on three projects: the not-quite-a-sequel to In Search of the Legendary Phineas Ray, a collection of four short stories in the twisted romance genre and an extraordinarily lame novel.

3.) What are some of your favorite books?

I like old books. When I was in high school, we went to the nearest big city library, as opposed to our local library, to research a paper or something. I don't even remember what the assignment was. One of the books I used was a couple hundred years old. I used to remember how old it was but I don't anymore. I also can't remember if it was one that could be checked out.

At any rate, this book had been around for at least a couple centuries. How many people have held that book through the years?

I have a lot of old books in my collection. I'm not sure how old the oldest is. I have several that are over 100 years old. Some are dog-eared or contain handwritten notes from previous owners, or from someone who gifted the book to someone.

The future, of course, is eBooks. It's easier to have a large collection of books on a handheld device than it is to have as many physical books. On a device that fits in your hand, you can probably hold more books than the early days of the Library of Congress.

However, with that technology, we lose a little bit of history. On an e-reader, you can read the same book that someone else read generations before, and you can imagine what they must have thought when they read it. But, that's not the same as holding the same physical book that someone generations before once held. It's not the same as holding the same book that was passed down from a grandparent to a parent to you. And so on.

We gain convenience, but we lose some of that personal history.

4.) What is your favorite sport, and why?

Soccer because it airs on channels I don’t watch and they never pre-empt a science fiction program for a soccer game.

5.) Pirates vs. ninjas, who will win?

Ninjas are masters of stealth, so that gives them the element of surprise. However, pirates cheat so they're unpredictable, which balances the equation. But, in the end, when you contrast the surgical precision with which ninjas can attack against the rather roughshod nature of pirates, it becomes a moot point because, as the pirates and ninjas battle it out the kraken comes along and swallows the ship, consuming them all.

6.) You are walking home one night when you hear a moaning sound behind you. You turn back to look and find lurching toward you slowly a dozen yards away a flesh-eating zombie! What do you do?

It depends on how far away from home I am.  If I’m far away from home, I simply run home. If they’re slow-moving zombies, they’ll never catch me and I’ll be able to get a large enough lead that they’ll never know where I went.

If I am close to home, then I don’t want them following me to my house. But, there’s this one neighbor that drives his truck through my backyard without even asking permission or anything.  He just drives back there like he owns it or something. What if I had planted stuff there? So, I would run to his house.  I would ring the doorbell and, when someone answered the door, I’d run inside, through the house and out the back door.  The zombies, of course, will follow me shortly thereafter, but they’ll never see where I 

Interview with author Elizabeth Baxter

1.) What urges you to write in the fantasy and science fiction genres?

I think it stems from my reading choices when I was little. I learned to read at a very early age. I think I was about four. I worked my way through the school library and found that the really interesting books were the ones about dragons and wizards and great big talking lions. I mean, who wants to read about this world? Boring. So it isn’t a big step from reading about all these other worlds to creating ones of my own. In fact, I think I was six when I wrote my first book (I use ‘book’ in the loosest possible term).

2.) In the past, the speculative genres tended to be dominated by male writers and possibly male readers. Do you think this has changed in recent years?

Absolutely. Name some of the most successful SF authors in recent times and you’d undoubtedly get J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer in there somewhere. In fact, I wrote an article about this topic over on my blog. You can read it here.

3.) Who are some of your least favorite authors, and why?

Stephanie Meyer. Now, let me qualify that. I wouldn’t say she’s one of my least favourite authors, but she has written some of my least favourite books. I hated the Twilight Saga. Sure it’s been unbelievably successful, but it’s one of the few books I’ve ever thrown across a room in frustration. Reason? Bella Swan. She’s a terrible role model for young women. Dumping her friends for a boy she’s known for two minutes? Letting him watch her sleep and thinking that’s normal? Married and pregnant by eighteen? Yuck.

4.) Do you think indie authors are better served by doing all their own work, or by hiring others for some of it (editing, cover design, etc.)? Or does it depend upon the author and/or situation?

If you’re a good cover artist, good editor and understand html formatting, do everything yourself. If not, hire people who are. You can learn to do all that stuff, but it takes time, patience and skill. You’d be better off using that time to write, I reckon. I’m very fortunate in that my other half is both an artist and an editor. Ah, I knew he’d come in useful one day.

5.) If you were given the opportunity to write a media-tie-in novel, would you take it? And which world or universe would you prefer to write in?

When I was about twelve I wrote a book based in Narnia. This took place after the Last Battle and told the story of how Peter and Tirian cause a war because they both want to be king. So I guess that would be a fun tie-in to write. Failing that, I’d love to write something based in Middle Earth. I think I’d focus on The Shire and it’s goings on.

6.) I checked out your blog and ... Oh, my gosh! A woman who reads Steven Erikson! I swear, if I weren't already married, I'd look you up and propose! Sorry, that probably sounds kind of stalkerish, doesn't it? Okay, I have to act all professional and interviewery now. Uh, so the question is: What do you love most about the Malazan novels by Erikson?

What’s not to love? Steven Erikson’s books are amazing! I think it’s the sheer scope that I find most appealing. You have the T’lan Imass and Jaghut that have lived for hundreds of thousands of years, gods that have lived even longer, dragons, immortals and scary black dogs straight out of the Hammer House of Horror. And against this backdrop you have some very human stories playing out. The plight of Iktovian and Beak made me cry. Fantasy writing at its best.

For more on author Elizabeth Baxter, check out:
Her blog: Small Blonde Hippy
Author of Circle Spinner and Other Tales