Secret life of a townie

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is the multitalented Fiona Quinn!

1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writer buddies to paint the town read with and tell us why you chose them.
Fiona says: I would pick Donna White Glaser, author of Scrying Shame, Jill Nojack, author of The familiar, and you, Meredith Pritchard, author of Let Her Go. Each of you has a very interesting and very different take on a “haunting” story. I bet if we hung out with a blood orange martini or two, we’d be cackling.
Meredith says: OMG! Someone finally picked me! I no longer feel like the last kid standing during dodgeball team pickings. I love martinis!

2. You’re ready to head out with your pillowcase to collect loads of confections on All Hallows’ Eve, what’s your costume and why did you choose it?
Fiona says: I am traditionally a witch all day long. Each year, I change my garb (sometimes my hair color) depending on my mood, but you can usually find me, besom (broom) in hand, turning heads with my floor length cape.

As a matter of fact, my house is something of a holiday attraction. I get hundreds of people ringing my doorbell on Halloween. I am extra horribly mean to them, and they seem to love it. I have adults, whose kids grew up in the neighborhood and are now out of the nest, and now the adults dress up in a costume to come to my house so I will yell at them.

No costume? No candy – also, at my house it’s “you do a trick then you get a treat”. I’ve had kids sing songs, tell jokes, recite poems, and bust-a-move. It’s pretty entertaining. So if you want someone to scream at you (I used to be a professional screamer – but that’s another story for another day), just head on over – but have a class-A trick up your sleeve.

3. Old Mrs. Robinson opens her door and you’re holding open your pillowcase patiently waiting. “Oh deary,” she says in her frail, little old-lady voice. “I forgot it was Halloween. Don’t know why you kids go begging anyways. Let me go find something to give you.” She shuffles off and finally returns three and a half minutes later with 5 pennies, 2 peppermint candies that look like they went through the dryer, and her deceased husband’s dentures. “Take what you like,” she offers, squinting at you.
What do you choose and why.
Fiona says: The deceased husband’s dentures. It’ll make a great story and decoration (bleach first) for later.

3. I really love reading Dean Koontz but some of his stuff scares the bejesus out of me. What’s the spookiest book you’ve ever read?
Fiona says: Holy moly – The Behrg’s HOUSEBROKEN – not spooky as much as oh so creepy, nightmare inducing, that voice, argh!

4. You’re a writer by day and supernatural creature by night. (Shed that human skin you sack of bones) What are you and why?
Fiona says: An owl – amazing speed, stealth capabilities, nocturnal eyesight and hunting abilities, incredibly strong clawed feet, muscular wings. The owl is a formidable night creature. I’d like to feel that kind of power.
Meredith says: I love owls!

6. Every author has a bookshelf filled with his or her favorite reads. Run on over to yours and tell us the scariest book you have.
Fiona says: True Ghost Stories of Ireland – I bought it when I was visiting Limerick with my grandmother and have never been able to finish it for fear that the ghosts came home with the book and by reading it, I would release them.

7. We don’t all write horror but there comes a time when you’ve got to surprise your readers and make sure their hearts are still beating. How do you prepare yourself to get in the spooky writing mood?
Fiona says: I have a few of them in my books, I wasn’t prepared for them; they came out of nowhere. I thought the scene would go in one direction, and as the words formed on the screen, they went in a very different direction, taking me by surprise.

8. Stephen King’s front porch light is on but there are no Halloween decorations.
Do you:
a) trick-or-treat and cross your fingers that he’s handing out the good stuff
b) run screaming
c) call your mom to bring your favorite King paperback and beg for an autograph
Fiona says: A. I’m not a big Stephen King fan. I am a fan of chocolate; I’d take my chances.

9. Congratulations, you just won the literary lottery and sold a million books at full price! The royalty check clears on October 28th. What are you buying for the neighborhood kids?
a) an assortment of mini candybars
b) an assortment of cheap, hard candies
c) full size Hershey bars
Fiona says: A million books full price? Okay, I’d splurge for the full sized chocolate bars, but I’m not kidding about the number of people we have come by the house. One year we counted almost 500. We did a lot more decorating back when that happened (I had teens to help out) but still, there will be hundreds… a million books you say? If you cast your magic wand about and bring that to fruition, I’ll spring for Godiva.

10. Your writer friend calls you with some frightening news. They’re giving up on writing, can’t take the pressure any longer. What do you tell them?
Fiona says: “That’ll last about an hour. Writers have to write like they have to breathe. They have to write like they need water to survive. So, have a glass of wine. Eat some really good chocolate. Turn on a good sappy movie so you can have a good cry. And tomorrow morning put your butt in front of your screen and start hammering out those words.”

Connect with Fiona!

Canadian born, Fiona Quinn is now rooted in the Old Dominion outside of D.C. with her husband and four children. There, she homeschools, pops chocolates, devours books, and taps continuously on her laptop.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is Rob Blackwell!

1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
Rob says: Stephen King – He wrote a truly great zombie book called “Cell,” so he knows how to fight the undead.
Neil Gaiman – I’ve never seen a more creative writer. He’ll think up new ways to slice and dice the zombie horde.
Suzanne Collins – Have you read the Hunger Games series? Collins has spent a LOT of time thinking about ways to kill people. She’d be the perfect ally.

2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
Rob says: Stephen King, cause I worship the man. J.K. Rowling gave me 7 amazing books, King has given me 50+. It’s a game of numbers. Sorry, Jo!

3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Rob says: “Boundary Lines” by Melissa F. Olson and “You” by Karoline Kepnes.

4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Rob says: “Lord of the Rings” by Tolkien. Such a great epic adventure

5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Rob says: “Joyland” by Stephen King. What I loved about it is that it really wasn’t supposed to be scary. Instead, it was a coming of age novel not unlike “The Body,” which was turned into the movie Stand by Me. I thought Joyland was very moving and I had a hard time putting it down.

6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Rob says: “Bone Clocks” by David Mitchell. The man’s ability to merge genres – historical fiction, urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic sci-fi – into a cohesive narrative is fantastic. I’m in absolute awe of Mitchell’s writing ability.

7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
Rob says: I can summon monsters to do my will (so maybe this makes me a supervillain).

8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Rob says: I will write anywhere at any time. I wrote my first novel on a Palm Pilot while commuting on the subway. But I will break out the laptop or Kindle anywhere I can get a spare five minutes.

9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from one of your books.
Rob says: My favorite scene that I’ve ever written was probably in Give the Devil His Due, the third book in my Sanheim Chronicles trilogy. The book has a lot of action, including a war between mythical creatures in the finale. But the best scene for me was a relatively small one in which a major character had to sacrifice himself to help the protagonists. In the scene, he gets to see his life in reverse as if he’s watching a movie. As the movie rewinds to the beginning of his life, the character slowly dies. I like the scene largely because it was a surprise even to me. I knew the character was going to die, but I didn’t know how until I sat down to write it.

10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Rob says: Quinn O’Brion, the protagonist from the Sanheim Chronicles. He’s a reporter like me, falls in love with a beautiful woman (who looks a little like my wife) and generally responds to the world in a similar way that I do.

11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Rob says: I write to music, but it has to be instrumental otherwise lyrics from songs end up in my writing. As a result, I listen to a lot of movie and video game soundtracks or “epic trailer” music by groups like Two Steps from Hell and Audiomachine. Some of my favorites at the moment are: “Victory” and “Flight of the Silverbird” by Two Steps, “Between Heaven and Earth” by Audiomachine, “Bynn the Breaker” by Darren Korb and “Zealous Champion” by Tom Salta.

12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Rob says: Just do it. Stop thinking about writing and write. Finish what you write, edit what you finish, publish what you edit. Rinse and repeat.

Connect with Rob!

Rob is an award-winning journalist with 15 years' experience and the author of The Sanheim Chronicles and The Soren Chase novels, two series that combine urban fantasy, mystery and suspense.
His first novel, A Soul to Steal, was featured on USA Today and praised by book bloggers and readers alike for its great plot and "fantastic ending." Many of his other books have been Kindle bestsellers in the Dark Fantasy category.
As a journalist, Rob has won several Virginia Press Association awards and was co-winner of the Jesse H. Neal Award for Business Journalism. He has appeared several times on other media outlets, including NPR, BBC, CNBC and C-Span.
You can find out more about him on his Facebook page, at www.facebook.com\asoultosteal or on Twitter at @abwashbureau.
Rob lives in Virginia with his wife and two children.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is M. Lauryl Lewis!

1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
M. Lauryl Lewis says: Hands down, it'd be these three kick-butt women: Shana Festa, Rhiannon Frater, and Bijou Hunter! Shana because she has a wickedly awesome sense of humor and the ability to be creative when it comes to getting out of sticky (bloody) situations. Rhiannon, honestly, because she is one of my all-time favorite zompoc authors. She was a major inspiration for me to become an author. Bijou writes dark romance. She's also one of the strongest women and mothers I know. She has helped me through some tough times in my personal life, has always been "real" with me, and her writing is awesome.

2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
M. Lauryl Lewis says: Hmm. I'm going to take the graceful way out in this and say Stephen King, because he was closer to the edge of the river. :-) On a more serious note, I see "celebrities" as "just people." Yes, both are extremely accomplished authors who have given us so much in the way of dreaming and entertainment. That being said, I honestly would have to chose based on who I could get to first since I see us all as equals.

3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
M. Lauryl Lewis says: I actually just began the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
M. Lauryl Lewis says: Neanderthal by John Darnton. I have a paperback copy that I first read when I was well, younger. I re-read it every few years. I highly recommend it.

5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
M. Lauryl Lewis says: Oh - without a doubt TIME of DEATH: Induction, by Shana Festa. She's a newer zompoc author and she is hot in the genre! I admit, once I was finished with book one I stalked her down and begged for an ARC to read & review for the sequel.

6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
M. Lauryl Lewis says: I've had a hard time finding a good book so far this year. I've started so many and given up. My head hasn't been in a very good place with personal issues going on (one of my little boys is fighting cancer). Of all the attempts I've made to get lost in a great book, the one I found myself craving more of is The Complex by J. Rudolph.

7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
M. Lauryl Lewis says: My super power is the ability to take a nap whenever given the chance! It's one of my favorite activities and I strive to be super at it. My love of naps began when I worked night shift as an RN for years. I would come home to my family, which includes a husband, three little boys, dogs, and cats. It's forced me to become super at looking awake and not always being. Most of my writing happens late at night when the kids are in bed and the husband is at work. I nap when I can to make up for the long hours of being a mother and an author.

8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
M. Lauryl Lewis says: I have an easy chair and ottoman in our living room. Most of my writing takes place there. I also keep a TV-tray (those folding tables we used as children to eat frozen dinners for TV night) that I take with me as a portable office. I spend a lot of hours with my son at the local children's hospital, so the TV tray has become a 2nd favorite. I attempted to hang a hammock in the back yard for summer writing, but my four dogs decided it was fun to try to drool me to death and my English Mastiff tries to lay on me.

9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book GRACE LOST.
M. Lauryl Lewis says: Grace Lost follows a small group of survivors as they try to survive during the zombie apocalypse. One of my favorite scenes is a really emotionally draining one. A pregnant character goes into early labor and delivers a living (but tiny) baby. Both mother and baby die. Twice.
Why on earth would that be my favorite scene? I know, it sounds horrible. The scene, though, well...I put so much of my own emotions into that scene. It was difficult to write. It's difficult to read. Many readers say it's a tear-jerker.

10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
M. Lauryl Lewis says: Ha ha - love this question! There is so much of myself in my protagonist, Zoe. The funny thing about that is that so many reviews have mentioned how much they HATE Zoe! She is 20 years old, naive, very inexperienced in life, a bit clueless, and very whiny. I strive to make all of my characters realistic. Unlike my super power of napping, none of my characters have super power abilities. They are not expert weapon-wielders. They make some bad decisions. They are very intentionally flawed. I do this in order to make the story realistic. So, yes, Zoe has a lot of me within her. I make her react how I imagine I would if the living dead were trying to eat me. She cries. She vomits. She asks a lot of questions. She allows the bigger, stronger men in the story protect her.

11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
M. Lauryl Lewis says:

What Does the Fox Say
Hallelujah
Last Kiss
Home
Dollhouse

12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
M. Lauryl Lewis says: If you want to write, do it!

Connect with M. Lauryl Lewis!

M. Lauryl was born in Portland, Oregon, but grew up near Seattle, Washington. She lives near the Cascade Foothills with her husband and their three young sons, their dogs, and cats. She recently retired after an eighteen year career as a registered nurse in order to write full time while being at home with her children.
She has learned recently, after almost losing one of her children, to enjoy each and every day for what it is, savoring the good along with the bad. She can be found camping, fishing, reading, writing, or enjoying simple pleasures like cooking dinner or staring at the Cascade mountain range from her front porch. Her favorite places to vacation are polar opposites, Alaska and Hawaii. She is a huge lover of Mike 'N Ikes and hot-tubbing!
Ever since young childhood, she has enjoyed the horror genre. The scarier the better!
She loves to connect with readers! Reach her at:
www.facebook.com/mlauryllewis
@mlauryllewis
http://www.zombieauthor.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is Pete Kahle!

1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Pete says: Just 3? Okay, that’s a bit tough to narrow it down, but I accept your challenge, and I’m not going to cheese out by stating the obvious (Stephen King). Hopefully I won’t hurt any feelings.

Cody Goodfellow – I met him for about 15 minutes at NecronomiCon in Providence a few weeks ago. His novels Radiant Dawn and Ravenous Dusk have been favorites of mine since I first read them. We exchanged books and he signed a few that I already owned. In the time we chatted, I immediately knew that I wanted to hang with him someday. I can’t even begin to describe him accurately enough to evoke the vibe he exudes. Cody is a whirlwind of hilarious stories, cosmic philosophy and stream-of-consciousness tangential thoughts that all connect in rollercoaster of topics. Read his books and you will begin to understand a small bit of the genius that resides in the skull beneath his mad scientist hair.

James Newman, author of Midnight Rain, Animosity, Ugly as Sin and numerous others. – Many people call him “the nicest guy in horror” and for good reason. I first corresponded with James about five years ago as a fanboy/aspiring writer via Facebook, and he was amazingly helpful. I sincerely doubt The Specimen would ever have been completed if not for his encouragement. Later on, I helped coordinate Widowmakers, a gigantic benefit anthology to help him during a health crisis. He’s invited along because I want to finally meet him in person, and he seems like the exact type of guy I’d want to share a few beers with.

Sarah Pinborough – another great author who I only know through Facebook. She is astonishingly prolific and her latest novel, The Death House, is both heartbreaking and horrific. From what I’ve gleaned of her life over the past few years via Facebook, Sarah enjoys tipping back a few with her fellow writers in the genre, and she would add a needed calming influence to the festivities… or perhaps she would just add to the mayhem. Either way, it wouldn’t surprise me if she ended up as the last one standing at the end of our bar crawl.

2. You’re ready to head out with your pillowcase to collect loads of confections on All Hallows’ Eve, what’s your costume and why did you choose it
Pete says: Though I’ve been told that I bear a remarkable resemblance to Buzz Lightyear, I would want to go all out and transform myself Faceoff-style into Brundlefly from David Cronenberg’s stupendous version of The Fly or perhaps a resident of Innsmoth who is undergoing an evolution into a minion of Dagon.

Creature horror has always been my favorite subgenre, from Kafka’s The Metamorphosis to one of my favorites from the 90s, Brian Hodges’ Nightlife. Its influence can be found in all my fiction. Another favorite genre of mine is science fiction. Jack L. Chalker, in my mind a sci-fi giant, explored change in race, gender, psyche and sexuality in his writing. He passed away back in 2005, and I was genuinely depressed for days. When I learned that Chalker had requested that some of his ashes be spread on the grave of H.P. Lovecraft, I decided to finally remedy the fact that I had yet to read any of his work (sacrilege, I know).

I believe that, in their hearts, everyone wants to experience what it would be like to transform into something else, whether it be simply walking in someone else’s shoes for a day, or mutating into a superhero after a chance encounter with a secret government project, or sprouting hair and fangs when the moon becomes full.
I know I want to.

3. Old Mrs. Robinson opens her door and you’re holding open your pillowcase patiently waiting. “Oh deary,” she says in her frail, little old-lady voice. “I forgot it was Halloween. Don’t know why you kids go begging anyways. Let me go find something to give you.” She shuffles off and finally returns three and a half minutes later with 5 pennies, 2 peppermint candies that look like they went through the dryer, and her deceased husband’s dentures. “Take what you like,” she offers, squinting at you.
What do you choose and why.
Pete says: I would probably choose her husband’s old dentures. Recently, I read a short story by Joe R. Lansdale titled “Chompers”. A set of false teeth played a major part in the story and it has stuck in my head in the month or so since. Maybe I could get him to sign them if we ever meet.

4. I really love reading Dean Koontz but some of his stuff scares the bejesus out of me. What’s the spookiest book you’ve ever read?
Pete says: As you can imagine, since I write horror and constantly think about it, very few books reach the level of creeping me out. More often, a specific scene in a book will spook me. One scene that has stuck with me for over 30 years is Gage running down the hill in Stephen King’s Pet Sematary. As a parent, that will never fail to fill me with dread. Song of Kali by Dan Simmons and Survivor by J.F. Gonzalez also rank up there, but out of all the stories I’ve read, a short story by Chuck Palahniuk called “Guts” is absolutely the most frightening tale I’ve ever had the fortune to read. It literally makes me clench my buttcheeks every time I think about it.

5. You’re a writer by day and supernatural creature by night. (Shed that human skin, you sack of bones) What are you and why?
Pete says: I’m a big fan of lycanthropes – and I’m talking about the real deal here, sprouting fangs and hair, cartilage popping, bones cracking, skin ripping and splitting as the body stretches and twists – so I would most likely be a werewolf or maybe a werebear (one of my idea nuggets for a novel involves Viking werebears in Montana battling with an extreme right wing separatist militia). None of that romantic lycan crap from Twilight or the werewolf porn of the day. I would be something that needed to eat raw meat.

6. Every author has a bookshelf filled with his or her favorite reads. Run on over to yours and tell us the scariest book you have.
Pete says: I’m sure you get this answer a lot, but I truly can’t name just one, so I’ll just have to give you a list (in no particular order) of the ones that I always recommend whenever I’m asked that question:
· Floating Dragon by Peter Straub – one of my standbys when I need a book to kick start me out of a reading funk. It’s the perfect alignment of supernatural horror and scientific horror.
· The Trickster by Muriel Gray – Why has she only written three novels? And none since 2000? Read her novels and you will agree that it is a tragedy that she hasn’t put out more.
· The Necroscope series by Brian Lumley – Vile and monstrous vampires from another dimension like you have never read before. I never get tired of this series.
· Tie - Swan Song by Robert McCammon or The Stand by Stephen King. If you’re a fan of apocalyptic fiction and you haven’t read these two mammoth novels, you should have your library card torn in half.
· Tie – Midnight Rain by James Newman and Boy’s Life by McCammon (again). The same thing goes for fans of the coming of age sub-genre of horror if they have not read these two books.

7. We don’t all write horror but there comes a time when you’ve got to surprise your readers and make sure their hearts are still beating. How do you prepare yourself to get in the spooky writing mood?
Pete says: I’m an extremely slow writer, mainly because I can be easily distracted. In order to prepare myself, I wear headphones to drown out the sounds of the television, and occasionally, my children and wife screaming at each other. I don’t listen to music, however. The soundtrack to my writing is generally composed of various YouTube video with the sounds of rain on a loop. If I want something especially foreboding, I have a favorite recording of a thunderstorm in a cathedral. The echoes and rumble of the thunder perfectly sets the tone.

8. Stephen King’s front porch light is on but there are no Halloween decorations.
Do you:
a) trick-or-treat and cross your fingers that he’s handing out the good stuff
b) run screaming
c) call your mom to bring your favorite King paperback and beg for an autograph
Pete says: Definitely C. If I had to list someone as my idol, he is that person. When I first published The Specimen, I naively sent a signed copy to his business office in Bangor, hoping it would be passed along to him. In retrospect, I highly doubt that I was the first person to think of doing this, and it probably was donated to the local library.

9. Congratulations, you just won the literary lottery and sold a million books at full price! The royalty check clears on October 28th. What are you buying for the neighborhood kids?
a) an assortment of mini candybars
b) an assortment of cheap, hard candies
c) full size Hershey bars
Pete says: I’m not the biggest fan of full-size Hershey bars, but it would definitely be something in that vein. My personal favorites are Payday bars and the dark chocolate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Yes, Pete likes peanut butter. I make no secret of that.

10. Your writer friend calls you with some frightening news. They’re giving up on writing, can’t take the pressure any longer. What do you tell them?
Pete says: Frankly, I would tell them that they were probably making the right choice. If writing stresses them out and puts them under a lot of pressure, then it probably wasn’t the right career for them in the first place. I write because I enjoy it… because it provides me an outlet to release my stress. If I ever lose the feeling I get when I’m putting my words down in a file, I would quit. It’s probably not the most popular thing to say, but people should do what they do because they feel fulfilled in some way from their activities, not for any other reason. I’ve enjoyed the journey so much that I recently started my own small press, Bloodshot Books, and we plan to put out a couple of novels and anthologies each year. Money is certainly nice, even if it is only to supplement the author’s main income, but it is definitely not the main reason to write. I teach full time. I write because I need to.

Connect with Pete!

Pete Kahle has been dreaming about writing novels since his teens, but after flirting with the idea in college, he spent 25 years working in a variety of careers before he finally stopped talking about it and started writing.
He has lived in New York, Arizona and Spain, but now he resides in Massachusetts with his beautiful wife Noemi, his two amazing children Zoe and Eli, one dog, two hamsters, two guinea pigs and two frogs.
Pete is a voracious reader of horror, thrillers and science fiction novels and he writes in the same vein. He is also an insane fan of the New York Jets, despite living deep in the heart of enemy territory near Gillette Stadium.
THE SPECIMEN is his first novel, but it certainly will not be his last. He is currently working on BLOOD MOTHER, a stand-alone vampiric novel - without vampires - due out in the spring of 2015. On the horizon is THE ABOMINATION, Book 2 in the Riders Saga, and most likely a 3rd book in the series with the tentative title of THE HORSEMEN.
Pete most recently organized and edited WIDOWMAKERS, an anthology of dark fiction and poetry to help fellow author James Newman in a time of need.
Now that the dark closet in his subconscious has been opened, the monsters are clamoring to come out for a visit.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is Yvonne Ventresca

Let's see what Yvonne had to say about reading, writing and zombies!

1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
Yvonne says: Jenny Lawson, The Bloggess, (http://thebloggess.com/) because she’s incredibly funny and humor helps in a tense survival situation.
Jim Cobb, the author of a number of prepper books (http://survivalweekly.com/books-by-jim-cobb), because he would be prepared.
Any of the writers from The Walking Dead. They’ve clearly given the zombie apocalypse a lot of thought.

2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
Yvonne says: JK Rowling first. Then she could create a spell like Accio King Personus and summon King out of the water. Everyone wins.

3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Yvonne says: I currently have a pile of 39 books! I’m reading Wired for Story by Lisa Cron

4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Yvonne says: Collected Lyrics of Edna St. Vincent Millay. Beautiful poetry!

5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Yvonne says: What to Do Before Your Book Launch by MJ Rose and Randy Susan Meyers (since Pandemic was published that year)

6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Yvonne says: How to Disappear: Erase Your Digital Footprint, Leave False Trails, and Vanish Without a Trace by Frank Ahearn. It’s research for another novel I’m working on. I swear.

7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?

Yvonne says: Organization. Although it can be a form of procrastination, I’m very skilled at it.

8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Yvonne says: Anywhere I can keep an eye on my dogs. ------>
Meredith says: I love them! They're so fluffy!!

9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book PANDEMIC.
Yvonne says: SPOILER ALERT. Here’s a teaser from one of my favorite scenes from Pandemic.

10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Yvonne says: In Pandemic, Lilianna’s mom is a horrible cook and some of that’s based on my own experience in the kitchen.

11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Yvonne says: I have to write in silence! But my five songs for Pandemic would be:
“Breathe” by Ryan Star
“Bent” by Matchbox Twenty
“Not Over You” by Gavin DeGraw
“Everything Has Changed” by Taylor Swift with Ed Sheeran
“Who Knew” by P!nk

12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Yvonne says: Find a great critique group. Solid advice can transform a story.

Get your copy of Pandemic

Connect with Yvonne!

BIO:

Yvonne Ventresca is the author of PANDEMIC (Sky Pony Press, 2014), winner of the 2015 Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (Atlantic region). PANDEMIC is a young adult novel about an emotionally traumatized teenager struggling to survive a deadly bird flu outbreak. School Library Journal called PANDEMIC "an engrossing apocalyptic story” and Kirkus Reviews said “this realistic page-turner will keep most readers enthralled.” Yvonne’s other writing credits include a short story in the YA dystopian anthology PREP FOR DOOM (2015), two nonfiction books for teens, AVRIL LAVIGNE (a biography of the singer) and PUBLISHING (about careers in the field), and various articles for teens and adults.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is Angela Henry!

1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
Angela says: Wow, that’s a hard one. I’d have to say Joss Whedon, JK Rowling and Lee Child because they’ve created such smart, brave, kick-ass, and clever characters and we’d need all of that to survive.

2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
Angela says: Sorry, Stephen! But it would be JK. I’m a huge fan and still hold out hope she will revisit Harry’s world one day and gives us a new book, featuring another character.

3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Angela says: I just finished Aliette de Bodard’s HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, which was awesome! And I’m about to start reading Deanna Raybourn’s A COURIOUS BEGINNING.

4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Angela says: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE. I can read the part when Lucy goes into the wardrobe and comes out in snowy Narnia over and over again.

5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Angela says: It would be a tie between Ben Aaronovitch’s fourth Peter Grant novel, BROKEN HOMES and THE CUCKOO’S CALLING by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling.

6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Angela says: Hands down THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins. It’s one of those slow burner novels. Before you know it, it grabs you by the throat and drags you in.

7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
Angela says: One of my favorite anime’s series is called READ OR DIE! It’s about female agents for a special division of the British Library who can magically control and manipulate paper. That would be my superpower.

8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Angela says: I have a corner in my bedroom set up for writing. But I can write anyplace I have access to a computer.

9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book KNIGHT’S FALL.
Angela says: It would probably be the opening scene describing my main Character Xavier Knight’s fall from heaven and what happens to him after he lands in a back alley in New Orleans.

10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Angela says: There’s a one eyed, redheaded, mini skirt wearing, compulsive gambling librarian in KNIGHT’S FALL but I’m not going to say which of her traits she got from me.

11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Angela says:
1. A Flat by Black Violin
2. Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake
3. The Show by Doug E. Fresh
4. Rock The Casbah by The Clash
5. Firestarter by The Prodigy

12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Angela says: Write the kinds of books you would enjoy reading yourself.

Get your copy of KNIGHT’S FALL: A Xavier Knight Novel

Connect with Angela!

Angela Henry was once told that her past life careers included spy, researcher, and investigator. She stuck with what she knew because today she's a mystery writing library reference specialist, who loves to people watch and eavesdrop on conversations. She's the author of five mysteries featuring equally nosy amateur sleuth Kendra Clayton, as well as the thriller The Paris Secret. When she's not working, writing, or practicing her stealth, she loves to travel, is connoisseur of B horror movies, and an admitted anime addict. She lives in Ohio and is currently hard at work trying to meet her next deadline.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is Shaun Allan!

1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Shaun says: Well, there’s a question and a half! Over the years I’ve had many favourite authors, including Tolkien, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Clive Barker and, of course, Stephen King and Dean Koontz. That’s without mentioning Harper Lee, who was the real inspiration behind me wanting to be a writer – asd the reason I have mockingbirds tattooed on my arm.
As for whom I’d like to take out with me, hmmm… Dean Koontz would have to be there. I’d want to talk to him about his character ‘Odd Thomas’. I finished reading Saint Odd, the seventh book in the series, whilst in hospital last week. I couldn’t sleep so spent the night reading this. I love the character (not least because I think he and Sin would get along mighty fine) and have been captivated by each book. Saint Odd was the final story and I’m pleased to say, Koontz brought it to a fitting finale, giving Odd a wonderful send off and granting his long term wish.
Stephen King would need to be there. He’s been with me for so long, it’d be rude not to invite him. I haven’t enjoyed every book he’s written (as with Koontz), but those I have – and there’s been many – I have lost myself in. And, he created Pennywise, one of my favourite horror characters.
The final place, would be hard to fill. Clive Barker’s imagination is wonderfully vivid and warped – and he brought us Pinhead. He also showed me you can write about seemingly mundane placed and turn them into something much more. Before I read some of his work (I think it was Weaveworld in particular), I struggled to find a path. Now, I centre my stories on where I live, somewhere many would find boring, but I don’t. Not now I lift the pavement and look what’s crawling beneath. But what about Neil Gaiman? If for no other book than The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which will feature high on my top ten list of books for the rest of my life. Plus, I own a barbers and I’d love to have him sit in one of my chairs!
But, I think the remaining seat would have to be David Eddings. Together with his wife, Leigh, he and his character Garion led me to wondrous places with amazing people. I’d love to meet Aunt Pol and Belgarath and talk about all the strange adventures they went on. The Belgariad was one of the first fantasy series I ever read, and the only one I’ve re-read.

2. You’re ready to head out with your pillowcase to collect loads of confections on All Hallows’ Eve, what’s your costume and why did you choose it?
Shaun says: I actually own two costumes. One is Pinhead, from Hellraiser and the other is the Mad Hatter.
Pinhead is another of my favourite horror characters. He’s calm, collected and evil, and inhabits a world full of promises and pain. I wore this costume for my engagement party, with full head mask complete with pins, which was held on Halloween!
The Mad Hatter costume was worn for my daughters’ birthday party (their birthdays are 4 days apart, plus 8 years). We had an Alice in Wonderland theme and I had full face makeup, wig and everything. Mr. Hatter is tapped and weird and perfectly crazy.
For the fun factor, I’d go as the Mad Hatter, but, if I felt like being scary, it’d have to be Pinhead.

3. Old Mrs. Robinson opens her door and you’re holding open your pillowcase patiently waiting. “Oh deary,” she says in her frail, little old-lady voice. “I forgot it was Halloween. Don’t know why you kids go begging anyways. Let me go find something to give you.” She shuffles off and finally returns three and a half minutes later with 5 pennies, 2 peppermint candies that look like they went through the dryer, and her deceased husbands dentures. “Take what you like,” she offers, squinting at you.
What do you choose and why.
Shaun says: It would have to be either the pennies or the dentures. The pennies would probably have been used to lay on his eyes and pay Charon, the Ferryman, for crossing the River Styx into Hades.
The teeth would have used to eat the buffet meal you were given whilst you waited for his ferry to come to port. You never used to get a buffet, but competition is rife and there’s always someone wanting to muscle in. A little buffet and, perhaps, a small glass of wine, can make all the difference.

3. I really love reading Dean Koontz but some of his stuff scares the bejesus out of me. What’s the spookiest book you’ve ever read?
Shaun says: Oh, I’ve read so many. I think the spookiest will most likely be a Clive Barker one. His imagination is so bizarre and he takes you into such strange worlds, I’m sure one of his would be the winner. Weaveworld, perhaps, or Imajica.

4. You’re a writer by day and supernatural creature by night. (Shed that human skin you sack of bones) What are you and why?
Shaun says: Well, I’ve just looked on a list of supernatural beings and saw Frosty the Snowman was classed as one… I think, if I was going to be one, it would have to be something a bit warmer than dear Frosty. Once I’m out of this skin, I pick up my scythe, pull on a cloak and clock in on my night job as the Grim Reaper.
I tend to write quite a lot about Death and Mr. Grim. Sin, in my novel, wonders about him, and, in Dark Places, there’s a story called ‘I Am Death’, in which he contemplates life as he prepares to take his next soul. He’s not inherently good or evil. He just is and does what he must.

5. Every author has a bookshelf filled with his or her favorite reads. Run on over to yours and tell us the scariest book you have.
Shaun says: I’d have to pick up my ereader. I had many books but no space so I ‘went digital’ instead. It’s quite funny, really, that 17 years or so ago, I was on Sky TV discussing digital publishing vs traditional methods, going up against someone from Curtis Brown. They didn’t think it would take off, but now I have a library in my back pocket!
For my scartiest book, I think it’s likely to be The Scarlet Gospels, the latest Clive Barker book. I’ve yet to read it, having just finished Saint Odd and wanting to work on my And the Meek Shall Walk story (a more savage retelling of The Little Mermaid, inspired by my 12 year old daughter!) but, as it’s the continuing story of Pinhead, I think it’s safe to say it’ll be scary!

6. We don’t all write horror but there comes a time when you’ve got to surprise your readers and make sure their hearts are still beating. How do you prepare yourself to get in the spooky writing mood?
Shaun says: I find it so easy! I think it’s because of Sin. I’ve spent so long with the character and his ‘issues’ (he took me ten years to write and he’s still going strong now), I found I could slip into his persona without any effort. I call him my ‘dark half’ as he’s so much a part of me. As such, walking on the dark side of my psyche (that’s with an ‘e’ not an ‘o’, as Sin would say) comes almost naturally. I believe you can’t have the light without the darkness and, if my writing is the darkness, my life has plenty of light!

8. Stephen King’s front porch light is on but there are no Halloween decorations.
Do you:
a) trick-or-treat and cross your fingers that he’s handing out the good stuff
b) run screaming
c) call your mom to bring your favorite King paperback and beg for an autograph
Shaun says: Trick or treat, definitely. Who knows what strange things might happen if you ring his doorbell. The lack of decorations is obvious. He needs no ceremony for horror to put on a show.

9. Congratulations, you just won the literary lottery and sold a million books at full price! The royalty check clears on October 28th. What are you buying for the neighborhood kids?
a) an assortment of mini candybars
b) an assortment of cheap, hard candies
c) full size Hershey bars
Shaun says: If it’s candy, it would be full size – though Hersheys aren’t something we’re that familiar with here in the UK. If I’ve won, I wouldn’t hold back on mini anything. I’d prefer, however, to invest in a library. I love to hear children (and adults) reading. I’ve met adults who never read – why would you when you can see the movie? If I can inspire one child to turn a page, I’d be a happy man. As I was sent a photo, last year, of a young boy dressed as his favourite literary character for World Book Day – and it was my very own Vampire Cat from Zits’n’Bits, I think I may have done that!

10. Your writer friend calls you with some frightening news. They’re giving up on writing, can’t take the pressure any longer. What do you tell them?
Shaun says: I would tell them to pick up a book and read. Enter another world to help them continue the adventures in their own. Then I’d say they should write for themselves and no-one else. There shouldn’t be pressure to write, it should be natural and fulfilling. Any pressure simply places another brick on the dam of imagination. I’m blessed that my own work has been so well received, and I’m humbled by the opportunities I’ve had, such as writing for Universal and DC Comics – but with it all, I write because it’s such an urge, if I didn’t the words would dribble out of my nose. I write because I enjoy it and I can’t imagine not doing so. I don’t write for anyone or anything else.

Connect with Shaun!

A writer of many prize winning short stories and poems, Shaun Allan has written for more years than he would perhaps care to remember. Having once run an online poetry and prose magazine, he has appeared on Sky television to debate, against a major literary agent, the pros and cons of internet publishing as opposed to the more traditional method. Many of his personal experiences and memories are woven into Sin's point of view and sense of humour although he can't, at this point, teleport.