This interview is a little different. We have a collection of authors about to release their debut Author Series 'Nation of the Moon.' There's also a Thunderclap page for their project. Take a peek to learn more about the project and each author.
This post is a bit long but hang in there, it's worth it!
Emerging Author E. M. Nelson
1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint
the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
E. M. Nelson says: Stephen King because he gave me nightmares as a kid. My mom
loved his books so when they were turned into movies, we all got to watch them…
worst mistake of my childhood.
Dean Kuntz because he introduced me to the thrill of feeling
like you are about to die, alone in your own home while reading a book. Also,
he has one hecka twisted mind.
Stephanie Meyer because even though the movies sucked, she
made a whole generation of readers love the idea of being with a dead guy…
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?
E. M. Nelson says: Steampunk Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Because she is a
character in an upcoming book of mine, and because I am absolutely in love with
the funky/eclectic look that steampunk has going on.
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.
E. M. Nelson says: I take it all. I mean, she is offering for me to “take what
I like” and it isn’t very likely that anyone will want them anyways, besides
they’d all make great tools in creating some Halloween pranks.
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?
E. M. Nelson says: "Whispers” by Dean Koontz… I read this when I was 13… I
still have nightmares about it 17 years later. Like I said earier, he’s got a
hecka twisted mind!
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?
E. M. Nelson says: Naturally I’d be a werewolf. That’s what my new story is
about after all.
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.
E. M. Nelson says: I’ve gotten rid of all my scary books unfortunately. With
all the moves for the Army and the fact that we have 5 very young kids, my
shelves are filled with kid’s books and favorites like Harry Potter, The Green
Rider series, and The Maze Runner series.
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?
E. M. Nelson says: After putting my family to bed- I always write in the dark
of night since it is quite and I can focus better (plus I may or may not be a
vampire…)- I like to search for spooky images related to what I’m writing. I
also have been known to crack open a scary book- before I had to get rid of
them that is.
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
E. M. Nelson says: A! Even if he isn't handing out anything, I'd be game for
meeting him and shaking his hand.
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
E. M. Nelson says: C! I’ve always wanted to be THAT house with the full sized
candy bars. I loved those people as a kid! Besides, you’re less likely to get a
visit from the TP fairy if you’re chill like 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?
E. M. Nelson says: Do what you’ve gotta do, but save your work because we both
know that you’ll be back eventually, and when that time comes those stories
will be here patiently waiting for you to throw your heart and soul back into
them.
Connect with E. M. Nelson!
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Emerging Author Matt Heslop
1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Matt Heslop says: Brian D Sharkey because he has one sick twisted imagination and his books scare the crap out of me.
Jeff Lindsay because if you’re talking blood you must be talking about Dexter Morgan.
Stephen King because he made everyone afraid of clowns.
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?
Matt Heslop says: Boba Fett because he’s Boba Fett
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.
Matt Heslop says: The dentures because nobody else can say they got dentures for Halloween.
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?
Matt Heslop says: “Based on Real Life Events” by Brian D Sharkey
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?
Matt Heslop says: Vampire because they’re sexy and hard to kill.
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.
Matt Heslop says: “Based on Real Life Events” by Brian D Sharkey
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?
Matt Heslop says: I think about the worst possible ways to die.
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
Matt Heslop says: A
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
Matt Heslop says: I won’t be home; I’ll be treating my friends to a night out.
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?
Matt Heslop says: “People need to hear your story, they need to be scared to death and appreciate the life they have while they have it.” I’ve actually said this to my writer friend.
Connect with Matt Heslop!
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Emerging Author Johnny Craft
1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Johnny Craft says: Grant Morrison, because he's into the same kind of drugs that I'm into. Scott Snyder, because he's a great horror writer, and I'm sure Grant and I could get him to smoke some hash. My third would be Mark Millar, mainly so I could just bug him about which comics of his are going to be made into movies. Sorry, I only read comics, so I only included comic book writers.
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?
Johnny Craft says: Well... I'm 30.... Sooooo.....
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.
Johnny Craft says: Obviously you take the dentures! Those have sentimental value, a monetary value worth certainly more than 5 cents, and everyon gets old... You might need those dentures some day.
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?
Johnny Craft says: My ex-wife wrote a book called "I Plan to Smother Johnny Craft in His Sleep" but it was never published (only used as evidence). Does that count?
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?
Johnny Craft says: I'd like to be a cute, cuddly, pink teddy bear with heart shaped eyes, and a rainbow tongue, who only speaks in song or limmerick... Why? Because, I'm the manliest dude I know.
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.
Johnny Craft says: Aside from my massive "Goosebumps" collection from when I was nine, I guess I'd have to go with the original Todd McFarlane run of "Spawn". What's not to love?
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?
Johnny Craft says: I write a lot of horror. I actually have to work myself into a mood to NOT write something with a horrific theme to it. I sometimes worry it's because I'm a psychopath that just hasn't snapped yet. We will see if that's a sound theory when the news report comes out.
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
Johnny Craft says: A. I would compliment him for having so many wonderful ideas, but then I would ask him why he thinks it's a good idea to try to run a terrestrial radio station, in Maine, in the age of podcasts, Youtube, and everything-but-radio. (I'm not joking, WKIT 100.3, The Rock of Bangor! That's a real thing... not just something he made up, to make fun of, in his books.)
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
Johnny Craft says: A. But I would fill one of those t-shirt cannons from sporting events with them, and let the little kids blast the bigger bullies with delicious, confectionary, buckshot to the chest.
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?
Johnny Craft says: Remember the scene from "The Godfather" when Johnny Fontane cried to Don Corleone, because Jack Woltz wouldn't put him in that war movie?
"You can act like a man! What's the matter with you?! Is this how you've turned out? A Hollywood finnochio who cries like a woman?"
Now, if this writer friend WAS a woman, I think I'd have to rethink my response to another Godfather quote entirely.
Connect with Johnny Craft!
(Meredith says: With a name like Johnny Craft you'd better connect with him. I'm just saying. It's a great name.)
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Emerging Author Andrea Callahan
1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Andrea says: Barbara Michaels / Elizabeth Peters – given the way she wrote about small towns, she’ll be able to gossip about all the neighbors with me.
Elizabeth Hunter – She has a great way of presenting the people and places that blend with everyday reality but are really a place apart. She’ll be able to find us the best places to hang out.
Robin McKinley – Everything in her books is poetry. I like nights like poetry, they linger on your soul for weeks afterword and make life sweeter.
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?
Andrea says: I’ve always liked Velma from the Scooby-Doo series. She uses her brains and researches the facts to see to the heart of the matter, and is willing to get a clue.
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.
Andrea says: The peppermint candies – I can take them and throw them away, with none the wiser. Sneakily, I replace the peppermint candies with Hershey Kisses.
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?
Andrea says: Okay, I don’t read horror. Never have, never will. So I can’t compare horror stories with you. Given that, the scariest book I’ve read is probably Crown of Shadows by CS Friedman. It’s the third in the series, actually, set in a world where what people imagine comes true. The lead character told people how to use this power to make a steady civilization, but then used the darkest of men’s beliefs to become an immortal monster. I really can’t imagine an entire planet feeding back to humanity whatever we dream up – that would be terrible.
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?
Andrea says: Toturro (as in my neighbor Toturro) – chubby, fuzzy, and making people feel better when they are down. Best to nap with.
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.
Andrea says: Someone in the House by Barbara Michaels. Mostly because the house affects how the characters feel. I find that someone hijacking my mind scares me more than mere physical threats.
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?
Andrea says: Getting as close as I can to sensory deprivation. I have found that if I want to make hearts beat when I write, I have to feel my own while writing. So dark, quiet, middle of the night writing.
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
Andrea says: A – If he’s handing out the good stuff, I may get a signed book anyway, and one I don’t already have
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
Andrea says: Probably D – Endangered species chocolate squares. I’m a bit of an environut, so giving out chocolate that saves the rainforest is a much better win.
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?
Andrea says: Writing should be something you do because you can’t not do it. Don’t give up the writing, give up the things that make you feel the pressure.
Connect with Andrea!
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Emerging Author Aaron Farrow
1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Aaron says: Stephen King, Robert Kirkman, and Maddox. I mainly picked them for their sense of humor. I think we could get into a lot of trouble.
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?
Aaron says: Boba Fett. No one messes with the galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter.
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.
Aaron says: I’d choose the five pennies. Seems like a good opportunity to say “Keep the change, you filthy animal.”
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?
Aaron says: That’s a tough one. I’m going to go for the cop-out answer and pick The Shining. Stephen King was in his prime on that one and nailed the terror of childhood and isolation.
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?
Aaron says: I would be a werewolf for the obvious benefit of plugging my story in Nation of the Moon. Nothing beats a little marketing synergy.
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.
Aaron says: It would take too long to go over everything. I have nearly every Stephen King title, lots of Dean Koontz, some stuff by Brian Keene, and plenty of horror and scf-fi themed comics.
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?
Aaron says: I don’t have to do much. I pretty much watch and read horror constantly. The biggest thing I try to do when writing is ground the horror in real-life situations based on my experiences. Grounding the outlandish can make a horror tale much more effective.
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
Aaron says: I would go for the autograph. Might as well add it to my collection. If he yells at me at least I’d have a cool story.
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
Aaron says: I’m getting the cheap candies. Being a stingy curmudgeon always seemed like so much fun. I would seize my chance to finally live the dream.
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?
Aaron says: Like anything creative, you should be doing it because you love it. My advice would be to ask them if they still love it. If they do, stick to it. If they lost the love, maybe it’s time to move on or take a break. If you follow your passion you can never go wrong.
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Emerging Author Cody Grady
1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Cody says: Picture the perfect evening thusly; a quaint British pub on a cool Halloween night with a roaring fire to dull the coming winter’s bite. There are just enough decorations to know the holiday is upon us, but no one has dressed up and those drinking are too busy with their pints to pay much attention to Legosi and Cheney silently pantomiming on a nearby television set. I meet Jim Butcher for dinner and the house ale of course, and we discuss his ability to stretch the conventions of fantasy beyond their means. His characters are simple, his plot direct, yet both pluck at my heartstrings. He rehashes old tales but in an elegant way I adore, making the mundane magical... reminding me to keep things simple and direct. With the meal consumed we signal the barkeep for another round and sit beside the burning logs, our duo joined by Neil Gaiman. In him, we find a master storyteller, who spins such mystical webs of fiction that they make you pray such dreamscapes are real. Gaiman touches the spiritual within us all, crafts those wispy morning remembrances into beautiful worlds we visit only in sleep. Like Morpheus he lulls us to the edge of slumber as the fire burns low and the last steins are cleaned and replaced upon their hooks. But at the first bell of midnight strikes, the phantasm that is Clive Barker sweeps through the door carrying with him the chilling wind and icy rain. Straight liquor with him, of course, to match his bitter, pain filled tales of woe. As he speaks, life becomes profane, fetid. Barker turns the mirror upon the darker versions of ourselves, finding the rotted core in our hearts before extracting it and laying the maggot filled organ out for display. He terrifies us for hours before slinking away, leaving us begging to be shown no more of the darkest depths of his mind. Yet even as the sunlight shines once more, it does not wash away the ichor left behind.
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?
Cody says: I’ve never been one for dress up, antithetical as it may be to my extensive background in the theatre. Perhaps it is because I respect the practice, know how much goes into it professionally. If I was going out, however, I tend to lean towards the fantastical heroes, such as a swashbuckling Errol Flynn type or a caped crusader. Batman is an easy go to, but I could also see myself wielding Star-Lord’s blaster. Or Groot… when in doubt, be Groot.
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.
Cody says: The dentures, of course. They make the best story. Why did she keep them? Are they a perverse memento or a senile oversight? Is Mrs. Robinson crazy, or have I been passed the last remaining vestiges of a tortured spirit? Perhaps they will begin chattering upon my bedside table late one night, and I will be forced to question whether or not I have become the protagonist in an R.L. Stine novel.
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?
Cody says: I’ve read a number, but a particular experience whilst reading Stephen King’s It has always made that story stand out above the rest. My mother had nearly all his novels, and she began looking the other way when I took to reading them. At first she made a few recommendations towards some of the lighter stuff, but when I grabbed It down from the shelf she gave me a long, sideways glance which, while Mom said nothing, conveyed everything. I scurried away and began devouring the novel at a rapid pace, unable to pull my eyes from the page for the mundane necessary tasks of life; flipping light switches, walking up stairs, etc. I was absorbed by the terrible fate of these children, and it stuck a chord since I wasn’t much older than those kids were when I first read it. This was the story of terrible things happening to children, and that idea had never really occurred to me before. Page after page turned in my hands as the story twisted and turned, and after one fearful encounter with Pennywise, I looked up to discover I had closed and locked all the windows and doors in my upstairs room. The fear finally sank in, and I dove into bed under the covers with haste, leaving the reading light on. The old and musty smelling paperback was tossed haphazardly beside me. I got little sleep that particular night, and my rest was disturbed for quite some time by the contents of that book.
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?
Cody says: The Sandman. I’ve always been in love with the mythological concept of someone bringing us our dreams. These nocturnal musings can frighten, amuse, and mystify. Their abstract nature have left some to conclude dreams guide us, and even the most critical person has to agree that they provide solutions to everyday problems, even if those solutions are idle fantasy. I’d love the power to pass out hope, to terrify, to help rest the weary or cause the unjust to tremble. Morpheus is the ultimate storyteller; I’d settle for a few well placed sprinkles of sand in the eyes of those I think deserve it.
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.
Cody says: The bookshelf is empty at the moment due to a room renovation that I haven’t found the time to finish. Going strictly from memory I’d have to say Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Much like his father the words fly by as one delves deep into the fantastical, but then a phrase knifes its way into the vulnerable, scarable parts of you. Something about Hill’s description of black scribbles for eyes causes the hair on the back of my neck to raise; the motion of the lines, the dehumanization and othering of not being able to see into another person… the lack of soul. Terrifies me.
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?
Cody says: For me true horror arises in solitude; in the absence of confirmation, of rationality, and of sanity. It is only in these moments of self doubt and apprehension that we truly experience fear in all of its biological and neurological capacities. Myself, a dark room, pen and paper. Perhaps some horror film soundtracks, if I’m feeling particularly macabre. If I don’t experience it personally, there on the page, then no reader ever will.
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
Cody says: If the porch light is on then he is expecting people to knock. I hope he’s handing out the good stuff, but I still call my mom. I would let her get her favorite story signed, though, she’s a much bigger fan of him than me.
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
Cody says: The full size bars, of course. Anything else is less than charitable. Upon receipt of the Holy Grail of trick-or-treating, however, Robert Englund would then burst out of a nearby window and chase the screaming brats down the street, as I contracted him to do. ‘Tis the season, after all.
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?
Cody says: Stop writing, of course. Give it a day, a week, a month. If it is meant to be then the stories won’t stop. Their dreams will be haunted, their life will become dull and gray. Soon they will be writing the life stories of those passing by, begin obscenely staring at people while at the coffee shop or in line at the grocery. Writers cannot stop; they can, however, choose to work hard at becoming better. That’s my only goal, and it should be theirs, too. Make your latest words your best ones.
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Emerging Author John Graham
1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
John says: Neil Gaiman, Garth Ennis, and Frank Miller. Hanging around with these three would guarantee me superstar status at any location with Comic Book fans or geeks. Plus the conversation would be loads of fun.
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?
John says: Due to my height, I can only pull off a Frankenstein effectively.
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.
John says: I would have to take the dentures, they would make a great prop for my costume.
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?
John says: I don’t typically read spooky stuff, but I was a little panicked when I read Fablehaven book 1 by Brandon Mull. The scene with the baby on the roof trying to be let in was quite intense.
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?
John says: A werewolf of course. Not the typical savage kind, but one with more mental capacity.
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.
John says: Man, Myth, and Legends. This book is scary because it contains all the mysteries on earth that we can’t figure out. How frightening is it to realize there are so many things we don’t know about those that have lived before us.
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?
John says: Watching darker movies, one of my favorites is Nightbreed by Clive Barker.
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
John says: C – but also ask her to bring some of my books so I can drop them off for him to read.
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
John says: D – copies of my comic books, so they don’t get cavities.
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?
John says: You can take a break, but you never stop being a writer. That’s just the way life works.
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Emerging Author Casey Little
1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Casey says: If I had to choose it would be Dean Koontz, David Baldacci and Jim Butcher. Jim would make it fun with his witty sense of humor; David and Dean would have the strategy making things interesting.
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?
Casey says: I would pick a pirate costume because I’m a big fan of them. I’m also a bit of a history nut and I find their history intriguing.
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.
Casey says: I would take the dentures, because I’m weird. I would probably find something to do with them. Hey, I’m creative.
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?
Casey says: Out of Dean Koontz’s works (I’ve only read a few) but I would have to say that “The Door To December” was pretty cool because of the depth of the psychological impact. It was scary good J
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?
Casey says: A Dragon, because being able to breathe fire and fly is just… awesome. Eating people wouldn’t be too bad….would that be cannibalism??
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.
Casey says: I’m a fan of horror, guts, gore and the like. In a way I’ve become jaded enough to laugh at things that would normally be disgusting or scary. I also have a vivid imagination so when I read so most of the details are enhanced. One book comes to mind that I got in 4th grade. That when I had a soul. (Just kidding J ) It was a book called “Loch” by Paul Zindel, which ended up giving me nightmares as a kid, so I would probably pick that one.
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?
Casey says: Sometimes I’ll surf YouTube and listen creepy music plus I will always write at night or in a dark room with candle light. (It creates a really cool atmosphere.)
8. Stephen King’s front porch light is on but there are no Halloween decorations.
Do you:
Casey says: 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
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
Casey says: c) full size Hershey bars
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?
Casey says: Writing is not about pressure, it is not about deadlines or audience. It’s about telling a story, your story. Writing is something you should do out of love for the craft and embrace it for what it is. If it’s money you’re after…good luck with that. I would tell them to remember what made them love writing to begin with and to recall those feelings. Recall what inspired them to start putting words on paper. On the harsher side (brutal advice) if your love for the craft can be crushed with “pressure” then maybe you shouldn’t write professionally. I tend to be more brutal because I hate to sugar coat my opinion when asked. I’m brutally honest by nature.
Don't forget to Take a peek at their Thunderclap page to learn more about the project and each author!
