Author Interview: ‘How to be a Goldfish’ by Jane Baird Warren

About the Book:

Some family secrets feel too big to share…

When her teacher assigns a family tree project for parents’ day, Lizzie knows it won’t be long until Scotch Gully’s gossips start up again. Most folks in her conservative town are used to the fact that she’s the only kid with an unmarried mom, but when Lizzie’s family tree research uncovers a shocking secret about her grandmother, Lizzie knows that certain townsfolk will start their back-fence talk about her family once more. She turns to Harry — who’s been like a grandfather to her — for help and advice, but Harry has problems of his own. Someone has arrived at his farm claiming to own it, and is forcing Harry out. Now Lizzie must face losing Harry and the place that’s been her second home. Lizzie finds a surprising ally in David, the new owner’s son. Together, their sleuthing uncovers the keys to saving Harry and his farm, but sharing the secrets she and David have uncovered will put Lizzie’s complicated family on centre stage.

Told in the alternating voices of Lizzie and David, How to Be a Goldfish is a compelling, heartfelt, humorous read about acceptance and understanding, and will provide a gentle introduction to discussions about alternative families, homosexuality, feminism, forced adoptions and social justice.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon – UK / US

Author Interview:

1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing?

My name is Jane Baird Warren and I’m a first-generation Canadian with fresh-off-the-boat parents. Literally. My dad arrived on a boat from Norway, and my mom from Scotland. I grew up surrounded by a rich and often confusing blend of accents and began collecting new words like some kids collect action figures. At nine, I read the dictionary front to back and announced to my class that I intended to be a spelunker just because I liked the word.
 
In 1998 I left Canada and for twenty years we lived and traveled in Europe, the Middle East, Scandinavia, Asia, South America, and Africa. During these travels, I completed an MFA in creative writing. My short fiction and poetry have been featured on CBC radio (Canada) and in more than a dozen literary magazines in North America and the UK. My first novel (middle-grade historical), How to Be a Goldfish, was released in 2022 to wonderful reviews and recognitions. I currently live in Quebec’s Eastern Townships and am represented by Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Literary Agency.

2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?

I’m usually up between 05:00 to 05:30, and once that coffee is ready, I’m at my desk. Where I write, though, must be flexible. We still travel, and what counts as a desk changes depending on where we are. Currently, I’m in the US, sitting in front of a card table and using an old television as a laptop monitor.

3: Where do your ideas come from?

Ideas? They come from everywhere. I’ll give you two examples. 

How to Be a Goldfish began with only broad strokes – a dual-narrative, Parent-Trap-inspired, fun-filled middle-grade mystery novel (Phewf, that’s a mouthful!) where the big ending would be Lizzie and David discovering how they are related. Then an ugliness seemed to descend on the world around 2016, pitting people against each other and reshaping the world into an Us vs Them. It shaped my novel too. The novel remained gentle but became larger in scope, tackling and taming some of that ugliness. 

My current manuscript, Kill Two Birds, is a young adult thriller, but that’s not how it began. The first version had parasitic Viking aliens and dealt with– wait for it – teen pregnancy. But a work trip to Rio de Janeiro and the discovery of an old family secret changed everything!   

4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?

The writing world seems to be divided into Plotters (obvious) and Pantsers (someone who writes by the seat of their pants). I pantsed my way through two attempts at writing a novel and they were … blech. Because of that and the time wasted doing revision after revision of something structurally unsound, I love plotting. I love the time it saves. But… I believe the real magic happens when I let go and discover my inner Pantser. Once I do that, once I let myself sink deeply into my characters, their thoughts and actions begin to surprise me. When they surprise me, they’ll surprise my readers, and that will keep a reader engaged. It’s also when characters cease being representatives of a behavior or action (dare I say two-dimensional?) and come alive as individuals worth caring about. 

5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?

I expect my agent would love it if I wrote in only one genre. But those ideas you asked about earlier? They’re insistent and demanding, and I’m organizing them by urgency – the stories I feel most compelled to write are getting tackled first. I’m already assembling research for my next project – a literary non-fiction.  

6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?

That’s tough. I have such clear images of the characters (and where they live) in my head that replacing them with an actor would be difficult for me. I expect it’s like when a book you love is made into a movie and the leads don’t fit your image of them.  But I would happily adjust!!! I would love to see Goldfish on the screen; it’s all so visual for me. 

7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?

I read widely, constantly, in almost every genre (except romance) and multiple books simultaneously. For example, just this week I finished reading Meranda and the Legend of the Lake (a fab MG mystery/fantasy), 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows (a translated memoir of a modern Chinese revolutionary). 

8: What book/s are you reading at present?

I’m currently reading Alice Walker’s The Temple of my Familiar (literary fiction); Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari (non-fiction); and Everything Sad is Untrue (middle-grade fiction) by Daniel Nayeri

9: What is your favourite book and why?

I don’t think I can answer this. I love some books for their ability to transport me places (The Discovery of Witches series). Some books I love for what they can teach me (The Warmth of Other Suns). Still others I read and love for their characters. I once cried after reading a novel because once the back cover was closed, I wouldn’t have that character in my daily life any longer.

10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?

This may seem counterintuitive, but… don’t hold on too tightly to your power as The Author. Clinging claw-like to that control could mean you’re missing editorial suggestions that could make your book better. 

I recently sent my “finished” manuscript to my agent. I thought it was brilliant. A shiny, beautiful thing. But apparently, she did not. She had suggestions, including a few large structural ones. My first reaction was defensive. But then I drank some wine, slept on her concerns, went on holiday, and did a lot of walking and thinking. And guess what? She was right! So Very Right! 

Because I didn’t hold on too tightly to my authorial control, I will have a much better novel. Being open to editorial suggestions can be empowering and make your manuscript better. And for me, it’s all about writing the best book possible. 

11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?

Website: www.janebairdwarren.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jbwarren2

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jbwarren2

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jane.bairdwarren.1

About the Author:

Jane Baird Warren is a first-generation Canadian with fresh-off-the-boat parents. Literally! Her father came on a boat from Norway and her mother from Scotland. Jane grew up surrounded by a rich and often confusing blend of accents and began collecting new words like some kids collect action figures. At nine she read the dictionary front to back and announced she was going to be a spelunker because she like the word. 

Jane left Canada in 1998. For twenty years she travelled extensively in Europe, Scandinavia and Asia as well as South America, and Africa. During her travels she completed an MFA in Creative Writing (she loves writing on airplanes!). Jane also has a Bed and a BPE and has worked as a teacher, personal trainer and coach. 

In her fiction and in real life, Jane is fascinated by people — the good ones, the bad ones, and even the ones who are ugly inside — but what she values most in both worlds is kindness and courage. She is currently obsessed with the notion of family secrets and how uncovering the truth changes how kids (adults, too!) see and define themselves. She has ridiculous memory for trivia, which she’d always believed was the most useless superpower a girl could have. Until she started writing.

You can find more information about Jane Baird Warren on her website. https://janebairdwarren.com Drop by and leave a note. She loves visitors.

Author Interview: ‘Daughter of Hades’ by Mack Little

About the Book:

Dinny and her brother make their escape from slavery on the pirate ship the Hades. It is the last place in the world Dinny imagined she’d meet the love of her life. Lei, a Chinese exile, recognizes Dinny as the woman of his destiny. But their new life is shattered when her former owner seeks his revenge. With the help of their friends, family, and colleagues, Dinny and Lei will face the challenges of finding love and happiness in the Caribbean world of the 17th century. 

Enjoy this erotic historical romance with true-to-life relationships of both heterosexual and LGBTQ partnerships.

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Purchase Link:

Amazon – US

Author Interview:

1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you into writing?

Born in Conyers, Georgia, I studied International Politics in Seville, Spain. I lived for several years in Germany. My studies and service in the Army have taken her all over the U.S. I travel to Europe regularly for research. 

I write historical romance, fantasy, and horror because I enjoy reading these genres. After all, blacks, as much as anyone, need escapist fare as opposed to being retraumatized by stories using our suffering as entertainment. However, the landscape of what I was reading was monochromatic. I know this is starting to sound trite, but none of the heroes looked like me. In these historical novels, black and brown populations have been erased or treated as throwaway devices to serve the white hero or depicted in a way that the entire frame of reference is oppression. I want to show black and brown, and other marginalized populations do exist and can be the hero in escapist fare. I want to spark the imagination of other authors, be they black or white, about what romance, fantasy, and horror could look like.

2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?

My favorite time to write is “all the time”. However, since I have a day job, I write after I clock out in the evening for about three hours. I write all my novels longhand with a fountain pen in one hand and a cigar in the other. And because my husband won’t let me smoke inside, I write outdoors. Now I need the open air to write no matter the weather. If it’s cold or rainy or windy, I find a way to get it done as comfortably as possible.

3: Where do your ideas come from?

I usually stumbled upon an interesting historical tidbit, and I research it. Most times, a story grows around that. For instance, in the Daughter of Hades, I saw maroons on a TV show. I was, like, are they real? I did a little research and found out that not only were they real, but they were heroic and inspired terror in the hearts of the British. Growing up in the states, there were stories of sporadic revolts of the enslaved people or heroic characters here and there (though all the enslaved who endured were heroic in their way because, without them, I wouldn’t be here). But the maroons of Jamaica applied constant pressure and were undefeatable and became a pseudo-nation unto themselves. It was just freaking inspiring.

So, as I research a topic, I am thinking about how I might insert my character into the story. Once I get a foothold, I start a character sheet. 

4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?

I start with a character. As I learn their backstory, ideas for my plot moving forward take shape. For instance, right now, I am in the beginning phase of writing my next novel. I’ve developed several character sheets. I know my main characters and how they meet. Eventually, they fall in love with each other. In between, I devise a series of tortures and obstacles for them. I never know how my story ends until I get there.

5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?

I’ve always been a daydreamer, but sometime in middle school. I began to write my musings down. I found it quite cathartic. Writing became an excellent release for me. Also, as an avid reader of horror, romance, and adventure, I rarely, if ever, found characters that looked like me or shared a similar background. It was as if people like me didn’t exist, and if we did, we were inconsequential.

I love horror, but I like it to be on the cerebral side with beautiful prose, if possible. Books like Cormac McCarthy checked all these boxes with his novel Suttree. They made me want to write horror, romance, and fantasy as elevated as my talent allows. 

6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?

Dinny Obosi – Zendaya
Lei – Chen Kun or Daniel Henny would be my ideal, but they’re getting older. So, Godfrey Gao or Charles Melton
Jimmie Obosi – Michael Evans Behling
Ami – Marsai Martin
Pax – Charlie Plummer
Captain Duff – Colin Farrell
Ivan – Jacob Elodi
Captain Ford – Robert Pattinson

7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?

Right now I am on an Octavia Butler kick. I’m on the last book of her trilogy, Lilith’s Brood. I’ve been wanting to read more fantasy, sci-fi and spec fiction by black authors published by the major publishing houses. They are few and far between. If your readers have any recommendations, I would happily check them out.

So my list is:
Octavia Butler
John Irving
Cormac McCarthy

8: What book/s are you reading at present?

Salt Road by Nalo Hopkinson
Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler
Spare by Prince Harry

9: What is your favourite book and why?

John Irving’s Son of the Circus is my favourite book. I love the complexity of the plot and the unforgettable characters. John Irving is a master of character development. 

10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?

My best suggestion is to get in the habit of journaling. That creates a habit of writing, and it exercises and helps improve skills of description, getting in touch with emotions that help in character development.

Definitely find a writing group. Two that I have found helpful and especially supportive are the Houston Writer’s guild. It has workshops, get-togethers, and critique groups. Critique groups were how I found my groove in writing because of the accountability–I had to have at least 10 pages/per week and they help me refine my work.

11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?

Website: www.mack-little.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormacklittle

Instagram: www.instagram.com/zenbabie

Twitter: @Zenbabie

About the Author:

Mack Little grew up in the Deep South and has accumulated a vibrant experience which she often emulates in her storytelling. Her studies in International Politics and service in the Army have given her impressive perspectives to bring to her novels new layers of intrigues and twists, which are all quite prevalent in her latest novel, Daughter of Hades.

Background story:

After leaving the Army, Mack worked as a medical librarian and an adjunct professor at Texas Woman’s University. Mack has authored and co-authored several articles for professional journals such as the Journal of the Medical Library Association, Medical Research Services Quarterly, and the Journal of Electronic Resources. She has presented at the Medical Library Association Conference, the Texas Gulf Coast Healthy Communities Partnership, and the Special Libraries Association Conference. She co-authored the book, Disaster Planning: a How-to-do-it manual, published by Neal-Schuman Publishers in 2005. Mack performs occasionally in Community Theater.

Author Interview: ‘Reborn’ by Stephanie Ellis

About the Book:

Return to the Weald, the world Stephanie Ellis introduced us to in The Five Turns of the Wheel.

Reborn is the story of Cernunnos, the Father of all, who has risen. Born of blood offerings, he travels to the Layerings—one of those places, like Umbra, which sit just beyond the human veil.

Reborn is the story of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, the infamous troupe whose bloody rituals were halted by Megan, Tommy’s Daughter. Rendered weak by Megan’s refusal to allow them to hunt in the human world of the Weald, they seek their rebirth and forgiveness from the Mother and Cernunnos.

Reborn is the story of Megan, who follows Cernunnos and Hweol’s sons on a pilgrimage of hope—one that would see her husband restored to her and the dark presence of Hweol removed.

Ultimately, though, Reborn is the story of Betty, the most monstrous of the three brothers. He is Nature, red in tooth and claw. He is what the Mother made him. And who are we to judge?

With Reborn, Ellis delivers another powerful tale of folk horror that will captivate the reader from the first page until its final bloody climax.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon – UK / US

Author Interview:

1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing?

I’m a writer of horror/dark fiction and also dark poetry, living in Wrexham, Wales with my family. I’ve recently become a full-time writer (supported by my lovely husband) but prior to that I was amongst other things a TA and librarian in a secondary school, project manager and senior software author in a technical publications company and also a computer programmer.

Always an avid reader, I came late to writing, only deciding when I went to work in the libraries that it was something I could possibly have a go at. Before then it just never crossed my mind that I could do such a thing, life was too much about work and raising a family, there was never enough time for ‘me’. Once I started, however, I found I loved it and started submitting late 2013/2014 and was lucky to get some early publication success and that has continued. I’ll be 59 this year. So yes, a late starter!

2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?

It’s been difficult to find space in our house for me to write and over the years, I’ve been sat in my corner of the sofa in the living room with all the mayhem going on around me! These days, I have carved out a workspace in my bedroom and I can focus there but I still often join the family in the sitting room and claim my sofa spot and write! The time varies as I usually fit it around whatever is happening at home, but I do tend to work in the afternoon. It used to be as soon as I got up and that’s still the case on certain days, but if I go to the gym, then it is later. (The gym is necessary to make sure I move during the day and don’t solidify in my chair!) I will even carry on writing in the evening if I am really into my story.

3: Where do your ideas come from?

I’ve never quite worked that out! They have a tendency to just drift into my mind. I get an image of a character and then they start to tell me their story. Quite often this happens in the gym when I’m on the cross-trainer. On this bit of equipment my mind has usually emptied itself and I think because this is a time of no pressure or stress, it frees up the imaginative part of my mind. I will either get a new idea or a story I am already considering will just suddenly unfold itself.

4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?

I’m a pantser. If a short story is for a submission call, there are obviously certain aspects you have to include but in the main, especially novels and novellas, then I make it up as I go along. The ending always remains unknown for about three-quarters of the book and then it will show itself to me at that point and somehow I know how to get there. My writing is very instinctive.

5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?

My books are dark fiction/horror, including gothic, bio-horror and folk horror. It was never something I knew I would write, it just happened. When I first started writing short stories I found some horror submission calls and discovered I really enjoyed writing them, particularly the aspect of giving certain characters their comeuppance. You can explore the darker side of human life in a safe way and in some of my work (for example, Paused), I’ve used it to hold up a mirror to society – and hopefully make people think about their actions a little. 

I particularly love folk horror as it allows me to indulge myself in an element of nostalgia for my very rural childhood and play with the old traditions of England – or even make up my own! Both The Five Turns of the Wheel and its sequel, Reborn, are rooted in the folk horror sub-genre and were great fun to write.

6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?

My latest book, Reborn, is the follow-up to The Five Turns of the Wheel. There are three – what I call grotesque – characters who form a mummers troupe. When I first created them, I imagined Alan Rickman as Betty (the man who dresses as a woman for comedic effect), but alas that will never be so I would substitute in Gary Oldman. For Fiddler I could imagine him being played by Simon Pegg and for Tommy, I would love to see Tom Hardy in the role. The main female role, Megan, would be someone like Kate Winslet. It needs to be a strong woman who stands up to the aforementioned characters!

7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?

I am always reading! Very much for pleasure and sometimes to provide a review or blurb on request. Favourite authors include Ray Bradbury whose use of language is magical. Charles Dickens was a much-loved childhood author and I still love his work. Grady Hendrix is brilliant at mixing humour and horror and I also collect the books of Adam Nevill, John Ajvide Lindqvist and Andrew Michael Hurley. Amongst some fantastic indie authors are Coy Hall, T.C. Parker, Catherine McCarthy and so many others. I’ll drop in some favourite dark poets as well, if I may: Linda D. Addison, Alessandro Manzetti, Shane Douglas Keene, Cindy O’Quinn, Stephanie M. Wytovich. I could write hundreds more names for both prose and poetry!

8: What book/s are you reading at present?

I have two on the go. One is non-fiction, Blood and Mistletoe: A History of the Druids by Ronald Hutton. I’m reading this as background for my next folk horror book. The other is The Witch Bottle by Tom Fletcher, I really enjoy atmospheric dark fiction.

9: What is your favourite book and why?

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury remains unsurpassed. His use of language is pure poetry and the imagery he creates is wonderful. Close behind is Beloved by Toni Morrison which is a heartbreaker of a book.

10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?

Just do it. Don’t ask anyone if you should. If you want to be a writer, that’s your choice and it’s never too late to start. You might realise late in life that it’s what you want to be (like me!) so don’t let your age stop you. A new writers does not necessarily mean a young writer!

And be kind to yourself. It might be a little while before you find your ‘voice’, your genre. Give yourself permission to change direction, to experiment, to stop and start and don’t ever think you have to do something one way because another writer says so!

11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?

You can find me on Twitter @el_Stevie, and my website is www.stephanieellis.org. I am easily found on Facebook, LinkedIn and also Instagram although I am less active there.

About the Author:

Stephanie Ellis lives near Wrexham in Wales in the UK with her family and is a writer of horror and dark fiction and poetry. She is an active member of the HWA.

She can be found online supporting HorrorTree.com via the Indie Bookshelf Releases posts and on the Dark Fusion Podcast with Beverley Lee and Shane Douglas Keene.

Author Interview: ‘Inertia’ by Mark Everglade

About the Book:

Gliese 581g is the last remaining colony of the human race, located twenty light years from Earth. The planet was once tidal locked to its sun, with one side draped in darkness and the other half always bright. This changed after a radical group called O.A.K. increased the planet’s rotation to bring daylight cycles to all in the name of equality. All was not well, however, as decades passed, and new generations dealt with continual floods as the newfound sunlight melted the icecaps. Entire neighborhoods went aquatic from rising sea levels.

Soon, the planet was spinning out of control, with sunrises occurring every few hours. 

Ash Rivenshear works as a geophysicist at Geosturm, a company contracted by the New Order to monitor the geological crisis. As she investigates the planet’s increasing rotation, she uncovers classified data indicating that someone is intentionally manipulating it to their own ends. An attack on her life is made to cover up the intel. After surviving, she contacts her estranged father for help, Severum Rivenshear. Having no idea he had a daughter, Severum agrees to help, but the tension of his absence throughout her life builds as he works to build a relationship with her.

Ash and her father discover a research lab where Severum uncovers a connection between Geosturm and the Old Guard, a scion of the now defunct Government of Evig Natt led by Eduardo Culptos. The Old Guard seek to restore their power over the hemisphere by accelerating the planet’s rotation at breakneck speed, exacerbating the negative ecological effects, as they convince the public that the planet was better off in darkness. They’re motivated by the wealth they obtained back when light was scarce and commodified, and seek a restoration of their influence. Severum catches glimpse of a scientist being held captive at the lab during his reconnaissance, but he’s forced to back down due to being outnumbered, and unable at the age of sixty-nine to fight efficiently due to his war injuries.

Severum approaches K.O.A., an offshoot of O.A.K., for help at their commune where he obtains equipment, and cybernetic upgrades to offset the effects of aging. Eventually, he learns that most of those effects were in his mind and not actual limitations. 

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Purchase Links:

Amazon – UK / US

Author Interview:

1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing?

I am a traditionally-published cyberpunk author who writes dystopian short stories and novels to bring awareness to social issues such as inequality, free speech, and global warming. I’m inspired by the greats, such as Neal Stephenson, Matthew Goodwin, and William Gibson, but I first became interested in writing after reading mostly 19th century literature, from Victorian poetry to American Transcendentalist works. I’ve woven some of that poetic prose into my sci-fi with mixed results, in the sense that some readers love abstraction while others prefer their science fiction to be more grounded, so now I write more straightforward. 

2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?

Inspiration strikes at any time, so I just flow with it whenever, wherever. Ultimately, the setting is in the mind, and when you immerse yourself in the process for eight hours straight there’s a certain state of flow that occurs, a break with reality whereby the world you’re creating is all that exists. That’s where the best creativity is generated.

3: Where do your ideas come from?

Despite being a sci-fi author, as a professional sociologist, I take ideas as much from social science as hard physics. They say write what you know, so I apply sociology such that my worlds feel real in their depiction of conflicts between competing factions in society. 

I’m particularly interested in the connection between governments and corporations and how citizens get stuck in the middle and are often taken advantage of by both sides. People often don’t know how to articulate what ails them, and that’s where writers can really make a difference in empowering the proletariat against oppression. 

4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?

I started books like Hemispheres, a book about light being currency and rotating a planet, without a plan in mind, and sometimes readers can feel the same disorientation while reading it as I felt while writing it. That can be a good thing, and something cyberpunk is known for, if your protagonist is also generally confused about their place in the world, but I have come to become more of a plotter over time to ground readers more in my work. Since I began plotting, reviews have been stronger. 

5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?

Cyberpunk, as a dystopian science fiction genre, combines everything I love the most: A fiercely individualistic culture full of free expression, a critique of the values we hold most dear in society, and a whole lotta wicked tech. With that said, I do feel individualism must be slightly tapered to not turn into selfishness, and what we find anthropologically is that cultures such as the U.S. and Australia are becoming so obsessed with the Ego that the greater compassion humanity is capable of expressing is often stifled. This is the sort of theme that can be explored in cyberpunk. 

6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?

No-name actors with no connections to the big movie houses. Like in the publishing industry, the movie industry is ruled by only a few corporations that put out mindless stuff that doesn’t make one question the status quo too hard. So let’s give indie actors a chance just like we do indie authors, who have far more to say usually.

7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?

I sometimes read fifty books a year. In fiction I tend towards Charles Dickens, Haruki Murakami, and postmodernists, in addition to cyberpunk authors such as Jim Keen and Tanweer Dar. 

8: What book/s are you reading at present?

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang, a retelling of the story of Joan of Arc set in far-future space with a dose of Sanderson’s Mistborn. 

9: What is your favourite book and why?

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. It combines virtual reality sword fighting with Sumerian mythology and neurolinguistics, a synergy unlike any other! 

10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?

Join a group, because no matter how good you are, you cannot be better than the collective minds of two dozen people. You’ll need them for support along the way, in addition to marketing.

11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?

I am currently boycotting social media due to the threat that personal data collection poses to the human population, which is delineated in basically all cyberpunk and dystopian literature.

Thanks for having me! 

About the Author:

Mark has spent his life as a sociologist, studying conflict on all levels of society. He wrote Hemispheres to sooth our ideological divisiveness, exposing each side’s strengths and weaknesses, and understanding our underlying values are more similar than we think, regardless of how we look, act, or vote. An avid reader of science fiction, he takes both its warnings, and opportunities for change, to heart. His previous works have appeared in Exoplanet Magazine and Unrealpolitik. He resides in Florida with his wife and four children.

Author Interview: ‘Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger’ by KC Grifant

About the Book:

In an Old West overrun by monsters, a stoic gunslinger must embark on a dangerous quest to save her friends and stop a supernatural war.

Sharpshooter Melinda West, 29, has encountered more than her share of supernatural creatures after a monster infection killed her mother. Now, Melinda and her charismatic partner, Lance, offer their exterminating services to desperate towns, fighting everything from giant flying scorpions to psychic bugs. But when they accidentally release a demon, they must track a dangerous outlaw across treacherous lands and battle a menagerie of creatures—all before an army of soul-devouring monsters descend on Earth.

Supernatural meets Bonnie and Clyde in a re-imagined Old West full of diverse characters, desolate landscapes, and fast-paced adventure.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon – UK / US

Author Interview:

1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing?

Pretty much as soon as I learned to write, I started creating speculative stories: adventure, fantasy science-fiction and horror. I wrote my very first story in third or fourth grade (about a girl who shrunk down to pilot a paper airplane). Other stories in middle school and high school featured aliens, rogue clones and far-off worlds. I also wrote a lot of fan fiction focused on characters from X-Men, Frankenstein, X-Files and Star Wars.

I have always loved stories with interesting and well-done twist endings, such as in The Twilight Zone and Tales from the Crypt, so tried to emulate those early on while developing my writing skills.

Today, I write horror, science fiction and fantasy stories. This includes my debut supernatural western novel, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger (Brigids Gate Press), as well as many short stories that have been internationally published in podcasts and magazines. These publications include Andromeda Spaceways Magazine, Unnerving Magazine, Cosmic Horror Monthly, Dark Matter Magazine, the British SF Association’s Fission Magazine, Tales to Terrify, Sley House Presents, the Lovecraft eZine, and others. 

I also have short stories in dozens of anthologies, including: Chromophobia; Musings of the Muse; Dancing in the Shadows – A Tribute to Anne Rice; Field Notes from a Nightmare; The One That Got Away; Six Guns Straight From Hell; Shadowy Natures; Beyond the Infinite – Tales from the Outer Reaches; and the Stoker-nominated Fright Mare: Women Write Horror.

2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?

With full-time work and two small kids, my preferred quiet writing time is in the evening once everyone is in bed, and I have some time to myself. I also enjoy writing in the backyard or in an outdoor coffee shop (we have plenty of these here in San Diego). But I can’t be too particular given my limited time and hectic schedule; sometimes I get a good amount of writing done on my phone while on a lunch break or commuting.

3: Where do your ideas come from?

Like most writers, I have ideas spark from a multitude of places. I’ve written stories based on vivid dreams; moments in real life (e.g., observing an interesting mannerism in public or overhearing an odd exchange); and when introspecting or daydreaming. 

4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?

I usually know the ending and have a rough plan of the major disasters in the story but have to meander quite a bit and see where the characters go for the rest of it. So it’s sort of like being carried along by a stream, but while trying to steer best I can. Sometimes I wish I could be more systematic about writing and plot out each scene beforehand, but whenever I’ve tried that tactic, it has stifled my creativity. 

5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?

I’m a multi-genre writer: I write fantasy, science fiction and horror, and often combine them (e.g., sci-fi horror or horror westerns). All my stories have a fantastical element to them, so I think of them all as under a single “speculative fiction” umbrella.

My debut novel Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger—as well as many of my short stories—takes place in the “weird west,” which is a combination of the historical Old West genre fused with other genres, such as horror or fantasy. The weird west mash-up is intriguing and fun, as it allows for creative imaginings and the chance to subvert archetypes in the Old West genre (e.g., the lone gunslinger).

6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?

Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger centers around stoic sharpshooter Melinda West, who, with her charming boyfriend, Lance, exterminate monsters for desperate towns in the Old West. An actor who can evoke the stoic toughness of Lucy Lawless in Xena or stubborn resolution of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen would be perfect for Melinda. For rugged charmer Lance, a late 20s actor who is reminiscent of Keanu Reeves or Ryan Gosling and comfortable on horses would be ideal.

7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?

My book list is huge. My favorite authors growing up included Margaret Atwood, Anne Rice, William Gibson, Octavia Butler, L.J. Smith, and Philip K. Dick for their distinct language and deeply immersive world-building. 

However, I try not to read too much of a single author; there’s too many new authors and debut books out there I’d rather sample. It seems like a golden age of indie books, and the horror writing community in particular has lots of gems that I’m trying to catch up on. Indie publishers putting out fresh and interesting books include Brigids Gate Press, Cemetery Dance, Apex Publications, Death’s Head Press, Cemetery Gates Media, Dark Moon Books, and many, many more.

8: What book/s are you reading at present?

I’m usually in the middle of a dozen or so books. At the top of my pile today are mostly historical genre fiction: C.W. Blackwell’s Song of the Red Squire, The Legend of Charlie Fish by Josh Rountree, Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste, and Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. 

9: What is your favourite book and why?

That’s an impossible question for a writer! I can tell you my favorite books recently have been The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones and Dead Souls by Lincoln J. Fenn (both are transfixing tales of horror), as well as the The Queens of Renthia series by Sarah Beth Durst (epic fairy fantasy). If I had to pick a favorite series though, I really loved the pacing, emotional impact, and commentary in The Hunger Games. 

10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?

One piece of writing advice I recommend is to find a writing community that fits your genre. Getting involved with a motivated group who understands and writes in your niche is invaluable. Once I connected with a horror writing group (the Horror Writers Association), I found a lot of writing friends and associates. Meeting and supporting writers in your genre can help you to understand the particulars of the craft and business better, as well as provide opportunities to network. 

Another strategy I recommend is to recognize and find ways to ignore imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is a huge timewaster and can deter writers from our most creative works. One way to keep it at bay is to remember that even the most established authors have imposter syndrome, no matter how successful they are. In order to succeed in your writing, you must find ways to ignore that nagging voice of doubt and stay focused.

11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?

Readers can find me on all the major social networks at @kcgrifant. They can also visit my website (www.KCGrifant.com) or sign up for my newsletter for updates (http://eepurl.com/hmZGVb).

Links:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kcgrifant

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcgrifant

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kcgrifant

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kcgrifant 

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/8288519.K_C_Grifant

Amazon: www.amazon.com/stores/KC-Grifant/author/B01B3O66AY

About the Author:

KC Grifant is a New England-to-SoCal transplant who writes internationally published horror, fantasy, science fiction and weird western stories for collectible card games, podcasts, anthologies and magazines. Her writings have appeared in Andromeda Spaceways Magazine, Aurealis Magazine, Unnerving Magazine, Frozen Wavelets, Tales to Terrify, The Macabre Museum and Colp Magazine. Her short stories have haunted dozens of collections, including We Shall Be Monsters, Beyond the Infinite: Tales from the Outer Reaches, Shadowy Natures, Six Guns Straight From Hell, and the Stoker-nominated Fright Mare: Women Write Horror. 

In addition, she is the co-founder of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) San Diego chapter, an organization that helps to connect writers and fans of horror literature.