Dane’s been here before, but he’s got new stuff to talk about and an awesome new book out. Unfortunately, no talking robots this time.

You used to give me a hard time about self publishing, and now you seem to have embraced it – what changed?

Honestly, the business model changed. It used to be disastrous; now it’s really awesome. I knew, once I heard about publishing for free online to ebook readers, I knew the race would be on. I won’t claim to have the same insights as Joe Konrath, but I knew self-publishing had become something reasonable. It stopped being a money-pit where writers desperate to get their work to readers would be taken advantage of and bilked out of a lot of money.

Being able to allow anyone to publish, without penalty of cost, is a great business model. And readers finally have real choice, real options. Nothing else has changed — only my mindset. I gave up a long time ago on the notion that making it through the gatekeepers meant being a better writer somehow. It doesn’t. It just means being a luckier writer. I don’t think someone’s opinion should stand in the way of someone else’s dream. Those who felt the opinionated ones validated their ability somehow I pity the most.

Writers can write and reach their audiences directly, without anyone making a free buck from their labors and “screening them out” of publishing. Maybe some who are publishing now won’t be up to public standards in terms of skill, but the readers themselves vet those things out.

Now, rather than sitting around for years hoping and praying, and instead of having to cough up hundreds of dollars and having to buy their own copies as a minimum order, writers can write the way they believe their audiences like their work to be, and publish it, and see it for sale within days or hours, not years.

I like that.

What is your very favorite book about writing and why?

Tough choice! If I had to pick just one, I’d have to go with good ol’ Strunk & White’s “Elements of Style“. I believe it is still the definitive guide to writing good, solid, vigorous prose. It’s a small, non-threatening book which delivers rules in punchy, one-sentence capsules you can embrace as a writer. Find the nuggets particular to your quirks and style and hold on to them, work them into your prose, and before long you’re a stronger writer. It worked for me, it will work for most who give it a chance.

I also loved James Scott Bell’s book called “Plot and Structure“, but if I can only pick one, I have to stay with S&W (not Smith & Wesson, though they’re a good choice too).

How did your affair with Scrivener start?

Well, it’s funny. A few months ago my wife and I were surfing around, and I found several writer-specific software programs which could accommodate my “new story structure method” (which isn’t “new” at all, but that’s another story). My method, of course, was the Larry Brooks adaptation of the Three-Part Story Structure. He changed it to FOUR parts, which makes it a LOT easier to digest and manage, and then there are five milestones to which the writer moves the story. I wanted software which could manage Acts, Chapters and Scenes.

Well, when I heard about Scrivener (long before this), I was instantly jealous because the feature set sounded great, but it was Mac-only at the time. About a year after that, I heard they were producing a Windows version. When they released free trials for beta, I tried it. I didn’t know what I was doing, and figured the software wasn’t what I wanted. Like yWriter, it was just too complicated for me. So I shelved it for a long time.

So, here we are, shopping for writing software again. My wife gives me the go-ahead to buy several, try them all, settle on one and have done with it for once and for all. So I downloaded the three and found myself instantly drawn to them because they could indeed be broken into Acts, Chapters and Scenes, just like I wanted. I could structure the outline in a sidebar to meet my Four-Part structure, insert placeholders for the milestones, and start pecking.

I wrote my latest WIP using one called Power Writer, and I really enjoyed it. I loved managing my outline directly in the document. When it came time to revise, though, I found myself exporting to Word so I could work through the document. (Word 2010, by the way, is a very nice piece of software and it’s outlining capabilities are fantastic.) I did all the edits in Word, then I had to jump through all the hoops to turn my Word document into an HTML file which could then be fed to MobiPocket Creator and THEN uploaded to Amazon. Whew! Lots of work!

Well, for my next book I was torn between which two packages to use. I chose Scrivener because no matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t get “into” the other package. So I took a look at Scrivener’s documentation. I saw a few books on Amazon written about it. I then found out — because I didn’t explore their web site well at all — they had _video tutorials_! Well! Being a visual learner, this was the pot o’ gold for me!

I watched the videos and the more I learned, the more I liked it. Last week, I took my short story “Lucky Caller 7″ from the collection “A Fine Cast of Characters” and imported it to Scrivener. I compiled it as a .mobi file directly from Scrivener, without having to go through Word or MobiPocket Creator. It uploaded beautifully to Kindle Digital Publishing, and the next day was for sale. It formatted fine, and what I didn’t like about the formatting I’ve since learned how to change. It’s brilliant. Complete control, and in the end, I’m a control freak where my fiction’s concerned.

So, it’s a long story, but that’s how my affair with Scrivener began. I see us being happy long into the future this way.

Tell a bit about your new book Scales of Justice.

It’s about a guy who lost his family to a dragon attack. In his world, they’re common. He became a dragon hunter to find and kill that dragon. But he’s been riding the canyon where he first encountered it for 20 years and hasn’t seen it. Then he comes to a little town at the far side of the canyon, where he’s not been before, and he meets someone who’s also lost his family to the very same dragon. He reluctantly partners with the old man, and together they set off to find and kill that dragon. But there’s a lot they don’t know about each other or their adversary, and finding out the hard way could cost them their lives.

Scales of Justice is set in a world very like ours, but not. I wanted to be deliberately ambiguous about the when and where, but drop hints about those things along the way. I hope it worked! I also wanted plenty of action, so this one moves a little faster than I expected. I also tried new stuff with characterization, so hopefully that went well too.

It seems to be a bit of a departure from your previous horror work. How did it come about?

A couple of years ago, I got into cowboys. BIG time. I watched “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” “The Outlaw Josey Wales,” “High Plains Drifter,” “Tombstone,” “Wyatt Earp” (which stunk, btw), and “Silverado” (also bad). I watched “3:10 to Yuma” (the remake), I watched “Unforgiven” again (love that one), and basically anything western I could get my hands — erm, eyes — on. I even tried reading a Louis L’Amour.

While I was in this mode, I got this weird idea — what if cowboys had been faced with dragons? What if dragons were wild in the old west? How cool would that be?

I wrote a short story, a vignette actually. Just one. And I loved it.

Then, I got this vision in my brain about a guy standing at an old hard-pack dirt road while his wife and kids get on a carriage. They ride off into the sunset. And against that backdrop, the black shadow of a dragon swoops out of the sky to spew fire on the carriage. I wrote that, too, mostly as a character study, but just to see how it went.

It was only a vignette too, but I ended up turning it into a short story. And I loved it.

Those two vignettes, less than 5,000 words together, became “Scales of Justice.”

What’s next for you?

Well, I have one book mostly outlined and another two are on deck. The next one and one of the two in planning are definitely horror. But the third one is sort of a paranormal-fantasy thing. I think the manuscript I wrote back in 2007 — the one through which you and I met, actually — is going to get an overhaul before too long, too. It’s got good bones, but needs a little touch-up here and there, like an aging beauty. Me, for instance. But that and its sequel are fairly complete stories. I need to outline them, add some Dramatica touches, and then start pounding the keyboard.

To learn more about Dane, check him out on:

• his blog J. Dane Tyler
• his twitter @darcknyt

Look forward to an interview with him here on StoryHack tomorrow.

Also, we got together and decided to do a fiction swap or two. I’m writing a short to go on his blog and he’s written one that’s going to appear here. This time, he chose the theme. So look forward for that later this week.

Today we have SBR Martin, who is not a pig, but did write the book. You’ll see what I mean in a minute.

What are three things about yourself that everybody should know?

My email signature reads:

sbr martin

author, journalist, and mother

So I guess these are the three things everybody should know about me. I am an author. I am a journalist. I am a mother. I’m a lot of other things, too, but let’s not get into all that right now. I list these three things in my signature because they are my callings. They are the three things I was meant to be, the three things I am.

What is one thing that almost nobody knows?

Well, I’m a married lady. Everybody knows that. What a lot of people don’t know is that it was I who popped the question.

I proposed to my husband when we were partying like rockstars at Thunder in the Valley, an annual biker rally held in Johnstown, PA. I don’t know many married couples who started out this way, where the lady got down on her knees. I thought it was an interesting occurrence, a twist on the common approach. So I tossed this fact into my fiction.

In “pig,” the main female character proposes to her man, much like I proposed to mine. But the circumstances surrounding their storybook engagement are entirely different than those surrounding mine.

Incorporating a real life event into my work is something I do from time to time. Where fact is stranger than fiction, I use it to my advantage. I take a tiny bit or reality and spin it into an elaborate, exaggerated, fictitious yarn.

What’s the best part about living in Pittsburgh?

My home. Believe it or not, I’ve lived in the same house since I was born. When I went to the University of Pittsburgh for undergrad, I stayed in the dorms for a while, shacked up with a fellow for a year or so, but those places were just rest-stops on my life’s road, a road which always led back to where I’m sitting right now.

Once upon a time, I was the little kid running around this house, breaking all the rules, tearing everything apart. Now I’m the parent here, the one trying to exercise control—raising my voice, making the rules, and cleaning up all the messes. At times, it’s somewhat surreal.

My father had a heart attack in this house—the heart attack that killed him. My mother’s heart failed here as well, when she fell on the basement floor, attacked by sickness inside her body. Congestive heart failure. Our Chihuahua crawled to sit atop her distended belly as we bustled to call the paramedics. Several hours later my Mama was dead.

It was in this home that I took care of my grandmother as she was dying, and it was in this home that I woke up at 4:15 a.m. on a June morning to find her dead. She’d died that exact moment, the moment I woke up.

But it was also in this home that I had oodles of birthday parties and found excessive amounts of presents under the Christmas tree. My mother left me notes and poems on the bathroom mirror, one of which I included in my first novel, “in wake of water.” My father sang me lullabies. My sister and I played on the front porch. And, here, right here, is where I brought my newborn babies home as an adult. I walked through the door with my children the exact same way my parents must’ve walked through the door with me.

This house is alive with what life is. It’s seen loss. It’s seen gain. It has become an accessory to my existence, a brick box that stores all of my memories and holds a future yet untold.

As per Pittsburgh itself, it’s a great city, and it’s all I know. I live close to the heart of the ‘Burgh—20 minutes from this, that, and the other place. I know the streets, the neighborhoods, and the personalities they hold. Living here is familiar and convenient for me. And, hey, we got a stellar football team. Go Steelers!

Do you have any strange writing practices or quirks?

Indeed, I do. I read most of what I write… out loud. I like my writing to have a certain rhythm or meter to it; it has to sound a certain way when recited or I won’t use it.

I’ve been told before that I speak this way, that there’s some type of tempo to my talk. And I try to put that into my work. I imagine myself as the narrator. I am the one telling you the secrets, the one letting you know what’s really going on. My voice reveals what’s between the lines.

Grammar and punctuation are the tools I use to bring my talk to my text. Those commas? That’s where I pause. Those complex sentence structures? That’s where I shift the speed of my conversational machine. I break some conventional rules of syntax here and there—and it’s all for the sake of semantics, my friend. I want my books to be lively and have a spirit that cannot be overlooked. So I try to put as much of myself into each book as I can, in hopes that my readers will read more than mere words.

And, for the record, I just read my response to this question aloud. I think it sounded pretty good.

What are a couple of your favorite novels? (Doesn’t have to be the top two per se)

My favorite book of all time (so far) is “Grendel” by John Gardner. I love the story, but love the writing even more. Another favorite is “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire. The story is so intense. The plot is so thick. I really enjoyed every aspect of that novel.

These two books, my two favorites, share a common theme. They both reinvent antagonists from other works. “Grendel” is written from the perspective of the beast in the 8th century epic poem, “Beowulf.” And “Wicked” centers on Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West in “The Wizard of Oz.” Both works look at characters who were dismissed as “bad guys” in the original works in which they appeared. They were characters who didn’t get a lot of attention in the first place—all that was shown was the trouble they caused. But each of these books steps into an already-established literary world and takes a closer look. As you read these masterpieces, you discover that these “bad guys” aren’t really all that bad after all. They have redeeming qualities, extenuating circumstances, and struggles of their own. You get a full picture, a well-rounded perspective.

This is something that I have carried into my own writing. There are some flawed characters in my tomes. But, just as they are flawed, so too they are gifted with some good. I try to make my characters as believable and sincere as possible. To do so, I must tell the whole story. Humans have peaks and pits in their personalities and behaviors. We are heroes and villains alike. I want my readers to see both of these sides in my characters, to feel compassion for the antagonist once in a while, or to feel disgust at the protagonist when she steps out of line. My books don’t have “good guys” and “bad guys.” They have characters that will strike you as surprisingly real.

I see on your many pages around the net that you went to law school. Were you ever a lawyer?

Nope. I realized, at some point in my second year of law school, that I did not want to practice law. But I finished school, mostly to finish something I’d started.

I had the degree, but nothing to do with it. Then life stepped in. My Gramma was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, and I spent my time caring for her. After that horrific ordeal, I found a man, got married, and had two precious babies who’ve brought me tremendous joy.

I learned a lot from law school about reading and writing, and it was my experiences as an editor and contributor to Pitt Law’s Journal of Law and Commerce that got me hired for freelance writing gigs. I soon developed a fat portfolio of articles with media outlets such as AOL’s Patch Network and CBS Local Media Pittsburgh.

So I ain’t a lawyer, but the law school thing helped me get where I am. I’m grateful for the time I spent there, not so much for the money though.

Tell everybody a bit about your book, Pig.

“Pig” is a cross-genre novel of contemporary psychological fiction. It’s the story of a woman named Lily who’s lived a life filled with ups and downs. From domestic abuse and alcohol addiction to motherhood and amazing sexual encounters, she’s seen it all and bore both misery and redemption each in her own special way.

The entire novel takes place at her husband Bender’s funeral, where she sits alone on a couch in the corner, desperately clinging to a scrap of paper she refuses to reveal. It’s that same scrap of paper that holds the truth about what really happened the night her husband suffered his fatal “accident.” And it is through flashbacks invoked by the familiar faces of funeral home patrons that the rest of Lily’s story and secrets unfold—including a very big secret that’ll make your jaw drop.

What should I have asked you about, if only I knew you well enough to ask?

You don’t have to know me well to ask about this. All you’d have to do is read through my answers to the previous questions to see that I’m partial to something that’s nowadays disfavored.

The serial comma—I love it! I’m a strong proponent of its perpetual use.

I employ the serial comma in my fiction, and in my multi-site online presence. I do not, however, use it in my journalism assignments. I’m not allowed to, as the Associated Press Stylebook condemns its usage except where why-so used for clarity in a complex series.

Kinda irks me a little, having to change something that I consider an integral part of my style so that I can conform to an official Style. But I gotta follow the rules sometimes to get that paycheck, right? I don’t think that’s selling out. It’s just making ends meet by doing what’s expected. Rest assured though, when I’m not under somebody else’s thumb, I stick that puppy in there every chance I get!

For more info about SBR, go check out:

“pig” by sbr martin

“in wake of water” by sbr martin

amazon | goodreads | facebook | facebook

Okay, so this is really an interview with Frank Hall, who runs Hydra Publications. I’ve had several of his authors on the blog recently, and he graciously agreed to spend a few minutes answering my questions.

I always start with the personal stuff. Tell me three things about yourself that you think everyone should know, and one thing that almost nobody knows.

Well lets see three things that everyone should know about me. First off i am a HUGE geek. Plain and simple. Another thing is my passion about books. I love them. My house is covered with books……and games….like i said geek. I am also a big animal lover. Hmm something that almost nobody knows. There was a time i thought about becoming a professional musician.

What is Hydra Publications?

Hydra is a small press that i started a few years ago as part of the bookstore that I own. It has quickly grown into a mind of its own. 

What is your role at Hydra?

Owner/Editor/marketer/press secretary/general contact/whipping post….you get the idea.

What type of reader likes the books Hydra publishes?

All types. When i first started out i was planning on doing Speculative fiction only. You know Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror. So naturally our first book came out and it was a Historical Romance. There is something for everyone in our titles.

What’s the hardest part of being a small publisher?

Dealing with expectations that people have that are just not realistic. One wanted their book to come out at a certain time and got offended when I told them that it was next to impossible to do that….2 weeks.

What’s the best part of being a small publisher?

I would say the best part is finding that new Gem that either someone else missed or has never seen. I love books so being able to see what people come up with before anyone else is a big perk to the job.

What could an author do to increase his or her chances of having a manuscript accepted at Hydra?

There are several things, the most important being write a good story. Then do the submission right. We have guidelines on the site for how to submit to us and it amazes me how many people do not follow them. I delete a lot of messages just because it was not submitted correctly.

What would definitely cause you to reject a manuscript?

As i said earlier submitting wrong is a biggie. If you cannot follow simple instructions off of a website then I do not want to work with you. Also if it is apparent that you didn’t even look over the manuscript when you finished it then that is a big one too. If I open it in Word and red lines start showing up everywhere then its a no. You have not taken the time to make sure your book is good and I won’t either.

What should I have asked you, if only I had known you well enough to ask?

You should of asked about the purple monkey!

www.HydraPublications.com

Tell me three things about yourself that you believe everybody should know and one thing that almost nobody knows.

Oh good ones! Let’s see, the three things everyone should know are:

I’m addicted to reading and haul books around with me everywhere I go. Sometimes more than I need, but hey better too many books than not the right one, right?

I’m a hopeless movie addict, I confess. I’ll watch almost anything that strikes my fancy at the moment.

Gardening! I blather a lot about plants on my blog. Hm.

The one thing almost no one knows, that takes some pondering. I’m allergic to bright colors. Okay, not in a real sense as in breaking out in hives or sneezing, but they do sear my eyes.

Your blog is titled “Gothic Living”. What does that mean?

Gothic Living is about living outside the box. It means gardening with intriguing twists – a Gothic cemetery, haunted orchard and ancient ruins. Decorating outside of the fabled ‘norm’ and creating fun recipes. It’s about celebrating the love of art, movies, writing and reading outside of the mainstream.

What is the process for writing a book with your husband? Do you talk about it and then type up parts of it separately? Do you sit at the computer together while writing?

A little of all of them, depending on what stage we’re at in the story. Usually I design the plots and most if not all of the characters, then Lain reads them over and we bat around ideas based off what I’ve concocted. When the writing begins I generally write the first draft and toss it to him, then he works his magic on it and hands it back to me. We play pass the manuscript for a while until we think it’s about right. During final edits, or particularly finicky scenes, we’ll work together at the same computer.

How do you resolve differences of opinion?

Usually by dropping it for a while, then returning to the manuscript with fresh eyes. Then each one of us makes our case and we decide which to use based off what is truer to the story and what the reader will enjoy more.

Do you find it easier or harder to write a screenplay or a novel? Or is it the same?

Screenplays are easier because of their nature. An average novel runs roughly 300-600 pages, depending on the genre, while the average screenplay runs 80-120 pages. Though a lot of the aspects of creating a novel and screenplay are the same, novels are far more work.

How did you get the “The Nano Effect” screenplay gig? Was that something you had already written and then just shopped around?

The director for “The Nano Effect” approached us. He had this lovely idea brewing in his head and the basics of the story set. However, the plot and characters just weren’t working and he realized that he needed writers. We took his basics and completely rebuilt the world, revamped the characters and created a new plot. It was a lot of fun and best of all it gave him a workable script.

What is your new novel Primal all about?

The clash of love and hatred, greed and malice! A mix of urban fantasy and romance, it revolves around Wrey and the werewolf Arvon as they attempt to outrun their enemies, and each other.

What’s your next big project?

Right now, we’re working on a romantic, swashbuckling fantasy on the high seas!

What one question should I have asked you, if only I knew you well enough to ask?

What’s for dinner? – blueberry pancakes yum! (I uhm.love food too)

For more about Raven:

• Website: www.RavenBower.com
• Blog: http://ravenbower.com/blog/
• Twitter: @ravenbower
• Primal on Amazon

Needless to say, I was pretty excited about the whole deal.

Anyway, this wasn’t really an interview so much as a chance for me to sit down and chat about writing with an experienced and successful author.

Here are a few things he said in our conversation which I found interesting. These aren’t direct quotes or anything, just the stuff I jotted in my notebook.

1. The traditional publishing world is basically controlled/directed by interns from NYU right now. They are the ones working for the “Big 6″ who make the first, and maybe second cuts of all submissions.
2. Keep your number of beta readers low. Perhaps two people. He said any more than that and you’ll start to lose your voice by trying to please too many differing opinions. As a corollary to this, he’s not a big fan of writing groups.
3. Write what you love, because at some point writing is going to feel an awful lot like work. If your heart isn’t in what you’re doing, you’ll never finish it.
4. Writing a lot is better for your skills than writing classes or craft books.

Anyway, it was a great opportunity for me and I’m grateful he would take the time to squeeze me into his schedule.

Today we’re meeting author/journalist/musician Tom Galvin. He’s from Ireland, so please read his responses with an Irish accent.

Tell me three things about yourself that you think everybody should know and one thing that almost nobody knows.

That’s a tough one  . . . but sticking to the writer theme: like most writers I’ve been rejected more times than I care to think about and only now understand why, appreciate why and can live with it; like most writers, self-doubt is a constant visitor;  bad reviews do hurt . . . for a day, that’s all the time I ever give them, the good ones are always at hand; at various stages, I’ve picked an age where if things haven’t worked out, I give up but that’s never going to happen because what else would I do? Anyway, I really think that unlike a lot of writers who wrote great stuff early, I realise now my best stuff is only on its way and it was worth the living to realise it!

You write for magazines and newspapers. How is writing fiction different from the journalistic writing?

Very different. And it really depends on what area of journalism you are in. Things have changed a lot these days with blogs, Twitter and other formats, even news apps. Most people just want their news to be delivered in the most succinct way possible and this is placing a lot of pressure on newspapers who traditionally had to fill pages of white space and there was always room for being a bit more elaborate.

My area used to be features, travel mostly, and documentary-style work and I always took my own photos having studied for the qualification that was designed for media. Sadly, all that kind of glamorous work has dried up, at least when it comes to newspapers and I found myself having to write about babies, housekeeping, mortgages . . . even travel features have become a bit boring. So unless you are working for a magazine that caters for a specific area of interest, being creative and writing Hunter S Thompson material is no longer an option. 

Nowadays, my work in journalism is basic news editing. There’s a strict format and style and no room for anything else. I miss doing the other stuff, but at least I get time to concentrate on my books.

How does your philosophy degree inform your writing, if at all?

It definitely does. I always describe doing my masters in Philosophy as the best worst mistake I made. It took too long and there was never going to be a job at the end of it. But I did it because I wanted to be a writer and an old lecturer of mine always maintained that English and Philosophy were the best combination, presumably meaning pairing good language with disciplined thought. It doesn’t suit everyone. The western philosophical tradition is very rigid, very rational. However, when it came to doing the masters I chose Albert Camus and existentialism (although he was not an existentialist as many believe) and his ideas helped me a lot.

Your website says that other than the writing, you also work as a musician. Could you elaborate on that?

I play in two bands at the moment, lead guitar, a Fender Telecaster with a VOX amp which combined is better than any drug going. I have always played music, learnt classical guitar and played acoustic guitar for a long time and when I lived in Poland I played with a blues band, on the blues harmonica actually most of the time (For more on that, there is a chapter devoted to it in my memoir on Poland called There’s an Egg in My Soup, shameless plug!). I also wrote a lot of songs and someday, hopefully, I’ll get them out there. I often regret giving up the dream of being a songwriter when in college, as I took the advice of many to be more practical. It was good advice, but I wish I’d given it a go rather than allow it to become a ‘serious hobby’.

Now, I play a lot and the music is blues/country blues/Americana-style material. I do it enough to enjoy it – too much and the fun goes out of it.

What was the best thing about living in Poland for a few years?

The freedom to roam, for one. Growing up in Ireland you are always conscious of being on an island in the Atlantic. I loved being on the continent with the ability to hop on a train and be in another country with another culture within hours.

I loved living among the Polish people. While I was lonely as hell at times, there was always the sense that you were never really ‘alone’. The Poles are fantastic in that regard and it is why I was able to stay so long.

I also became absorbed in the history and culture and wanted to learn more about it.

The other element of course was that it was a very interesting to have been there, just after the fall of communism. Very strange, at times almost surreal as an old way of life was being literally cleansed and a new one ushered in. You could sense the young people wanted to embrace it with vigour and the older generation felt they were standing still. There were so many things going on politically that it was amazing to be just there and to have been part of it.

Also, it was where I began writing as there was so much time on my hands. And it was where I got my first job as a writer, so a lot of things fell into my lap that wouldn’t have at home.

I wouldn’t go back to live there now. I visit regularly. But it’s a completely different place and I like to live with the memories I have. 

What is Gabriel’s Gate about?

The idea began in college as a utopian type of book. Friends and I who studied similar subjects would sit up drinking and talking instead of studying and came up with lots of alternatives views on society and all that. Of course there have been many utopian novels, but I and began writing it alongside a thesis on Rebellion. When I later went to live in Poland, many of the ideas I had about communism changed dramatically.

So I rewrote the book and tried self-publishing it in Warsaw. It was an exciting if pointless way to go about it and I realised that ultimately the book lacked a context and let it lie to work on other material. I saw the perfect window to revise the novel and press home the central themes – land, youth, man’s inhumanity to man and his blasé slaughter and disregard for the animal kingdom, greed – after the recession hit. There are positive points too though — friendship and good bonds between people, hope, determination etc.

The book is set in modern Ireland – or recession-era Ireland – and involves a group of college kids who decide, rather than be forced to emigrate or remain jobless, to take over a farm inherited by one of the group and to make a living from the land.

What they discover is no fairy-tale – they have to get their hands dirty in many ways, toiling and working the land every day and are forced to do things they never would have imagined doing like killing for meat – but they discover their pace and eventually peace settles on the group despite the hardships, until . . . well, the heart of the story kicks off once the ghosts return, as the farm is, unbeknown to all except the owner, sinking under bad debt and a history of betrayal. This book has been called the first in the ‘recession-lit’ novels, which is flattering, but it’s as much an old Irish fairy tale or a fable with the central themes just given a modern twist. It differs from a conventional novel and it’s also been criticised for that – but you do what you do and stick with it. I was very happy with the results and very, very happy with some of the better reviews that hit on what I was hoping to achieve.

What do you hope to accomplish as an author?

I think every writer shares the same dream – just to write, full-time, as a profession, and not have to do what I do, which is find the time to write. I plan to release two more novels and see what happens then. It is only recently that I now know the type of material I want to write and how I want to write it. Before, to be honest, I was a bit scattered, a bit impatient and my style was very ordinary. I got rejected and now I see why.

Are you currently working on any other fiction projects?

Yes, my next novel is called Everything is Foretold. It is set in Mexico and is loosely based on the (supposed) doomsday predicted by the Maya in December 2012. But I say loosely as I don’t want to restrict the plot line to a date like that. There is a much wider story and it’s a road book, about a group of friends who travel to Mexico to discover what happened to their pal who disappeared. I like it. So I hope others do when it comes out, hopefully, at the end of the year.

Learn More about Tom

• Website: http://www.tomgalvin.com/
• Twitter: @TomJGalvin
• Gabriel’s Gate on Amazon

He has several sample chapters from Gabriel’s Gate posted as a pdf on his site. Go check him out!

Tell me three things about yourself you think everyone should know and one thing that almost nobody knows.

Three things about myself everyone should know…

Well, I’m a nerd. Not a geek–that implies a level of cool that I don’t think I’ve got. (See? I just proved my point with that sentence right there.) I’m the kind of person that trips over couches, reads Suetonius in the bathtub and will try anything twice… as long as a computer or a D6 is involved.

I shouldn’t be allowed alone in a kitchen. Even my children supervise me when I wander near an oven despite the centrally-located fire extinguisher. I’ve set water on fire, made flaming peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and destroyed so many microwaves that I’m no longer allowed to own one. (Or perhaps that was after I thoughtfully looked at the last microwave and said with a dreamy air and my finger on my chin, “you know, that’s big enough to fit a turkey inside…”)

I love art. Nothing makes me happier than when someone gives me a piece of art that they made themselves. I dream of someday writing novels that inspire others to create in turn.

So far as one thing that almost nobody knows, I’d say that it would be the fact that I’m incredibly shy when it comes to talking to people face to face. I hide it well (in fact, my job consists at times of talking to audiences of hundreds) but inside, I’m shaking with fear every time I open my mouth until I realize that it’ll be fine after all. If you meet me and I’m acting awkward, it’s just that I’m being shy again. It wears off, generally quickly.

Your blog says you’re a museum curator. What kind of museum do you work in (when you’re not writing)?

I work in a history museum. History is my field and I was fortunate to obtain a position that both allows me to work in an area that I love while broadening my horizons in terms of examining art and artifacts. Much of my work is in the area of social history and looking at how events or places shape people but I do branch out on occasion. (I’m particularly fond of searching out weird events or interesting people to focus an exhibit or essay on.)

You have an MA in Military History. How does that affect your writing? Aren’t you supposed to then be writing military SF and not fantasy?

I have to be honest and tell you that I pursued my MA more for my work and academic interests than for the connection to writing fiction. Fiction is my first and truest love.

That said, the knowledge that I gained with my degree definitely influences the writing of the Artifacts series. My thesis was on medieval Byzantium and that empire’s intersections with Crusaders in 1204. I used that topic to strengthen and enrich the story of my second novel although I won’t be fully exploring war until book three. While I have studied and researched modern warfare, my interests in the medieval world are what compelled me towards fantasy. At some point I may venture into a little military SF but most of my research (little of it modern) is actually better suited to the epic fantasy environment.

Was The Universal Mirror the first book you ever wrote, or is there a stack of novels in a trunk somewhere that will never see the light of day?

Well, the first book that I ever wrote was written when I was fourteen. It was a story about a telepathic girl and her mother. I’m fairly certain that’s a trunk novel although I don’t know where the trunk is at this point. There are a number of other half-completed works piled around my house at the moment.

The Universal Mirror isn’t my first novel but it is significant among my forays into fantasy fiction. Until I completed my thesis, I actually spent most of my time writing horror and science fiction. It took months spent in the world of medieval Constantinople and Venice to have enough of a sense of where I could go with those types of settings to feel comfortable giving it a try.

Do you have any specific writing habits?

I normally write after my children go to bed which also means I tend to write after dark. This often spills over into times that they’re not home. I find it rather difficult to write during the day or in silence. Both things make me extremely fidgety.

Another habit that I have involves dealing with writer’s block. When I get stuck on a point, I walk away from the computer and write the scene longhand. For me, something about the feel of pen on paper and the physical motion of writing jars my brain loose enough to get my creativity kickstarted again.

You have another book coming out soon. Tell me about that.

The book that I have coming out this November is The Jealousy Glass, the next in the Artifacts of Empire series. It’s set a year after the events of The Universal Mirror and was written to be easily read as a standalone piece. It follows two of the characters from Mirror (Asahel and Felix) as they travel on a diplomatic mission to the Empire of Anjdur. Felix and Asahel go to negotiate a treaty but quickly find themselves tangled up in the intrigues of the court, the manipulations of the Anjduri Empress, and finally, a war.

What are three of your favorite novels?

This is a hard thing to choose. Off the top of my head, three speculative fiction novels that have influenced me profoundly would be Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, and Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card.

Who did the cover art for The Universal Mirror? Did you have any say about that?

Enggar Adirasa did the cover art for Mirror. I was the one who selected Enggar initially after many hours spent digging through the internet. It’s a real pleasure to work with him (he’s doing the cover for the sequel as well). One of the things that I enjoy so much about his work is that he captures the spirit of the fantasy novels that I read in my youth. The art is alive and full of color–the story leaps off the cover at you and I love that.

How has being published changed your life?

I look a bit more legitimate when I start talking about imaginary people.

Okay, maybe that’s not all that’s changed. I’ve met a lot of people, readers and writers, who have been a great support to me. There has also been wonderful feedback that has helped grow as an author that I feel I wouldn’t have received otherwise. The first book has gotten a fair amount of attention which is flattering. It just thrills me to hear from people who’ve read the book and have an investment in the characters or ideas. Those kinds of comments also influence and inspire me as I go on writing more stories set in this universe.

What should I have asked, if only I had known to?

“What is the secret of life, the universe, and everything?”

On second thought, I think we all already know the answer so there really wouldn’t be much point in asking. (For those who don’t know, it’s 42.)

More on Gwen and her book:

The Universal Mirror  Amazon, Amazon UK, Book Website

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gwendolynlperkins

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/helleder

G+: http://gplus.to/gwenperkins

The Munich all around her was bustling with activity. She could hear it from all directions. Munich was a wonderful city, a fun-loving place, the live and let live ebullience of the city emanating from its every nook and cranny. She had had a lovely stay here. All of it had been so adventurous, so new, so unlike life back home in Arizona. She could vividly recall the first time she had ventured into a Munich beer garden, where the liter mugs had been so huge that she had had to lift hers with both hands, and the giggles, from him, until he too had had to use both hands.

The fumbling noises he had been making came to an abrupt halt. He began stroking her cheek again. Gus looked so happy, so young, so full of life. It was so hard to imagine that he could be so heavily involved in all this horror.

Gus smiled at her once more. His eyes were soft, so gentle, so caring, so loving.

Maybe this was some kind of huge mistake. Maybe he wasn’t going to kill her after all. Maybe everything would turn out happily ever after. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

But then suddenly she saw it clearly. It was no fairy tale. There would be no maybe. This was real, as real as the mixture of sadness and fear that now flooded her brain.

And then she died, with her eyes wide open, challenging, piercing his to the end.

That’s from Michael Meyer’s latest thriller, Covert Dreams. Now let’s get to know him a little better.

Tell me three things about yourself that you think everybody should know and one thing that almost nobody knows.

Everybody should know that I am a romantic. My brother-in-law is always saying my plans for Valentine’s Day and my wife’s birthday, for instance, continually put pressure on him to do something similar. I believe in love and family.

Secondly, I am an avid world traveler. People keep telling me that I have been everywhere, which is not entirely true, but close.

Thirdly, I am very professional when it comes to my own writing. I am a retired English professor, and my writing is truly a very important part of me.

On the other hand, one thing that almost nobody knows about me is that I am not afraid to cry when crying is called for. I find it a healthy thing to do. I am not afraid to shed tears.

When you were teaching writing, did you teach fiction writing or more professional writing?

I taught mainly composition, all levels, from beginning to advanced, primarily freshman composition. However, I did also teach periodic creative writing courses. I taught at universities literally throughout the world, ending my career at a California community college, so the courses I taught were quite diverse from one institution to the next.

Do you have any special writing habits?

I am a morning person. I like to write just after my morning workout. I find my mind at high alert at this time. The workout gets the blood flowing to my brain, and bits and pieces of what I hope to put down on paper next begin floating through my brain. It is not unusual for me to run upstairs to my computer, even before breakfast, to dash out a scene that I do not want to lose.

Do you plan out your books first, or do you just sit down and start to write?

I have a broad plan of what I want to do, but then I let my characters take over from there. I am like a reader as I write, never quite knowing where things will lead. This makes the writing process enjoyable for me, rather than hard work.

What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?

I write for myself as much as I do for others. I like to lose myself in a good story. As a retired English professor, I strive to make my writing as tight and as exciting to read as possible, going through draft after draft. I hope that others will enjoy my work, but my writing is an avocation, not my vocation. I hope to thrill people with my novels of suspense, and I hope to make people laugh with my comical fiction.

What’s next for you?

I am currently close to finishing a collection of humorous vignettes about a pretentious Englishman and his young friend who simply can see no fault in his dear friend’s behavior. I am having a real hoot writing it. It is entitled THE SIR RODNEY VIGNETTES. After that, I have several options, but one thing is for certain: I plan to write until I die.

What else should I have asked you, if only I had known you well enough to ask?

How can you stand drinking such bitter beer? Well, India Pale Ale is my drink of choice. I love the bitter taste of hops. How anyone can turn his or her nose up while tasting such a flavorful beer is beyond me.

  More about Michael:

Covert Dreams: http://www.amazon.com/Covert-Dreams-ebook/dp/B005WO860K/ref=la_B005E7M8CW_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337985669&sr=1-2

Amazon Author’s Page: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Meyer/e/B005E7M8CW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Goodreads Author’s Site: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/674626.Mike_Meyer

Facebook Writers’s Page: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelMeyersWritingLife/app_191387770912394

Pinterest Author’s Site: http://pinterest.com/temmike/#

Tell me three things about yourself you think everyone should know and one thing that almost nobody knows.

Three things, eh? Well, for one, I love the outdoors (assuming the weather is warm, as I hate the chill). If I could, I would spend all day frolicking amongst Nature’s glorious bounty. Well, maybe not actually frolicking, but I would be doing several activities, including kayaking, biking, and mountain climbing. I can think of no better way to connect with oneself than through the elements, Nature’s gifts.

Secondly, I am probably the most random person I know. Seriously. I can go from talking about something as mundane as the weather (and truly, I don’t find the weather that mundane; it’s quite fascinating, really), to something completely different and unrelated, such as conspiracy theories, cyborgs, or Einstein’s theory of relativity. And Joan of Art is not such a bad topic either. Oh – and the universe: space travel, time continuums, that sort of thing. See? I told you I was random. Refrigerator.

Thirdly, I am an author – a ‘wordsmith’. Truly and absolutely. I have two poetry publications to note; a recent short story publication, titled, Perfect Nothing; and my recent fantasy novel release, Empyreal Fate, which is ‘Part One’ of my Llathalan Annal series. Yep. And there’s more on the way: fantasy, steampunk, poetry, and otherwise.

Goodness – now for something almost nobody knows? Well, I am highly nostalgic. And I mean highly. In fact, I have various newspapers and newspaper clippings of random events that have happened during my lifetime. And know where I keep them? Under my bed. But they’re nostalgic for me – just like the Nintendo 64 I keep in the other room. And my GameBoy Color with the ‘Pokemon Gold’ game still inside the slot in my top dresser, beneath the socks. And that art book from when I was ten… pressed between my novels on the bookshelf. Oh, my friends, the list goes on and on…

I see on your website that you go to the University of Oklahoma. That’s where Jim Butcher (Dresden Files) got his degree in writing. How come you’re not studying that? (The University of Oklahoma also publishes my very favorite writing book of all time – “Techniques of the Selling Writer” Just FYI)

Really? Jim Butcher went to OU? I actually did not know that. *Googles ‘Jim Butcher’* Well, what do you know! Here is an interview where Mr. Butcher says so himself: Interview. Hm. I learn something new every day. And I was not aware of “Techniques of the Selling Writer” until now either. Maybe I should interview you next, Bryce!

Anyway, to answer your question, I am not pursuing a degree in writing, for I do not think there is any single way to write or to write well. I’ve always loved my English classes throughout the school years, but I never liked the aspect where we’d be assigned an essay in which we had to write in a certain style, and if we did not adhere strictly to that style, the paper was ‘wrong’ and points were docked. No. Rigidity in writing was – and is not – my style. I let the Muse guide me as it will, and I write what feels… well, right. I write what the characters whisper in my ear. Besides, I like helping people too much – ergo my pursuit of a degree in psychology and in the medical field. The human brain truly fascinates me to no end. But I will always write on the side – oh, yes!

What are three of your favorite novels?

*grumbles* A cruel question indeed. Out of all the novels out there, and I have to chose only three? Hm. Well… I do quite enjoy The Dragonbone Chair, by Tad Williams; Pawn of Prophecy, by David Eddings; and Empress, by Karen Miller. But can I call these my favorites of all time? Perhaps. Perhaps not. It depends on my mood.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever gotten?

There are two, actually:

First, “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” – Anton Chekhov (Basically, show, don’t tell)

Secondly, write for YOURSELF. Don’t succumb to the nonsense that you must write for a particular audience or write about a subject that most people are fond of. Not. At. All. Write what YOU are passionate about. Only then will the readers sense that passion in your work. Otherwise, all you’ll find are cardboard cutouts of what you want to be. Don’t write cardboard!

What’s Empyreal Fate about?

Aha – my time to shine.

Empyreal Fate: Elves and men – on the brink of war. Love. Betrayal. Lies. Greed. An ancient evil. A dark past. Will true love conquer? Will Fate..?

Filled to the brim with forbidden love, an ancient evil, and a nation in disrepair, Empyreal Fate is a tale of riveting bravery and mortal corruption.
The land of Llathala lingers on the brink of war between men and elves, a dark history surrounding each race. Stirred by tensions of the land, a shadow of the past reemerges, taking precedence in reality and consuming the very soul of mans’ mortal weakness. Darrion, the son of a poor laborer, is ensnared in a hostile world, forced to choose between loyalty to his king or the counsel of the elves. Yet Fate has other plans in store, tying his course to Amarya, an elven royalblood of mysterious quality and unsurpassable beauty. But this forbidden connection incites betrayal from members of their own kin, marking them as traitors to the crown. In a land torn asunder, only Fate’s decree can allow such love to coexist with an ancient enmity.

Behold: A Llathalan Annal: Empyreal Fate – Part One.

So I have one question for you… Do you believe in Fate? *Second question*…. Do you dare?

What’s up next for you?

Part Two of my Llathalan Annal series, of course! *taps fingers together with glee* Actually, I have five books already written for the series. I just need to take the time to go through edits and rewrites – and major polishes.

But, in the meantime, I am working on my first steampunk piece: a Victorian-era, dystopian, sci-fi, fantastical, all-around mechanical type of novel. If you are interested in following my blog or social media sites, I will be posting periodic updates (I’ve included various links at the end of this interview).

How many books would you like there to be in the Llathalan Annal series? Or do you even have that planned out?

Well, as I mentioned above, I have five already written (counting Part One, Empyreal Fate). However, in the process of edits and such, I may very well add more or take some away. Who knows? The Muse is seldom consistent from day to day.

How has being published changed your life?

I have not only grown as an author and individual in general, but I have met such amazing people – readers, writers, and otherwise – who have introduced me to so much more in life and in the imagination than I could ever have dreamed was possible. My life is forever changed, for creativity thrives within. And the opportunities that have come to me are incredible. I am ever-thankful to Fate, to life… to friends and acquaintances… to family. And to the Muse, which guides the innermost spirit.

What should I have asked, if only I had known to?

Why, you should have asked about my plans for world domination! I would have refrained from telling you, of course, but you should have asked all the same. It’s only proper. At least… *glances both ways* …you did know I had plans, didn’t you?

But, in all seriousness, thank you for having me here today, Bryce. It’s been a blast; and if you or anybody else has any other questions about me, Empyreal Fate, or the randomness of life in general, please – don’t hesitate to get in touch. And – even if you’re not the talkative type, feel free to get in touch anyway. Because, you know, the 21st Century demands social media. And we’re all a part of it. Frightening, I know.

Learn more about Rachel

• Blog: http://www.rachel-m-hunter.blogspot.com
• Website: http://www.rachel-m-hunter.yolasite.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Hunter/170131499766376
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/young_author
• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Empyreal-Fate-Llathalan-Annal-ebook/dp/B007WWB24W/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5762735.Rachel_Hunter
• Hydra Publications: http://www.hydrapublications.com/empyreal-fate/

Today we have an interview with Hillary Peak, author of “Wings of Hope.”

Tell me a couple of things about yourself that you’d like everybody to know and one thing that almost nobody knows.

I love being a mommy!  I don’t think I’ve ever done anything as much fun.  My two year old wants to make cookies all the time, so my house is overflowing with cookies! 

I went to college and law school in Texas.  I miss it terribly.  I would really like to live near a college that had great football.  Every fall, I miss going to games.

When I was in high school, I made commercials for a drug treatment facility.  Not because I’d been in treatment, just as an actress.

So, in the commercial, did you play the part of an addict?

Yes, I did.

Did you do any other acting or theater back then?

Yes, I was in theatre from the time I was five until I graduated from high school  I even won some drama awards.  

Do you do any now?  

No,  I don’t have time anymore.

What is Wings of Hope about?

The letter said he was dying, that’s all Jules Weinstein knows when she leaves her life in San Francisco and moves to New York City to be with her father. She never dreamed he had liberated a concentration camp, dealt cards to Bugsy Siegel or saved the life of a Black Panther. Little does she know that by getting to know her father, she will find herself. While her father struggles with whether his life was meaningful, Jules discovers that her father’s last gift to her is the ability to reach for her dreams. Her journey teacher her that “the goodbye” is sometimes the most heartbreakingly beautiful part of life. Wings of Hope is a road trip through the memories of a man making peace with his life through conversations with his grown daughter. Hope is the last gift of a father to his daughter–the power to reach for her dreams.

Why did you write “Wings of Hope”? 

I wrote this book when I was pregnant.  My father had already passed away.  I wanted to be sure that I’d have his stories to share with my children.

What’s the hardest part about writing a book like yours?

For me, it was hard to write a fictional character on someone I love (in this case, my father) and keep it fictional.

Do you have any peculiar writing practices?

I do.  Sometimes I write different pieces all over the book, rather than from beginning to end.

What’s the very best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

Keep writing.  After being rejected over and over with my first novel, it was hard for me to start another one.  Now I realize that the only way to get better and get a writing career is to keep doing it everyday.

What’s next for you?

I’ve finished a legal thrilled called, Justice Scorned.  I’m giving another try to going the traditional route of an agent, editor, publisher.  I read an article that stated that you should try to get a book published for twice as long as it took you to write it.  So, I’m giving it a year.  Then, I’ll publish it myself if I haven’t gotten anything through the traditional route.

Where can folks learn more about you or your book?

Wings of Hope on Amazon

Wings of Hope on GoodReads

Hillary’s Facebook Fan Page

Here’s my promised interview with Kian Kaul, author of stockholm. You can also read an excerpt from stockholm.

Bryce:Tell me three things about yourself that everyone should know, and one thing about yourself that almost nobody knows.

Kian: The first thing everyone figures out about me is that self-describing is a struggle, it’s where I would always stumble in job interviews. Once, in my late teens, I literally froze after being asked something like this and had to just get up and leave. I’m better now, though, however don’t expect a prepared talking point.

Even more helpful is understanding my tone – I tend to make satirical jokes and observations that can be taken too seriously, if you’re the self-serious type. So be adamant about watching for micro-expressions my face and hands.

I’m also quite tall. I only bring this up because A) people love to talk about it B) no one ever expects it and tends to spend a lot of time talking about it C) is a dead-end conversation. Build a conversation around my fantastic hair, instead.

I spent several years as a “secret painter”, converting an area in my apartment into a makeshift studio. It wasn’t intended to be a secret, but referring to it that way makes it sound semi-scandalous and sexy and that’s what you need for an exclusive. I knew I was done living in quiet perspiration when I decided to throw all my paintings out to make room for a couch. I’m like that.

Bryce: I’m so glad you said something. I was afraid to bring it up. How do you keep your hair so fantastic?

Kian: Well, I say fantastic but in truth it only photographs well. It’s also impressive up to five or six feet away, but everything else about it is incredibly disappointing.

Bryce: Okay, so when you threw out the paintings, was it at least for a nice couch?

Kian: I really enjoyed the couch and was confused and a little taken aback when some people described it as something “you’d find in a doctor’s office”. Doctors are impressive, right? So…

Bryce: When you’re not writing, how do you prefer to spend your time?

Kian: Hunched over a desk is unfortunately where most people find themselves five days a week, with a modest break for lunch, but for writers it’s that much worse. I’ve gotten good at persuading myself to socialize, outmaneuvering most of my best arguments to stay in and immerse myself in YouTube. Lately, I’ve been exploring hidden and lesser-known areas around Los Angeles. Or at least lesser-known to me. It’s a massive city with secrets everywhere. It’s a wonder so few people have written stories set here.

Bryce: So what’s an example of a lesser-known place in LA you think everyone should visit?

Kian: Believe it or not, but downtown is probably the greatest area I’ve spent time in this city and yet it’s still less trafficked than the more obvious neighborhoods. Gallery Row is probably my favorite stretch and I suggest everyone spend an afternoon walking around, enjoying the slightly-imposing buildings, the unpredictable occurrences and odd characters, the surprisingly interesting restaurants and coffee shops and the incredibly friendly yet hip people. It’s by far the friendliest district in Los Angeles. Only a few blocks away is Little Tokyo and that’s certainly worth a look too.

Bryce: Where did the idea for Stockholm come from?

Kian: Stockholm has a checkered past unlike most other books – originally it was a sitcom pilot script, with a different name, which is still more or less the first “episode” of the story, the first 30 pages. Once I realized I couldn’t afford to produce it myself, it faded away quietly while I worked on other things, only to suddenly reemerge as the seed of a novel. I hesitated at first, but oddly enough it was the story structure of one of the “Grand Theft Auto” games that convinced me I could do it. What happened next, no one could have predicted.

Bryce: What is your writing process? Do you outline, or do you just sit down and start writing to see where it takes you?

Kian: That’s a great question and one that’s difficult to answer neatly in this case. The original sitcom version was outlined and rewritten many times, so I was able to develop the initial group of characters thinking they were the entire story. When I started the actual novel I had the two Word docs side by side for the first 30 pages, adapting the script. After that I was on my own and honestly I only wrote when I had ideas. I don’t believe in “writer’s block”, at least in my experience I either have ideas or I don’t. Sometimes it was a quick dialogue interchange, sometimes it was a vital story arc, but as you said, I just let it “happen”.

Bryce: What’s your favorite part of the whole process? First draft, editing, seeing it all come together?

Kian: When I’m experiencing the story, it no longer feels like writing or working. I’m a primarily visual thinker and when it was great, working on the book, it was like moving through my own film and watching it unfold, without knowing what would happen next. There was the thrill of discovery and the genuine emotion reaction that can only truly happen once. When it wasn’t good it was excruciating manual labor, only without the sense of accomplishment. Being inside the story as it unfolds, that’s the attraction for me.

Bryce: Where can people find you in the internet and buy your book?

Kian: Stockholm and myself are indivisible to begin with – we’re both in residence on stockholmbook.com – through there you can travel to Amazon to procure the book, you can follow me on Twitter and try to enjoy my topical humor, or you can just stay where you’re probably situated right now and look up Stockholm on Facebook. A Google search would probably yield even more surprising results…

Bryce: What’s next for you?

Kian: I’m working on a sort of adaptation of “Stockholm” – it’ll involve actors but it’s not a tv pilot or anything similar. I don’t know when this will get moving, but it’s a completely different take on the story and it’ll be very exciting to do. The pleasure really is in the doing.

Bryce: What should I have asked you, if only I knew you well enough to ask?

Kian: I’m curious why I tend to use humor to deflect personal questions about myself, but if you had asked me about this I likely wouldn’t have given you a satisfying answer. It’s like an ouroboros of interpersonal defense mechanisms. How’s that for a last line?

Earlier today I posted an excerpt from a Two and a Half Dead Men by Jason Krumbine. So we all know how he writes. Let’s get to know him a little bit…

Bryce: Start by telling about your latest series.

Jason: The Grym Brothers was something my wife actually came up with. We were looking for a concept that was a little more conventional then my usual work. Typically my books revolve around a single lead character and tends to skew more towards the everything in the kitchen sink of storytelling. We wanted to tone things down and focus more on one particular concept. In addition, the idea of brothers working together has always been something I’ve wanted to explore further(I’ve touched on the relationship between brothers in EXPLORERS OF THE UNKNOWN). The Grym Brothers gave me the opportunity to explore that relationship.

The Grym Brothers series is kind of a ghost story by way of the crime genre. The idea is that grim reapers are real and are kind of like bounty hunters, going after stray dead souls that aren’t quite ready to go to the afterlife. Sometimes this means the Grym Brothers have to chase down suns on the run. Other times, they have to help bring closure to lost souls.

TWO AND HALF DEAD MEN starts the series. THE DEAD COUPLE is book two and I’m hard at work at book three, HOW I MET YOUR DEAD MOTHER.

Bryce: What is your writing process? Do you work an outline, or are you a seat-of-your-pants kind of guy?

Jason: I used to be a by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of guy. Up until TWO AND A HALF DEAD MEN I just sat down with my notepad and pen(I used to also write all my first drafts by hand), took my idea and ran with it. Sometimes I would have the last page written, but beyond that I wrote the book as it came to me.

When I started TWO AND A HALF DEAD MEN my wife and I worked out a publishing plan that has me writing and publishing a book a month. To meet that deadline I had to start outlining my books beforehand.

On the upside, by outlining I don’t run into as many plot problems, such as getting to the end of the book and having no answer to who the bad guy was or how everything tied together(that happened twice, once with FRUITBASKET FROM HELL and then again with the sequel A IS FOR AMNESIA, B IS FOR BULLET. Nothing like forgetting to add the bad guy to the book. Awkward…). But nothing beats the exhilarating rush of just figuring out the book on the go. Outlining kind of makes it feel like a “real job” because it actually involves working beforehand. But I can’t argue with the results.

Bryce: Interesting. I always feel a little more creative when I’m using a pen and paper. So when I really get stuck, that’s usually how I un-stick myself. Once I’m back in the groove, I hit the keyboard where I can get words down faster.

One book a month? That’s crazy fast. How long of books are you aiming to write and how long does that mean you’re writing everyday?

Jason: Well, I’m aiming the books to be around 35,000 – 40,000 words. These aren’t mammoth, epic tales. I’m shooting for easily digestible nuggets of entertainment. With the Grym Brothers it’s a series of 5 or 6 books. So, while they’re shorter than your average novel, they’re building to a larger story arc that’s spread out over the six books. This way new readers can come into the series and not feel intimated by long books. I hate having to read three or four 400+ page plus books to get caught up for the newest volume.

My goal is to write 3,000 – 5,000 words a day. That would spread my workload out in a nice, even, comfortable manner. What actually happens is, I sit in front of my computer for three or four days typing about 500 words, freaking out that I’m never going to make my deadline, and then in my last week bang out 7,000 – 10,000 words a day. Apparently I work better under stress…

Bryce: 10,000 words a day is pretty intense. Do you still have a day job and just never sleep?

Jason: Yeah, it’s a little intense. I’m lucky enough that writing is my day job right now. But there were a few days when I was writing TWO AND A HALF DEAD MEN that I was up until three in the morning.

Bryce: Okay, so when you’re not staying up until three writing, how do you spend your time?

Jason: In what little spare time I have I read a lot. Books and comic books, mostly. I’m in the middle of the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde (great series). I also run a weekly podcast, One Stray Word. When we can, my wife and I love going to the movies.

Bryce: Okay, what else should I have asked you if only I knew you well enough to ask?

Jason: Well, that question probably would have been: “What are the two major goals you hope to achieve?”

And the answer is: To be happily married(Check. I’ve been married to a wonderful woman for the last four years.) and to write books full time(Mostly checked off for these last few months.)

Bryce: Sounds like you’ve got a good thing going. Good luck as you keep writing.

If you want to learn more about Jason, go check out his site: http://www.jasonkrumbine.com/

Kai: Kai isn’t my real name, but it’s how everyone’s known me since I was 25, and I’m not married yet, so Viola isn’t actually my last name – basically, I hide behind personas and writing lets me do that in spades. I’m a shade over 32, a Nanowrimo and Scriptfrenzy ML, role-player, photographer, poet and soon to be graduate at the University of Gloucester, UK. I don’t sleep much and love nothing more than constructing crime scenes in my head.

Bryce: You say you’re a role-player. What are your favorite games? What’s one that you would consider a classic?

Kai: Classic has to be things like Warhammer 40k and Space Hulk, dungeons and Dragons, but I’m equally at home in Rogue Trader as I am in Agone or Call of Cthulu. My favorite are the home brew ones we write ourselves – I love writing systems myself.

Bryce: Do you have systems that crossover with your fiction?

Kai: I’m designing two right now – one to go with Glass Block, that should be a working forensic RPG, and another one for another of my hard sci fi books called ‘Black Monday’. Both are basically 2 d10 systems with some mechanics that make them interesting.

I think the fun of being a writer is being in control of everything – and it feels natural to design games around my books – after all, who knows the universe better than me?

Bryce: What are a few of your favorite authors or books?

Kai: Neil Gaiman and Ian Rankin have been fairly influential on my works – as have Alistair Reynolds and David Foster Wallace. My flat out favorite book has to be Chasm City, by Alistair Reynolds and American Gods by Neil Gaiman though – you don’t just feel the world, you’re in it – and that’s something that I really find difficult to experience in some other books. Not that they aren’t as well written, but with Chasm City and American Gods, it’s not like watching the narration, you’re right beside the narrator.

Bryce: I remember being totally blown away with the whole concept and world Gaiman created in American Gods. It set my head reeling with story ideas for weeks. I guess good fiction does that.

What process do you use when you write? Do you outline everything, scratch down a bunch of ideas on note cards, do you just sit down and invent it all as you go, or do you do something else entirely?

KAI: I used to just sit down and write whatever was clearest and then just lace up the pieces in between – I found building the major plotline helped more than forcing myself to think it through.

But about three years ago, I was in an accident, and banged my head. Overnight I forgot about 95% of my work, and if I stumble across it now, it takes a while for me to realize I’ve written it. I sometimes hit the same ‘gotta write the big scene’ but mostly now I work to outlines and copious notes. It’s painfully slow compared to how I used to go, but I’m teaching myself to manage faster again.

My favorite method right now is a mix of Scrivener and a process called ’30 day drafts’ – by Karen Weisener (I think!).

Bryce: Tell me about Glass Block.

Kai: Glass Block was written in 2003 as my first Nanowrimo, and is the first novel in a series about Elliot D.J. Peters, a senior Detective in Soho district 1.

Elliot has, it seems, pissed off his chief, and has been given a job that no one wanted – consultant on a ‘big brother with blood’ game. A rigged game where one of the ten survival experts win, and the prisoners execute one another – it’s win-win. The TV people get their sensationalist footage, and the prison service get 10 of the worst of their prisoners, not ‘eligible for execution’ out of their hair.

What happens in the next 36 hours shatters everything that Elliot thought he knew about his world, and suddenly he’s running for his life in walls made of glass, and where freedom could contain the threat of worse, such as a nanite infection….

Bryce: Awesome. What are you going to be working on next?

Kai: Immediately after this? My dissertation – I finish up Uni on June 30th

After that, I’m not sure – I’ve got books 2 and three in the series that makes up Glass Block in the pipeline for edits, so I’ll get them lined up, and then I might switch to another series I’m writing.

I’ve got outlines for about 60 books, right now, though, so I’m not really starved for choice, and I’m really lucky, ideas just seem to hit me from all angles sometimes. Ideally, I’d like to stop working as a copywriter/coder (which is how I fund everything right now)and write fiction full time.

I’ve also got a couple of non fiction books in the works – a second edition of ‘Pictures in the Dark’ – which covers living and surviving with Bipolar disorder, and another project that touches on Forensic Lingusitics, which I love.

Bryce: Wow. You must be pretty busy. What are you studying at the university?

Kai: Creative Writing and Psychology – I’ve been studying since 2007, and I’m really looking forward to graduating. A fter that I’m saving up to do my Masters and PHD in Forensic Linguistics

Bryce: How exactly does one get interested in Forensic Linguistics?

Kai: Lol. Possibly by being a language geek?

I’m excited about it because language is as unique as fingerprints, and being able to track and monitor language may help in the detection and solving of crime. On a less ‘criminal’ level the ideas that forensic linguistics show and uncover are also useful to writers. For example, using the same language as a person you’re writing for would make a ghost writer more effective. Using the key reaction phrases in copy elicits a response, which again, is to do with the words you choose. Even something as simple as an interview and how we ask or answer questions lets people form an opinion about us and shows them language choices we may otherwise have not shown.

Like I said, geeky

Bryce: What else would you like to tell everybody?

Kai: Don’t give in – no matter what your dreams are. I’ve had a lot of challenges in my life, and it’s only made me more determined to follow my dreams. I was told I’d never be able to do much with my life – so I adapted and work from home as a copywriter. Mental or physical health shouldn’t hold us back – and if you’ve got a story to tell – tell it. Someone out there will want to ‘hear’ it.

Bryce: Excellent.

Where can folks learn more about you and your book?

Kai: Oh, I’m all over the place – chances are people already know one of my blogs

http://darknesspd.com is the main blog for Elliot’s series and the other stories in that universe (his two friends also have novels outlined – Jack Harper is a private detective, and Morrigan Roth deals with ‘sex crimes’ and crimes to do with clones). For now it’s focused on Elliot, but I’m running a project where all of the cases that either haven’t made it into the books, or aren’t part of the outlines are appearing on the blog every two days, so it’s a nice way to explore the universe and get to know Elliot before the book launches.

Other than that, I’m restructuring my blogs so they all feed into http://kaisbloggingnetwork.com – but I’m still working on it, and it’s constantly evolving.

Bryce: Thanks, Kai.

Note to everyone: Glass Block will be available on June 4th.