A.F. Stewart's Blog, page 56
September 10, 2016
Book Spotlight: Mark the Dwarf
Today, I have a book spotlight on the fantasy/sci-fi/ parody, Mark the Dwarf by Jack Harvey. Enjoy!
Mark the Dwarf by Jack Harvey
When Mark the dwarf goes bowling, he ends up on an enormous platform high up in the middle of nowhere. He has an encounter with some clowns from outer space, who propose a mission and a Faustian bargain for Mark for the purposes of an exchange of evil for good. With some misgivings, Mark accepts.
Mark the Dwarf is the odyssey of a dwarf through time, metamorphosis and space. After many adventures on and off the landscape of the everyday world, along with bizarre encounters with sly and dangerous aliens, Mark, refined and reborn in the crucible of his odyssey, returns to his place in the everyday world, stronger and looming larger in the terrain of his life.
Midgets and dwarfs! Clowns from outer space! Adventures with dangerous blondes! Plain and chocolate-covered writing! Linguistics, quantum physics, genetics, anthropology, animal husbandry! And there's more!
The book is directed towards those readers who have a passion for the written word and a tolerance for some more or less erudite clowning around with culture and language.
You can find Mark the Dwarf on:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Author Bio:
Regarding the author, this is his first novel. He has been writing poetry since he was sixteen (a lot of it now accessible on the internet) and lives in a small town near Albany, N.Y. He is retired from doing whatever he was doing before he retired. He once owned a cat that could whistle Sweet Adeline, use a knife and fork, and killed a postman.
Author's Amazon Page
Mark the Dwarf by Jack Harvey
When Mark the dwarf goes bowling, he ends up on an enormous platform high up in the middle of nowhere. He has an encounter with some clowns from outer space, who propose a mission and a Faustian bargain for Mark for the purposes of an exchange of evil for good. With some misgivings, Mark accepts.
Mark the Dwarf is the odyssey of a dwarf through time, metamorphosis and space. After many adventures on and off the landscape of the everyday world, along with bizarre encounters with sly and dangerous aliens, Mark, refined and reborn in the crucible of his odyssey, returns to his place in the everyday world, stronger and looming larger in the terrain of his life.
Midgets and dwarfs! Clowns from outer space! Adventures with dangerous blondes! Plain and chocolate-covered writing! Linguistics, quantum physics, genetics, anthropology, animal husbandry! And there's more!
The book is directed towards those readers who have a passion for the written word and a tolerance for some more or less erudite clowning around with culture and language.
You can find Mark the Dwarf on:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Author Bio:
Regarding the author, this is his first novel. He has been writing poetry since he was sixteen (a lot of it now accessible on the internet) and lives in a small town near Albany, N.Y. He is retired from doing whatever he was doing before he retired. He once owned a cat that could whistle Sweet Adeline, use a knife and fork, and killed a postman.
Author's Amazon Page
September 7, 2016
Blog Tour: Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter
Today, Are You Afraid of the Dark? joins the blog tour for the new release, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C. A. Verstraete. This is a special treat for me, as I have long held an interest in the Lizzie Borden story, and what could be better than paring it with zombies! I have a great interview with the author who talks about her book, plus a Rafflecopter contest to win an e-copy! Enjoy, my minions...
Interview with C. A. Verstraete
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I’m a journalist, freelance writer, author, miniaturist and dog lover. Did I leave anything out?
Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter releases Sept. 13 in print and for Kindle. It answers the question that everyone asks, did she or didn’t she? My answer? What if Lizzie did it… because she had no other choice?
About the book:
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Why did you decide to write in the zombie/horror genre?
I’ve always been a fan of Stephen King and enjoy a good scare, so I guess it’s natural I began writing what I like to read. And once I started watching The Walking Dead, I was hooked. I found it was yes, fun, to write about zombies.
Why did you write this book? What was your inspiration?
I’ve enjoyed reading more historical fiction, but when it comes to writing, I like mixing it up with horror so adding zombies in became a perfect way to do both. Once I looked at the Lizzie Borden autopsy photos, I realized I’d found the perfect fictional explanation to the crime. I’m surprised no one else took that approach.
What did you enjoy most about writing your book?
It might sound strange, but I enjoyed writing the zombie fighting scenes. Some may seem a bit humorous even in a sordid way. I can’t help it. Besides, there are only so many ways you can have people fighting so you have to have some fun with it.
What did you find most challenging about writing your book?
Matching the real dates of Lizzie Borden’s trial and the fictional outline I had for my story. I had to fit things in but move the story along. I had to speed the story up given the trial wasn’t held until June, 1893 following Lizzie’s arrest in August, 1892. Even then, the wheels of justice moved slowly. Plus, I had certain fictional elements to fit in between the trial and her release. Yeah, complicated. Ha!
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
It might be destiny. I have a favorite baby photo of myself showing me with a newspaper and a pencil behind my ear. I ended up being a newspaper reporter. I always thought that was interesting. But I was a big reader as a kid and always found words fascinating.
How do you research your books?
Lots of reading and note-taking. The fun is finding things you never knew or something that you think can be fit into the story idea you have.
What advice would you give beginning writers?
Never give up. Writing can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging and offer some heartbreak, too. No matter what anyone says, rejections can hurt. You have to keep going, keep trying and keep believing in your project. There will be others who see the same value in your story as you do.
What do you like to do when you're not writing? Any hobbies?
It’s a contrast, I admit. I kill zombies in fiction and create/decorate dollhouses when I’m not. But it’s another creative outlet which I love doing. I have some photos of my work on my website, http://cverstraete.com.
Are you working on another book?
I am outlining a sequel to Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter. There are questions that still need to be answered and I’m not quite ready to give up on Lizzie yet. I’ve come to like her a lot.
Follow the blog tour and be sure to get your copy of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter in print and Kindle Sept. 13!
BUY:http://getbook.at/LizzieBordenZombieHunter
Add it on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31553183-lizzie-borden-zombie-hunter
And please, review it on Goodreads and Amazon.
You can find C. A. Verstraete at these sites:
Website: http://cverstraete.comBlog: http://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com
Yes, there is a contest to win 1 of 10 Kindle copies (ends 9/14.). Entrants MUST enter an email as a blog comment or on the rafflecopter to be sent a gift copy if they win. Sorry, no time to hunt you down. No email, no chance to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Think you know Lizzie Borden? Read on!
The blog tour schedule is:
Mon. Sept 5 - GirlZombieAuthors– Introduction – A Little About Lizzie
Tues. Sept. 6 - Jaime Johnesee blog – 12 Questions for Lizzie Borden
Weds. Sept. 7 - Jean Rabe's blog – Lizzie Borden… Dog Lover?
Thurs. Sept. 8 - AF Stewart blog interview
Fri. Sept. 9 - Haunt Jaunts blog – More Lizzie
Sat. Sept. 10 – Stephen D. Sullivan blog - Lizzie Films
Sun. Sept. 11 - GirlZombieAuthors recap
Camille Minichino blog - Why oh why zombies?
Mon. Sept. 12 - Horror Maiden's Book Reviews
Tues. Sept. 13 - RELEASE DAY!!!
Zombies and Toys Review!
Join the FB Release Party - prizes, guest authors, zombie fun!! (See info posted on my Facebook page and website.)
Weds. Sept. 14 - Lizzie as a Zombie Hunter - Chapter Break Book Blog
This isn't the end! Get your copy. Share a review. And come back to the GirlZombieAuthors blog or the author website for info on another blog tour starting Sept. 26 with Bewitching Book Tours.
Interview with C. A. Verstraete
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I’m a journalist, freelance writer, author, miniaturist and dog lover. Did I leave anything out?
Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter releases Sept. 13 in print and for Kindle. It answers the question that everyone asks, did she or didn’t she? My answer? What if Lizzie did it… because she had no other choice?
About the book:
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Why did you decide to write in the zombie/horror genre?
I’ve always been a fan of Stephen King and enjoy a good scare, so I guess it’s natural I began writing what I like to read. And once I started watching The Walking Dead, I was hooked. I found it was yes, fun, to write about zombies.
Why did you write this book? What was your inspiration?
I’ve enjoyed reading more historical fiction, but when it comes to writing, I like mixing it up with horror so adding zombies in became a perfect way to do both. Once I looked at the Lizzie Borden autopsy photos, I realized I’d found the perfect fictional explanation to the crime. I’m surprised no one else took that approach.
What did you enjoy most about writing your book?
It might sound strange, but I enjoyed writing the zombie fighting scenes. Some may seem a bit humorous even in a sordid way. I can’t help it. Besides, there are only so many ways you can have people fighting so you have to have some fun with it.
What did you find most challenging about writing your book?
Matching the real dates of Lizzie Borden’s trial and the fictional outline I had for my story. I had to fit things in but move the story along. I had to speed the story up given the trial wasn’t held until June, 1893 following Lizzie’s arrest in August, 1892. Even then, the wheels of justice moved slowly. Plus, I had certain fictional elements to fit in between the trial and her release. Yeah, complicated. Ha!
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
It might be destiny. I have a favorite baby photo of myself showing me with a newspaper and a pencil behind my ear. I ended up being a newspaper reporter. I always thought that was interesting. But I was a big reader as a kid and always found words fascinating.
How do you research your books?
Lots of reading and note-taking. The fun is finding things you never knew or something that you think can be fit into the story idea you have.
What advice would you give beginning writers?
Never give up. Writing can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging and offer some heartbreak, too. No matter what anyone says, rejections can hurt. You have to keep going, keep trying and keep believing in your project. There will be others who see the same value in your story as you do.
What do you like to do when you're not writing? Any hobbies?
It’s a contrast, I admit. I kill zombies in fiction and create/decorate dollhouses when I’m not. But it’s another creative outlet which I love doing. I have some photos of my work on my website, http://cverstraete.com.
Are you working on another book?
I am outlining a sequel to Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter. There are questions that still need to be answered and I’m not quite ready to give up on Lizzie yet. I’ve come to like her a lot.
Follow the blog tour and be sure to get your copy of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter in print and Kindle Sept. 13!
BUY:http://getbook.at/LizzieBordenZombieHunter
Add it on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31553183-lizzie-borden-zombie-hunter
And please, review it on Goodreads and Amazon.
You can find C. A. Verstraete at these sites:
Website: http://cverstraete.comBlog: http://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com
Yes, there is a contest to win 1 of 10 Kindle copies (ends 9/14.). Entrants MUST enter an email as a blog comment or on the rafflecopter to be sent a gift copy if they win. Sorry, no time to hunt you down. No email, no chance to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Think you know Lizzie Borden? Read on!
The blog tour schedule is:
Mon. Sept 5 - GirlZombieAuthors– Introduction – A Little About Lizzie
Tues. Sept. 6 - Jaime Johnesee blog – 12 Questions for Lizzie Borden
Weds. Sept. 7 - Jean Rabe's blog – Lizzie Borden… Dog Lover?
Thurs. Sept. 8 - AF Stewart blog interview
Fri. Sept. 9 - Haunt Jaunts blog – More Lizzie
Sat. Sept. 10 – Stephen D. Sullivan blog - Lizzie Films
Sun. Sept. 11 - GirlZombieAuthors recap
Camille Minichino blog - Why oh why zombies?
Mon. Sept. 12 - Horror Maiden's Book Reviews
Tues. Sept. 13 - RELEASE DAY!!!
Zombies and Toys Review!
Join the FB Release Party - prizes, guest authors, zombie fun!! (See info posted on my Facebook page and website.)
Weds. Sept. 14 - Lizzie as a Zombie Hunter - Chapter Break Book Blog
This isn't the end! Get your copy. Share a review. And come back to the GirlZombieAuthors blog or the author website for info on another blog tour starting Sept. 26 with Bewitching Book Tours.
Drabble Wednesday: To Boldly Go... Where?
Today on Drabble Wednesday, we venture into science fiction, to the great unknown. We fly off into the deadly regions of space...
Engine Malfunction
The stars are wrong.Worse, the space station’s vanished.What I’m seeing on the view screen isn’t comforting. I think I’m in trouble.“Computer, what happened? Was it the engine?"“Yes. The new star drive malfunctioned when it engaged.”I toggle the camera view of the engine room. Only it’s gone. A hole in the bulkhead and lots of debris. At least the ship sealed off the breach.“Computer, calculate the ship’s position.”“We are one point four light years from the boundaries of the Galactic Empire. In the Marauder Region.”Oh shit! No engine and stuck in enemy territory!
~*~
A Pebble in the Dark
A stone. A bit of cold rock. A fragment of an asteroid, a planet long forgotten. Space dust or debris. Spinning, soaring, cast out, travelling aimlessly, speeding an unfathomable trajectory.A ship. A home of metal and electronics. A place of promise, full of humans in stasis, on an automated course to a distant world. A one way trip to colonise a New Earth.They cross paths. A collision.The stone disintegrates, smashing a hole into an array, causing a cataclysmic failure of the pre-programmed navigation system. Lost and off-course, the ship flies on, into the dark reaches of space.
~*~
Stare Into The Abyss
I stare at the stars beyond the space station, through a small viewing window. Portholes, they call them, after the ancient sailing ships of Earth.I miss Earth. I’ve been out here too long. Starting to screw with my head. Going space mad.I scrape my knife against the window’s transparent bonded polymer. It doesn’t make a scratch, but it leaves a tiny trail of blood.I wonder if it’s the captain’s blood, or maybe the first officer. They both bled a lot.I hear angry voices and footsteps; I guess someone alerted security that I killed my fellow officers.
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
Engine Malfunction
The stars are wrong.Worse, the space station’s vanished.What I’m seeing on the view screen isn’t comforting. I think I’m in trouble.“Computer, what happened? Was it the engine?"“Yes. The new star drive malfunctioned when it engaged.”I toggle the camera view of the engine room. Only it’s gone. A hole in the bulkhead and lots of debris. At least the ship sealed off the breach.“Computer, calculate the ship’s position.”“We are one point four light years from the boundaries of the Galactic Empire. In the Marauder Region.”Oh shit! No engine and stuck in enemy territory!
~*~
A Pebble in the Dark
A stone. A bit of cold rock. A fragment of an asteroid, a planet long forgotten. Space dust or debris. Spinning, soaring, cast out, travelling aimlessly, speeding an unfathomable trajectory.A ship. A home of metal and electronics. A place of promise, full of humans in stasis, on an automated course to a distant world. A one way trip to colonise a New Earth.They cross paths. A collision.The stone disintegrates, smashing a hole into an array, causing a cataclysmic failure of the pre-programmed navigation system. Lost and off-course, the ship flies on, into the dark reaches of space.
~*~
Stare Into The Abyss
I stare at the stars beyond the space station, through a small viewing window. Portholes, they call them, after the ancient sailing ships of Earth.I miss Earth. I’ve been out here too long. Starting to screw with my head. Going space mad.I scrape my knife against the window’s transparent bonded polymer. It doesn’t make a scratch, but it leaves a tiny trail of blood.I wonder if it’s the captain’s blood, or maybe the first officer. They both bled a lot.I hear angry voices and footsteps; I guess someone alerted security that I killed my fellow officers.
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
August 31, 2016
Drabble Wednesday: Enter If You Dare
Today on Drabble Wednesday, I take you past barriers, through gates, and moral boundaries...
Execution of Duty
What if you were trained from birth to do one thing? One immoral act?You’d be me.I’ve been trained to kill someone. One particular man. And now I sit in a carriage on the way to fulfill my duty. I thought I’d be nervous, assumed I’d have reservations about committing the deed.I don’t.I watch the scenery pass by until we finally stop at the city gates, hailed by the sentries. My driver informs the guards we are expected.The great gates swing open, followed by a shout, “Welcome and enter. The king awaits his bride.”I smile.
~*~
Decision
She summoned the creature on the tangential edge of the forest, under the fading amber reflection of the day. Yesterday her small happiness vanished, swallowed by circumstance and horror, yet here she stood hesitant to act. To speak.The voice asked again, “What would you give for vengeance?”She stared into the raven rift, a tear slashed through light and air, and this time she answered, “Everything. My life, my soul, whatever the price. I want this world destroyed!”“So be it. Step through the portal, and you will set me free.”She nodded and walked into darkness, releasing annihilation.
~*~
What Lingers
High on the hilltop, crumbled walls and broken stone remained, and the archway that once housed magnificent ironwork gates. The closing glint of sunlight fell on the ruined fortress and the unbounded wind converged with the lengthening shadows.They await what is coming. What always comes at twilight.Rising from the netherworld viscera of yesteryear, and the howl of bloody death, they surge into the mortal world. The great and fearsome army of the fortress. A phantom cavalry charging down the hillside, dead and screaming, all ephemera weapons and snorting horses. Their last battle, their only loss, forever their fate.
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
Execution of Duty
What if you were trained from birth to do one thing? One immoral act?You’d be me.I’ve been trained to kill someone. One particular man. And now I sit in a carriage on the way to fulfill my duty. I thought I’d be nervous, assumed I’d have reservations about committing the deed.I don’t.I watch the scenery pass by until we finally stop at the city gates, hailed by the sentries. My driver informs the guards we are expected.The great gates swing open, followed by a shout, “Welcome and enter. The king awaits his bride.”I smile.
~*~
Decision
She summoned the creature on the tangential edge of the forest, under the fading amber reflection of the day. Yesterday her small happiness vanished, swallowed by circumstance and horror, yet here she stood hesitant to act. To speak.The voice asked again, “What would you give for vengeance?”She stared into the raven rift, a tear slashed through light and air, and this time she answered, “Everything. My life, my soul, whatever the price. I want this world destroyed!”“So be it. Step through the portal, and you will set me free.”She nodded and walked into darkness, releasing annihilation.
~*~
What Lingers
High on the hilltop, crumbled walls and broken stone remained, and the archway that once housed magnificent ironwork gates. The closing glint of sunlight fell on the ruined fortress and the unbounded wind converged with the lengthening shadows.They await what is coming. What always comes at twilight.Rising from the netherworld viscera of yesteryear, and the howl of bloody death, they surge into the mortal world. The great and fearsome army of the fortress. A phantom cavalry charging down the hillside, dead and screaming, all ephemera weapons and snorting horses. Their last battle, their only loss, forever their fate.
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
August 26, 2016
Interview With Author Simon Williams
Today I bring you another interview, this time with dark fantasy author, Simon Williams. Enjoy!
Interview With Simon Williams
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I am an author of what most people like to label as dark fantasy although my work also incorporates elements of horror and science fiction. I'm based in the UK.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?
Salvation's Door is the fifth and final book in the Aona series, and brings down the curtain on a saga which I've been writing most of my adult life (the first book took many years due to considerable re-writing). Salvation's Door is epic in plot but is a chronicle of characters as much as events, focusing on the trials and struggles of a varied cast against the background of an end to days.
How long have you been writing, and how many books have you published to date?
I've been a writer since I was old enough to write (certainly that's when I started making up and writing down stories). Six books in total have been published so far and I have several further projects ongoing.
Who is your intended readership?
I don't focus on particular people to write for when I write- but my readers tend to appreciate gritty, character-driven fantasy and sci-fi without the cliches and tropes that infect the genres in which I write. No one can avoid such things entirely, but I do my best.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
This may sound like an odd answer but often it feels as if the inevitable loneliness of this kind of profession (not that I can really call it a profession) is a tough challenge. It also doesn't get easier with age- in fact it gets worse as the years take their toll and you realise you may in the not too distant future have to contend with diminishing physical and mental faculties.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
During my childhood to an extent, but more seriously as an adult- I never had much talent for anything else and it was really all I wanted to do. Thinking about it that way, it was inevitable.
Can you tell us about your writing process? Where do your ideas originate? Do you have a certain writing routine?
I have tried to have a routine, but it tends to be quite haphazard. I scribble down ideas, scenarios and conversations, often write the end of a book before completing the bulk of it, and tend to end up looking at it as a vast jigsaw whose pieces I have to slot together (or sometimes discard or replace). I certainly never write in a linear way or meticulously outline a plot before writing the story or building the characters. Often I build the characters and then thread the plot around them. It often feels like chaos but it eventually falls in to place (or if it doesn't, then the project is shelved).
Do you have a favourite author, or writing inspiration?
I have a number of favourite authors rather than just one- where to start? Alan Garner, Clive Barker, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, George R R Martin, Neil Gaiman, Ian Irvine...
What’s your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?
The sequel to my YA sci-fi / fantasy novel Summer’s Dark Waters, currently titled The Light From Far Below, will probably be next. This is a challenge of a quite different sort for me- it’s become a pre-apocalyptic tale of urban paranoia which makes uneasy reading even for me, so it needs to be shaped appropriately for its intended readership- those poor folks who will have to contend with what remains of this world in the decades ahead.I'm also writing a standalone novel which may (or may not) be futuristic / post-industrial in tone, and which probably won't be strictly fantasy or indeed any other genre as such. I'm enjoying this as I haven't written a standalone book in a while.
You can find our more about Simon Williams and his books at these sites:
Website - www.simonwilliamsauthor.com
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00P0ZZYS8
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/simonwilliamsauthor
Twitter: @SWilliamsAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094097.Simon_Williams
You can find the first book in the Aona series on Amazon:
Oblivion’s Forge (Book I in the Aona series):
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Interview With Simon Williams
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I am an author of what most people like to label as dark fantasy although my work also incorporates elements of horror and science fiction. I'm based in the UK.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?
Salvation's Door is the fifth and final book in the Aona series, and brings down the curtain on a saga which I've been writing most of my adult life (the first book took many years due to considerable re-writing). Salvation's Door is epic in plot but is a chronicle of characters as much as events, focusing on the trials and struggles of a varied cast against the background of an end to days.
How long have you been writing, and how many books have you published to date?
I've been a writer since I was old enough to write (certainly that's when I started making up and writing down stories). Six books in total have been published so far and I have several further projects ongoing.
Who is your intended readership?
I don't focus on particular people to write for when I write- but my readers tend to appreciate gritty, character-driven fantasy and sci-fi without the cliches and tropes that infect the genres in which I write. No one can avoid such things entirely, but I do my best.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
This may sound like an odd answer but often it feels as if the inevitable loneliness of this kind of profession (not that I can really call it a profession) is a tough challenge. It also doesn't get easier with age- in fact it gets worse as the years take their toll and you realise you may in the not too distant future have to contend with diminishing physical and mental faculties.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
During my childhood to an extent, but more seriously as an adult- I never had much talent for anything else and it was really all I wanted to do. Thinking about it that way, it was inevitable.
Can you tell us about your writing process? Where do your ideas originate? Do you have a certain writing routine?
I have tried to have a routine, but it tends to be quite haphazard. I scribble down ideas, scenarios and conversations, often write the end of a book before completing the bulk of it, and tend to end up looking at it as a vast jigsaw whose pieces I have to slot together (or sometimes discard or replace). I certainly never write in a linear way or meticulously outline a plot before writing the story or building the characters. Often I build the characters and then thread the plot around them. It often feels like chaos but it eventually falls in to place (or if it doesn't, then the project is shelved).
Do you have a favourite author, or writing inspiration?
I have a number of favourite authors rather than just one- where to start? Alan Garner, Clive Barker, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, George R R Martin, Neil Gaiman, Ian Irvine...
What’s your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?
The sequel to my YA sci-fi / fantasy novel Summer’s Dark Waters, currently titled The Light From Far Below, will probably be next. This is a challenge of a quite different sort for me- it’s become a pre-apocalyptic tale of urban paranoia which makes uneasy reading even for me, so it needs to be shaped appropriately for its intended readership- those poor folks who will have to contend with what remains of this world in the decades ahead.I'm also writing a standalone novel which may (or may not) be futuristic / post-industrial in tone, and which probably won't be strictly fantasy or indeed any other genre as such. I'm enjoying this as I haven't written a standalone book in a while.
You can find our more about Simon Williams and his books at these sites:
Website - www.simonwilliamsauthor.com
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00P0ZZYS8
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/simonwilliamsauthor
Twitter: @SWilliamsAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094097.Simon_Williams
You can find the first book in the Aona series on Amazon:
Oblivion’s Forge (Book I in the Aona series):
Amazon UK
Amazon US
August 24, 2016
Drabble Wednesday: Urban Shadows
Today on Drabble Wednesday I take you to the darkest corners of the city, where strange and dangerous things lurk...
When the Rain Falls
The misty patter of the rain on the fire escape splashing to the asphalt alley sang a pleasing discord rhythm into the night. Tiny ears twitched from the window sill above the fire escape. It liked the rain. The rain made it strong. It wiggled through a crack in the frame, and dropped near a puddle. A small proboscis extended, drinking the rainwater, the minuscule heartbeat pumping, pumping.Liquid, liquid, more liquid.It looked back inside, at the desiccated husk of a human sprawled on the floor.No, nothing left for me there.And it wiggled off into the world.
~*~
Under the Moon
He huddled on a backstreet in a ratty old coat encrusted with dark stains and filth. He stared at the surrounding night with bloodshot eyes, compulsively running a hand through his matted head of hair and an unkempt beard.Above the skyline, shadowed by clouds, a full moon glittered.Something rumbled in the man’s chest. A moan? A growl? A skittering noise, guttural and deep. His fingers dug into the sidewalk as claws formed and grew from fingernails, scraping gouges in cement. His jaw slid and shifted, his teeth elongating into canine fangs.And with a howl, the werewolf hunted.
~*~
Echoes in the Park
Inside the shelter of a steel and glass metropolis, a small patch of greenery and woodland nestles into midnight. Brisk wind dances through the park, and far above, unseen stars glimmer in luminescent age and light.The park is quiet, though it is not empty. From shadow and chimera, grave and mortality they appear, breathed into nocturnal half-life drifting outside the world they once knew. They journey on the translucent mist of the witching hour, fed by the music of sighs and whispered echoes. They are naught but sorrowed ghosts of the unremembered, the abandoned, ghosts that will not die.
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
When the Rain Falls
The misty patter of the rain on the fire escape splashing to the asphalt alley sang a pleasing discord rhythm into the night. Tiny ears twitched from the window sill above the fire escape. It liked the rain. The rain made it strong. It wiggled through a crack in the frame, and dropped near a puddle. A small proboscis extended, drinking the rainwater, the minuscule heartbeat pumping, pumping.Liquid, liquid, more liquid.It looked back inside, at the desiccated husk of a human sprawled on the floor.No, nothing left for me there.And it wiggled off into the world.
~*~
Under the Moon
He huddled on a backstreet in a ratty old coat encrusted with dark stains and filth. He stared at the surrounding night with bloodshot eyes, compulsively running a hand through his matted head of hair and an unkempt beard.Above the skyline, shadowed by clouds, a full moon glittered.Something rumbled in the man’s chest. A moan? A growl? A skittering noise, guttural and deep. His fingers dug into the sidewalk as claws formed and grew from fingernails, scraping gouges in cement. His jaw slid and shifted, his teeth elongating into canine fangs.And with a howl, the werewolf hunted.
~*~
Echoes in the Park
Inside the shelter of a steel and glass metropolis, a small patch of greenery and woodland nestles into midnight. Brisk wind dances through the park, and far above, unseen stars glimmer in luminescent age and light.The park is quiet, though it is not empty. From shadow and chimera, grave and mortality they appear, breathed into nocturnal half-life drifting outside the world they once knew. They journey on the translucent mist of the witching hour, fed by the music of sighs and whispered echoes. They are naught but sorrowed ghosts of the unremembered, the abandoned, ghosts that will not die.
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
August 23, 2016
#NewRelease: Charm City by Ash Krafton
Today I have for you a delightful treat, with a book spotlight for the new urban fantasy release, Charm City by Ash Krafton, Book 1 of The Demon Whisperer series. Enjoy, my minions!
CHARM CITY Kindle release day!
There are demons all around us, legions of the dark that break loose from Hell's restraints to prowl the mortal plane. Most people can't see them and will never suffer their torments. They are the lucky ones. Guess that makes Simon Alliant the unluckiest man alive. He's learned that the only luck a man has is the luck he makes for himself. Call him exorcist. Call him master of the dark arts. Call him dime-store magician. Most names don't matter, not when Hell knows yours. Armed with his spells and his amulets and his desperate drive toward redemption, he fights the rising darkness and sends those demons screaming back into Hell, one minion at a time. But not all demons can be exorcised. Some dwell too deep inside a man's bones to be so easily banished. Simon is smart--or, at least, cynical--enough to know which battles are worth fighting. It takes more than a fistful of charms to stay alive in his line of work. And staying alive is the only way to avoid giving the Devil his due...
Welcome to the world of The Demon Whisperer.
It kicks off today with the Kindle release of the first book in the series: CHARM CITY.
Now available on Kindle!
CHARM CITY (The Demon Whisperer #1)
The darkness is rising and one man stands against it: the exorcist mage Simon Alliant. But in Baltimore, he finally meets his match...a part-mortal divinity with the power to whisper away demons. Simon Alliant is an exorcist who battles demons, whether he wants to or not. Sometimes it's not so bad...he gets to play with magic, after all. But for Simon, magic represents a demon of another kind. He's addicted to magic and it takes more than a handful of charms to keep that particular demon at bay. Chiara is part Light, part Dark, and stubbornly mortal. The woman has a way with words: she literally talks demons into abandoning their human hosts. Simon thinks that's not the only trick she has up her sleeve-and that's pretty high praise coming from a mage like him. As intriguing as that may be, Simon has too many reasons to distrust her...one of them being his more-or-less partner, an angelic Watcher. Amidst all the celestial warnings of the rising dark comes a new prophesy that makes him wonder: is Chiara a threat to him and all of mankind? Or will she be his salvation?
Join the legions and pick your side: Light or Dark. Just know this...decisions like this are never easy, because there's no black and white when it comes to good and evil.
Grab your lucky charm. You might need it.
Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction writer who, despite having a Time Turner under her couch and three different sonic screwdrivers in her purse, still encounters difficulty with time management. She's the author of urban fantasy (such as the trilogy The Books of the Demimonde) as well as paranormal romance (WORDS THAT BIND). She also writes for YA and NA audiences under the pen name AJ Krafton (THE HEARTBEAT THIEF, her Victorian dark fantasy inspired by Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”). Currently, she's working on a new urban fantasy series, The Demon Whisperer. The first book, CHARM CITY, is now available on Kindle.
CHARM CITY Kindle release day!
There are demons all around us, legions of the dark that break loose from Hell's restraints to prowl the mortal plane. Most people can't see them and will never suffer their torments. They are the lucky ones. Guess that makes Simon Alliant the unluckiest man alive. He's learned that the only luck a man has is the luck he makes for himself. Call him exorcist. Call him master of the dark arts. Call him dime-store magician. Most names don't matter, not when Hell knows yours. Armed with his spells and his amulets and his desperate drive toward redemption, he fights the rising darkness and sends those demons screaming back into Hell, one minion at a time. But not all demons can be exorcised. Some dwell too deep inside a man's bones to be so easily banished. Simon is smart--or, at least, cynical--enough to know which battles are worth fighting. It takes more than a fistful of charms to stay alive in his line of work. And staying alive is the only way to avoid giving the Devil his due...
Welcome to the world of The Demon Whisperer.
It kicks off today with the Kindle release of the first book in the series: CHARM CITY.
Now available on Kindle!
CHARM CITY (The Demon Whisperer #1)
The darkness is rising and one man stands against it: the exorcist mage Simon Alliant. But in Baltimore, he finally meets his match...a part-mortal divinity with the power to whisper away demons. Simon Alliant is an exorcist who battles demons, whether he wants to or not. Sometimes it's not so bad...he gets to play with magic, after all. But for Simon, magic represents a demon of another kind. He's addicted to magic and it takes more than a handful of charms to keep that particular demon at bay. Chiara is part Light, part Dark, and stubbornly mortal. The woman has a way with words: she literally talks demons into abandoning their human hosts. Simon thinks that's not the only trick she has up her sleeve-and that's pretty high praise coming from a mage like him. As intriguing as that may be, Simon has too many reasons to distrust her...one of them being his more-or-less partner, an angelic Watcher. Amidst all the celestial warnings of the rising dark comes a new prophesy that makes him wonder: is Chiara a threat to him and all of mankind? Or will she be his salvation?
Join the legions and pick your side: Light or Dark. Just know this...decisions like this are never easy, because there's no black and white when it comes to good and evil.
Grab your lucky charm. You might need it.
Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction writer who, despite having a Time Turner under her couch and three different sonic screwdrivers in her purse, still encounters difficulty with time management. She's the author of urban fantasy (such as the trilogy The Books of the Demimonde) as well as paranormal romance (WORDS THAT BIND). She also writes for YA and NA audiences under the pen name AJ Krafton (THE HEARTBEAT THIEF, her Victorian dark fantasy inspired by Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”). Currently, she's working on a new urban fantasy series, The Demon Whisperer. The first book, CHARM CITY, is now available on Kindle.
August 17, 2016
Drabble Wednesday: Strange Sports
Welcome to Drabble Wednesday, the Olympic Edition! Here you find some odd events indeed... Now on to the gold!
Pointed Competition
It’s been a hard day here in the Archery Competition at the Medieval Olympics.The favourites, Sir Pellinore and Sir Malcolm failed to make the finals, out in the third cycle.Now, the leading competitor Sir Archibald steps up for his last round.He takes his shot... oh my word, I think he’s done it!What a shot! Three serfs down with one arrow! A new world record!Wait! One of the peasants is still writhing on the ground! We will have to go the judges for a decision.Yes, yes! It is official! Sir Archibald wins the gold medal!
~*~
Off To The Races
Welcome to the final day of equestrian dragon racing! The five competitors are ready at the start and there’s the bell! They’re off!It’s Windworm of Berk taking an early lead, with Tharina of Alagaësia and Baroth of Pern close on her tail! The oldest participant, Fafnir of Asgard, and newcomer Lyron of Westeros are lagging well behind the pace.They’re rounding the first turn, and it’s still—wait! Fafnir of Asgard is attacking Lyron! She’s going down! That’s immediate disqualification for Fafnir! Now he’s breathing fire on the other racers! It’s a repeat of last year! Oh, the tragedy...
~*~
Jump For Your Life
“Things have gotten very interesting at this pole vaulting competition, Sir Wendell, with the fifth consecutive contestant killed and eliminated. I thought Giles the candle maker had a chance after he cleared the deadly moat, but the hot oil chucker at the top of the wall ended his attempt.”“Yes, Sir Percy, too bad for Giles. Let’s see how our next athlete does, shall we?”“Oh look, it’s Bartholomew the baker. This is his first time competing.”“Yes, he’s having a go with only twenty minutes training.”“Oh no, it’s the water for him. Another meal for the moat monster.”
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
Pointed Competition
It’s been a hard day here in the Archery Competition at the Medieval Olympics.The favourites, Sir Pellinore and Sir Malcolm failed to make the finals, out in the third cycle.Now, the leading competitor Sir Archibald steps up for his last round.He takes his shot... oh my word, I think he’s done it!What a shot! Three serfs down with one arrow! A new world record!Wait! One of the peasants is still writhing on the ground! We will have to go the judges for a decision.Yes, yes! It is official! Sir Archibald wins the gold medal!
~*~
Off To The Races
Welcome to the final day of equestrian dragon racing! The five competitors are ready at the start and there’s the bell! They’re off!It’s Windworm of Berk taking an early lead, with Tharina of Alagaësia and Baroth of Pern close on her tail! The oldest participant, Fafnir of Asgard, and newcomer Lyron of Westeros are lagging well behind the pace.They’re rounding the first turn, and it’s still—wait! Fafnir of Asgard is attacking Lyron! She’s going down! That’s immediate disqualification for Fafnir! Now he’s breathing fire on the other racers! It’s a repeat of last year! Oh, the tragedy...
~*~
Jump For Your Life
“Things have gotten very interesting at this pole vaulting competition, Sir Wendell, with the fifth consecutive contestant killed and eliminated. I thought Giles the candle maker had a chance after he cleared the deadly moat, but the hot oil chucker at the top of the wall ended his attempt.”“Yes, Sir Percy, too bad for Giles. Let’s see how our next athlete does, shall we?”“Oh look, it’s Bartholomew the baker. This is his first time competing.”“Yes, he’s having a go with only twenty minutes training.”“Oh no, it’s the water for him. Another meal for the moat monster.”
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
August 10, 2016
Drabble Wednesday: Sages and Stories
Today on Drabble Wednesday, come read the old tales, stories told by elders to the new generations...
The River
Once, in the forest of time, our people followed the Great River. We camped on its banks, fished in its waters, hunted game on the surrounding plains, or in the shadows of its woodland. We lived in peace. We were content.Then came the time of no rains. When the grass dried and the trees died. When the people of the Far City stole our river, and we went to war.A war we lost.Our surviving people scattered, migrating to the distant corners of the kingdom. All that remains of us, of the river, is dry dust and ghosts.
~*~
The Enemy
Gather round, children, as I tell of the horrors that lie beyond our home.Once we were alone in this land. We had no restrictions, we roamed freely. We made homes where we pleased, not simply here in the mountains. We did not hide.Until they came. Until they drove us from the land with their weapons, their war.Once we flew in the skies unfettered. Now we are hunted, our wings torn, our bodies maimed. We are killed. Our enemies are monsters.Remember this children. Never approach the humans. Always avoid them, their villages. Dragonkind must be ever vigilant.
~*~
Time and Tide
The wide, unfathomable sea. It calls to sailors, and buries their bones in its cold, murky embrace. Great ocean storms swallow ships whole, yet sometimes it gives back. Bits and bodies carried to the shores and beaches. But sometimes it keeps what it claims.And sometimes who it claims doesn’t quite die.Submerged in the depths, the spirits wait. Their whispers ride the waves. Their anger fuels the storms. They howl under moonlight and exist in perpetuity, as hours pass into days, and days into decades. And immortality breeds patience.Our time will come.We will rise.Fear the day.
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
The River
Once, in the forest of time, our people followed the Great River. We camped on its banks, fished in its waters, hunted game on the surrounding plains, or in the shadows of its woodland. We lived in peace. We were content.Then came the time of no rains. When the grass dried and the trees died. When the people of the Far City stole our river, and we went to war.A war we lost.Our surviving people scattered, migrating to the distant corners of the kingdom. All that remains of us, of the river, is dry dust and ghosts.
~*~
The Enemy
Gather round, children, as I tell of the horrors that lie beyond our home.Once we were alone in this land. We had no restrictions, we roamed freely. We made homes where we pleased, not simply here in the mountains. We did not hide.Until they came. Until they drove us from the land with their weapons, their war.Once we flew in the skies unfettered. Now we are hunted, our wings torn, our bodies maimed. We are killed. Our enemies are monsters.Remember this children. Never approach the humans. Always avoid them, their villages. Dragonkind must be ever vigilant.
~*~
Time and Tide
The wide, unfathomable sea. It calls to sailors, and buries their bones in its cold, murky embrace. Great ocean storms swallow ships whole, yet sometimes it gives back. Bits and bodies carried to the shores and beaches. But sometimes it keeps what it claims.And sometimes who it claims doesn’t quite die.Submerged in the depths, the spirits wait. Their whispers ride the waves. Their anger fuels the storms. They howl under moonlight and exist in perpetuity, as hours pass into days, and days into decades. And immortality breeds patience.Our time will come.We will rise.Fear the day.
© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved
August 9, 2016
Book Spotlight: Seed Me
Today I have the spotlight on a new horror novel, Seed Me by fellow Canadian author Konn Lavery. Enjoy...
Seed Me by Konn Lavery
WARNING: DO NOT CONSUME
If you’re reading this, then you did not take the above warning seriously. In that case, you’re probably as stupid as me. I’m Logan, by the way. I didn’t pay attention to any warning signs either. Being an unemployed deadbeat in Edmonton with no family and getting dumped by your girlfriend for her best friend can wear a guy down. All I had was my cokehead buddy, Skip, to cheer me up.
Surprisingly, my precautionary tale was not caused by either Skip or the drugs. Let’s just say a drunken make-out session with a pale girl by a dumpster, who was supposedly pronounced dead earlier in the evening, can leave you mentally jumbled up. A good motivator to figure this scenario out is having robed cultists stalk you, asking where the girl is.
Is this an ill twist of fate? Did I bring this on myself? Is there a reason behind my misfortune? Is the moral to not make out with spooky girls behind dumpsters? Hell if I know...
Seed Me is available at: Amazon
For more details on Seed Me, check out its Book Page
Photo Credit: Nastassja Brinker
Author Bio:
Konn Lavery is a Canadian horror and dark fantasy writer who is known for his Mental Damnation series. The second book, Dream, reached the Edmonton Journal’s top five selling fictional books list. He started writing fantasy stories at a very young age while being home schooled. It wasn’t until graduating college that he began professionally pursuing his work with his first release, Reality. Since then he has continued to write works of fiction ranging from fantasy to horror. His literary work is done in the long hours of the night. By day, Konn runs his own graphic design and website development business under the title Reveal Design. These skills have been transcribed into the formatting and artwork found within his publications supporting his fascination of transmedia storytelling.
For more on Konn Lavery and his books, check out his Website.
Seed Me by Konn Lavery
WARNING: DO NOT CONSUME
If you’re reading this, then you did not take the above warning seriously. In that case, you’re probably as stupid as me. I’m Logan, by the way. I didn’t pay attention to any warning signs either. Being an unemployed deadbeat in Edmonton with no family and getting dumped by your girlfriend for her best friend can wear a guy down. All I had was my cokehead buddy, Skip, to cheer me up.
Surprisingly, my precautionary tale was not caused by either Skip or the drugs. Let’s just say a drunken make-out session with a pale girl by a dumpster, who was supposedly pronounced dead earlier in the evening, can leave you mentally jumbled up. A good motivator to figure this scenario out is having robed cultists stalk you, asking where the girl is.
Is this an ill twist of fate? Did I bring this on myself? Is there a reason behind my misfortune? Is the moral to not make out with spooky girls behind dumpsters? Hell if I know...
Seed Me is available at: Amazon
For more details on Seed Me, check out its Book Page
Photo Credit: Nastassja BrinkerAuthor Bio:
Konn Lavery is a Canadian horror and dark fantasy writer who is known for his Mental Damnation series. The second book, Dream, reached the Edmonton Journal’s top five selling fictional books list. He started writing fantasy stories at a very young age while being home schooled. It wasn’t until graduating college that he began professionally pursuing his work with his first release, Reality. Since then he has continued to write works of fiction ranging from fantasy to horror. His literary work is done in the long hours of the night. By day, Konn runs his own graphic design and website development business under the title Reveal Design. These skills have been transcribed into the formatting and artwork found within his publications supporting his fascination of transmedia storytelling.
For more on Konn Lavery and his books, check out his Website.
