Rob Howell's Blog, page 41
October 13, 2018
Rob’s Update: Sailing Fast
Greetings all
This was not my best week, at least in terms of writing. There were a variety of reasons for that, and they’re all good, though. I got to help my mom and a friend of hers out. I got to do some major work around the house. I get to see the proto-incipient step-daughter this weekend. That all adds up.
So I’m not going to chat much more as we’ve got plans.
Current Playlist Song
Sober by Tool. What an amazing song. It’s one of those that made me love a band immediately.
Quote of the Week
Today is the 243rd birthday of the US Navy. This week’s quote is actually my favorite John Paul Jones quote, though it’s not the one everyone thinks of first.
“I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm’s way.”
– Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778
News and Works in Progress
The Feeding of Sorrows (approx. 20,000)
CB (8,418)
AFS (2,556)
Recent Blog Posts and Wiki Additions
Interview (Peter Cawdron): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1490
Interview (Joseph Capdepon II): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1476
Interview (Jason Cordova): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1479
Interview (Marisa Wolf): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1484
Upcoming Events
8 December, Kris Kinder, Kansas City, MO https://sites.google.com/site/kriskindermarket/
4-6 January, ShadowCon, Memphis, TN https://www.shadowcon.info/
25-27 January, ChattaCon, Chattanooga, TN
http://chattacon.org/
9-16 March, Gulf Wars, Lumberton, MS
http://www.gulfwars.org/
22-24 March, FantaSci, Raleigh, NC
http://fantasci.rocks/fantasci/
29-31 March, Planet Comicon, Kansas City, MO http://planetcomicon.com/
Spotlight
This week’s spotlight is on more of the Four Horsemen authors. Check the Recent Blog post section for the complete list.
Today’s Weight: 384.4
Updated Word Count: 214,609
Shijuren Wiki: 874 entries
Four Horsemen Wiki: 435 entries
Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.
Have a great week, everyone.
Rob Howell
Author of the Shijuren-series of novels
Website: www.robhowell.org
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rhodri2112
Blog: www.robhowell.org/blog
Shijuren Wiki: http://www.shijuren.org/World+of+Shijuren+Home
MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/rob.howell1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/robhowell.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhodri2112
Currently Available Works
A Lake Most Deep (Edward, Book 1)
The Eyes of a Doll (Edward, Book 2)
Where Now the Rider (Edward, Book 3)
I Am a Wondrous Thing (The Kreisens, Book 1)
Brief Is My Flame (The Kreisens, Book 2)
None Call Me Mother (The Kreisens, Book 3) Forthcoming 2018
“A Gift of Crimson” in Hand of Gold and Other Stories (Pussy Katnip)
“Where Enemies Sit” in For a Few Credits More (The Four Horsemen Universe)
If you think you received this email incorrectly or wish to be unsubscribed, please send an email to shijuren-owner@robhowell.org
Interview: Peter Cawdron
I’ve not yet met Peter Cawdron, though I follow him in For a Few Credits More. I like that story though, and he’s clearly a thoughtful fellow. If I ever get to Australia, I’ll make sure to look him up and share a few beverages discussing the universe.
Interview: Peter Cawdron
Peter Cawdron PortraitWhat is your quest?
Enlightenment.
I was a religious nut for decades. One book held all the answers. Only one group was capable of interpreting it. Everyone else was sincere but misguided. Thankfully, my one saving grace was honesty. When I heard a preacher trash Charles Darwin, likening him to Hitler, I felt conflicted. Hitler was a pretty bad dude, setting the world on fire and killing tens of millions of people. Didn’t Darwin sail around the world collecting animals? Really doesn’t seem comparable, does it? I grabbed a copy of On the Origin of Species and a highlighter pen and began reading. Much to my delight I realized Charles Darwin was methodical and honest in following the evidence wherever it went. He too was conflicted by religious sentiment, and once wrote to a friend saying, his discovery of evolution by means of natural selection felt like “confessing to murder.” In Charles Darwin, I found a kindred spirit.
Since then, I’ve taken off my rose-colored glasses and seen the world anew. I’ve come to appreciate the astonishing times in which we live and the way science has transformed our world—at times for the better (vaccinations have saved hundreds of millions, if not billions of lives), at times for worst (our infatuation with fossil fuels has allowed us to ravage the environment). In all cases, however, science has been a catalyst for change.
When I write, I try to inspire a sense of awe about reality, along with a need for responsibility.
What is your favorite word?
Myopic.
We’re all shortsighted.
A hundred years ago, we thought the Milky Way encompassed the entire universe. A couple of decades ago, Hubble showed us that even our most outlandish predictions were shortsighted. We now recognize the observable universe as spanning 93 billion light-years! We think the entire universe (not just the portion we see) is a minimum of 156 billion light-years in diameter. Then there are the emerging theories challenging this, looking at the curvature of the universe on a cosmological scale that suggest the real size could be as much as 23 trillion light years, and yet here we are on Earth, fighting over a scruffy patch of ground for oil or ideology. Our behavior is insanely shortsighted.
Likewise, the idea that we are alone in the universe is foolish and conceited. We have no reason to believe that—and every reason to believe otherwise. Like a medieval scholar standing on the shores bordering the Atlantic Ocean, making any kind of judgment about the existence of other continents is steeped in hubris. We need to wait until the evidence is in.
We share this astonishing planet with upwards of a trillion other species, but we only care about a few (deep fried chicken, anyone?). The rest, we’re happy to drive into extinction. As a writer, I try to get readers to see the bigger picture and inspire a sense of awe and reverence for this celestial oasis adrift among the stars.
What is the average flying speed of an unladen dictionary?
In orbit, or within the atmosphere?
Being an independent writer is akin to being a busker on a street corner. No matter how good you are, you’re only ever going to reach a handful of people for a few minutes at best. Trying to breakout as an author is like talking at a rock concert. There’s so much noise it’s hard to be heard. There are a lot of great authors rocking the world. I’m glad to be one of them in my own small way.
What are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade?
My holy-hand grenade would be participating in anthologies like the one we both contributed to—For a Few Credits More. The best advice I can give to emerging authors is to collaborate in an anthology. It’s an awesome way to contribute to the writing community, meet other authors, and reach a wide variety of readers. Too many people underestimate the importance of short stories. They’re an awesome way to grow as an author and provide readers with an opportunity to sample a wide variety of writers to find those that match their tastes.
Lightning Round
Favorite Muppet? Animal
Favorite Sports Team? Queensland State of Origin team (unknown outside of Australia)
Lime or Lemon? Lime (in a Corona)
Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? Yo Yo Ma (playing Bach’s six cello suites)
Favorite Superhero? Ralph Hinkley—The Greatest American Hero
Favorite 1970s TV show? Battlestar Galactica
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? I write best on rainy days
Coffee or Tea? Hot chocolate (dark)
Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Science fiction with complex characters
What question(s) would you like to ask me?
If you were a character in Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, who would you be and why?
Rob’s Answer: Probably Barliman Butterbur. Wait. He works too hard. In truth, probably some random hobbit in the Green Dragon. I like food, beer, good cheer, and I hate wearing shoes.
If I was feeling especially heroic, then I would say one of the Blue Wizards, probably Pallando. I’m the kind of guy who likes to do a bunch of stuff, but not necessarily in the limelight.
Tell me again where we can find your stuff?
You can find my writing on Amazon.
My latest novel, Losing Mars, is now on sale.
And where can we find you?
I wish I could attend some of the US conventions, but the cost is prohibitive from Australia. Maybe one day I’ll make it to Comic-Con.
Thanks to Peter for taking the time to answer my questions.
If you have any suggestions or comments about this interview format, let me know so I can keep tweaking it.
Also, thanks to you for reading. If you’re interested in any of the other interviews I’ve done, you can find them all here: http://robhowell.org/blog/?cat=326. If you are a creator, especially an independent creator, and you want to be spotlighted in a future interview, email me at rob@robhowell.org.
Finally, if you want to join my mailing list, where I’ll announce every interview, as well as what’s going on in my life, go to www.robhowell.org and fill out the form (Name and Email Address) or drop me an email and I’ll add you.
Have a great day.
Rob Howell
Author of the Shijuren-series of novels
Website: www.robhowell.org
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rhodri2112
Blog: www.robhowell.org/blog
Shijuren Wiki: http://www.shijuren.org/World+of+Shijuren+Home
MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/rob.howell1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/robhowell.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhodri2112
October 12, 2018
Interview: Eric S. Brown (Rerun)
Greetings all
This week I’m interviewing Eric S. Brown who is, among other things, one of the many writers like myself writing in the Four Horsemen Universe. He’s also written a bunch of horror, military science fiction, and kaiju stuff.
And when I say a bunch, I mean it. Take a look at his Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Eric S. Brown/e/B004G6XP7E/. You’ll find twelve pages of books there.
Eric, what is your quest?
I am a professional horror and SF writer. I’m also a collector of all things comics and SF. David Drake is my hero. I learned how to write by reading his work when I was younger. One could blame my whole career on Dave.
What is your favorite color?
I like the color green. I also like to scare people with words. I’ve been writing horror for about 17 years now. I write the type of stories I want to see as a fan. That’s how my book Bigfoot War came about. I had been writing zombie stuff for a long time and even did a Z novel for Simon and Schuster (War of the Worlds Plus Blood Guts and Zombies). I was burnt out on zombies and really wanted to do something different. Bigfoot War is that. It makes Sasquatch truly frightening beasts and unleashes hordes of them upon the world. Bigfoot War (Bigfoot Wars on IMDB) was adapted into a feature film by Origin Releasing with C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders) and Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club). While the paycheck was nice, I really didn’t care for the movie and it didn’t have a lot to do with my then series of Bigfoot War books.
Eric S. BrownWhat are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade?
I like to think that the books I write are FUN above all else. From Bigfoot War to Kaiju Apocalypse to Casper Alamo (set in Chris Kennedy’s Four Horsemen Universe) my books are about guns and monsters with loads of action and more than a little gore. I have a Mech/Psionics/Vampires book coming out later this year entitled Psi-Mechs Inc. I am biased but I think it’s the best thing I have ever written. It’s about mech pilots and psychics who hunt monsters.
Lightning Round (answer any or all, be as verbose and whimsical as you wish)
Casper Alamo coverFavorite Muppet? The Shrimp guy.
Favorite Sports Team? I don’t do sports so I am going with The Micronauts on this one.
Cake or Pie? Cake
Lime or Lemon? Lime
Favorite Chip Dip? Don’t have one.
Wet or Dry? Wet. Always wet.
Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? Sorry but to me music consists of Rush, more Rush, and a little more Rush. (ed. note: I knew I liked him for a reason)
Whisky or Whiskey? Don’t drink.
Favorite Superhero? Wonder Woman for DC and Daredevil for Marvel.
Steak Temperature? Well Done. (ed. note: Sigh)
Favorite 1970s TV show? Battlestar Galactica.
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? Fall.
Favorite Pet? (provide pictures if you want) I love cats. The favorite cat of my life was Howard, named after Lovecraft. I had him for seven years but he passed from health issues.
Best Game Ever? I don’t really game so I will go with 2nd edition D&D from back in the day.
Coffee or Tea? Coffee!!
Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Sci-Fi all the way.
What question(s) would you like to ask me?
How did you get into interviewing people?
My answer: I had been interviewed by other people, and I wanted some more content on my blog. Also, it turns out that perhaps the most time-consuming aspect of writing my weekly email is finding someone to spotlight. This way, I don’t have to worry about it.
Do you love the rebooted BSG as every right thinking SF person should?
My answer: Oddly no, mostly because I haven’t actually seen it. Much like Eric, I loved the original and I found it hard to give it a chance. Also, I don’t watch many TV shows. Usually, my personal preference is something to do with sports.
Tell me again where we can find your stuff?
Eric’s Amazon page is at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric S. Brown/e/B004G6XP7E/
The Squad coverAnd Where can we find you?
I try to attend Liberty con every year. Aside from that, I am a very stay at home sort of writer.
Final question for you: What should I have asked but did not?
My newest release is The Squad. It’s a Bigfoot horror book set in the south. Other books I have had released this year as Casper Alamo, Day of the Sasquatch, Bigfoot, and a dark fantasy, Lovecraftian Roman novel entitled Beyond Night.
Thanks to Eric for taking the time to answer my questions.
If you have any suggestions or comments about this interview format, let me know so I can keep tweaking it.
Also, thanks to you for reading. If you’re interested in any of the other interviews I’ve done, you can find them all here: http://robhowell.org/blog/?cat=326. If you are a creator, especially an independent creator, and you want to be spotlighted in a future interview, email me at rob@robhowell.org.
Finally, if you want to join my mailing list, where I’ll announce every interview, as well as what’s going on in my life, go to www.robhowell.org and fill out the form (Name and Email Address) or drop me an email and I’ll add you.
Have a great day.
Rob Howell
Author of the Shijuren-series of novels
Website: www.robhowell.org
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rhodri2112
Blog: www.robhowell.org/blog
Shijuren Wiki: http://www.shijuren.org/World+of+Shijuren+Home
MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/rob.howell1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/robhowell.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhodri2112
Interview: Marisa Wolf
Marisa is another person I met at LibertyCon. She is chock full of awesome, as you will see here.
Interview: Marisa Wolf
Marisa WolfWhat is your quest?
To write stories that people can’t put down, to imagine what the future could look like (both in a “yaaay!” and a “yeee-ikes” sort of way), and to write characters people think about after the books let them go…
What is your favorite color?
Characters that feel real – thinking about how they might react in all kinds of situations that never make it to the story so I have a better idea of their life choices. Thinking through the emotional response I’d like to provoke. Sometimes that means reading out loud to make sure what was snarky-funny in my head lands outside of my actual head. Sometimes it’s writing a fight scene to Immigrant Song so I get the mood right. Sometimes it’s brainstorming gut-punch moments with authors who are really, really, really good at such things (coughKaceycough) (Rob’s Note: Kacey Ezell’s interview is here: http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1470).
What is the average flying speed of an unladen paint brush?
Whewwww the voice in my head is an ASSHOLE. Can we curse here? (Rob’s Note: Don’t hurt my saintly ears)
I feel like you curse when you go hurtling off the bridge, and also that voice is the equivalent of being thrown from the bridge in the middle of your grail-quest. Right, the voice – the one that tells me I’m not good enough, that people are going to notice I don’t belong with all these amazing writers, that I should probably not bother to write because no one’s going to like it…UGH that voice makes setting and keeping a writing routine hard. (Rob’s Note: That voice deserves to get cursed at)
What are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade?
Character development – where they end up is not where they started, even if they deny that growth to themselves (I’m a big fan of characters in denial about something, which maybe says something about me? Unclear). This is for sure a skill I developed through fanfiction, where I had characters I wrote for yearsssss.
Lightning Round
Favorite Muppet? Cookie Monster. The right answer.
Crunchy or Creamy? Creamy. Except when I want crunchy, and then crunchy.
Favorite Sports Team? Bad News Bears. Hufflepuff’s Quidditch team. (for real I was raised on Boston sports and so believe firmly in the underdog and then my teams did all the winning and it’s an identity crisis, I tell you #hardproblemstohave)
Cake or Pie? Peanut butter pie, then everything else = yes, please, excellent runner up
Lime or Lemon? Someone already made the lime in the coconut joke, didn’t they?
Favorite Chip Dip? Cheese.
Wet or Dry? #thatswhatshesaid
Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? #imnotahipster #basicmusicaltaste #idontcareitssogood
Whisky or Whiskey? YES, please and thank you.
Favorite Superhero? Kitty Pryde #shehadaDRAGON
Steak Temperature? Medium rare, I will accept only rare-r temperatures as valid answers.
Favorite 1970s TV show? Not gonna lie, all the ones I thought of were 80s. Early 80s, but…yeah.
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? …all you have to do is call! (dammit now that song is in my head) (Rob’s Note: My job’s done here)
Favorite Pet? I can’t pick a favorite, or I will be haunted by all the good boys and girls who went before. All dogs are the best. All cats are also the best. Even the jerks.
Best Game Ever? Either Uno or Apples to Apples with my family (each side has claim to one) – there is always loud arguing, snorting, attempts at cheating that are immediately seen through, and so much laughter I’m honestly sore the next day.
Coffee or Tea? Coffee. Unless I want tea, and then tea. But for real: coffee.
Sci-Fi or Fantasy? YES. Also you have a typo, ‘or’ should be spelled a-n-d.
What question(s) would you like to ask me?
What was the first book/story that GOT you? The one that made you catch your breath and need to read and re-read and maybe also re-re-re-re-read it?
Rob’s Answer: Well, I would probably have to say the Hardy Boy books. For a while, they were my babysitter when my parents both had classes to teach at the same time. They would buy me one that I didn’t have, which usually took me about 2-3 hours to read. That meant I got a lot of them one semester when I was five.
I’d also like to toss out The Ghost of Dibble Hollow. I read that book like a zillion times in 4th grade. I still have a copy and I might just read it again this weekend.
Tell me again where we can find your stuff?
www.marisawolf.net
Instagram: @bookdogs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisawolfauthor/
Coming soon: Hunter (the sequel to Assassin) and a few special projects…
And where can we find you?
Next big party is FantaSci, March 22-24 in North Carolina (http://fantasci.rocks/fantasci/)
Do you have a creator biography?
Marisa Wolf is the author of “Under the Skin” in The Good, the Bad, and the Merc, and the co-author of Assassin, with the fabulous Kacey Ezell. With more to come in the 4HU, she’s also co-authored a short story in another universe with Kacey (“Underneath” in Sha’daa: Toys, from Copper Dog Publishing), and has apparently decided to have five or more projects going at the same time all the time.
She was born in New England, and raised on a healthy diet of Boston sports teams, Star Wars, Star Trek, and the longest books in the library (usually fantasy). Over the years she majored in English (in part to get credits for reading which…partly worked), taught middle school science and history, was headbutted by an alligator, built a career in education, earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and finally decided to finish all those half-started stories in her head.
She currently lives in Texas with three absurd rescue dogs, more books than seems sensible, and one deeply understanding husband.
Final question for you: What should I have asked but did not?
You should have asked what nerd property do you desperately want to see come to some sort of media life in a very high quality way? That way I could have answered Dragonriders of Pern. Now! Please and thank you.
You should have also asked if there will be a sequel to Assassin so I could mention that Hunter is coming soon.
Thanks to Marisa for taking the time to answer my questions.
If you have any suggestions or comments about this interview format, let me know so I can keep tweaking it.
Also, thanks to you for reading. If you’re interested in any of the other interviews I’ve done, you can find them all here: http://robhowell.org/blog/?cat=326. If you are a creator, especially an independent creator, and you want to be spotlighted in a future interview, email me at rob@robhowell.org.
Finally, if you want to join my mailing list, where I’ll announce every interview, as well as what’s going on in my life, go to www.robhowell.org and fill out the form (Name and Email Address) or drop me an email and I’ll add you.
Have a great day.
Rob Howell
Author of the Shijuren-series of novels
Website: www.robhowell.org
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rhodri2112
Blog: www.robhowell.org/blog
Shijuren Wiki: http://www.shijuren.org/World+of+Shijuren+Home
MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/rob.howell1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/robhowell.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhodri2112
October 11, 2018
Interview: Doug Dandridge (Rerun)
Doug Dandridge is one of the great independent writers out there. He’s done really well in part because he puts out a ton of good material. My personal favor is his Exodus: Empires at War series, but he has over thirty published titles, including two other series, Refuge techno-fantasy and The Deep Dark Well trilogy. Now he’s started Kinship Wars, a traditionally published series. Let’s just say I’ve visited his Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/Doug-Dandridge/e/B006S69CTU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1522973584&sr=1-2-ent a number of times to get his books.
Exodus: Empires at War, Book 1 CoverAnd I’m not the only one. According to his bio, “(h)e has amassed over 5,000 reviews across his books on Amazon, with a 4.6 star average. 5,000 reviews! And about that same number on Goodreads. I am learning just how hard it is to get a single review out of readers, so that’s even more amazing to me than the hundreds of thousands of books he’s sold.
Clearly, he knows both how to write and how to market online, so I was excited when he agreed to answer my questions.
Doug DandridgeWhat is your quest? I like to craft technically sound science fiction (and fantasy as well) in an interesting and well thought out setting, with strong characters. Sometimes I actually succeed. I like the physics, chemistry, biology to stay as close to accurate as possible. Which doesn’t mean I don’t make up whimsical of utterly fantastic elements, but I see no need to step on real world principles when not necessary. My major influences include Robert Heinlein, Poul Anderson, David Weber, Robert E Howard, Jim Butcher, R A Salvatore and Larry Niven. I get a little bit from each one and possibly blend them together into something of my own. It seems to work, as I was able to not only quit my day job, but make a very good living at it.
What is your favorite color? Like Jim Butcher I start off with a map most of the time. I do a lot of research. Even in fantasy, I look up a lot of information, put a lot of it on paper. I world build to an extreme, probably more than I need to, but then, when I have a series, I just need to add onto the already detailed world. And I draw a lot of things out on graph paper, which allows even a poor artist like myself to visualize my settings. Spaceships, star systems, castles, even the look of dragons. All goes down on paper. And when I’m creating a star system I like to use programs to look over the configurations of planets and make sure it all works (wouldn’t do to have your inhabited planet go spiraling into the star). Probably more than I need to, but I read the horror stories of people finding fault with the science in other works. I even use Nukemap to make sure my things that go boom have an accurate damage radius.
Doug Dandridge with HelicopterWhat is the average flying speed of an unladen paint brush? I wrote a series called Refuge, which actually started off really well. Both of the first books sold over 5,000 copies. They mixed modern technology with magic, with people from Earth crossing over to another dimension against their will and having to fight wizards, dragons and things that go smack in the night. With tanks, attack helicopters and a couple of tactical nukes. Due to the physical and magical laws of the planet, the technology would only last for a short period of time, and the humans had to use it or lose it. So by book three they had lost it, and I had lost my readership. Turned out that the majority of people who bought the first two books loved the idea of technology versus magic, so book three sold just over two thousand copies, while four barely made it over a thousand. I’ve tried to salvage the series with book five, resorting to magic imbued steam tech. But I’m afraid once you lose readers you’ve lost them for good, at least for that series. The lesson? When something is working, don’t make radical changes.
What are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade? I am really proud of the Exodus: Empires at War series and the spinoff, Exodus: Machine War. This is the universe that turned me into an independent success. Of the 240,000 odd books I have sold, over 200,000 of them are in these series. They have been well received, and I have collected a lot of fans from all over the world from these books. I feel that I write battle scenes really well (see R A Salvatore and Jim Butcher above), and I’m also good at putting in technical details without overwhelming people with info dumps. The Exodus series is nearing its end, but I will start another side series, going back in time to the origins of my human Empire.
Lightning Round
Crunchy or Creamy? Crunchy.
Five by Five Cover
Favorite Sports Team? Florida State University, because I went there and I live in Tallahassee. Any of the teams, not just football. I go to women’s soccer, both basketballs, softball, volleyball, even sometimes baseball.
Cake or Pie? Pie, because cake is too rich.
Lime or Lemon? Lime, because lemon is just too sour.
Favorite Chip Dip? Home-made French Onion dip. None of that weak store made stuff. The Lipton’s Onion Soup with sour cream.
Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? A German Jazz guitarist named Vogel Kreigel. He played in a little hotel in North Germany back in the late 1970s. One of the best jazz guitarists in the world at that time.
Whisky or Whiskey? I used to love Wild Turkey 101. Haven’t had a drink, for health reasons, in fourteen years.
Favorite Superhero? Spiderman. I’ve been a Spidey freak since I was five years old, and I bought the issue of Amazing Stories that featured the webhead.
Steak Temperature? Medium rare.
Favorite 1970s TV show? Man, go back to the sixties and I might have something. The seventies did nothing for me, and I spent half of them in the Army.
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? Fall, love the crispy temps. Best time for going to football and soccer.
Favorite Pet? (provide pictures if you want) I had a ginger cat years ago named Beau who was the smartest pet I have ever had (and I’ve had an Australian Shepard). He died way too young at age nine.
Best Game Ever? Video Game? Fallout New Vegas, with lots of mods. Best gaming world, best story, a lot of fun to play in VR.
Coffee or Tea? I’m a big coffee drinking. Buy the beans and grind them myself before brewing them.
Sci-Fi or Fantasy? I love them both. I would actually like to write more fantasy, but somehow I slid into the scifi niche, so there I am.
What question(s) would you like to ask me? How do you come up with these questions?
My Answer: I think the first time I asked questions like this happened because I got tired of internet question memes, so oddly that made me make my own. The ones out there were just bland and boring, and so I made a whimsical one to have fun with my friends.
I used the idea again when I got married to my second wife. We wanted to make it fun, so I asked a larger series of questions to everyone involved in the ceremony. Then, we had a friend who is great at such things introduce us all as if we were wrestlers coming into a WWE event or something like that. We had a fantastic wedding.
As everyone who answers the interview questions realizes, I want to get some idea of your methods. Hopefully, this will help me and my readers find things that might improve our writing and publishing skills. However, I didn’t want it to be bland and boring, hence the Monty Python way of asking the questions.
But I also wanted to give each of you a chance to be something more than a name on an e-book. For example, I think it’s awesome that I now know you’re a Florida State fan. Plus, given how much I like to host people, it’s always a good thing to know how to cook their steak should the opportunity arise.
Aura CoverTell me again where we can find your stuff?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Doug-BrotherofCats-Dandridge-191808564242704/?ref=br_rs
Twitter: @brotherofcats
Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/Doug-Dandridge/e/B006S69CTU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1522973584&sr=1-2-ent
Blog Page: http://dougdandridge.com
Webpage: https://dougdandridge.net
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6529111.Doug_Dandridge
Final question for you: What should I have asked but did not? How did you ever decide to get into this crazy business?
I was out of work and pissed off at the employer that had just fired me, and decided to write a book exposing the corruption of mental health organizations. I sat down and wrote that book in two weeks, then started on an alternate history. When that was done, I went to work on a 260K word fantasy.
Refuge, Book 1 CoverI wrote on an off for over a decade, collecting over three hundred rejection slips, but trying to do it the old way, through a publisher. Finally, in 2010, I was really sick of my job and wanted to become a full time writer. I wrote the equivalent of 7 novels that years, including the books that were turned into the first two volumes of Exodus: Empires at War and Refuge: The Arrival. I didn’t actually put anything online until December 31, 2011, and nothing much sold for the first eight months. I did a giveaway for a book called
The Deep Dark Well, and 4,100 went off the Amazon hard drive. When Exodus came out in November (I had put out Refuge first, thinking it would be the breakout novel), I started selling 100 books a day. In January of 2013 I sold 8,900 books and the sales continued into February with 5,400. I kept getting good sale the first couple days of March, and I turned in my two week notice and never looked back.
What’s Your Upcoming Event Schedule? I will also have books coming out later this year from Arc Manor Publishing (Kinship War) and Chris Kennedy Publishing (When Eagles Dare).
Doug’s Book Biography:
Doug Dandridge is the author of over thirty self-published books on Amazon, including the very successful, Exodus: Empires at War series, the Refuge techno-fantasy series, The Deep Dark Well Trilogy, as well as numerous standalone science fiction and fantasy novels. In a five year period as a self-published author, Doug has sold well over two hundred thousand eBooks, paperbacks and audio books. He has amassed over 5,000 reviews across his books on Amazon, with a 4.6 star average, and a similar number of ratings on Goodreads with a 4.12 star average. He has also written his first traditionally published novel, the first of a series, Kinship Wars. He served in the US Army as an infantryman, as well as several years in the Florida National Guard in the same MOS. Doug, who holds degrees from Florida State University and the University of Alabama, lives with his five cats in Tallahassee Florida. He is a sports enthusiast and a self-proclaimed amateur military historian.
Thanks to Doug for taking the time to answer my questions.
If you have any suggestions or comments about this interview format, let me know so I can keep tweaking it.
Also, thanks to you for reading. If you’re interested in any of the other interviews I’ve done, you can find them all here: http://robhowell.org/blog/?cat=326. If you are a creator, especially an independent creator, and you want to be spotlighted in a future interview, email me at rob@robhowell.org.
Finally, if you want to join my mailing list, where I’ll announce every interview, as well as what’s going on in my life, go to www.robhowell.org and fill out the form (Name and Email Address) or drop me an email and I’ll add you.
Have a great day.
Rob Howell
Author of the Shijuren-series of novels
Website: www.robhowell.org
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rhodri2112
Blog: www.robhowell.org/blog
Shijuren Wiki: http://www.shijuren.org/World+of+Shijuren+Home
MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/rob.howell1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/robhowell.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhodri2112
Interview: Jason Cordova
Greetings all
Sorry I haven’t posted anything for #Four Horsetober in a few days. I had to help my mom out for a bit and that threw me off schedule. I’ll start making it up this morning with Jason Cordova.
I met Jason Cordova at LibertyCon and he immediately said something sarcastic to me and offered good scotch. I liked that so much I went out and bought Wraithkin, book 1 of the Kin Wars Saga. I liked *that* so much I bought books 2 and 3 in that series.
Interview: Jason Cordova
Jason Cordova PortraitWhat is your quest?
I try to include my own life experiences into the writing. The problem I have is I find oftentimes that some of the things I’ve done are so farfetched that nobody would believe it! So I borrow techniques from the best in the business – Jim Butcher, Larry Correia, Tim Zahn. Zahn especially has been a huge influence on my writing career, since the very first SF series I ever read was his Conqueror’s Trilogy.
What is your favorite color?
I love a vivid action scene, but I noticed over the years that I’m a little vague when it comes to describing a character’s appearance in detail (unless it’s a plot device!). I think it’s partially due to a deep hatred some authors have of overly describing things (“info dumping”) that can yank a reader out of the story. I’m all about pacing, dialogue, and character development without talking about how pretty/handsome they are. If I can write a 100,000 word novel and people are complaining that it’s too short and they “just started it, how come it’s over?”, I feel like I’ve done my job. (Rob’s Note: I agree, and strive to limit my Raymond Chandler tendencies… most of the time)
What is the average flying speed of an unladen paint brush?
The English language continues to vex me. In my head everything is part Spanish, part English, and translating a lot of it means I mix up order of words and verb tenses. I have the same issues when I try to write in Spanish (too many English-isms). Fortunately, I’ve had fairly decent editors over the years who are patient and willing to shoot me an email with a question. The most common one is “What are you trying to say here?”
What are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade?
I’m definitely proud of my Kakata Korps short stories set in the Four Horsemen universe. Using a relatively unknown group of behind-the-scenes guys who are struggling to find their way in a war-torn universe appeals to me. I enjoy writing about Mulbah and his crazy little band of hard-charging Liberians. I also am immensely pleased with the Kin Wars Saga. I love writing in that universe, even if it’s a constant reminder of the friends I’ve lost over the years due to illness.
Lightning Round
Favorite Muppet? GONZO!!!
Crunchy or Creamy? Creamy
Favorite Sports Team? Atlanta Braves
Cake or Pie? Both?
Lime or Lemon? Lemon-lime
Favorite Chip Dip? Salsa, but homemade and onion-free (onion allergy will kill me one day)
Wet or Dry? Dry
Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? Mindless Self Indulgence. They’re my guilty pleasure indie band of weirdos.
Whisky or Whiskey? Scotch
Favorite Superhero? The Flash
Steak Temperature? Rare
Favorite 1970s TV show? Little House on the Prairie
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? Fall/Winter
Favorite Pet? My cat Casper
Best Game Ever? Civilization V (Rob’s Note: Over Civ VI?)
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Sci-Fi
What question(s) would you like to ask me?
How do you find time to do all that you do and continue to have a life?
Rob’s Answer: You tell me. I do this full-time, given that I’m too educated to get any job that I’m qualified for. You also work, so I would say you’re the one with the more challenging path.
Working for yourself is hard, though, especially the motivation to do things every day. That’s my big struggle. In school, I would binge work. You can do that some in this job, but not as often because you don’t have gaps like you do in school.
As for my life, it’s not terribly active outside of going to cons and SCA events, which have become my work. My sweetie and spend most nights watching TV together or working on projects around the house. I’m surprisingly domestic anymore.
Tell me again where we can find your stuff?
www.jasoncordova.com
https://www.amazon.com/Jason-Cordova/e/B004CZHHPU
Instagram: @warpcordova
Twitter: @Warpcordova
https://www.facebook.com/JasonCordovaAuthor
And where can we find you?
FantaSci (probably, still waiting on confirmation) – March 22-24, 2019
Libertycon – May 31-June 1, 2019
Dragoncon – Aug 29-Sept 2, 2019
Do you have a creator biography?
A 2015 John W. Campbell Award finalist, Jason Cordova is probably best known for his popular Kin Wars Saga series, as well as the Kaiju Apocalypse trilogy with Eric S. Brown. He also has written a YA science fiction series called The Warp. He was also featured in John Ringo’s bestselling Black Tide Rising anthology, and the highly-regarded Forged in Blood anthology set in Michael Z Williamson’s “Freehold” universe. He will have a story in the upcoming Freehold: Vengeance anthology (Baen Books). Jason currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. He is also a kaiju enthusiast.
Thanks to Jason for taking the time to answer my questions.
If you have any suggestions or comments about this interview format, let me know so I can keep tweaking it.
Also, thanks to you for reading. If you’re interested in any of the other interviews I’ve done, you can find them all here: http://robhowell.org/blog/?cat=326. If you are a creator, especially an independent creator, and you want to be spotlighted in a future interview, email me at rob@robhowell.org.
Finally, if you want to join my mailing list, where I’ll announce every interview, as well as what’s going on in my life, go to www.robhowell.org and fill out the form (Name and Email Address) or drop me an email and I’ll add you.
Have a great day.
Rob Howell
Author of the Shijuren-series of novels
Website: www.robhowell.org
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rhodri2112
Blog: www.robhowell.org/blog
Shijuren Wiki: http://www.shijuren.org/World+of+Shijuren+Home
MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/rob.howell1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/robhowell.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhodri2112
October 6, 2018
Interview: Joseph Capdepon II
Greetings all.
I’m continuing #Four Horsetober with an author who will be making his debut in the Four Horsemen universe in Luck Is Not a Factor. I may have mentioned it’s coming out on 2 November. I may have also mentioned I’ll be in that anthology, too.
But never mind all that, this is Joseph Capdepon II’s interview. More than most, he took my instruction to be as whimsical as he wanted to be in the Lightning Round seriously. So to speak.
Interview: Joseph Capdepon II
Joseph Capdepon II PortraitWhat is your quest?
To write fun and engaging stories that people want to read. To create universes and worlds that draw people in, be it novels, short stories, graphic novels, screenplays, or whatever other mediums of entertainment I can do it in. To bring just a tiny bit of light and fun to a serious world. Also telling the stories of the voices in my head. They can be a bit demanding at times.
What is your favorite color?
I tend to concentrate more on dialogue in my writing. I am a bit light on scene description, though when I describe a scene, it is the big description. I don’t often get down to the small things in the scene. I also rarely give hard descriptions of characters. You get an idea of what they look like, but I’m more interested in trying to bring them to life through their actions and words. I think my love of dialogue comes from being a very avid movie watcher, and wannabe screenwriter. For me, while the background of a scene helps, it is the dialogue that I love. The back and forth between characters. How their words help the reader to be drawn into the world through the characters words. Movies have had a huge influence on how I write dialogue. (Rob’s Note: This is much like my philosophy, too)
What is the average flying speed of an unladen paint brush?
Showing and not telling. Describing a scene so that it is not clunky and gives the reader an accurate impression of the world. Writing dialogue that is not clunky or sounds like two robots talking. Trying to get the dialogue to sound natural. Battling that sometimes crippling self-doubt that The Enemy throws at you. (The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a must read for any aspiring author)
What are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade?
While I sometimes struggle, I do believe I write some damn good dialogue and some convincing characters.
Lightning Round
Favorite Muppet? Animal, because he will beat you to death and eat your face.
Crunchy or Creamy? Creamy. Crunchy peanut butter is for commies. (Rob’s Note: We may disagree on this.)
Favorite Sports Team? Houston Astros. Life long fan.
Cake or Pie? Bro. Pie is the best. Pecan Pie. Pumpkin Pie. Coconut Cream Pie. Key Lime Pie. Banana Cream Pie. Even fruit pies are superior to cake, unless it is Tres Leches Cake. Tres Leches Cake is the bomb, especially if it is Chocolate Tres Leches Cake from the Chocolate Bar here in Houston. (Rob’s Note: You’re missing the best pie of all, butter pie.)
Lime or Lemon? Are we talking as garnish, in a mixed drink, or in a savory dish? The only dessert that is allowed to use lime is Key Lime Pie. No dessert should ever have lemon in it, for that is heresy, and Odin weeps when people make lemon dessert.
Favorite Chip Dip? Salsa, the hotter the better.
Wet or Dry? Dry rub for brisket, smoked all night. After it is cooked, I will eat it wet or dry.
Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? Explosions in the Sky. Sigur Ros.
Whisky or Whiskey? Scotch, because the gods love us all.
Favorite Superhero? Punisher/Wolverine. Everyone else are pikers.
Steak Temperature? Medium rare. Less and you are not breaking down the fat in the meat, which means there is no flavor there. More and you are destroying the flavor of the meat.
Favorite 1970s TV show? Was Simon and Simon on in the 1970s? (Rob’s Note: Close enough. I love that show)
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? Winter. I live in Houston. Winter is the only bloody time of the year that it is comfortable outside.
Favorite Pet? Oberon, King of the Standard Poodles.
Best Game Ever? Final Fantasy VII.
Coffee or Tea? Both. All the caffeine!
Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Again, both! Though combining the two is always fun.
What question(s) would you like to ask me?
Why are the British so weird when it comes to food?
Rob’s Answer: I’m guessing it’s because their humor is so dry they can’t get the appropriate amount of juiciness in their food. That and coconut migration is not what it used to be. Swallows these days just don’t put forth the effort they did back in our day.
Tell me again where we can find your stuff? I don’t have much stuff yet.
https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Capdepo...
And where can we find you?
Hopefully if things work, I will be at LibertyCon 2019.
Do you have a creator biography?
Not really, but I should probably come up with a good one soon. (Rob’s Note: This might be a subtle hint 
Rob’s Update: Serendipity
Greetings all
Been a good week here, though a little disjointed. Since I’ve moved back I’ve been to the doctor a bunch. During the time I was in Omaha, I kept waiting to figure out where we were going to live before getting a doctor. Since we didn’t actually find a place, I kept putting it off. Now that I’m 50, it’s not smart for me to avoid doctors, so I’ve been getting my 250,000 mile checkup, so to speak. That means a bunch of visits, and I had several this week.
The good news is that I’m doing pretty good for 50. I’m also really pleased with my new doctor. My last KC doctor took forever once you got to see her. She’s very smart, but I simply don’t want to wait three hours once I get there. This new doctor is actually incredibly quick. Other than the procedure I had last week, I’ve had something like ten office visits in the last month and a half. I’ve spent less time total in those visits, including with the specialists, than I did the first time I visited my old doctor. Nevertheless, each time takes out a chunk of the day.
What isn’t in as good of shape is my old phone. I didn’t want to upgrade to a Note 9 just yet, but I dropped my Note 5 and broke it. Ah, well. I did want the 9, and frankly the 512Gb of storage has already proven useful.
Still, I titled this week “Serendipity” because of last weekend. I got a chance to go to the Great Plains Ren Faire because a friend mentioned it. I did well and I got to briefly see my mom. I’ll be back in April.
Then, once I was there, another friend posted they were at the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Fayetteville, AR. Idly, Friday night, I checked their tour dates since I wanted to see them at least once. And, lookee there, they’re playing Saturday night after the Ren Fest closed in downtown Wichita. Definitely serendipitous.
I was a little disappointed in the Marshall Tucker Band, who opened for them. For whatever reason, their sound was a bit off. Can’t You See was fabulous, though. Anyway, I really enjoyed Skynyrd. The bits where they interwove parts of Ronnie Van Zant singing on the screen were powerful. Tuesday’s Gone live was worth the price of admission.
And I got to yell for someone to play Freebird without irony.
Oh, and I also named this post “Serendipity” because I love that word. It’s so mellifluous. It was also the title of our English reader in 6th grade. It had some great stories.
Ah, well, that’s enough about me. I’m going to get back to work. Have a great week.
Current Playlist Song
Acadian Dance by Rik Emmett from Triumph. This is from his acoustic album where he basically plays around and shows off all he can do. It’s good writing music.
Quote of the Week
Today is Neils Bohr’s birthday. He’s got a number of great quotes, but this is one of my favorites, especially since I started writing. And before you ask, I still have quite a few to make.
“An expert is a person who has found out by his own painful experience all the mistakes that one can make in a very narrow field.”
– Neils Bohr
News and Works in Progress
The Feeding of Sorrows (approx. 20,000)
CB (8,418)
AFS (2,556)
Recent Blog Posts and Wiki Additions
This week I started #Four Horsetober, a bunch of interviews of other authors in the Four Horsemen Universe. You can expect a bunch of interviews throughout October in honor of the two Lyon’s Den anthologies.
Interview (Jamie Ibson): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1439
Interview (Christopher Woods): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1450
Interview (James L. Young): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1457
Interview (Rerun of Kacey Ezell): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1470
Interview (Rerun of Chris Kennedy): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1435
Magazine Review (Fantasy March, 1974): http://robhowell.org/blog/?p=1445
Upcoming Events
8 December, Kris Kinder, Kansas City, MO https://sites.google.com/site/kriskindermarket/
9-16 March, Gulf Wars, Lumberton, MO
http://www.gulfwars.org/
22-24 March, FantaSci, Raleigh, NC
http://fantasci.rocks/fantasci/
Spotlight
This week’s spotlight is on the Four Horsemen writers. See the list above for all the interview links.
Today’s Weight: 382.8
Updated Word Count: 209,771
Shijuren Wiki: 874 entries
Four Horsemen Wiki: 417 entries
Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.
Have a great week, everyone.
Rob Howell
Author of the Shijuren-series of novels
Website: www.robhowell.org
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rhodri2112
Blog: www.robhowell.org/blog
Shijuren Wiki: http://www.shijuren.org/World+of+Shijuren+Home
MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/rob.howell1
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/robhowell.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhodri2112
Currently Available Works
A Lake Most Deep (Edward, Book 1)
The Eyes of a Doll (Edward, Book 2)
Where Now the Rider (Edward, Book 3)
I Am a Wondrous Thing (The Kreisens, Book 1)
Brief Is My Flame (The Kreisens, Book 2)
None Call Me Mother (The Kreisens, Book 3) Forthcoming 2018
“A Gift of Crimson” in Hand of Gold and Other Stories (Pussy Katnip)
“Where Enemies Sit” in For a Few Credits More (The Four Horsemen Universe)
If you think you received this email incorrectly or wish to be unsubscribed, please send an email to shijuren-owner@robhowell.org
October 5, 2018
Interview: Kacey Ezell (Rerun)
Greetings all
This week’s interview is with the amazing Kacey Ezell. She is, I can say without doubt, the first person I’ve interviewed who has over 2500 hours flying Hueys and Mi-17s.
She’s also one of my favorite writers right now. I really enjoy her Minds of Men alternate history and am waiting for the next one in that series. She’s also one of the writers in the Four Horsemen Universe, collaborating with Marisa Wolf to write Assassin and show us all the might of the Depik.
Interview: Kacey EzellWhat is your quest?
To crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and hear the lamentations of their women. (I’m sure I’m not the first to say that!) For real, though, I just want to tell good stories that I’d like to read. And I want to be a dragonrider. For Science. (Rob’s Note: SCIENCE!!!!)
What is your favorite color?
Blue. I like emotional gut-punch moments in my writing. Specifically, I always try to have a moment or moments where I put the reader in the mind of the character and make the character’s emotions resonate within the reader. If I can make you cry, or laugh, or grieve, or rage, or exult, then I’ve done my job.
What is the average flying speed of an unladen paint brush?
I always feel like I’m never writing enough, especially when it gets busy with the day job. I get frustrated when I fly long days and then don’t have the energy to do more than drag myself into the shower and then into bed. My discipline demands that I at least try to write something every day, but a recent string of 12-hour days has shown me that sometimes, when I’m drained, I’m drained. So I’ll settle for writing 100 words that day and call it a win.
What are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade?
In writing, my personal Holy Hand Grenade is what I’ve described above. I’m always proud when I can make the reader feel something. In life/marketing, I think my personal Holy Hand Grenade is my ability to connect with people and make friends quickly and easily. I love getting to know new people, and that’s been incredibly helpful in my career!
Lightning Round
Favorite Muppet? Animal
Crunchy or Creamy? Creamy
Favorite Sports Team? Pittsburgh Steelers
Cake or Pie? Apple Pie / Guinness Cake (it cooks out! I promise!)
Lime or Lemon? Lime
Favorite Chip Dip? Spicy salsa heavy on the cilantro
Wet or Dry? wet
Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? Leo
Whisky or Whiskey? I’m Mormon, don’t care.
Favorite Superhero? Wonder Woman
Steak Temperature? Medium Rare
Favorite 1970s TV show? Um, I’m too young for that.
October 4, 2018
Interview: James L. Young
I found James L. Young because he writes an alternate history of World War II, specifically focusing on naval combat. It’s stuch a great universe, I keep pestering him to find me a spot to write in it. He ignored me, though, deciding instead to focus on finish his dissertation. What the heck was he thinking? Anyway, he’s a sharp cookie who’s a great writer.
Interview: James L. Young
James L. Young PortraitWhat is your quest?
So what got me started on this journey was to tell the best stories possible. I’ve always been a fan of mashups, and I’d say my style is a mix of Jack McKinney (pseudonym for the authors who did the Robotech novels), Richard Austin (pseudonym for the Guardians-series), Don Pendleton, and Tom Clancy, with a touch of Michael Stackpole. I like to have gritty stories where the good guys have a touch of black hat and the villains are sympathetic.
Aries Red Sky CoverWhat is your favorite color?
“I see a red door and I want to paint it…” Wait, sorry, that reference might be kind of dated (although there is a good recent cover out there). Black, black is my favorite color. As for small things I like in my creation, I usually try to put a small “gut punch” of an event that will resonate with the reader.
What is the average flying speed of an unladen paint brush?
Creative failures—Well, my first full novel got deleted by my sister and the only hard copy lost by one of my best friends. However, in retrospect, that was for the best, as it finally got me to (mostly) let go of trying to write the next Red Storm Rising. (Rob’s Note: I wouldn’t mind a good next Red Storm Rising. I love that book.)
Other things I’ve learned (of which some may have differing opinions): Print advertisement is largely dead for indies. You can get vastly more bang for your $500 than running a ½ page ad in a magazine, even if it’s genre / platform specific.
Acts of War CoverWhat are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade?
I would say a willingness to research is one personal power. This probably seems like a “Duh” coming from someone with a history doctorate, but I am regularly stunned by the number of authors who just won’t go through the trouble of even doing a basic Wiki scan. Not that Wikipedia is an absolute resource, but the citations are often solid and peer-reviewed.
(Rob’s Note: This is one of the most important comments I’ve seen so far in these interviews. Research is important and Wikipedia has worked pretty hard to make their content pretty reliable. It’s a great starting point.)
The second power is that, within reason, I’ll roll the dice on just about any weird request or marketing idea.
Lightning Round
Favorite Muppet? My high school nickname was Animal, so…
Crunchy or Creamy? Crunchy
Favorite Sports Team? As annoyed as they make me on a regular basis, the Chiefs.
Cake or Pie? Pie
Lime or Lemon? Either
Favorite Chip Dip? Parmesan Cheese Dip
Wet or Dry? The appropriate setting for the activity being discussed.
Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? Vic Tyler, “Dawson’s Christian” (google and listen to the Miranda’s Ghost version)
Whisky or Whiskey? Yes when I’m in the mood to drink it.
Favorite Superhero? Wolverine or Punisher depending on the day
Steak Temperature? Hot with a little pink.
Favorite 1970s TV show? Battlestar Galactica
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? Fall
Favorite Pet? Three cats, two dogs, and this question is full of trap. (Rob’s Note: I like traps)
Best Game Ever? Steel Panthers or Harpoon
Coffee or Tea? Coffee probably, but yes.
Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Sci-fi, but I’m a D&D fiend
On Seas so Crimson CoverWhat question(s) would you like to ask me?
Battleship versus battleship, who is the queen of them all and why?
Rob’s Answer: What a heck of a question.
Pre-dreadnought: I’m going to say the HMS Majestic and her sister ships. She was so influential in ship design.
World War I: This is probably the easiest answer for me. There’s a reason you specified a category called pre-dreadnought. The HMS Dreadnought has to be the queen because she changed everything.
Treaty battleships (i.e., those constructed under the Washington Treaty restrictions): I’m going to say it’s the USS North Carolina. I’m not influenced too much by the fact that the North Carolina is the best battleship museum I’ve seen. I loved getting to roam in her 16-inch turrets. I’m not a fan of the British designs during the period. The pocket battleship idea was too limited. The extra armor of the South Dakota-class ended up making them less valuable.
Overall: Basically, this comes down to the Iowas or the Yamatos. I think it’s clearly the Iowas. The European designs were not innovative or versatile. The Bismarck was a step above most British designs, but I don’t think she would have done well against the Iowa. She and her sisters were designed to defeat the Yamatos, yet they were also good AA platforms. They were also among the fastest.
It’s not entirely fair to tack on their later refits, but the refitted missile-carrying versions were clearly the most powerful BBs of all time. Some people think the idea of the battleship is outdated, but I actually would suggest that with drones and a proper tactical and strategic plan, BBNs might be more valuable (especially since they’d cost less) than CVNs. Modern versions of the Iowas could be insanely capable. However, that’s a long treatise in its own right.
A Pyre of Stars CoverTell me again where we can find your stuff?
Blog: vergassy.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AVKCQZQ
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColfaxDen/
And where can we find you?
Air Capital Comic Con—Wichita, November 10-11 2018
Planet Comic Con—Kansas City, March 2019 (Rob’s Note: I’ll be there, too)
Cincinnati Comic Expo—Cincinnati, OH September 2019
Though Our Hulls Burn CoverDo you have a creator biography?
James Young is a Missouri native who left small town life to attend a small, well-known Federal institution in upstate New York. After obtaining a degree in military history from West Point, Dr. Young spent six years repaying his education via military service in various locations (both foreign and domestic). Along the way he collected a loving, patient, and beautiful spouse (Anita C. Young)…and various animals that only fit those descriptions when it suited them.
Upon leaving the Army, James returned to the Midwest to obtain his Ph.D. in U.S. History from Kansas State. When not tormenting his characters, Dr. Young spends his spare time reading Anita’s first drafts, finishing that pesky dissertation, and trying to figure out how book eating shelter animals keep ending up in his office. Outside of Amazon, he can be found at conventions throughout the Midwest selling books and merchandise as James Young, Slinger of Tales.
In addition to his positive fiction reviews, Dr. Young is also the winner of the United States Naval Institute’s 2016 Cyberwarfare Essay Contest and runner up in the 2011 Adams Center Cold War Essay Contest. He has also had multiple articles published in Proceedings and the Journal of Military History since 2010.
Final question for you: What should I have asked but did not?
You should have asked what is your latest release so I could talk about Aries Red Sky, the latest novel in my Vergassy Universe.
You should also have asked what my favorite book I’ve released is. I’d answer Acts of War, the first novel in my alternate history universe. (Shhh, don’t tell the other kids.)
Thanks to James for taking the time to answer my questions.
If you have any suggestions or comments about this interview format, let me know so I can keep tweaking it.
Also, thanks to you for reading. If you’re interested in any of the other interviews I’ve done, you can find them all here: http://robhowell.org/blog/?cat=326. If you are a creator, especially an independent creator, and you want to be spotlighted in a future interview, email me at rob@robhowell.org.
Finally, if you want to join my mailing list, where I’ll announce every interview, as well as what’s going on in my life, go to www.robhowell.org and fill out the form (Name and Email Address) or drop me an email and I’ll add you.
Have a great day.
Rob Howell
Author of the Shijuren-series of novels
Website: www.robhowell.org
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Shijuren Wiki: http://www.shijuren.org/World+of+Shijuren+Home
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