Michael R. Baker's Blog, page 5
July 4, 2020
SPFBO Interview: Derek Prior
Our latest SPFBO 2020 interview is with Derek Prior, author of the Nameless Dwarf series, and rocking his badass covers!
STARTING OFF WITH A BANG
Introduce yourself! An easy question to start off with. Who are you, what do you write?
I’m Derek Prior, originally from England, but now living in North Carolina, USA.
I write mostly fantasy. My Nameless Dwarf books have sold more than 600,000 copies across all formats. Most of my books could be described as “classic” fantasy, but there are notable exceptions, such as The Codex of Her Scars, which is allegedly a little too dark, even for Grimdark.
SPFBO DISCUSSION
Is this your first time in SPFBO?
This is my fourth time in SPFBO. Previous entries were: Ravine of Blood & Shadow, The Codex of Her Scars, and Husk.
What book did you enter into this year’s event?
My entry this year is Last of the Exalted.
Here’s the blurb:
He was a curse upon the dwarves.
Then their savior.
Their king.
But after the tragic loss of his wife, the Nameless Dwarf stood down from the throne of Arnoch and went into the mountains to die.
Two hundred years later, the dwarves are a dwindling race on the brink of civil war.
When the hordes of Arnoch storm through the Malfen Pass, refugees flee for their lives, among them the half-Slathian storyteller, Nyra Sahtis, and Sister Caelin, a priestess who was once a trainer of armies.
But with the capital, Jeridium, under siege from a second dwarven faction, there is nowhere for them to run. And so Caelin must seek the aid of the lord she once betrayed, while Nyra is forced to confront everything she left behind when she fled her childhood home in the City of Sorcerers.
As rival dwarven armies converge on Jeridium, the Senate send the assassin Shadrak the Unseen to the Southern Crags to find an old friend in a desperate bid to avert the coming catastrophe.
For ancient evil manipulates from the shadows, and the dwarves are not themselves. And if there is any hope of bringing them to their senses, it comes in the shape of a grief-stricken warrior and his mythical axe:
The Nameless Dwarf.
The hero of legends.
The last of the Exalted.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Nils Fargin is probably the character that most resonates with me in this book. He’s an incredibly old man who once traveled with the greatest hero of the day. Having started out in life as the illiterate son of a crime lord, Nils was taught to read by a conflicted sorcerer and later went on to pass the entrance exam at Jeridium’s Academy, the premier training school for sorcerers. He is now the Principal of the Academy, having been through some pretty dark times, but he still retains the big heart and loyalty of his youth. Although Nil sis largely a supporting character, his interactions and relationships with some of the main characters are integral to the story. Nils is also the narrator.
What was the inspiration for the story? What are your future project(s)?
There were so many inspirations for this book: my own Nameless Dwarf books, David Gemmell’s Legend; Rosemary’s Baby; Salem’s Lot, Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Tales.
Future projects: I have three or four Nameless Dwarf novellas to finish, which will bring the Annals of the Nameless Dwarf series to a close. Then there’s Sorcerers’ Isle book 2, a half-written new novel written in first-person, present tense, a new Shader novella, and several commissioned novels that I am ghost writing.
What are the key themes and/or messages in the book?
Last of the Exalted is ultimately a book about friendship during a time of war and complete social upheaval. There are physical and spiritual conflicts woven throughout the story, some of which have their parallels in current affairs. There are hidden hands pulling the strings, tribalistic allegiances, abandonment of old ways, old morality, competing religious views, refugees and racism. But at its most basic, the story is about the disasters that unfold when a grief-stricken king abdicates and others move to fill the power vacuum.
What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
Last of the Exalted has been through several iterations, largely due to feedback from editors and suggestions from my agent. Some of this meant abandoning the established world of Aosia in favor of a new world, and leaving out all mention of characters from previous novels (especially dwarves!)
After two years of reworking the novel and getting feedback from test readers, I decided to go with my initial instincts and reverted to the original story, albeit in a much more polished form. The first draft was over 200,000 words long, so one major challenge was to cut off all the fat with a big, sharp axe. I actually enjoy cutting, in a perverse sort of way, and ended up reducing the word count by about 60,000 words.
What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
There is certainly scope for a sequel, but at this stage I am thinking more along the lines of spin-off books, especially for a character who is introduced in the final scene.
MORE RAMBLES ABOUT WRITING
What is your favorite book you’ve written?
To date, Last of the Exalted is probably my favorite book of all those I have written, although it’s a close-run thing, with The Codex of Her Scars and Land of Nightmare.
Who are your favorite authors?
Bernard Cornwell, David Gemmell, Stephen R. Donaldson, Michael Moorcock, L. Sprague De Camp, Lin Carter, Robert E. Howard, Mary Doria Russell, G.K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc, Edgar Rice Burroughs.
What makes a good villain?
Believability, by which I mean elements of psychological realism. It should be possible to rationlize her/his behavior, even if the reasoning is faulty. I also like my villains to have a degree of humor. Purely “evil” villains do not work for me. I like to see the potential for what they could have been/could still be, with the right choices and cirumstances.
Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?
Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shout out to?
Mitchell Hogan, who is having an incredibly productive phase right now, and who keeps putting out quality work. Also, Valmore Daniels, who still hasn’t put out the second Moon War book (the first was excellent).
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?
I learned that I don’t need to rush books to publication. The first draft of Last of the Exalted was pretty good. When I got it back from the editor, I completely revised it. I revised it again after feedback from my agent. I then left it alone for over a year, and then revised it fully again several times. In the past, I’ve succumbed the the perceived pressure to release a book as soon as the major revisions and edits have been done.
I also developed my sense of what needs to be in the book and what doesn’t. The more I revise, the easier this becomes. Generally, if a word or phrase sticks out, I scrutinize it and usually end up cutting it or replacing it. I’ve also grown much more sensitive to pacing in this book.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?
Both. I have the A and the Z worked out, often with a few key incidents along the way, but I don’t like to overplan as I find it stifles my creativity and tends to produce talking-heads characters (at least for me). I also continue to plan/plot as I write. All inspirations get added to my notes on Scrivener at each and every stage of development.
If you had to give up both snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
Wine.
Which is your favourite season to write in, and why?
I don’t have a favorite season for writing. I write all year round, pretty much 6 days a week.
It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it?
I don’t really go about understanding the characters. Rather, I draw my characters, by and large, from life experiences. I spent 25 years working in mental health, and before that I was in the theater, and I’ve spent a lot of time in academia, so I guess that covers a lot of character types. Much of my training in psychiatry concerned empathy and mental state assessment, so I’m attuned to a lot of the finer nuances of personality and character traits. Same with my acting experience, where I was a slavish practitioner of the Stanslavski method as far as character was concerned.
What is your writing process? Do you have one? What is your workspace like?
My work space: a big desk, a wine rack, a huge painting of the Nameless Dwarf, and my signed photograph of Patrick Troughton.
My process: I like to draft scenes quickly, usually during the morning, and then review them in the evening. Next day, I read and revise the scenes again before moving on to the next one. Once I have too many scenes to re-read every day, I tend to revise 2-3 scenes back, and then review everything once a week. By the time I have a completed first draft, I’ve generally revised every scene multiple times. I then set the book aside for a few weeks (or months sometimes) before starting to revise from the beginning. Next, I revise the scenes in reverse order (it’s amazing how much this helps with flow and continuity). I’ll often send it to an editor at this stage, and then commence the entire process again once I have the feedback.
I’ve been using Scrivener for the past five years or so, largely because it’s easy to move scenes around using the corkboard. It also helps to have an overview of the manuscript with a descriptive title of each scene, or the point of view character the scene is attributed to.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I sometimes get ideas from reading biographies or history books. Real life events sometimes find their way into my stories—encounters with people that leave an impression on me. I rarely draw inspiration from fantasy books as I read so few of them these days. The last fiction book I drew from, apart from Cornwell’s Saxon Tales, was probably Brideshead Revisited (don’t ask!)
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
I have maybe six or seven novels in note form, including a magic realism story in which a priest confronts a world of demons masquerading as business owners, politicans, etc. He’s either mad or visionary—I’ve yet to decide which.
Do you have any new series planned?
No new series planned at this point, just the finishing of the Annals of the Nameless Dwarf and Shader series with a few novellas, and the continuation of Sorcerers’ Isle. Other than that, I’m focusing on standalone novels right now.
MORE ABOUT YOU
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I train a lot of martial arts (boxing, muay thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA) and have a passion for dead lifting. I occasionally record music, and play guitar most days. Probably my favorite pastime is reading, but mostly non-fiction. Right now all my spare time is taken up overseeing the renovation of our new house. I am becoming an expert in mold remediation.
If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?
Stage actor or beer-drinking folk musician. The perfect job would be playing Victor Begman in the remake of Space 1999 (Black Sun brandy drinking scene with Martin Landau).
Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?
Tea, hot, English (but not Earl Grey!) Having said that, I live in the US these days so drink mostly coffee.
You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?
Barsoom (when John Carter is away visiting Earth). Why? You’ll have to guess.
Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?
The Spaceman, the Catman, and the Demon. We’d replace the Starchild with the Lich Lord and take down the Phantom of the Park.
What superpower would you most like?
Sugar and spice and everything nice.
What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)
Morlac: The Quest of the Green Magician by Gary Alan Ruse
Conan the Conqueor by Robert E. Howard and L. Spragu De Camp
If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
Hiliare Belloc. I’d just offer him a stale baguette and a bottle of Chataeu neuf du Pape.
Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.
I was once a Carmelite postulant in Australia.
It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?
Fly to England and see live music in an old pub whilst drinking a pint of Harvey’s bitter.
Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
It’s easiest to get hold of me on Facebook, but here are all the links:
Website: dpprior.com
Facebook: @dpprior
Twitter: @NamelessDwarf
Instagram: @NamelessDwarf
July 2, 2020
SPFBO Interview: Jonathan Pembroke
For today’s interview, I’d like you all to welcome Jonathan Pembroke, a SPFBO 2017 Finalist! He was a pleasure to interview.
STARTING OFF WITH A BANG
Introduce yourself! An easy question to start off with. Who are you, what do you write?
Hi, Michael, and thanks for having me. Well, about me…. I’m a 40-something living in the high desert of the American Southwest. Our son is grown and out of the house, and blessed us with an adorable granddaughter. So now it’s just me and the wife and a bunch of lazy dogs. I’m retired from the US military and was a meteorologist in a former life.
I’ve been writing off and on since I was a kid, and steadily for the last fifteen years or so. As to what I write…well, it’s odd fantasy. I think it’s hard to toss my books into a specific genre, which is good and bad. Good to be a little unique, but also harder to market. I used to write a lot of short stories but I’ve kind of gotten away from that. For the past few years, it’s been novels, which I’ve really come to enjoy. I also write contemporary romance, though under an androgynous pen name.
SPFBO DISCUSSION
Is this your first time in SPFBO?
Second. I entered SPFBO 3 in 2017 with my first self-published book, Pilgrimage to Skara. I was lucky enough to have Booknest (and they’re still judging away today!) select me as their finalist, though results in the finals were mixed. So I know the drill with the contest. It’s a great experience. I have no expectations about how my current entry will be received. I just love the networking and the community. I’ve met so many folks, including several I now consider to be legitimate friends, and the whole process is a ton of fun. I hope everyone that enters take advantage of getting to know people and learning as much as they can.
What book did you enter into this year’s event?
This year’s entry is Rumble in Woodhollow, the first book in The Holly Sisters trilogy. The story concerns two sisters: Sydney (the protagonist and POV character) and her older sister Marla, who are faeries from the Holly Clan—one of nine tribes of faeries (differentiated by wing markings) in the faery homeland of Sylvan Valley. Years earlier, Marla left Sylvan Valley to seek her fortune. Sydney stayed behind and worked in her aunt’s shop, getting progressively more bored with her life. When Marla asks Sydney to join her in the crime-ridden industrial slum of Woodhollow, Sydney leaps at the chance, only to find Marla running a street gang and competing with other criminals for control of the crime in the city. Almost immediately, Sydney gets entangled in the gang’s dealings and…well, more stuff happens.
I published Rumble in Oct 2019. The sequel, The Mauler, cleared beta reads and should be out in August. I’m aiming for the series finale for Feb-Mar 2021.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Yeah, I really like Sydney. She’s intelligent but a naive, quick-thinking but clumsy, and physically-attractive but riddled with self-doubt. Guiding her progress and growth over the course of the series has been one of the best parts of writing it.
There’s also Vivian, one of the other faery gang members. She’s a complete ditz on the surface but has a bit more going on underneath. She was fun to write.
What was the inspiration for the story?
Definitely took inspiration for this from the film Gangs of NewYork, and readers familiar with that film will notice some strong parallels to the themes. At the same time, I wanted to write a story with no humans in it and then tinker with the races a little. Woodhollow is a melting pot of faeries, dwarves, gnomes, elves, dryads, brownies, and other races but they’re not quite sterotypes. Faeries are human-sized and can fly but they’re sarcastic hedonists. The dwarves are venture capitalists but lousy smiths and forgers. Elves are long-lived and pointy-earred but are militaristic rednecks. That kind of thing. Having that background setting played right into the gang theme.
What are the key themes and/or messages in the book?
It’s about Sydney finding her place in the world and figuring out who she is, where she belongs, and what’s important to her. Or, if I could quote the character Dwight from the comic Sin City, “It’s time to prove to you’re friends that you’re worth a damn. Sometimes that means dying. Sometimes it means killing a whole lot of people.” That’s kind of where Sydney has to go.
What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
Keeping details straight. For the first time, I had so many characters, I had to start doing character blurbs so I didn’t get eye colors or faery Clan affiliations mixed up.
What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
This story arc will wrap with the third volume and sadly it will be the end of the line for some characters. I have another trilogy roughed out for Sydney and one companion, including her leaving the “known world” around Woodhollow and venturing into some areas populated by mythical races based on Middle-Eastern and Indian mythology. I have a few spin-off one-shots planned for some of the other characters who suvive.
MORE RAMBLES ABOUT WRITING
What is your favorite book you’ve written?
Oh, definitely Rumble, this year’s entry. I still feel like I am growing and improving as an author and this one has been my best full effort so far.
Who are your favorite authors?
“Favorite” is a tough one. For “influential,” I would have to say Stephen King and Michael Moorcock—the former for, if nothing else, his skill at a turn of phrase and his sheer productivity is inspiring. The latter because I love his worlds and angst-ridden characters. I read Elric back in the 80s as a teenager and it was my first exposure to that type of not-everything-ends-well story.
What makes a good villain?
Relatability. You don’t have to empathize with the villain or their goals but flashes of feelings or moments where they aren’t massively evil serves to humanize them, which I think makes them more frightening. One of the most (simultaneously) terrifying and fascinating things to me about Adolf Hitler is that he was personally kind to animals and (reputedly) against animal abuse. The sheer mental gymnastics involved there are staggering, and frightening.
So seeing Mistborn’s Lord Ruler express angst over the atrocities he feels forced to commit, or a genocidal maniac like Thanos in obvious pain over losing his daughter…these types of things humanize our bad guys. And if they’re more human than you thought, then they’re not as different from us as we like to think. And that’s scary.
Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?
Just to everyone in this year’s SPFBO: good luck and hang in there!
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?
Yes, I am not as much of a pantser as I thought I was. And with a larger cast, I start blurring together details. With Pilgrimage to Skara, my first draft I pretty much winged it. It had a more limited cast, I knew how I wanted to begin, how I wanted to end, and I bled some extra details in as I went. The second draft smoothed those out and helped integrate everything. With Rumble in Woodhollow, I tried it and the first draft was an incoherent mess. Too many loose threads, too many characters vanished, too many holes. I had to start sketching out some waypoints between beginning and end. When I started writing The Mauler (Rumble’s sequel) I planned out the major milestones from the beginning.
If you had to give up both snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
Coffee when writing is crucial around here. I can write in utter silence.
Which is your favourite season to write in, and why?
Winter, for sure. I’ve always got stuff to do outside in the other seasons, which takes away from writing and reading time.
What is your writing process? Do you have one? What is your workspace like?
Really, just me an my laptop, wherever that is.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
For my fantasy books, I usually start with a character. In the case of Rumble in Woodhollow, I had this snarky but lacking in self-confidence young woman in mind. I wanted to put her through the wringer and see if she could come out better on the other side. While I was doing this, I stumbled on an old short story I wrote inspired by Gangs of New York as I detailed earlier, and I melded the two ideas. (That short story was about the final battle between the gangs, the framework of which is largely unchanged in the book). For Pilgimage to Skara, I started with the character of a grizzled veteran, hung up on a past love and refusing to move forward. I started thinking about what catalyst would cause him to grow or fade and the plot developed from there.
Ironically, with my romance, I typically find inspiration by hearing something on the radio or see a stray news story. I start with the plot and go from there.
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
Oodles. Tons. I have more ideas and concepts than I have time to realize them. I had drawn up an entire concept about a common soldier, who is drafted into war after a series of world-shattering calamaties and times are desperate. He returns home after the fighting (ie, after one side destroys itself and the soldier’s side by accident) only to find his home ravaged and his wife and daughters missing. There’s an overarching story about harnessing the four elements but the core was to be about one person’s search for their family, in a world where nobility and wealth reign supreme and they have neither.
Maybe someday….
Do you have any new series planned?
Well, after I finish this series, I decided to write a sequel to Pilgrimage to Skara. I haven’t fleshed out all the details yet, though it is going to jump forward in time ten years and switch POV from the previous protagonist to a new one.
I’m also getting ready to start a separate trilogy, about a middle-aged woman with a hard past who is a part of a specialized military force guarding civilization from the threats from a permadark, corrupted fragment of the world. The tone of Holly Sisters is cynical but still basically upbeat. This new series is going the other direction. I’m really looking forward to working on this one.
MORE ABOUT YOU
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Work in my gardens when I can. Many folks that have never been to Arizona in the southerwestern US think of cactus and rattlesnakes and we do have that stuff…down south. I live in the northern part of the state, where it is more pine forest and the winters are quite cold, frequently getting below 0F/-18C in the winter. So the growing season is limited to May-Oct.
Other than that I write a lot. I play some video games (RPGs mostly). I have also been tying to step up my fantasy reading for the last year, especially indy books.
If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?
Frankly, anything where I didn’t have to talk to people. I’m a natural introvert—not in the sense of being awkward or anti-social but I find extended interaction with others exhausting. I can do it for a while, it just wears me out and I spent 20+ years doing it as a weatherman, so I’ve had my fill.
Actually, I wanted to be a comic book artist for a long time but my natural drawing talent is abyssmal. Maybe I would try again.
Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?
Tea with meals. Coffee outside of meals.
What superpower would you most like?
Super speed. Get through my chores faster so I can get back to writing.
Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.
When I was seventeen, I fell out of a moving car. When I was thirty-four, I was thrown from a horse. When I turn fifty-one, believe me, I am going to spend a whole year not getting on a plane or a boat.
It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?
Not much will change for us. While in the military, I traveled all over the world and got my fill of it. We’re kind of homebodies now and even before this, we’d go days without leaving the property. So maybe go for a local fish fry one Friday but that would be about it.
Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
Best way, honestly, is through Facebook, either by friending me or sending me a DM (link to me here). Goodreads works too (me there). I rarely check my Twitter and I don’t have Instagram or anything (I’m a social media neophyte). If someone really wants to reach out, they can email me at jonathanspembroke@gmail.com.
Thanks for having me, Michael. Cheers!
June 30, 2020
SPFBO Interview: Stephanie Barr
Took the Sunday off to return to streaming, so we’re back as scheduled with a new author interview. Today I bring you Stephanie Barr with her entry “Curse of the Jenri”, hope you guys enjoy 
June 25, 2020
SPFBO Interview: Josiah Rosell
Nice to be back in the interviewer’s chair. Got a new interview and subject for you today with Josiah Rosell, a debut combatant to SPFBO. Hope you guys enjoy.
Off-screen: You’re not supposed to say subject.
….. Ahem. Anyway, here’s a link to Josiah’s book!
SPFBO 2020 Interviews
SPFBO Interview: Jamie Edmundson
SPFBO Interview: Nerine Dorman
STARTING OFF WITH A BANG
Introduce yourself! An easy question to start off with. Who are you, what do you write?
Hey there! I’m Josiah, aka J.D.L. Rosell, and of all the fantasy races possible, I got stuck with human! Consequently, I write fantasy fiction as a way to cope, which tends toward the epic and heroic, often bleeding into sword & sorcery, dark fantasy, and coming-of-age.
Since I struggle to stay in one series, I have one complete of four, which are in various stages of completeness (but all will, one day, be finished!).
Legend of Tal is my most recent and contains the book I submitted to SPFBO, A King’s Bargain.
The Famine Cycle, an epic heavy on the political intrigue and Greco-Roman mythology/world, is two books into a trilogy, with two associated novellas.
The Everlands is my one complete trilogy, and is a virtual-reality fantasy adventure (LitRPG/Gamelit, you might say).
Lastly, we have The Winter’s War Saga, which is partially on Wattpad and will see the first book complete this year.
SPFBO DISCUSSION
Is this your first time in SPFBO?
Yes indeed!
What book did you enter into this year’s event?
A King’s Bargain, Book 1 of the Legend of Tal series. I pitch it as Name of the Wind meets Witcher, and it holds a lot that fans of classic epic fantasy would love – flawed heroes, legends, elves, monsters, and more.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Readers seem to resoundingly agree that Aelyn, a canterkous elven mage, is the best — and I certainly love writing him! But the eponymous protagonist Tal Harrenfel certainly captured my imagination and keeps me going.
It came about right before bed one night a year or two ago when I was thinking about Name of the Wind, one of my favorite books, despite its admittedly many flaws. I was thinking about what I loved about it, like the layered stories within it, as well as what I wanted to fix, and — voila! The idea for Tal came to mind.
It’s essentially this: a man who has been aggrandized by the legend written about him, who has accomplished larger-than-life things, but has become dwarfed by them. And it doesn’t have any flashbacks or nonsense — you only learn about the stories through other characters and what Tal himself says.
Tal’s emotional journey also really resonates me. No, not that he’s claimed to kill demons and mages and steal magic rings — his sense of wanting to do right, but fearing his own demons, and the guilt over failing over and over, no matter his accomplishments. The sense, too, of feeling phony and apart is also familiar.
One last thing is that it felt like a challenge to write a hero like that without making him a Gary Sue, so of course I had to take it on!
What was the inspiration for the story? What are your future project(s)?
Probably best just to see above for that bit! And for my future projects, I’m trying to go heads down on my current series(s) and see if I can’t finish up one or two.
What are the key themes and/or messages in the book?
The central emotional themes are probably:
Guilt to redemption
Secret shame to acceptance
Self-doubt to confidence
I also was aiming for capturing a sense of wonder, invoking a world and cast both wonderful to explore and spend time with, but also grounded in what could feel like reality to us, with consequences for every action.
What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
Diving deep enough into the stories of the world — that came through many revisions. And then the all-is-lost moment — I almost missed that whole part, and would have if not for my fiancée (who is also my first reader).
What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
Absolutely! Probably over halfway through the first draft of the next book, A Queen’s Command, and it’s currently planned to be a quatrology.
MORE RAMBLES ABOUT WRITING
What is your favorite book you’ve written?
To date, A King’s Bargain. Not only was it a joy to write, but I feel (and others have confirmed, thank goodness) that I executed a well-written, well-paced, and keenly plotted book that was immersive and fun to read.
But every writer knows their best book is the one they haven’t written! So always more to come.
Who are your favorite authors?
In no particular order (and probably missing a ton):
Robin Hobb
Joe Abercrombie
Patrick Rothfuss
Ursula K LeGuin
Naomi Novik
N. K. Jemisin
What makes a good villain?
Complexity, intelligence, and a believable self-rationale for their behavior.
Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?
Hm. Can’t say I so, sorry!
Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?
Who has friends? I went into this so I wouldn’t have to talk to people!
(But I won’t single anyone out… no hurt feelings that way.)
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?
Trust my instincts. And push your characters to do things until they’re almost irredeemable, then bring them back — it’s all the more satisfying.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?
I’m an English gardener — overgrown with boundaries.
If you had to give up both snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
Can’t do music while writing, so that’s an easy choice!
Which is your favourite season to write in, and why?
Spring. I’m happy and productive after the winter gloom, but not distracted like in summer.
It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it?
It’s about knowing what they want and what they need. A main character isn’t there unless there was a spark that caught my attention. Then it’s just a matter of adding fuel to the spark until you can understand how and why they’d act in any given situation.
What is your writing process? Do you have one? What is your workspace like?
Write first thing in the morning, every morning, for as long as I can, but usually get 1-2 hours before other obligations.
Probably the strangest thing about my process is that I write a fair amount of my books on my phone! Makes for a good switch-off with the laptop, since I’m a keyboard monkey by day.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Literally anything — books, TV shows, movies, the news, video games. Sometimes nothing at all — one of my books, City of Whispers, originated from a dream.
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
Too many. Here’s one in the wings (no pun intended):
Dragons returned. They burned cities. Slew armies. Ruined kingdoms. They are unbeatable. And now they’re worshipped as gods.
But the world is changing. Magic is rising from the depths. Old secrets reawakened. And one man has the ambition to reforge the empire that once reigned… using the very enemies who destroyed it.
Do you have any new series planned?
See above! And yes, always yes… too many!
MORE ABOUT YOU
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Hike, bake, take landscape photos, and read.
If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?
Photographer — though to be honest, I’m not really cut out for anything other than writing. (Don’t tell the day job boss that though!)
Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?
Coffee! It’s my drug of choice…
You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?
Assuming I don’t suffocate or die of hypothermia, I’d go to “the edge” of the universe.
Alternately, I would settle for the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, because of course it exists and why not travel time as well?
Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?
Gandalf, Pippin, and Samwise. We’re not leaving Hobbiton anytime soon, but I bet we’ll have a jolly time!
What superpower would you most like?
Healing. Nothing is worse than being in pain or seeing others in pain.
But, of course, if I were writing someone with that power, I’d make it an ironically painful power to possess. So maybe it depends who’s writing this superhero story!
What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)
For sentimental reasons, the full trilogy set of Lord of the Rings with the Ringwraith on the front. I also have a copy of The Hobbit with this velvety cover that’s delightful.
More recently, Robin Hobb’s 10-year anniversary edition of Assassin’s Apprentice is gorgeous.
If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
Robin Hobb, and home-made pizza – I make a good margherita pizza!
Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.
Hmm… During my high school years, my ambitions were more to be a musician than a writer. Senior year, I was in choir, two band classes, and three other extra curricular band opportunities.
Then college came, and I was burnt out.
But I think it’s turned out for the best!
It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?
Get married – if my fiancée and I even wait that long!
Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
A good place to find out more about me is my website. If you want to contact me, I monitor my email and Facebook page most closely. But follow along on any of the below!
A King’s Bargain (Amazon and Kindle Unlimited): https://books2read.com/u/3nvdex
Website: jdlrosell.com
Email: authorjdlrosell@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjdlrosell/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/J-D-L-Rosell/e/B072316FK4
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16850368.J_D_L_Rosell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdlrosell_author/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jdl-rosell
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/jdlrosell_author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdlrosell
June 23, 2020
SPFBO Interview: Jamie Edmundson
Time to pick up the pace! I bring you an interview today with Jamie Edmundson, an awesome author and good friend of mine. He was my Bristolcon wingman last October!
The more you know…Speaking of, here is a photo from that lovely time where we were allowed to go outside.
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Anyhow, on with the interview!
STARTING OFF WITH A BANG
Introduce yourself! An easy question to start off with. Who are you, what do you write?
Hi! I’m Jamie, an Englishman living with his wife and 2 kids who, after spending (serving?) time as a history teacher, has made the leap into writing. My books are best described as epic fantasy.
SPFBO DISCUSSION
Is this your first time in SPFBO?
No, I entered my debut, Toric’s Dagger, back in 2017, when I had only just self-published it. It got a full read and review by its blogger, but she didn’t totally dig it.
What book did you enter into this year’s event?
I completed my first series, a four-book epic fantasy, last year. I wanted to write something different next, so I decided to write a comedy fantasy. This was an odd choice since I am not a funny person. The first story in the series is called Og-Grim-Dog: The Three-Headed Ogre. Luckily (or not?) its publication fell just in time for this year’s SPFBO.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Well, this book is really all about the eponymous main character/s. The meat of the book is written from the POV of the middle head, Grim, though of course his brothers are ever-present. Initially I was really writing purely for laughs (even if just my own) but as the story developed, I came to fall in love with the character and I think by the end there are one or two quite touching moments.
What was the inspiration for the story? What are your future project(s)?
Og-Grim-Dog first appeared in a short story I wrote a long time ago. I was writing a character with the idea that he would later join up with other adventuring characters, written by various members of my family. I found it a challenge to write a character who had no-one to talk to, hence they ended up with three heads.
I have continued writing about Og-Grim-Dog and this will now be a four-book series.
What are the key themes and/or messages in the book?
Unsurprisingly, the series pokes fun at some of the tropes in fantasy. In this book in particular it is Dungeons and Dragons, which a lot of writers of my generation have an affection for.
Other themes are friendship, exclusion, diversity, bureaucracy, capitalism and bashing goblins over the head with a mace.
What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
Obviously, I had to get the point of view right. It could have been a complete mess with three different points of view so confining it to Grim’s was an important first step. It helped to give each head their own personality. Then also, English grammar hasn’t evolved to deal with three-headed creatures. At first, I struggled with whether I should be writing in singular or plural. But you can also have fun with that and there were times when I kind of delighted in writing strange sounding sentences that you wouldn’t normally read. Those sentences are probably really annoying to everyone else.
What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
Yes, Og-Grim-Dog will return 3 more times. Plenty of the other characters from book one will also become recurring characters.
MORE RAMBLES ABOUT WRITING
What is your favorite book you’ve written?
Well that’s a tough one. Perhaps The Giants’ Spear, the last book of my epic fantasy series, because that’s where most of the payoffs from the first 3 books get delivered. Also, in my opinion, I nailed the ending.
Who are your favorite authors?
Oh man. If I stick to those who had an important influence on me then Tolkien, Weis & Hickman, Tad Williams maybe stand out. Then GRR Martin knocked it out of the park in my opinion.
What makes a good villain?
Man these questions got hard. I like a villain with an air of mystery. You never really know them. Some books these days spend so much time with the villain, because the writer is enjoying themselves, they kind of cheapen them. They’re not scary anymore, or they’ve lost that edge. We have all their motivations, so are they even a villain anymore? For example, I loved The Joker movie, but is he even a villain in my eyes now? Do you know what I’m trying to say? Because I don’t.
Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?
No.
Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?
There’s this one dude called Michael Baker who physically grabbed me and pulled me over to speak to Mark Lawrence because I was too shy.
A Scar’s Response: That was fun! I had to get you out of your shell. Hey, I was shy as well!
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?
Every story has a natural length and you have to respect that.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?
I’m not sure you have to be one or the other completely. My first series was heavily plotted, my second is much more pantsy in comparison. I tend to think about my stories in my head so I don’t think I’ll ever be one of those people who sit down at the pc and think ‘I wonder what will happen next?’
If you had to give up both snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
I used to not be able to write and listen to music, now I do. I didn’t even attempt to answer that question, did I?
Which is your favourite season to write in, and why?
I hate the winter, I just want to hibernate. In the north of England summer is pretty awesome.
It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it?
I just do. But none of my books are character studies.
What is your writing process? Do you have one? What is your workspace like?
Just writing when I can, I don’t really have a streamlined system to share. At the moment I spend a week in my office upstairs and then a week on the table downstairs which looks out on the back garden.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Books, films, tv shows, history. I was a history teacher in my former life.
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
Og-Grim-Dog goes through a portal and visits Earth.
Do you have any new series planned?
Yeah I have loads of ideas all listed in a word doc. The weirdest is just a title: I Love F****n America: A Biography, by Chuck Wener
I have little memory of what that one was going to be about, but I still think it sounds pretty awesome.
MORE ABOUT YOU
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like watching tennis and I waste a lot of time playing fantasy tennis. The lockdown has stopped all that which has helped my productivity, but I miss it!
If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?
Boardgame designer.
Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?
About 3 years ago I switched from tea to coffee.
You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?
I don’t believe you.
Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?
What, now I have to write a story for you? You’re very demanding.
What superpower would you most like?
The power to come up with amusing answers to author interviews.
What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)
Touch of Iron
The Wrath of Heroes
If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
Michael Baker. Oysters, red wine and flowers. And I’d turn the heating up really high.
A Scar’s Reponse: Dunno what people have been telling you, but it takes a lot more than that to seduce me!
Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.
I’m left-handed.
It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?
Leave my house.
Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
Readers can subscribe to my newsletter here: https://subscribe.jamieedmundson.com/
My website blog: http://jamieedmundson.com/index.php/blog/
My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JamieEdmundsonWriter/
My Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16712129.Jamie_Edmundson
Thanks for the interview!
June 21, 2020
SPFBO Interview: Nerine Dorman
It’s that time again! SPFBO 6 has been in production for a while now, and it took me longer than expected to come up with a new host of interview questions. Finally I posted them up, and in less than a week I’ve had over two dozen responses.
My first interview is with Nerine Dorman with her fascinating entry Inkarna, and I hope you guys enjoy!
STARTING OFF WITH A BANG
Introduce yourself! An easy question to start off with. Who are you, what do you write?
I’m Nerine Dorman, a South African author and editor of SFF who operates out of Cape Town. I’ve been writing and publishing since about 2009 or thereabouts, and my focus is on creating rich environments and engaging characters.
SPFBO DISCUSSION
Is this your first time in SPFBO?
Nope, last year I had a fantasy novella called The Firebird that made it to the semi-finals.
What book did you enter into this year’s event?
This year it’s all about my urban fantasy novel Inkarna, and I’m lucky I remembered to enter. It nearly escaped my mind, and it was mere hours before entries closed. You can check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Inkarna-Those-Who-Return-Book-ebook/dp/B088X1MJ9Z
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
For sure. Ashton Kennedy is heavily inspired by a dream I had in which I was walking around in a body that I’d stolen. Of course it was only a few ‘what ifs’ later that I had the idea for Inkarna jotted down.
What was the inspiration for the story? What are your future project(s)?
I’m heavily inspired by ancient Egypt and modern occultism, so it felt natural to put the two together
What are the key themes and/or messages in the book?
If I have to explain the book (quickly and) badly in as little time as possible, I go along the lines of an initiate of an ancient Egyptian reincarnation cult gets sent back to earth to discover why her husband went missing, only to end up in the wrong body and no idea that she was supposed to guard secret knowledge that others would happily kill for.
What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
Time. Always time. I seemed to have more of it when I was still a wage slave working in newspaper publishing while I was writing the novel, but now with the reboot, it’s a project that’s taken me years, since I’m now a freelancer.
What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
I always intended to write a sequel, and part of why it’s taken so long is that I was finishing book two, Thanatos, which I’m hoping to release later this year. Inkarna ends on a ‘happy for now’ kinda ending, but things get a helluva lot more twisty and dangerous in book two.
MORE RAMBLES ABOUT WRITING
What is your favorite book you’ve written?
Definitely The Company of Birds, which is published by my favourite small press, Immanion. I worked closely with Storm Constantine on it, and she’s been one of the biggest influences on my writing.
Who are your favorite authors?
Neil Gaiman, Storm Constantine, JRR Tolkien, Kate Elliott, Cat Hellisen, Mary Gentle, CJ Cherryh, Robin Hobb, Jacqueline Carey, Katharine Kerr, Ursula K Le Guin, Mary Renault, among many others.
What makes a good villain?
The villain is the hero of their own story, so I believe the villain needs clearly defined goals and both inner and outer journeys as one would develop for your protagonist. The main problem is that their goals are at odds with the protagonist, hence the villainy.
Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?
I rely heavily on Google and YouTube for general searches, but for writing support I go to my writers’ group on Facebook, The Dragon Writers. It’s possibly one of the most supportive communities I’ve been part of and has a lovely mix of both published and pre-published authors.
Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?
For sure: My friends at Skolion, the SFF authors’ co-op I’m part of (http://skolion.org/). This year Tallulah Lucy, Yolandie Horak and Cat Hellisen have published, and Carrie Clevenger will be dropping a novel later this year. Also look out for my fellow Sanlam Youth Literature Prize winner Toby Bennett. His dark fantasy novel The Music Box has shades of classic Susan Cooper. (He and I have written a novel together, which we’re hoping to start shopping around soon.)
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?
My most recent book was Sing down the Stars, which is my first traditionally published novel. It was also the first novel that I wrote after applying what I learnt from screenwriter Michael Hauge’s master class that is free on YouTube. Best 1.5 hours I ever spent. He places great emphasis in understanding your protagonist’s inner and outer journeys, and how to hit those milestones that will resonate with readers.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?
I’m a firm believer in creating a framework, and then growing the story over that framework, if that makes any sense. I believe writing with a particular end goal in sight frees you up to elaborate when you have the opportunity, without missing those important milestones that will resonate with readers.
If you had to give up both snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
Music. It’s my theme and also serves to filter out incidental noise that may distract me from reaching my goals.
Which is your favourite season to write in, and why?
Autumn or spring. Here in South Africa, winter or summer are too intense in the temperature extremes.
It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it?
I like having a visual idea of what they look like, and unashamedly borrow from my favourite actors or musicians. Once I have them walking and talking in my head, it’s as if I can tap into them. They live and breathe for me.
What is your writing process? Do you have one? What is your workspace like?
I outline first, and do so exhaustively. Then I write a page at a time between my other tasks. I know it means the writing takes much longer, but for me it’s about savouring the process rather than the end result. Currently I’m working out of the dining area as the husband is between contracts, and has turned the office into a combination of work area and music studio. I don’t mind too much, as I’ve a lovely view off the balcony.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
It’s everything from the books I’m reading, the films or series I watch, or even a news article.
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
There are more than eight active projects, all at various stages of completion. The one I’m most excited about is the collaboration with Toby Bennett. We complement each other very well, and writing an epic fantasy containing everything from pirates, elves and reanimated mummies has been an absolute stonking joy, especially during these grim times. We cut loose and had fun, and the novel is now it its revision stages. We hope to start querying literary agents and publishers soon.
Do you have any new series planned?
I have a four-book epic fantasy series I’d like to get back to. Book one is already finished, but I’d like to revise that and get that up, and start looking at book two.
MORE ABOUT YOU
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What do you like to do in your spare time?
I make music, hang out in the garden, and make bad art. If I have time, I love gaming, even if I’ve been playing Assassin’s Creed Origins for the past two years.
If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?
Probably as an illustrator. Graphic design used to be my primary income source until the pandemic hit. Now I’m editing fiction to pay bills.
Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?
Both. I drink coffee at the start of the day then switch over to rooibos tea later otherwise I turn into an owl-eyed bogwitch when it’s bedtime.
You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?
I’d like to check out any of the other habitable planets. Just because the idea of parallel evolution fascinates me, and I’d like to see how nature solves similar problems in discrete systems. But there’s a part of me that wishes I could go back in time and do safaris of the prehistoric times. I’d love to be able to see extinct animals in ther natural environments.
Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?
Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Fitzchivalry Farseer and The Fool. Probably a terrible combination, but we go on a road trip through the US, because that’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I can imagine things being quite a lark with these three (that’s if they don’t get under each other’s skin).
What superpower would you most like?
Talking to animals – I often wonder what they must see and hear that we don’t.
What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)
There would be several, but by far are the 1990s Dave McKean covers for the Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman. And then of course the covers painted by Alan Lee for Tolkien’s works.
If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
Oh, that would be Neil Gaiman. And I’d do a roast freerange chicken the way my mum taught me to make it.
Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.
I am an experienced penguin wrangler and occasional wildbird rehabber.
It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?
Oh, hells, so much, but mostly get around to booking accommodation on a farm in the Cederberg and spending a week out in the wilderness.
Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
Best to stalk me on Twitter @nerinedorman or Instagram @nerinedorman too. I do have an author page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NerineDorman/
Folks are also welcome to sign up for my newsletter http://eepurl.com/JoPUv
June 16, 2020
Games in Isolation: Ongoing Thoughts and Shenanigans
I was meant to have this out by the beginning of May, but life got in the way. Apologies! I’ve been so far behind game articles lately. It’s a shame, because I’ve been playing so many!
So I figured it’s as good a time as any. I’ve got a good list of games to discuss, so let’s get down to it! Just a few reviews, completed and ongoing, so hope you guys enjoy. I’ll always be up for discussing games, so drop me a message!
Pokemon Sword
Oh boy, did this generation of Pokemon cause a stir.
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From the Dexit nonsense to it’s rather lukewarm reception, 2019’s latest Pokemon franchise really pissed off some people. I initially wasn’t going to pick them up, having gone off Pokemon in recent years. However, before the UK went into it’s lockdown, I ended up trading in at CEX for a copy of Pokemon Sword, based off my few hours playing it at a friends house in Edinburgh.
I’ve missed going out.
36 hours later, I defeated the champion. And…eh. I see the criticism. It’s so mindless I barely feel motivated to get the box legendary, and that hasn’t happened to me before in a Pokemon game.
Let’s start with the bad and the bland. Let’s be blunt, Pokemon was never really decided to have a good story. It’s had times with good characters, and Generation 5 (Black and White) were the high point of story in the games. Pokemon Sun and Moon and its Ultra versions had some strong characters and story, but badly let down by its awful pacing. It feels the developers just wanted to race through, as Sword and Shield’s story is both bad and lazy. The Darkest Day never really did much for me, and the main character (you) is completely irrelevent. It might just be the worst story in the entire franchise, and that’s including X and Y.
The Wild Area too…I like the concept but the graphics and draw distance is atrocious. The route designs too were extremely undercooked, almost like the game was in pre-alpha. The draw distance really put me off, seeing trees pop up 10 meters away…ugh.
A lot of people blast the game for it’s short playtime, but I feel thats part of its design. The Max Raid mechanic gives you a crapton of EXP candy, and with the EXP Share unable to be turned off (A design flaw), it’s very easy to level up your team. That in itself isnt a bad thing, I was able to level up 2-3 full teams quickly and experiment.
Which leads me to the good parts of the game. Dexit aside, I really liked the new Pokemon designs, for the most part, and what was in the game, I was happy with. Time will tell whether their Season Pass will be an improvement over the past “Release third version” bullshit, but Pokemon has always been predatory in this regard. While the plot sucked ass and the game was too easy, some characters were well made. I liked the Champion Leon, and his brother Hop as he evolves alongside you. Marnie was a high point as well. That…was about it.
The Raids were a lot of fun, and in spite of how undercooked a lot of the gameplay is in this game, I really enjoyed the catching and raiding part of it. The Pokemon Camp mechanic while seemingly meaningless was good too, and I couldn’t help feel impressed by some of it. Hence in spite. There is a good game buried in here, amongst all the bad.
That’s why I give Pokemon Sword a 7/10. It is riddled with flaws, but I somehow enjoyed this game more than I did the previous two generations. Which isn’t saying much. While it was badly undercooked with some poor design, and a pretty bad idea of what a Switch Pokemon game should have been, it was suprisingly enjoyable for such a subpar game. I would recommend waiting for some kind of sale, but it’s Nintendo. You may be waiting for a while.
It’s just disappointing, man. This could have been so much better, but I guess it’s proof a game doesn’t have to be particularly well made to be fun? *shrugs*
I’ll keep an eye on this Season Pass, anyway.
Score: 7/10
Desperados III
What a treat this game is shaping up to be!
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I was lucky to get an early copy of this game thanks to the guys at THQ Nordic (Thanks for hooking me up with the key!) and I’ve been playing this game steadily over the past month, while embroiled with editing and other projects.
Made by Mimimi Games and published by THQ Nordic, Desperados 3 is an excellent sequel in the series, and by the same awesome guys who made Shadow Tactics.
The gameplay…my word, the gameplay! You get a bunch of different, fleshed out characters, each with different and specified abilities, and you’re thrown a gauntlet of challenging missions to test your skills on. From Cooper’s knife throwing, loud guns and coin distractions, to Hector’s traps and axe play, to even some mind-fuckery with Isabelle, you get a ton of options for completing the levels. The characters are well designed, and while I haven’t found anything particularly enthralling about the story, it’s serviceable and keeps me entertained.
Shadow Tactics was known for it’s difficulty, and Desperados III is no exception. I’ve never been one for difficult games like this, so I look at my 38 hours played (by this article) and barely halfway through the game as a kind of humiliation. But it’s a good difficulty. The game blesses you with a no-penalty quick-save option and pause to plan your moves real time, and the sheer versatility and options it gives grants you a lot of replayability. I know i’ll be replaying this game on completion to try and get the achievements.
As for flaws? There aren’t many. They did a really good job here. I have seen a few instances where my game refuses to load saves, forcing me to backtrack (though it may be to repeated quick saving and saving over them, causing corruption. Don’t abuse that mechanic like I have). The repetitive dialogue of the enemies when looking for you can also be a bit grating, but these are minor nitpicks. This is a chunky, well made game, and well worth its hefty price tag. Don’t be put off by that, give it a try.
I rate Desperados III an easy 9/10. I’ll update the score when I finish the game, but I can already see this making my GOTY list in December. It’s that good.
Ongoing Score: 9/10
Black and White (2001)
No, not the Pokemon version. The old Black and White. I’ve been replaying this on my Twitch channel, and it’s a nostalgia jolt to the balls.
That intro is still amazing, though.
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It’s certainly under-appreciated in the present day. It is a hidden gem which I think everyone should play at least. Lionhead Studios, the guys behind this game, has long closed down. They eventually collapsed under the weight of their expectations, but games such as Dungeon Keeper, Fable II and this game make me remember it fondly, and even “almost” make up for Fable III and the appalling video game Godus.
Essentially, the game is a god-sim, where you control the lives of your little subjects and do anything you want to them. Me? I’m a prick of a god, and enjoy torturing them. I reviewed its sequel Black and White 2 in my second edition of Flash Game Reviews, but this game just had an edge in overall depth. BW2 was dumbed down a lot, and while many features in the first game weren’t as polished as they should be, it is still an enjoyable experience.
What do you do in this game then? Well, in Black and White, you take the role as a god over a village of people (who demand everything and breed like rabbits, an annoying mix which is frustrating at times to handle, not to mention the bugs which occurred at times), take over other villages while playing quite an extensive campaign which can last dozens of hours, depending on your skill.
I say extensive, which is half a lie. There are only five lands and while all of them were immersive, and rarely got bored, this game is a lot shorter than I remember. (This is in far contrast to its sequel, which despite its bigger range of features, skimped out on in the campaign, I feel. Was kind of a disappointment.) There are several mods and custom-made maps you can download and play as well, which heightens the gameplay. Remember, if you can mod the game, it goes huge lengths towards making the game better!
You feed your villagers, keep them housed, they pray for you and you fund this with Prayer Power at your Temple, which is converted into Miracles. Casting Miracles is always fun and you can do anything from water forests/give food and wood to your people, to torturing and killing them with fire, lightning and storm. You can even pseudo nuke stuff with the Megablast miracle, though its expensive and hard to get, only in Land 5.
There are skirmish maps, but always the same and hard to get into, though there are plenty of mods available for it. You also get a creature who you nurture into your own, though this is often buggy, and you can teach it miracles too. Many different creatures await your control and you can swap them throughout the game if you want, but there isn’t really much difference between them, except a couple of options like speed/intelligence.
Your creature is the biggest part of the game, and theoretically you can teach it anything you can do. It can dance, learn miracles, gather for your villages, and so on. However, in playing I found this to be buggy at times, with many of the miracle learning exercises to be extremely slow and had a habit of “forgetting” at times. Once, I spent 5 hours teaching my creature (An ugly looking, evil Zebra) the Megablast Extreme miracle. It reached 100%, then tried to cast it, Boom, back to 0%. That was a frustrating bug, though it didn’t happen often. It was a huge shame though. it would have done brilliantly in murdering that stupid god Nemesis on Land 5. . .
You can be good or evil in this, whichever you want. You don’t even need to do any missions if you don’t want, and there is no time constraints; the world is your oyster. Of course, you don’t get some of the fancier bits like making buildings (through buggy scaffolds, the game wasn’t fully utilised to use this), or making miracles until Land 2, but the option is there if you want if you want to just hang in the first land.
There is also an expansion pack Creature Isle that has a considerable amount of content, though focuses solely on the creatures itself. Another thing worth looking at, though as both games are now vaporware, you should be able to download it from anywhere.
I’ve been streaming this game on my channel, and while it’s been buggy and a strong reminder that old games sometimes don’t age well, it has been a lot of fun. https://www.twitch.tv/diabound111
Score: 7/10
What I am currently playing
I ended up having to make a rota system, it got out of hand.
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Right now, my current list are:
Persona 4: Golden – It finally came out on PC! Not quite Persona 5, but it’s arguably the best in the series, and it’s a good port too.
Desperados III – I’ll try and finish this game.
Rimworld – Responsible for 80% of my gaming hours since early May, this has retaken over my gaming life. So many mods, so much fun.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – I plan to review this at some point. I’m enjoying it, but I’m putting it aside for now. I’m…not sure what to think of this game.
And that’s it for now! This was fun to write, but hopefully I’ll be back soon. Things have…been hectic.
May 27, 2020
Authors in Isolation: Katie Cherry
Let’s back back on schedule with another interview. Joining me in the Scar den is Katie Cherry, I hope you guys enjoy, and join me in welcoming her! Click on the dragon logo down below to check out her website.
First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write?
I am twenty-three and I write fantasy. I love cats and have grown to like most dogs as well, though if I could have any pet, I would choose a fox or a wolf! I currently live in Utah with my husband. Our favorite thing to do together is play video games.
How do you develop your plots and characters?
The characters are already alive, for the most part. Once I get a glimmer of an idea for a book, the character(s) will pop in and start feeding me info about themselves, their world, and their problems. I simply weave it together into a story on paper, with more details coming through as a write- including plot twists. It may sound cliché, but I’m really more of a conduit to the stories than anything!
Tell the world about your current project!
My current project is book six of seven of my Crystal Dragon Saga. Nearing the climax of the storyline is intimidating and exciting in equal measure. Crystal and Nathan are about to finally come face-to-face with the mysterious ‘bad guy’ of the series and realize just how much is at stake for the seven realms if they can’t defeat him. These last two books especially will have everyone on the edge of their seats!
Who would you say is the main character of your latest novel? And tell me a little bit about them!
Crystal Dragon is the main character of this series, though her best friend Nathan is the second main character. She grew up in our world, believing that magic isn’t real, until she’s taken to the realm Zilferia. There, she has to come to terms with not only magic, but her own royal heritage and connection to the dragons. Before long, another role is thrust upon her- savior of the realms. Thankfully, Nathan helps her conquer her anxiety and depression, shortcomings, and trials, and together, they prepare to help her realize her destiny and defend the realms.
Have you been to any conventions? If so, tell me a little about them!
I attended the Wizarding Dayz convention in Salt Lake this last February for the first time. It was great! Everyone there already loved magic and great stories, so they were easy to talk to and connect with. I was more successful than I expected, and am looking forward to attending more conventions in the future!
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
This has a bit of a longer story to answer! It started with my love of reading. I have always been a voracious reader, and by the time I was about thirteen, I found the reserves of fantasy books in my local and school libraries very much depleted of books that I wanted to read.
The thought to write my own books didn’t come to me until I heard about the Young Writers and Artist’s Fest taking place a few months out. I ignored it for a while, since I was no artist, until it suddenly hit me that a writer is just the other side of the coin from a reader. So, I decided to give it a shot.
My first book was very cliché, but I finished it, and it was a pretty lengthy book, especially for a thirteen-year-old. Everyone was impressed by the feat. When I finished it, I got the idea for the first book of the Crystal Dragon series. The ideas didn’t stop, and I realized I’d opened a door I couldn’t close. The writer life took me by the hand and yanked me out of reality and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?
New Zealand! Everything I hear about it is just amazing. I love the accents, the people, the beauty of nature… everything. And writing a book with that setting… well, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine dragons living in the mountains, forests, and oceans around NZ!
What advice would you give new writers?
Write more than one book before you start looking to publish. Especially if you’re writing a series. Complete the series, and by the time you finish, you’ll have grown enough that you’re going to want to rewrite the first few books anyway. It also takes off the stress of needing to put out the next book of the series once you have readers waiting for it. You’ll have them all ready to go! Also, don’t take your writing too seriously. Be open to criticism, as it can only improve your writing. Make sure you compromise, though. It is YOUR book, after all! Lastly, check out the Facebook group 20Booksto50k. It’s filled with authors who are making a living with their books, and others striving to get there. Free access to ‘secrets’ of the trade. If you want to make it big, it’s absolutely the best place to be. The sooner you join, the better, as many things are good to know BEFORE you start writing, if possible.
What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding?
Hmm this is a tough one. My husband helps me with worldbuilding, since he knows a lot of random details about the world we live in now. We just kind of expand on some things, twist some others, and add in some magic. Using this world as a template, things stay realistic and understandable while still providing an escape.
What inspires you to write?
The story, primarily. I’m still that same reader I was ten years ago, on the search for great books. My books are great to me as a reader, so I create them partially for my own enjoyment! Secondly, each book completion gives me a feeling of success that’s difficult, if not impossible, to recreate elsewhere. Thirdly, now that I have a following, I write for my readers! Their love for my creations bolsters me, and I’ve become friends with many of them. With each book, it feels like I’m giving my friends a gift- something that I love to do! This is a way I can give in a world that focuses on taking. It’s such a great feeling!
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Getting past my perfectionism paranoia. Starting is horribly difficult for me, because I want it to be perfect. The story isn’t totally solid in my head until it’s written, but I want it to be, so that when it’s written, it’s perfect. I balk at starting to write each day because of this. It’s scary to write forward into the unknown and face the fear of it not being good enough! Thankfully, once I force myself through it, I go back and discover I had nothing to fear.
What is your routine when writing, if any? If you don’t follow a routine, why not?
I try so often to have a routine… for anything in my life, really, but it gets especially difficult if something comes up and I have to deviate from the plans I made. Which happens nearly every day. So it’s just really difficult to come up with any kind of schedule that will work more days than not! The one consistency I’ve been able to establish is catching up on my social media so I’m not worrying about that as I write, turning on my music and putting on noise-cancelling headphones, and going to 4thewords to do my writing. (I can choose what monsters to fight, and once I write that many words, it’s defeated! It makes writing almost more of a game than a chore or something on my to-do list.)
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write in any of your books, and why?
Oof, that’s a hard question too. Hmm. I think my favorite parts of my books is when the main character is able to accomplish something they didn’t think they’d be able to do. The rush of accomplishment and euphoria that they feel, I feel when I write those scenes. Also, with my love of dragons, I just love any scene that has to do with them getting in touch with the dragon inside of them. (My main characters so far are part human and part dragon!)
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?
With my last book, I discovered that if I outline with too much detail, that’s exactly what I write. I don’t delve too much into details or inner thoughts. I’ve boxed myself in from the beginning. The book ends up being a good 10-20k shorter than I mean for it to be because of this! So for this next book, I’m trying a much looser outline. So far, my writing is better, but it’s harder and takes longer! So it’s a give and a take, I suppose. I’m sure eventually I’ll find the balance of pantsing and plotting!
Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?
I started out as a pantser, but as the series evolves, it becomes difficult to do so and keep track of all the character arcs, plot lines, magic system, etc. So I turned to plotting. It helped a lot with keeping things in line and writing faster, but I felt my writing wasn’t as good. Now I’m a bit of both!
Gardener or architect… I don’t know that I’ve heard of either of those. Maybe gardener- plant some ideas and see where they go is I’m assuming what that one involves, which definitely sounds like what I do, so we’ll go with that one rather than following a rigid plan that I don’t deviate from.
If you had to give up either snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
Music. I would get distracted by every little thing without music! Snacks are easy to go without- my fingers are busy anyway. But music really helps me get in the mindset of writing rather than the every day and noticing how badly I need to clean my house or should be making dinner!
Which is your favorite season to write in, and why?
Spring. It’s the perfect temperature to sit at my desk and open the window. A fresh breeze that smells like the flowers just starting to bloom, the sunshine to brighten my mood… I couldn’t ask for much more! (Except for spring to last much longer than it does!)
It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it?
I addressed this a little earlier, but my characters are the easiest thing for me. It feels like they already exist, and they direct the story. They come to me with flaws, concerns, and unique aspects already there. I will delve into this a little deeper for this question. I have also heard the question ‘how do you write characters of the opposite gender?’ Which is also easy.
They’re human. We honestly aren’t as different as many of us may think. We all have desires, and they’re fundamentally the same. Our mannerisms may be a little different, but I’ve known boys and men all my life. All it takes is just a little observation to note the few differences. Beyond that- they’re just like us. They’re human.
What are your future project(s)?
After the Crystal Dragon Saga, I’ll be rewriting and expanding on a short story I had in an anthology. It had Greek Gods, which is always exciting… it will be a duology, with the first book Blessed With A Curse, and the second, Gods’ Grace. After that… I’ll need to choose from my massive list of ideas! I’m thinking of a more epic fantasy with winged people, elves, and a land with darkness fast approaching. I don’t have a name for it yet, but the series idea is developing in my mind. It will likely be a trilogy.
What is your favorite book ever written?
My favorite book ever written? What a cruel question! Who can narrow it down to just one? Torture. Let’s go with my most recent favorite, I suppose. Kay L Moody’s Elements of Kamdaria is an awesome series I’ve discovered, so I’ll say book one, Ice Crown. Though, again, I have far more favorites than just that! (The Dragon Princess by Lichelle Slater, Hunted by Meagan Spooner, the classic Eragon by Christopher Paolini, etc.)
Who are your favorite authors?
Oops, I kind of answered this in the last question! Christopher Paolini, Kay L Moody, Ali Winters, Meagan Spooner, JK Rowling… and more, I’m sure. But I’ll keep the list short for you.
What makes a good villain?
They’re relatable. They’re flawed. If we can relate with the villain, it adds so much depth to not just the character, but to the book(s). It increases the conflict as we realize there’s no such thing as pure evil… or pure good. When black and white becomes grey, all bets are off!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I play video games with my husband, primarily! I don’t have much ‘spare time’ these days, but I used to do a lot of reading (obviously!) and I used to crochet. One day I’m sure I’ll get back to doing those as well.
If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?
Honestly, I found acting to be really fun. I did a little in High school, and regretted not doing so sooner. It was really fun, and I was always pressed to improve and grow. Every time I got on stage, my stage freight diminished and my enjoyment- and talent- increased. I wouldn’t say I’m great at it, but I wish I was. I think being an actress would be a fantastic, adventure-filled career.
Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?
Sorry, I’m one that likes neither! I like Rootbeer, Cream Soda, eggnog, chocolate milk, strawberry milkshakes… you know. Sweet stuff!
You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?
If there’s a planet with dragons (especially if they’re the kind that won’t roast me upon entry), I choose there! Otherwise, I’m probably good staying on Earth. I find that most of space isn’t exactly hospitable!
Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?
I don’t really follow any blogs, sorry!
Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?
Eileen Mueller is amazing! She’s super sweet and writes awesome dragon adventures as well. Yumoyori Wilson is an incredible author as well. Not just a speed writer, but keeps her head up even when things are hard! She’s such an inspiration to me.
Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?
Wow, this is the toughest one of all so far. I have no idea. I’m so glad I have plenty of time to think about this! I certainly need it.
Sapphira (the dragon from Eragon), Crystal (the main character from my Crystal Dragon series), and… Newt Scamander (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). We would fly around and explore and interact with magical creatures! Now that would be a perfect ‘road’ trip!
What superpower would you most like?
Teleportation, probably. I’m fairly lazy, though I also honestly just don’t really like road trips, and airports are exhausting. I could just teleport to see friends and family in an instant!
What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)
Oh, gosh. Let me dig. One of them is by Amalia Chitulescu with a massive hand-painted phoenix! “Quest for the Ember Relic” by Aurora Weiss.
Second choice… Claire Holt’s “Heir of Ashes.” I almost bought this, but I was outbid, unfortunately. I still mourn my loss! It’s so beautiful!
It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?
I’d like to go and check on my grandparents. I’m sure they’re feeling very lonely due to all this isolation, and it’s been hard to not see them for so long, especially while my grandma doesn’t have great health.
Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
The best place to get in touch with me is to email me at Crystal1Dragon20@gmail.com, and through Facebook. I have a fan group, and those interested can also follow my personal profile. My newsletter is the best place to get updates (since Facebook often won’t really share posts). I’m also on Instagram, Twitter, Patreon, Bookbub, etc., but Facebook and my email list are the best places to follow me.
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/author.katiecherry.1
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1275626482623759/
Newsletter signup: https://www.subscribepage.com/katiecherrysfantasyemails
May 24, 2020
Authors in Isolation: Eric Shapiro
Nice to be back after a small hiatus, been focused on editing. SPFBO6 is just around the corner! Click on the banner to go to the page, courtesy of Mark Lawrence. I hope to once again interview you all!
Today I bring you an interview with Eric Shapiro, who is promoting his dark fiction novel Red Dennis, go check it out!
First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write?
Hmmm, where to begin? I’ve been a ghostwriter for most of my adult life, and have done no end of speeches, memoirs, and script doctoring. But under my own name, I primarily write dark fiction, most recently my psycho novel RED DENNIS. I’m also a co-owner and editor at The Milpitas Beat, a Silicon Valley newspaper.
How do you develop your plots and characters?
Usually the protagonist is an alternate-dimension version of me—just me, with my voice, under different circumstances (and thus becoming a different person). And once I’ve got the main character, I give him a goal, which sets the plot into motion. It’s hard to explain as a lot of it happens subconsciously while I’m walking and daydreaming. I’m very feelings-based in my writing. When I have the right emotion, it generally hints at a scenario, which I then begin drafting my way through…
Tell the world about your current project!
Happy to! RED DENNIS is a championship of depression and toxic masculinity. It’s about a middle-aged man in a small town #metoo scenario who ends up going into a rage and turning to violence.
Who would you say is the main character of your latest novel? And tell me a little bit about them!
His name is Dennis Fordham: Forty years old. More overweight than he admits. With all his best days behind him and his delusions of being cool, handsome, and relevant rapidly fading.
Have you been to any conventions? If so, tell me a little about them!
A couple of the Fangoria ones down in L.A., and a couple witchy ones up here in the San Francisco Bay Area with my wife Rhoda. It’s interesting how the horror conventions overlapped with the magick conventions—same sense of open-mindedness, the costumes, the same will to play and explore.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was about five and my mother, who had a no-boredom policy in our home, encouraged me to fill my spare time by writing stories.
If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?
Whoa—awesome question! Forgive the dreadful cliche, but if there was a good grocery store nearby, I’d definitely head off to a remote cabin in the woods—and write the scariest thing that I could possibly imagine…
What advice would you give new writers?
Just sit down and do it every chance you get. Ignore the loud voice of self-doubt. Ask your friends for honest feedback. Drop the ones who discourage you. Love and hug the ones who are constructive.
What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding?
The book begins in the Bay Area, where I’ve lived for almost five years now. It then winds to Vegas—one of my favorite places to visit, and the setting of my previous book, LOVE & ZOMBIES—and Indiana, which I’ve driven through a bunch of times on road trips. I tried to convey the flavors and vibes and emotions of all these places.
What inspires you to write?
It usually starts with the psychology of the main character. That’s the core landscape: whatever’s going on in his or her mind, which tends to be damaged and/or extreme.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
It’s the first two paragraphs on any given day, when you have to drop down from the waking world into the writing one.
What is your routine when writing, if any? If you don’t follow a routine, why not?
I usually try to burn down four straight hours in the morning, before eating, drinking, or doing anything else.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write in any of your books, and why?
I loved orchestrating the twist at the end of RED DENNIS, which had me gasping, crying, and buckling over. I hope other people catch the vibe! (Or else I was just a maniac at a keyboard…)
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?
It was my first novel under my own name (non-ghostwritten), so I learned a ton about keeping a breakneck pace across 65,000 words instead of 25,000 words. I also learned how much deeper the characters feel in a bigger and fuller environment; they still follow me around in real life like real people.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?
I had to look up pantser! My mind went in a whole ‘nother direction… But I’m half plotter, half pantser: I have a general sense of where things will go, but I’m not pinned to it. I think over-planning inhibits the emotions. Likewise, I’m a gardener. Architects drive me a little crazy in collaboration, though there are a few I love working with. I start with the internal seeds and let the external environment populate based on how they grow.
If you had to give up either snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
Aaaaaaahhhhh!! You terrible questioner! Music would lose out to snacks and drinks. More drinks; I get thirsty a lot, and sometimes also find that a full bladder can make your writing more intense.
Which is your favorite season to write in, and why?
Probably the dark of winter; I feel more sealed-in, internal, private, and concentrated. Too much light and heat, I find distracting. I want to be outside.
It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it?
It is. I try to stay open to questions about them, and remain curious. When I try to solve and crystallize everything about them, the characters take on a canned quality. But when I treat them like beings of infinite complexity, they keep engaging and surprising me. We have to be willing to give them contradictions, depths, and paradoxes. If they’re too straightforward, they don’t seem real.
What are your future project(s)?
I’m working on a graphic novel called ENDFEST with my lifelong buddy Ian Jarvis. He came up with a killer apocalyptic premise, and honored me by inducting me to help him flesh it out. We’re co-writing it and he’s doing all the drawing.
What is your favorite book ever written?
I can’t pick a favorite, but Eric Bogosian’s three novels — MALL, WASTED BEAUTY, and PERFORATED HEART — come close.
Who are your favorite authors?
Bogosian, Denis Johnson, Chuck Palahniuk, Greg F. Gifune, Stephen King, Elizabeth Wurtzel.
What makes a good villain?
It scarcely to never crosses their minds that they’re villains. They have needs they need to fill, based on who they are and how they were raised, and that’s about it.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Walking/hiking, reading, infrared sauna, meditating (ideally daily), restaurants and trips with my wife and kids.
If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?
After all that ghostwriting, I’m ready to retire! But I have always nursed this fantasy about being a locksmith. I don’t know why; you’re kind of like an angel who swoops in to the rescue. You probably meet strange people and get in weird situations—but maybe that’s just the author talking!
Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?
Tea. Especially Red Tea.
You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?
Higher octaves, frequencies, and vibrations. I can glimpse them when meditating, but can’t seem to get up there without dying…
Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?
No, but everyone should follow Greg F. Gifune on Facebook. Best surrealist on the planet right now. Truly frightening storyteller. That guy has talent like most of us have cells.
Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?
See above. Also, my wife Rhoda Shapiro, whose excellent book FIERCE WOMAN is riding around the world like a horse on fire.
Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?
Haha! It’s me and the kid versions of Beverly, Stuttering Bill, and Stanley from IT, stealing Beverly’s dad’s truck and road-tripping it through rural Maine. I’m a kid, too, in this adventure, of course.
What superpower would you most like?
Hearing what people are thinking.
What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)
Swear on my life, the best covers anywhere are at Independent Legions Publishing, which published RED DENNIS. (Sorry for punting!)
It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?
Let’s just say the potential end of movie theaters and buffets is breaking my heart.
Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
I love interacting with readers and fellow writers on Facebook.
And RED DENNIS is available here:
May 12, 2020
Self Isolation Author Interview: Lucas Pederson
Back with another interview. Hope everyone is being safe, today’s is with Lucas Pederson. Hope you guys enjoy!
First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write?
Hi! I live in a small Iowa town and started out by drawing in my early teens, truth be told. Every drawing, I wrote a short story. Eventually I began writing more than drawing and, around 2004, got serious about my writing and learning my craft. If not for a writing group in the old Zoetrope, I might not have ever published anything. Those folks were fantastic. They still are. I owe so much to all of them.
I write anything from horror to YA. Recently, I’ve been interested in dark fantasy or grimdark fiction. I tend to write alot of science fantasy with horror elements.
How do you develop your plots and characters?
It all stems from an idea. Sometimes two ideas merge. Or even three. Just depends, I guess. I have a pretty vivid mind’s eye, so I see the characters there. I know their traits, ect. In the end, though, I just write. I write the story scratching at the walls of my skull to be let out.
Tell the world about your current project!
I’m finishing up a sea thriller titled, BLACK WATER for Severed Press. My next project is a novella titled, THIS IS THE HOUSE. About four people with dark pasts trapped in an old house where they must find certain keys to escape each room, but with a cost. It’s not a game, though, and the house has other plans. Think Saw meets Hell House.
Who would you say is the main character of your latest novel? And tell me a little bit about them!
In my current project? That would be Hannah. She’s inspired by my middle daughter with a dry sense of humor and fearless. Well, until she meets something she actually fears…
Have you been to any conventions? If so, tell me a little about them!
Unfortunately, I haven’t been. Had a few opportunities here and there, but they fell through. It’s something I really want to do so I can meet all my author friends in person! Someday, perhaps. Someday.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I would say around 16 or 17 years old. It was about the time I began falling in love with stories more than drawing (which I still love).
If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?
Northern Minnesota. There’s just something about all the tress and lakes which sparks ideas and beams serenity.
What advice would you give new writers?
Write. Just write. And keep writing until your story is finished. Wait a week, then go back and read what you wrote. Rewrite, of necessary. This is not a career to go in half-assed. You want to make sure the story and characters are they best they can be. Three drafts per novel. That’s the sweet spot
Though I’ve only done two drafts in the past. You want to be sure your vision is as perfect as you need before releasing it into the wild. Also, make friends. Don’t be an asshole. Support your fellow authors as best you can
Because, unless you get extremely lucky, you’re not Stephen King yet.
What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding?
The current world we live in is a large inspiration. The unknown. The possibility of a real apocalypse. All that. I envisioned a world not dilapidated by disease, but a microscopic robot. I wrote this story long before Covid-19, but it all kind of fits now. Definitely not intended.
What inspires you to write?
Everything. An idea or two…or three combining to create some new. Real life. I have too many stories clawing around in my head. That sort of thing. Inspiration is everywhere.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Finding the best time to write is difficult sometimes. I hate writing all night, but it seems to be the only time when the house is quiet. I don’t have an office to lock myself in, so I’m at that mercy of my family until they go to sleep, heh.
What is your routine when writing, if any? If you don’t follow a routine, why not?
I sit down at the kitchen table every night around 10:30 or 11 and write until however long it takes me to get to 3k words. Trust me, I don’t come close some nights, but at least there are some words written. That’s the main thing, get those words down as best you can. That’s the goal. Some nights go very well…other nights suck fuzzy donkey balls.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write in any of your books, and why?
There’s a scene in my YA book, THE SKIN FACTORY, where Death dances around this old ballet studio wearing a tutu and trying to coax our protagonist (a soul trapped inside a different body) to dance with it. However, a dance with Death is to die. That scene rolled out so vividly to me I still remember every detail.
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?
Pacing, perhaps. A lot of my thrillers go balls to the wall and don’t typically let up until about the end. This one I went with a slower pace which gradually ramps up.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?
Pantser. Not say that I might jot down a summary of the story or a short synopsis here and there. Mostly, though, I’m a pantser. I love being surprised while a story unfolds before me. I love the organic feel of it.
If you had to give up either snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
Drinks, probably. Especially of the alcohol variety, ha ha. Even so, I like having either coffee or water near at hand while writing.
Which is your favorite season to write in, and why?
Fall or winter seem to be my prime writing seasons. I tend to write more horror during the fall and more thrillers, fantasy and science fiction during winter. Not exactly sure why, except for maybe the gloominess sparks my imagination. I dunno. I’m weird.
It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it?
I have one of those “mind’s eye” things. I can see every character. But that’s the physical part. The internal stuff comes from something deeper. I tend to claim most of us writers have a form of multiple personality disorder. We can be whoever the character needs us to be. And through placing yourself as the character, you eventually come to understand him/her. Might not happen right away, though gradually. That’s how it is for me, anyway.
What are your future project(s)?
I have the horror novella, THIS IS THE HOUSE, releasing in a few months. Saw meets Hell House. There are a couple books I have contracted through Severed Press. One about an Old West gunslinger falling into a lost world where he must fight off both hungry dinosaurs and the outlaws he was hired to kill. The other is a play on the Loch Ness Monster. During World War 1, a Russian scientist fleeing for his life drops a creature that would soon be known as Nessie in the lake. A creature bred in a lab to be a ravenous secret weapon that goes dormant every fifteen years. After those books, I’ll have a grimdark fantasy being released titled, GORECROW. And, if I have time, write a third book for my Cryptid Force Six series.
What is your favorite book ever written?
Oh, man. That’s a tough one. I like them all. But if I were to choose one, it’d be CLINT CLUSTERFUK. That book was a blast to write.
Who are your favorite authors?
Another tough question. The list is nearly endless. But, if I had to name a few, they’d be:
Josh Malerman
Rob Hayes
Michael R. Fletcher
Deborah Wolf
Stephen King
Mark Lawrence
Stephen Graham Jones
Alicia Wanstall-Burke
Dyrk Ashton
Paul Tremblay
Sean Grigsby
Patrick Freivald
Bracken MacLeod
What makes a good villain?
One who is not always evil, or rather, doesn’t see himself/herself as evil. We’re all the heroes in our own stories, right? A villain is no different. Also, they need to be a little empathetic. They need to have emotions, just like our hero and not the cliché chuckling guy in the shadows, twisting his mustache.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Read. Draw. Play guitar. Fishing and camping. Spending time with family.
If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?
Either an animator, comic book artist, or CGI specialist.
Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?
Coffee. Always…coffee.
You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?
Not sure if this means fictional or real universe as we know it today. In the semi-realness, I’d dive into Jupiter and see if it’s really made of gases. All that swirling…might be a front for hiding life. Aliens, man…aliens…
Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?
Not that I can think of off the top of my head.
Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?
I did above a bit for favorite authors, but yeah, all of those are friends, except Stephen King, heh. All of them are amazing writers and I highly recommend each and every one of them.
Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?
Conan. Wolfman. Hannibal Lecter. We’re one our way to Minnesota when the drugs take hold…
What superpower would you most like?
Speed. Can you imagine how much I could write if I was as fast as the Flash!?
What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)
Rob Hayes’s, NEVER DIE. Patrick Freivald’s, IN THE GARDEN OF RUSTING GODS.
It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?
Go to an authentic Mexican restaurant and a family vacation.
Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
I’m most active on Facebook, www.facebook.com/lucas.pederson5 . I pop onto Twitter sometimes, @pederson_lucas. And I can also be reached at my email, lucaspederson@yahoo.com
My latest book, WYNTER’S EDGE, can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0869PFSXL?tag=speculativefic05&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1
