Michael R. Baker's Blog, page 7

Self Isolation Author Interview: Mike Shelton

This one has been a while coming! The poor guy sent me his questions over a month ago! But never mind, he’s here now, I present to you Mike Shelton

Self Isolation Author Interview: Madolyn Rogers

These are really starting to come in! Today’s interview is an awesome one, as this author hired me to make the city map for her debut novel! This interview is a long and awesome read, so I hope you enjoy

Self Isolation Author Interview: Ian Lewis

Got ourselves a new interview to show to you guys, this one with Ian Lewis. I’ve had several interviews back already, keep them coming! Any questions or requests, just contact me!

 

 

 

 

 

First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write? 

 

I live in Ohio and work in the software industry. I’ve been in print since 2009, initially releasing three novellas with Untreed Reads, a small indie press who specializes in eBooks. While I enjoyed working with them, I decided to go out on my own and found I enjoy even more having complete control over pricing, release timetables, etc. Since then I’ve released four novels in a variety of genres and am a co-host of the Promptly Written Podcast where we crowd-source our flash fiction writing prompts each month.

 

How do you develop your plots and characters? 

 

Most of my characters are modeled on abstract impressions that are probably subconsciously based on certain archetypes or a mix of archetypes. At least that’s what I tell myself. I’m probably doing nothing of the sort and am instead butchering a handful of shallow character sketches over and over again.

 

Plots are something that just need time to develop organically. Usually I have an idea for a scene or maybe even a start and a finish, and then I have to build something around that to fill in the gaps.

 

Tell the world about your current project!

 

Right now I’m putting the finishing touches on the final manuscript that will be the fourth book in my Driver series. It’s called Winterfield Nights, and once I’m done with said manuscript, I’ll go into edit mode. This book is experimental like the rest of the series, and features a mix of POV where each chapter starts out in third person to set the scene, and then you drop into the viewpoint character’s first person POV to finish it out. I wanted the book to be really moody and atmospheric, and there are strengths to both first and third person POV that help craft that vibe.

 

Content wise, there’s a supernatural bent that overlays the rural noir/crime aspects of the story. There’s a lot of desperation and regret and the feel that characters are drifting closer to a point of no return. It will be a Gothic Supernatural Thriller if there ever was one.

 

Who would you say is the main character of your latest novel? And tell me a little bit about them!

 

The Driver is the primary protagonist in Winterfield Nights. He’s a murdered soul who operates out of an in-between state known as the Upper Territory. This is where all murdered souls reside, the idea being that the trauma of murder splits soul from spirit. Members of a group called Abel’s Fold build temporary “super-physical” bodies for murdered souls so they can find their spirits or “ghosts” that are lost in the Territory. The Driver is a member of the Fold and is supposed to facilitate this process, but he has a vengeful vigilante streak that prompts him to shirk his duty and intervene to save people’s lives when he sees fit. This of course has caused problems for him over the years, and Winterfield Nights is sort of the culmination of those missteps. Oh, and did I mention he drives a phantom Camaro? Black ‘85 IROC-Z. It doesn’t get any cooler than that.

 

Have you been to any conventions? If so, tell me a little about them!

 

I’ve never been to a fantasy convention, but I’ve been to author conventions at libraries. Despite being an introvert (and quite happy to remain so), they are a good way to get out there and meet readers and other authors.

 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

 

I was in college, reading a lot to pass the time, wanting a creative outlet. I used to draw a lot when I was younger but stopped for whatever reason. Since I always enjoyed reading, I thought I’d try my hand at writing. I proceeded to write a number of really terrible short stories that thankfully never saw the light of day. Frustrated with my output, I quit writing for three or four years until I got the idea for The Camaro Murders, which was the first book in the Driver series. I haven’t stopped since.

 

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?

 

Maybe feudal Japan? There is a Japanese thread to some of the lore/backstory in my Reeve series that I need to explore for the second book (Villians), and I want it to be as authentic as possible. At least up until to the point where things go sideways due to alchemical mutations, and then anything is fair game.

 

What advice would you give new writers?

 

Join a critique group. Participation therein is the cheapest, fastest way to improve yourself as a writer.

 

What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding?

 

Last year I released From Legend, the first book in the Reeve series. It’s essentially Batman, a western, and low-fantasy all in a blender. In it, I created an alternate post-alchemy version of North America (and really the entire world) where the primary setting is Northeast Ohio. I tried to be faithful to the plant/animal life and the schizophrenic weather patterns as well as incorporate bits of local history. I think it was all born of a desire to turn my mundane surroundings into something interesting.

 

What inspires you to write?

 

Music, philosophy, and any number of visual media I loved as a child in the 80s.

 

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

 

Finding the time to do it. Sometimes sleep and reading time must be sacrificed in order to eke out a chapter a week at best. This intensifies when I hit a release cycle.

 

What is your routine when writing, if any? If you don’t follow a routine, why not?

 

I always try to write during my lunch break at work as well as at the end of the day. Those are really my only options since I have a day job and family. Otherwise it’s just me and a Chromebook, trying to block everything out.

 

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write in any of your books, and why? 

 

I’ve always been fond of the last chapter in The Camaro Murders (titled The Wicked and Despair). Even though it’s the last, I wrote it first, and really captures the morose pathology that the Driver will carry with him from that point forward. And I really like the way the chapter ends. It’s very much the Driver’s point of no return.

 

Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?

 

Yes, as clear of an idea that you have with regard to your book’s vision, your best attempts may never get you there. You have to ask yourself whether to beat it up some more to see if you can get it there, or admit defeat. I don’t mean you should mail it in, so to speak, only that at some point it’s as good as it’s going to get, and you have to let it go.

 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?

 

A bit of both actually. I used to write totally organically, not proceeding past a sentence until I felt it was perfect, with nothing other than an abstract idea of where I was going. My process has evolved to where I start with a simple outline (one paragraph per chapter). There’s still room for organic development within a given chapter, and if I get stuck anywhere, I skip past it and then come back later with fresh eyes.

 

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?

 

None of them are integral to a writing session for me. While music is inspirational, I don’t often listen to music while I’m writing. I guess I would prefer to at least have a glass of water by my side, so maybe that’s what I’d most want to keep.

 

Which is your favorite season to write in, and why? 

 

Winter for sure. There are no yard work/outdoor distractions pulling me away from writing time. You have every reason to stay huddled inside and write.

 

It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it? 

 

A number of books I’ve written in first person, which to me is the easiest way to get into a character’s head and speak/think how they would. Having done that, I find it easier to understand any of my characters regardless of POV.

 

What are your future project(s)?

 

My pending release (Winterfield Nights) is the fourth of what will be five Driver books. I’ll switch back to the Reeve after this and tackle book two, which will be called “Villains.” The Reeve will also be a five book series, so I’ve got a lot of things to keep my occupied. I’d like to fit a cold war spy thriller in there somewhere, sort of an homage to a 007 thriller.

 

What is your favorite book ever written?

 

I don’t know if I can pick one. I don’t even know if I could give you a list of my favorite books. It’s just too hard. I like many things for many different reasons, but none of them really strike me as a “greatest of all time” from a personal perspective.

 

Who are your favorite authors?

 

Ian Fleming and C.S. Lewis.

 

What makes a good villain?

 

Someone who hates humanity, who hates existence. Someone who hates being itself.

 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

 

Writing is largely my spare time, but I do enjoy reading as well as watches, craft beer, and bourbon.

 

If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?

 

I would’ve liked to have been a philosopher.

 

Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?

 

Straight black tea for me. If coffee tasted like it smells, I’d be all over it. Unfortunately it doesn’t, and so it should be relegated to accent flavors in desserts or ice creams.

 

You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?

 

I think I’d stay on earth, actually. As visually stunning as the universe is, it’s so inhospitable to life that I don’t see any sense in wanting to go anywhere else.

 

Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?

 

No, I can’t say that I’m familiar with any of them. Like Mr. Miyagi says in the Karate Kid, “No learn Karate from book,” I’ve always been of the mind that you don’t learn about writing by reading a book about writing (or a blog), you simply just write.

 

Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?

 

Perhaps Matt Sugerik, my fellow partner in crime on the Promptly Written Podcast. From month to month, he has me on the edge of my seat, terrified at what he’s going to do with the prompt and how dark he’s going to go. But then every once in a while he comes out of left field with lighter fare.

 

Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?

 

James Bond, Jack Ryan, and the Raider (a resourceful survivalist from my Split series). We’d go about defending the free world from tyranny.

 

What superpower would you most like?

 

Easy. The ability to generate any other superpower at will. I know that’s kind of cheating, but you asked.

 

What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)

 

I can’t say that I have any, or at least it’s not something I ever thought about. It would probably take too long to answer as these types of things are paralyzing to me, so I’m going to pass on this one.

 

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?

 

Just get back to a normal routine in general. I’m a creature of habit and I very much like my freedom, and so this isolation stuff grates at me even though as an introvert I’d be perfectly fine never talking to anyone again.

 

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)?

You can find all the relevant links to things on my website, http://www.ianlewisfiction.com. Or you can find me on Facebook or GoodReads:

 

https://www.facebook.com/Ian-Lewis-Fiction-462285677280662/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6538843.Ian_Lewis

 

Also consider subscribing to the Promptly Written Podcast. There are new stories once a month, and you can listen on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or our site:

 

https://www.promptlywrittenpodcast.com/

 

We have no genre restrictions, but the fantastic does show up from time to time. And my co-host and I are fundamentally different with regard to just about everything, so it’s always fun to see where he and I take the same writing prompt.

 

Self-Isolation Author Interview: Allan Batchelder

My online call for interviews seems to be going nicely, less than a few days, and already half a dozen responses back! I hope to get at least two out a week, but if I can get more out, all the better.

Today’s interview comes from the talented and awesome Allan Batchelder!

 

 

 

 

 

First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write? 

 

    My first book and series is/are all grimdark. 

 

How do you develop your plots and characters? 

 

    In terms of plot, I typically know how a story begins, how it ends, and several key moments along the way. I discover the rest as I go. For characters, I guess I’ve played so many as an actor, read so many, met so many, that they come to me more or less naturally. And many of the tenants that apply to acting apply to writing as well. For example, characters must change and/or grow over the course of a story.

 

Tell the world about your current project!

 

I’m *guess* I’m writing historical fiction/fantasy/horror? I don’t really know HOW to classify it, but, in short, Shakespeare fakes his own death and comes to the New World, to Jamestown, where he runs afoul of Spanish spies, angry Powhatan Indians, and Grendel…I mean “Wendigo.” And that’s just page one.

 

Who would you say is the main character of your latest novel? And tell me a little bit about them!

 

Really? Tell you a bit about Shakespeare? Okay, well, he’s actually staged his own death in order to escape celebrity and a bad marriage. Plus, he’s always had wanderlust. Having written The Tempest based on the misadventures of some Jamestown settlers, he is anxious to come see the New World. 

 

Have you been to any conventions? If so, tell me a little about them!

 

After my first book – Steel, Blood & Fire – came out in 2013, I went to a couple of local Cons – Northwest Con and Rusty Con – but I don’t think I had work to show/share with everyone. Now, with a five-book series out, things might be different. I just haven’t had time to consider it. 

 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

 

I’ve always written, even as a kid. It just didn’t occur to me to *share* what I’d written until I passed 50. 

 

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?

 

This makes me feel greedy. I’m tempted to say Florence, but then there are so, so many locations I’d love to live and write in throughout Europe. 

 

What advice would you give new writers?

 

Read across all genres. Don’t get bogged down in a favorite – say, fantasy. You can learn as much or more from detective novels, from biography, from horror as you can from your potential peers.

 

What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding?

 

Well, I think many fantasy elements have their real-life counterparts. For example, currency systems, units of time, government systems, religious systems, etc. I almost think that if everything in your world is too unique, too original, no one will recognize it for what it is, and we’ll be like the apes and the obelisk in 2001. There has to be at least some familiarity or we’ll be lost.

 

What inspires you to write?

 

I just have these characters and stories that want to be shared.

 

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

 

I go through these periods of lassitude or malaise in which I attempt to lose myself in trivialities instead of working. Not sure what that’s about, but I do know time is fleeting. I could be shot by Aaron Burr at any moment. 

 

What is your routine when writing, if any? If you don’t follow a routine, why not?

 

Weekdays, I typically write in the evenings, and, when I’m really in the groove, I have a daily word count goal. But I figure even one sentence is a sentence in the right direction. Weekends, I write in the afternoons, evenings and sometimes late into the night. Sometimes I have an adult beverage, sometimes I don’t. 

 

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write in any of your books, and why? 

 

The end of my first book was probably my favorite, because it represented, for me, an enormous accomplishment and a goal met. It was also the conclusion of a particular story arc.

 

Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?

 

I’ll pretend you’ve asked about my LAST book, the conclusion to my five-book series. It was coming to a head as the final season of Game of Thrones was airing – to much critical disappointment. I saw that and thought, “Gee, I hope my conclusion doesn’t suck this badly.” I was thinking, too, of the end of the Malazan series, which is probably my favorite series. But the end left me absolutely confused and unsatisfied. I did not want to repeat those mistakes. And yet…it’s very, very hard to avoid disappointing some fans; it’s hard to wrap up a ¾ of a million-words story in a way that answers everyone’s questions and does justice to every single character. Better authors than I have tried and…let’s say “struggled.” 

 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?

 

A gardening pantser? Some of my favorite plot elements and characters came about spontaneously, but I do recognize that some things absolutely must be planned.

 

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?

 

Snacks and drinks. Every once-in-a-while, I need a good cocktail. That said, I do have an original, full orchestral theme song for my series, Immortal Treachery , that you can listen to at:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7fhnunwfzY&list=PL1pu1WL0ROaG7F1b_b2XtRvQZsS-2qQDu&index=18&t=0s

 

Which is your favorite season to write in, and why? 

 

Summer. The days seem longer and thus appear to have more time to write in. 

 

It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it? 

 

Well, again, I think my lifetime of experience as an actor helps here. I’ve played so many, directed so many, seen so many, I just think I have this reservoir of characters floating around in my head to draw from. 

 

What are your future project(s)?

 

I’ve got a sort of Steampunk I’m working on, planning with my son, who’s an illustrator, and I’ve got a horror novel planned, and a YA fantasy.

 

What is your favorite book ever written?

 

That’s like picking a favorite arm or leg. I. Can’t. Do. It!

 

Who are your favorite authors?

 

That’s a very long list.  But let me go outside the genre so I don’t alienate anyone. I like – in no particular order — Michael Connelly, Stephen King, Jeff Shara, Poe, Dickens, Shakespeare, ee cummings, Robert Frost…

 

What makes a good villain?

 

I am still learning this, but I would say that a) their actions follow a certain logic, b) they’re not stereotypically evil, c) they have positive qualities or attributes, d) they don’t see themselves as bad.

 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

 

Read, take walks, play computer games, sometimes watch the tube.

 

 

If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?

 

I’d like to be a film actor.

 

Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?

 

Coffee. C’mon. I’m from Seattle. 

 

You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?

 

Does this include time? I’d love meet Shakespeare, see if Jesus really existed, watch the Greeks’ seige of Troy, check out the dinosaurs, observe the various iterations of early man in action. If this is strictly a question of place, I’d like to go anywhere else life exists (with a breathable atmosphere and temperate climate), so I can see how life manifests itself.

 

Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?

 

Um…er…mine?   http://www.immortaltreachery.com/the-batch-file

 

Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?

 

All the good folks in Grimdarklings, a Facebook writers group, and most especially C.T. Phipps, who have been a tremendous boon to so many of us. 

 

Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?

 

I’m gonna go with comic book characters – Hulk, Wolverine and Batman. We’d all go hang out in a tequila bar and see who could eat the hottest food.

 

What superpower would you most like?

 

Teleportation. C’mon! Lunch in Paris, see a show on Broadway, watch the sunset in Kona? Get into places you’re not allowed. Even fly, if you do it right.

What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)

 

Anything Frazetta. Anything Felix Ortiz!

 

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 be part of a crowd. Maybe go to a comedy show or a baseball or (American) football game.

 

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)?

 

Cblink.blink@gmail.com

Author Interview: Vincent E. M. Thorn

It’s been a long time! Hope to do these as often as I can. First interview in these troubling times is with Vincent Thorn. Hope you guys enjoy!

 

 

First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write? 

 

Hello, there! I’m Vincent E. M. Thorn, relative newcomer to the scene, and broadly speaking, I write fantasy.

 

Less broadly, my first (and currently only published) book had many steampunk elements mixed in, but I am also writing and developing cosmic horror, a wuxia drama, high seas/pirate adventures, Arabian nights style fantasy stories, weird west stories…. A lot of things. I like when fantasy wears different hats.

 

How do you develop your plots and characters? 

 

I find plots tend to unfold rather naturally for me, so much so that it’s actually a little difficult for me to quantify. It usually starts out with just cool ideas, a character moment or a scene. I think of what I want to happen, cool battles, dramatic moments, then I work outward. Why are they fighting? Why do these words hurt this character? Why would this character dive off a boat onto a dragon’s back? I usually have at least a rough arc pretty shortly after I start conceptualizing.

 

In fact, I’ve tried going full pantser, just to see if I could. I had the skeleton of a trilogy mapped out in an hour.

 

Characters usually go through a little bit more effort and struggle, but it starts in the same place. Who is in those scenes I was thinking about earlier? What kind of person would be involved in this conflict, and how would it shape them? Is that a starting point or end point?

 

Tell the world about your current project!

 

I have a few, but the one that’s the in a position to talk about and call “current” is Promises of the Empire, book two of my debut series, the Dreamscape Voyager Trilogy.

 

Starting off about half a year after the events of Skies of the Empire (and here I will dance around spoilers), Cassidy Durant is trying to forget what happened and move on with her life, only to learn the consequences are catastrophic and she is dragged back in to resolve them. For those who read Skies, Promises features a deeper dive into the setting, especially the magic and the horrors that spawn from it.

 

Some trivia: The Dreamscape Voyager Trilogy actually became my debut by happenstance. While going through a dark period, I looked at all the projects I had on-going and said to myself, “Listen [explicit deleted], you need to finish one of these by the year’s end, or else.” I won’t elaborate on the or else, but as it happened, Skies of the Empire had just the slightest bit higher of a word count than the next most-complete project in the pile, so thus it became the world’s first taste of my work (I finished it that September).

 

Who would you say is the main character of your latest novel? And tell me a little bit about them!

 

Skies of the Empire is split fairly evenly between its two PoV characters, Cassidy Durant and Zayne Balthine, and each have their own thing going on, giving equal credence to either being considered the main character.

 

Cassidy is arguably the more traditional protagonist, being a simple cargo trader who gets roped into events far above her ambitions and expertise. She’s a generally good-hearted and optimistic, but hot-headed character, not exceptionally well educated, but clever, and dedicated to her friends. She is also the first character the audience meets.

 

Zayne, in contrast, toes the line of villain protagonist. As a mercenary knowingly working for a cultist, he sees what he does as wrong, but due to the cards he’s been dealt, doesn’t really see any other option. He detests violence but excels at it.  He is pessimistic and jaded, but he yearns for a better life even if he doesn’t know how he would go about finding it.

 

Have you been to any conventions? If so, tell me a little about them!

 

I have attended JordanCon every year since 2013. It’s a Fantasy/SciFi convention in Atlanta that originally came about via the Wheel of Time fan community. I’ve met some spectacular guests, like Patrick Rothfuss, Saladin Ahmed, Brent Weeks, and so many more. It’s on the slightly smaller side, but once the Wheel of Time TV show drops it’s likely to grow. It has a phenomenal writer’s track, and last year they started hosting an anthology that attendees and guests can submit to. I actually have a piece that was slated to be in this years’ anthology, but with the convention postponed due to the current crisis, that’s pushed back to next year, along with the convention itself.

 

I also used to attend DragonCon, also in Atlanta, because it falls around my birthday, but it has gotten way too big for my tastes.

 

When things settle down on all fronts, I’m going to see about trying to be a panelist at cons, which would be a good excuse to discover more good ones.

 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I always had the kind of imaginative spark, but it didn’t click for me until I was around 11. I told my dad I wanted to be a video game designer, but when I started talking about all my cool ideas and ambitious things I wanted to do, he listened and pointed out that what I was just laying out story and what I clearly wanted to do was to be a writer. I reflected on that, and yeah, it’s been about the only constant in my life since.

 

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?

 

Wyoming. It’s actually where I’m originally from, and it’s got a lot going for it. Beautiful and varied vistas running the gamut between forests and deserts. Varied weather with actual winters. Lot of space to get away from people.

 

What advice would you give new writers?

Actually put words on the page. I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of worldbuilder’s disease, or brainstorming the same ideas ad nauseum, but the fact of the matter is, if you don’t actually start writing it, you might as well be talking to your wall for all the good it does you.

 

Also, if you’re self-publishing, actually grab a ruler and measure the books on your shelf when deciding the trim size, especially if, like me, you have no sense of scale.

 

What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding?

 

I draw inspirations from all over the world, but speaking specifically of Skies, mostly Imperial Chinese, France, and the Middle East.

 

What inspires you to write?

The arts are the only things that make life bearable, and writing is the art I am most attuned to.

 

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

 

Proof reading. I see what I wrote and my brain glazes over it, going, “Yeah, yeah, I know what I wrote here,” so not only am I mind-numbingly bored, but I’m also seeing what I intended and not what’s actually there.

 

What is your routine when writing, if any? If you don’t follow a routine, why not?

So, I have had to shift my routine a few times just based on changes to my daily life, such as the dreaded day job. Although that term is now inaccurate, since as of this interview I work nights.

I don’t currently have regular shifts, but whenever I get home, I get cleaned up, settle in at my desk, and write until… lately it’s been about 8 AM, but ultimately it’s whenever I feel I’ve made satisfactory progress, then I go to bed.

 

Outside of that, if I’m out for something that involves downtime, like an oil change or a visit to the clinic, or whatever else, I’m usually writing on my phone through the entire waiting process. Same goes for my breaks at my other job.

 

Basically, I try to squeeze progress in wherever I can.

 

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write in any of your books, and why? 

 

Chapter 38 of Skies of the Empire. This was the big one for me, the scene I had been driving towards, building it up both in my head and in the narrative. It also marked the end of the biggest gap between rigidly plotted points in the book. And it was just a fun, action packed chapter to write. Also, that chapter and every one after that all the way to the epilogue became so much easier to write, as if I’d crested a hill.

 

Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?

It’s hard to say; ideally, we should always be learning from and about our craft, but I’ve learned so much over the course of it, I can’t say what I learned from it or what I learned around it.

 

I guess, one of the things that you can know all you want but can only understand when you do it is that when you write the scene, it’s probably not going to go how you envisioned it, because it doesn’t exist in a bubble anymore, it exists in the context you’ve built up at that point, and your initial understanding probably didn’t mesh well with the reality. And that’s not a bad thing.

 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?

 

I forget who I stole this term from, but I am a “Points on the Map” style plotter. The major events, the emotional beats, the cool battles, the interlude points, the ending, are all pretty much locked in place, plus or minus some details.

But in between those points are much less rigidly enforced. As Brent Weeks once put it, I know I need the characters to cross the river eventually, but I haven’t decided if they go straight to it, if they get chased by wolves first, or if the take a nice stroll through the woods on the way, and in those bits I’m more of a pantser.

 

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, definitely. I don’t eat at my desk, and while I occasionally have coffee or tea when I work, it’s usually gone too quick to matter in the grand scheme of things. Music, however, is often a key part of my creative process.

 

Which is your favorite season to write in, and why? 

Winter. I am miserable if the weather is ever over 50F/10C, and even that’s pushing it for me. I hate warm air. Warmth should come from clothes or blankets or food and drink, not the air. And I live in the American south, so it’s warm or hot 90% of the time.

 

It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it? 

Understand that characters are people, and people make sense even when they don’t.

 

What are your future project(s)?

So, as I mentioned earlier, I’m working on book two of the Dreamscape Voyager Trilogy, Promises of the Empire, which will be followed up by the concluding volume, Dreams of the Empire.

 

My two most immediate projects afterwards are most likely going to be a stand-alone cosmic horror novel and a novella series of wuxia adventures.

 

What is your favorite book ever written?

 

That is a really cruel question. I’ll answer it, but the answer will probably change a dozen times after it’s too late. Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch.

 

Who are your favorite authors?

 

Again, I’m sure as soon as I walk away from this interview, I’m going to regret not answering with more. But for now… Scott Lynch, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, and Bradley P. Beaulieu.

 

What makes a good villain?

 

There are a few schools of thought on this one. One class of villain I love is a villain who stands as an example of what the hero could become. Darth Vader is a standout case.

 

Villains who believe they are doing what is right are also effective.

 

But on the flipside, you can also have a villain who knows what they are doing is wrong but still carries on because they must. See the Operator in Serenity, and his “there is no place for me in paradise” speech.

 

But of course, you can’t deny that sometimes what a good villain needs is a whole truckload of ham. Jafar in the 1992 version of Aladdin was a million times more enjoyable than the 2018 version because he was bombastic and fun, full on chewing the scenery during the climax.

 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

 

In addition to writing, there’s reading, playing video games, and catching up on entertainment news.

 

If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?

Musician. I had a brief stint where I was a bassist and a rhythm guitarist. I wasn’t exceptionally good at it, but I love music and it was nice.

 

I’d also like to direct films. Just because I really like movies.

 

Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?

Both, with caveats. I only drink green tea, preferably hot. No other tea works for me. I enjoy coffee with flavors, like mint or cinnamon, or pumpkin spice. Otherwise, I drink milk, or juice, or water. I’ve cut out most soda, though I very occasionally still drink root beer and cream soda. Which probably defeats the purpose of cutting it out, really.

 

You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?

I would like to see other galaxies and nebulas from space, just to get a sense for what they’re really like.

 

Also, Japan. My grandma was Japanese, and I’ve always wanted to learn the language and go see the sights.

 

Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?

 

John Hartness, the head of Falstaff Books, does video blogs on the Falstaff Books YouTube page. Also, not quite a blog, but Brandon Sanderson films the classes he does on writing fantasy, and they’re always good for a refresher, and something about the way he talks about the craft always gets me in the mood to start working.

 

Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?

 

Ask me later, either when the friends I’m close to actually release something, or I get closer to some of the more active authors I know. I’m in an awkward spot right now.

 

Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?

Sabetha Belacoros (The Gentleman Bastard series), Ciri (The Witcher Saga), and Pyrre (Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne). It would probably start as a cross-country road trip and devolve into international chaos that leaves us rich with a lot of bodies in our wake.

 

What superpower would you most like?

 

Mind control.

 

What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)

 

The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley, and The Queen of Swords by R. S. Belcher.

 

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 the movies. Mulan or Wonder Woman would be my top picks, if they’re in theaters when it’s safe to go out.

 

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)?

 

My website is WritingWithThorn.com

My facebook page is my name, at Facebook.com/VincentEMThorn

If people start trying to contact me or ask me question on Goodreads I’ll probably start checking in there more often.

 

So, a long overdue blog post.

Yeah. Long overdue update. I haven’t been keeping on track of anything lately, which is a pain. It’s been nearly two months since my last post, and a lot has been happening.

So let’s start with the opening thing: I’ve been pretty sick since October. Post convention lurgy (I blame our fellow sick authors for this!) became something pretty nasty, and I dealt with an inner ear inflammation which completely knocked me for six. I only recently recovered from that, and then I’ve been dealing with a dry cough and generally feeling crap from my trip to Edinburgh.

And no, it’s not that virus I’m pretty certain! It’s just niggling things now, but with ME, every illness you get hits you quite hard, so managing it around the constant severe fatigue has made things tough.

That, coupled with work burnout over the last few months made things worse. In late Janauary I took the heartbreaking decision to leave my day job at Grimlore. Things ended on a high note though (I’m still in touch with everyone there) and as much as it hurt leaving I feel I’ve learned a lot from my time at Grimlore. Perhaps in the future I can return to the games industry. Really, I’ve been thinking of the positives. For something I had no expectations with, it was one hell of a breakthrough.

Now let’s move forward to the other joyful thing: Scars relaunch. I was hoping to get THE THOUSAND SCARS relaunch out by the end of March, but that’s not happening now. As these things go, the loss of work means loss of income, and I’m still so far behind schedule with getting Scars ready. There’s proofreading, formatting, interior and cover design…just so much, and I only have so much time and money right now to dedicate to it.

So, it’s going to be delayed. How long a delay? That’s going to depend. It’s still my intent to get it out this year, but we will see.

So yeah, that’s been me the last few months. As for this blog, I hope to return to at least some form of activity. I still have interviews to do (I’m really far behind), some game dev interviews, some articles on games, the usual.

 

All Good Things Must End: A statement from Jeremy Szal

JEREMY SZAL

As of today, 20th of January 2020, I am stepping down from being the fiction editor-in-chief and producer of StarShipSofa.

I delayed stepping down this as long as I could. For almost two years, in fact, but it’s come to this inevitable write-up.

I joined StarShipSofa’s ranks as an assistant editor back in 2014, when I was a 19 year-old scribbler still traipsing around university with a handful of short fiction pieces that only dated a few months back. My gateway into editing was being second in command of one of the biggest short fiction podcasts in fandom.

To say I’d was thrown into the deep-end of shark-infested editorial waters is an understatement. But I got by, in no small thanks to Tony C. Smith. Over the years, I watched it grow by almost 5,000 additional downloads per week. I made an effort to double, and then triple our staff…

View original post 1,056 more words

My Favourite Books of 2019 – Long Bloody Overdue

Oh look! It’s that time of year again. When we’re allowed to eat as much as we damn please, copious drinking and all that frenzied Christmas shit.

Or maybe that’s just me. Except for the drinking.

I say this, and it’s already 2020. Shows how long it took me to get this damn article out. Get back on your game, Michael.

I’ll be blunt. Ranking these from last year has been damn hard. They could all be my BOTY, but that would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it? For this, I’ll give some little micro-reviews for each book, leave links so you wonderful readers can pick it up, and move on. I intend on writing full reviews on all of these. (And for some, I already have! Polite coughing)

I’ll also be honest: Apart from the Top 3, I don’t have much of a ranking for the rest of these. Treat the rankings overall with a grain of salt. They’re all excellent books in their own right. All I can say is, pick them up and give them a shot. You won’t regret it

SPFBO Author Interview: Scott Robinson

Turns out I have a couple of interviews left for SPFBO 5! Today I bring you an interview with Scott Robinson. Hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

Check out my ongoing interviews for SPFBO5 down below:

SPFBO Author Interview: Darian Smith

SPFBO Author Interview: Troy A. Hill

SPFBO Author Interview: Sergio Pereira

SPFBO Author Interview: Jon Auerbach

SPFBO Author Interview: L.K. Evans

SPFBO Halloween Interview: Mark Huntley James

SPFBO Author Interview: Angela Boord

SPFBO Author Interview: Deston J. Munden

SPFBO Author Interview: Huw Steer

SPFBO Author Interview: E.L. Drayton

SPFBO Author Interview: R. A. Denny

SPFBO Author Interview: CF Welburn

SPFBO Author Interview: Steve Turnbull

SPFBO Author Interview: Nicholas Hoy

SPFBO Author Interview: Phil Williams

SPFBO Author Interview: Luke Tarzian

SPFBO Author Intrview: L. L. Thomsen

SPFBO Author Interview: Clayton Snyder

SPFBO Author Interview: M. H. Thaung

SPFBO Author Interview: Keith Blenman

SPFBO Author Interview: David Reiss

SPFBO Author Interview: R.M. Callahan

SPFBO Author Interview – Aaron Hodges

SPFBO Author Interview: I. W. Ferguson

SPFBO Author Interview: Vincent Bobbe

SPFBO Author Interview: Aiki Flinthart

SPFBO Author Interview: Alexzander Christion

SPFBO Author Interview: Laura VanArendonk Baugh

SPFBO Author Interview: Kristen S. Walker

 

First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write? 

 

My name is Scott J Robinson (Well, the J is made up—it looked better in lower case for a URL than L). I write both science fiction and fantasy and a mix of the two. I like things like societies that are moving towards technolgy or characters in the wrong settings (eg, elves and dwarves in space).

 

How do you develop your plots and characters? 

 

I generally just let things percolate in my head for a while. Years sometimes. I’ll find ideas I like—events or characters or just an image– and wait and see what happens. Sometimes nothing happens, other times, one idea will bump against another and sparks will fly.

 

Tell us about your current project.

 

I am currently working on a fantasy space opera. I just finished watching Das Boot as research. It’s hopefully going to be a fun little thing while I poke at a more traditional fantasy to see what comes of it.

 

Is this your first entry into SPFBO? If not, how many times have you entered?

 

I entered SPFBO once before (not sure which number) with a book called The Age of Heroes. It’s a coming of age fantasy with a main character well into his fifties.

 

Who would you say is the main character of your novels? And tell me a little bit about them! 

 

The main character of The Brightest Light my current entry in SPFBO is Kade. He was recruited (ie, sold by his broke parents) into a criminal gang when he was just a boy, rose quickly through the ranks, then screwed up. He was banished and has spent the last ten years waiting to be recalled so he can show them what he is really capable of. Only, things have changed and he might not be as capable as he thought. He is confused about who he is and what he wants from life.

 

What advice would you give new writers on how to delve into creative fiction?

 

The only real advice for starting is to read lots, stop making excuses and take help when it is offered by more experienced writers.

 

What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding within your book?

 

It’s always hard for me to defince where I get my inspiration because the only planning I do for my novels is in my head over a long period of time, sometimes years. So by the time I get to writing, the vegetables and the meat already taste like stew.

 

What inspires you to write?

 

Books and movies. I see something I like and want to do something similar, or I see something I don’t like and think I can do better. Other people will have to decide how successful I am with both of those things.

 

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

 

I sometimes find it hard to make the time to write. With 3 kids, full time work and other hobbies, it can be tricky. Other people manage, so it isn’t really a valid excuse.

 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?

 

I am definitely not  plotter. I generally have a few points I want to hit but I see what happens in between.

 

It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it? 

 

This all happens in my head, sometimes for years befroe I get around to writing a story. I don’t write any of these thoughts or ideas down because I figure the good stuff will stick. So I’m not sure how many best selling novels I’ve let slip away.

 

What are your future project(s)?

 

What is your favorite book ever written? Who are your favorite authors?

 

I love just about everything written by KJ Parker and Dave Duncan. Dave Duncan actually gave me a great quote for The Age of Heroes. I like to think I write a lot like him—not comedy, but light and fun for the most part.

 

What makes a good villain?

 

A good villain is someone with solid motivation. Someone who thinks they’re doing the right thing.

 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

 

Reading obviously. Movies. I used to play cricket but now just watch.

 

If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?

 

I wouldn’t mind doing some editing. And I have also studied building design, just never actually had the chance to do it for a living.

 

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)?

 

Twitter = @skywordz

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/Tengama-173195606074092/

WordPress = https://scottjrobinson.wordpress.com/

Author Interview: Olga Gibbs

Back with a new interview, as I continue to work through my backlog of those who sent in their question responses. I was focused on SPFBO to the point I was neglecting them, my apologies!

Today’s interview is with Olga Gibbs. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write? 

 

Hi, my name is Olga Gibbs. I write dark and high fantasies and I write psychological thrillers, so basically if you’re after anything twisted, gripping, fast-paced and dark – I’m your girl.

I don’t write sweet romances, cute love stories, and even if you see a romance brewing somewhere, don’t be fooled and don’t expect the “predictable” outcome.

I am a British author and when I don’t write, I work for “Juno Project” charity, which provides outreach work and support services to girls, who suffered abuse, who have a difficult family life, involved with gangs or at a risk of exclusion from school.

As well as this, I am a mother and a wife, so as you can see, my life is pretty full on.

 

How do you develop your plots and characters? 

 

Sometimes my story starts with a character: I come up with a character and think how great it would be to dump him into a trouble. But sometimes I have a story and I have to think up of the characters to populate the landscape, but irrespective of the way I work, I always have to have a plan before I begin writing. Sometimes plans amend, extra stop points are added, extra twists come to light, but the line, the progression of the characters and the story remain the same.

 

In the case of “Celestial Creatures”, I had a character first. I had my main character Ariel and I wanted to give her voice, wanted to give her story.

 

Tell us about your current project.

 

I am finishing off the “Celestial Creatures” series, while I have already outlined one domestic psychological thriller and one crime thriller, inspired by the current social issues that plague UK.

I do have a few high fantasy ideas as well. I absolutely love high fantasies, new worlds, new creatures, new languages, new universes, following their own rules – I’m a sucker for fantasy, so fantasy will be coming soon too, once I figure out how to add a few more hours to a day!

But coming back to the “Celestial Creatures”, I’m writing the last two books, “Harbinger” and “Halo”, both will be high fantasy, set in an array of my imaginary worlds, full of angels, “human-herding” new creatures, flesh eating creatures, rebels creatures, full of Sumerian language: all the courtesy of my “screwed-up” brain.

And of course there will be battles, fight scenes, killings…and progression of Ariel from a weak, doubting herself child, into a fearless leader of a new order.

 

Is this your first entry into SPFBO? If not, how many times have you entered?

 

I have never entered.

 

Who would you say is the main character of your novels? And tell me a little bit about them! 

 

The main character is, without a doubt, Ariel. The story is about her and was written for her. It was written for girls I work with, girls like her, the girls who in their short lives experienced horrors that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, girls who doubt and loath, and hate themselves. I have written it for them too.

The “Celestial Creatures” was created to deliver the message of empowerment and self-believe, and although it’s a high fantasy, it’s a literary allegory, with messages of social classes, divide and struggles, abuse and its survivors, weaven behind the façade of the high fantasy story with angels.

I’ve place Ariel in a position where she’d be asking herself: “If you were abused by people, haven’t seen a good from anyone, even your family, the only people who supposed to be in your corner no matter what, if you had a power to end the world, would you spare humanity? Would you protect them or would you push for annihilation?”

There are a lot of moral questions raised in this story. Some readers have seen them behind and through the veil of fantasy, and some haven’t. Some readers didn’t like Ariel. There was a comment “if she had to be so broken?” The problem is, for us a society, that there are girls like her. I know it, and as much as she’s a collective representation image, in essence she’s very realistic in her struggles.

 

What advice would you give new writers on how to delve into creative fiction?

 

Don’t restrain your imagination and the story you’re trying to tell. I’ve learnt it a hard way. I’ve “mainstreamed” the first book, toning down on how graphic I wanted to write fight scenes, gore. I was clipping the wings to my voice. But I’ve let if go in the second book and I have achieved the incredible praise there.

So: don’t stem your imagination, don’t tone down your writing voice – sure it will not be an “everyone’s cup of tea”, but the ones who’d find your story and love it, would be your readers forever.

Of course, read a lot, everything, including news article and classics, and finally, write every day, even if it’s only a paragraph, a scene, a haiku, short observation – anything, as long as you’re writing. When life gets in the way, when you juggle children, job, career, home, it is very easy to forget your passion and put dreams aside.

 

What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding within your book?

 

Mainly, my imagination. There were influences from different religious beliefs, ancient civilizations. My research was thorough: The Bible’s Book of Revelation, Jewish and Christian eschatology, Jewish beliefs, Christian doctrines, old Sumerian beliefs and language – as I have mentioned above, I use Sumerian language in my book – and a few angelic and celestial thesis books, Dante’s “Divine Comedy” drawings, all of it have entered my brain and came out as my new worlds. But the processor for all that data was my head.

 

What inspires you to write?

 

People and the stories I want to tell. Some stories haven’t been told before, certain people in our society were not given the voice, and it feels as if I ought it to them, to tell their stories if no one else can.

 

What was the hardest part of writing this series?

 

Accept that not everyone is going to love it and fear that I might’ve failed Ariel, in telling her story.

 

What is your routine when writing, if any? If you don’t follow a routine, why not?

I write the days I don’t work – these days are blocked out religiously, for writing purposes, and evening and weekends, if I don’t collapse from exhaustion and kids don’t need help that day with homework, etc. But I make sure to write every day, but I prefer mornings. In the mornings I’m full of energy, excitement, my work tend to go in leaps and bounds, whereas by the evenings, I am dead on my feet and have been know to fall asleep by 9pm.

 

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? 

So far, my favourite book to write was “Hallow”.

I have decided to let go, not to worry about upsetting people, and let myself to tell the story as I wanted, needed, to tell it. In that book I had to break Ariel further in order to make her stronger for the battles to come, and I was pleased to read comments from my readers, who reported crying and sobbing over “Hallow”, as early as by the page 25! I was well pleased with that.

In general, the action scenes and world-building scenes are my favourite to write. I love to make up new worlds and emerge my readers in them, and I love the fast pacing of a battle or a sword fight. In these scenes my brain works faster than my fingers manage to type as my head is flooded with images.

In “Heavenward”, my favourite chapter would have to be Chapter 15. It has action, adventure, new world, scary new creatures and it’s a page-turner.

 

Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it?

Of course.

Everyone learns something from every life experience, no matter how small, let alone something as big as a story-telling, book writing. I’ve learnt to listen to my gut more, trusting myself. I’ve found my voice. I’ve learnt that I can’t write “sweet romance” even if my life depended on it. I’ve learnt that I couldn’t please everyone with my books and I have learnt to accept it, and of course, I have learnt, and still learning, the craft of writing.

With every new word, with every new scene, I’m learning more and more of it.

 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?

 

Plotter and architect. The second is only fitting as an Architectural University was one of the career paths I was considering. I need to know where my story is going and what I’m trying to say with it. But of course, pantser moments happen, but only to fill in small holes or to progress side characters.

 

It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it? 

 

My psychological background helps. In majority, people are very predictable in their behaviour. Once you know their background, what made them and shaped them into the people that they’re now, you can predict, to a certain degree, the way they would behave. But of course, there’s always an exception to the rule.

 

I like to observe people. I watch them on the streets, at work; I talk to them. If only you’d listen, people would tell you everything you’d need to know. Plus I read news articles and watch news, interviews, documentaries.

 

What are your future project(s)?

 

Once the “Celestial Creatures” is written, I will be writing a thriller on current London gangs, and I have a few psychological thrillers in pipeline, along with a few high fantasies. I spoke about these projects above.

 

What is your favorite book ever written? Who are your favorite authors?

 

I don’t have a single favourite book, I like a few, and my taste in books is very eclectic.  I like Tolkien, Martina Cole, Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, but equally I love Dostoevsky, Jerome K Jerome, Dumas.

My only need is for story to be original, or original enough to read it as fresh take. That’s the reason why romance is not my reading genre. “Happily ever after” is predictable and I don’t write or read predictable.

Even if you think my book leads to somewhere where you’ve been or read about before, please be assured, it’s not going to end as you think it might.

The readers have commented on unexpected twists in my books, especially the second, and let me tell you, I will not disappoint them for the end.

You think I’ve written a “love triangle” into a book to give readers a satisfying, happy love ending? Um, no. But I’m not going to give that away just yet.

 

What makes a good villain?

 

Tolstoy said that the “best story is the story where good is set against good”. I like it.

I’m using this concept for my psychological thriller. But I think an unpredictable villain is great, the ones who hide under a disguise of a fairy god-mother, or Father Christmas. But it’s a difficult act to balance, as writer still needs to give readers a villain they’d love to hate. I like to give my protagonists the villains I know they’d struggle to fight, because the villains would be a manifestation of a protagonist’s fears.

 

 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

What spare time?! (insert laughing face!) I struggle to find time to sleep.

Otherwise, I would love to travel more, more holidays to spend with my family.

 

If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?

Adolescence psychotherapist.

 

You can travel to any planet or moon in the Solar System. Where would you go, why and what would you do there?

 

I think Mars, as I have imagined its bared terrain when I was thinking about one of my worlds.

 

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)?

 

My website: https://olgagibbs.com/

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olgagibbs.author

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorOlgaGibbs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/olgagibbsauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olgagibbsauthor/

 

PURCHASE LINKS (via multiple major platforms):

Heavenward: https://books2read.com/u/bWzWlx

Hallow: https://books2read.com/u/m2vkw6

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/olga-gibbs

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17733283.Olga_Gibbs