Steve Stred's Blog, page 52
September 2, 2022
3Q’s – Julie Hiner is here to get you Back on Track!
Hey friends! Welcome back!
I hope you’re still loving all these 3Q’s. It’s funny because I’m scheduling these at the end of July, and over a month later along they come! So, it’s like I’m predicting the FUTURE! I’m like Nostradamus! The winning Lottery numbers for this week are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21!! (Imagine if these actually are and I didn’t buy a ticket!!!)
Anywho – today’s guest is a always here to deliver the goods!
Please welcome, Julie!
Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Julie: My writing time – Usually I write in the mornings when I first get up. I make a cup of coffee, head into my writing office, and write for a while, usually a couple of hours. I am most creative during this time. If I am deep into a book or story, then I might do another push in the afternoon. If I am doing a Nana or writing boot camp, I will set word counts. Usually I simply try to get in a couple good, focused hours.
Steve: You win the lottery and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?
Julie: Wow. Great question. Slash – the book. To my knowledge, this in depth account of what it was like through his eyes has not been brought to life on the screen. I would love to see a visual version of him stealing snakes from pet shops and facing demons in a heroin haze.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Julie: My newest release is Back Track. This is book 3 in my #80sMetalMurder series. Heavy metal horror. Psychological serial killer thriller series. The first book is infused with 80s metal. The second book still has a solid 80s metal baseline, but also digs deep into 70s Acid Rock. This third book, Back Track, is laced with Gothic Rock.
BACK TRACK: It’s 1989. The moon is full. Rock is Gothic. A detective haunted by a cold case. A serial killer with a taste for gothic rock and blood – both in the vein of Type O Negative.
This delight was brought into the world with an epic 80s metal party (live band and lots of head bangs).
Steve: Bonus Question! If you could be an extra on any TV show, which one would it have been and why?
Julie: I would have LOVED to have been an extra on either Mind Hunter (so I could meet John Douglas – one of the creators of criminal profiling) or True Detective season 1 because it seethes the type of atmosphere and characters that I strive to write.
Fantastic! Keep crushing it Julie and it looks like if you enjoy music with your dark fiction, Julie’s work will be right up your alley!
As always – visit the links and discover more!
September 1, 2022
Book Review: Sour Roots (Curse of Grief Hollow #1) by Shawn Burgess
Title: Sour Roots (Curse of Grief Hollow #1)
Author: Shawn Burgess
Release date: August 1st, 2022
Have you read ‘The Tear Collector’ yet?
Released back in 2019, it was a novel that grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go. I loved it. Featuring a solid cast of characters, a creepy-as-all-heck setting and a backstory riddled with questions for us readers, Burgess delivered the goods. I’ve also been in a fortunate position of having read an advanced, advanced, advanced copy of the follow up – which Shawn will be announcing shortly.
Now, in order to get readers excited for that release, he’s also released this novella, ‘Sour Roots,’ which clocks in right around 75 pages or so. This is a prequel, set about 90 or so years prior to the events in ‘The Tear Collector,’ and introduce us to the thing that lives within the woods and the reasons for all of the carnage that ensues.
What I liked: ‘Sour Roots’ showcases Burgess’ scope as a writer. He really infuses the characters with a sense of ‘timelessness’ while having them solidly rooted (sorry about that!) in the year this takes place. He’s done his due diligence regarding both dialect/drawl and character interactions.
That comes into play with an unfortunate character, one in the wrong place at the wrong time. Set in 1932, it frustratingly could be something that happens in the present day. This does a great job of getting an emotional response from us readers, but also works as a piece to showcase the rage that is prevalent in the father, Mr. Davis, whose twin daughters have gone missing.
For such a short read, Burgess packs a wallop of story into these pages, but it doesn’t feel bloated or burdened by excessiveness. It hummed along and can be easily read in a single sitting.
What I didn’t like: While I did like the reveal (if that’s the correct word for our thing in the woods), I thought it was a bit too TAH-DAH! I would’ve loved a longer teasing out of it, but no matter, it will have you squirming!
Why you should buy this: Oops, totally forgot to mention – you don’t have to buy it! Shawn is offering this up for free through Book Funnel! So, if you’re looking for a fast-paced story that sets the stages for the two novels, look no further. If you’ve read ‘The Tear Collector’ already – this is a must read for you then. If you’ve not, this is a great entry point, especially before the next novel is released.
5/5
You can get your free copy here;
3Q’s – Andrew McManaman invites you into his Dollhouse!
Another fun one today (but ain’t they all?!) and I’m excited as today’s guest is a fellow Canuck!
Andrew McManaman may only have a debut novel out, but I suspect we’ll see more from him coming soon!
So, let’s dive deeper into what makes Andrew tick!
Welcome, Andrew!
Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Andrew: During the week, I write in the very early morning, and on weekends, late morning. During early hours( after a coffee, of course), my mind is fresh, and my environment is quiet. It is a great environment to be creative if you’re an early bird: just you, your coffee and the story.
Steve: You win the lottery and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?
Andrew: Wow, what a great, tricky question. I don’t think I can choose at the moment. But here is the list I’d have to choose;
-The Hunger by Alma Katsu (Historical Horror)
-The Whisky King by Trevor Cole (Canadian True Crime)
-Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (Western)
-The Forgotten Island by David Sodergren (Horror)
-The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn (Horror)
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Andrew: My debut novel is out, and it’s called Dollhouse. It’s a horror-thriller mystery that’s a love letter to the 80’s horror films I grew up watching. Its brutal violence, menacing characters, unputdownable pace, and clever mystery with nerve-shaking scares will have you up at night turning pages until the following day.
I worked incredibly hard over four years to get this book right and am so fortunate and thankful for those who supported the project and took the time to read and review it. It currently holds a 4.3 out of 5 on
Amazon, and words can’t describe how grateful I am to the horror community and those who supported me.
Steve: Bonus Question! If you could be an extra on any TV show, which one would it have been and why?
Andrew: The show just finished, but it would have been Peaky Blinders. It’s one of my all-time favourite series, and I would have loved to be on set in a world dressed and placed in the 1920s-30s Birmingham.
Thanks for this, Steve, and those who took the time to read. Happy writing, reading and creating. Cheers!
Cheers, thanks for doing this Andrew!
As always, if you want to stay up to date on Andrew’s adventures, click the links!
Website: https://www.popcornpaperbacks.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Andrew-McManaman/e/B09KQ71CC8
August 31, 2022
3Q’s – Sarah Budd prepares to Enter the Darkness
As these 3Q’s move along, one of the best things about this feature, is I get to have a brief chat with so many amazing authors!
Today’s author is no exception and a truly fantastic writer.
Please say hello to Sarah Budd!
Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Sarah: Hi Steve, thanks for having me. I do try to write in the mornings and any other snippets of time I can get! I’m not super strict with myself, I don’t have any word counts to hit per day and I don’t like to force it. I feel that if I’m not having fun writing something then readers won’t have fun reading it! So, if I hit a stumbling block in my work, I find what’s best is a good long walk where I usually have my eureka moment and figure out the solution.
Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?
Sarah: Oh, this question has had me pondering for days! For years I’ve been obsessed with Daphne Du Maurier’s gothic masterpiece Rebecca. It’s the tale of a young woman marrying a richer older widower. She is quite literally swept off her feet and brought to Manderley a stately home haunted by her husband’s dead wife. I’ve read this book so many times and would love to write a tale exploring Rebecca’s side of the story. I would love for the wives to meet each other, even from beyond the grave, and form an alliance, that would be wild! Can’t say too much without giving spoilers away but I’m dying to know more about her.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Sarah: I still can’t believe it, but Brigid Gate’s Press will be publishing my debut novella, Enter the Darkness in September 2022. They have been putting out so many amazing anthologies and other tales I’m dying to read so I’m very excited to be working with them!
I was inspired to write Enter the Darkness after a visit to Chislehurst Caves in south London, not sure why but I’ve always been fascinated with caves and just knew I had to write about this place. I had so much fun writing this and hope people will enjoy reading it!
Enter the Darkness starts off with Garth a young man who has lived by the caves all his life. Since childhood he’s had a strange connection with the caves and jumps at the chance to work there as a tour guide. However, these aren’t ordinary caves, even the darkness behaves differently, it has a mind of its own and will draw you in if you’re not careful!
The worst thing that could happen to someone in the caves is to get lost, which is exactly what happens in my tale! On the eve of the Spring Solstice, four people go into the cave but only one will come out unscathed.
https://brigidsgatepress.com/upcoming-releases
Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?
Sarah: Another really hard question. I have my nose stuck in a book so much I get told off for it! I have so many favourites but one book I really love is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Reading this during my twenties made me fall in love with books all over again and inspired me to start writing again.
Fantastic! Thank you so much for doing this, Sarah!
As always – check the links to discover more of her work!
Website: http://www.sjbudd.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SjbuddJ
August 30, 2022
3Q’s – Kealan Patrick Burke, the Man, the Myth, the Legend!
A fun one for sure today! In the past I’ve had the privilege of interviewing Kealan Patrick Burke when his fantastic novella ‘The House on Abigail Lane’ released.
Now, today, he enters the fray and answers the 3Q’s! Kealan is an award winning author, sought after cover artist and one of the nicest guys in the Dark Fiction community!
Please welcome, Kealan!
Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
KPB: I write whenever I can, whenever I feel the ink in my blood. What I don’t do is feel bad when I can’t or don’t write. That’s wasted energy. For me, the work is always better when I’m in the zone, and the quality usually suffers when I force it. So I don’t have a set schedule or word count limit. I just write when the words are there, and that process has served me well so far.
Steve: You win the lottery and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?
KPB: There are so, so many books that deserve solid movie adaptations, but off the top of my head, either Queen of Teeth by Hailey Piper, directed by Axelle Carolyn, or Westlake Soul by Rio Youers, directed by Chloé Zhao.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
KPB: The latest one is the Sour Candy graphic novel, released by Storm King Comics as part of John Carpenter’s Night Terrors series. It features art by the brilliant Jason Felix and lettering by my wonderful friend Janice Chiang.
Direct Link: https://stormkingcomics.com/sour-candy/
Amazon link for standard Novella;
Amazing! Congrats again, Kealan and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
As always, check out the links for even more Kealan reads!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kealan-Patrick-Burke/e/B002BLW1IU/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KealanBurke
Website: https://www.kealanpatrickburke.com/
August 29, 2022
3Q’s – Gemma Amor goes Full Immersion!
Got a really exciting one today for you 3Q’s readers!
Gemma Amor is an author who has done it all. Indie author to agented and trad published, Gemma continues to scale the heights of writing and inspiring so many of us. And let’s not forget about her cover art and audio production. Gemma is always on the go! So, let’s find out a bit more, shall we?
Welcome, Gemma!
Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Gemma: At the moment, non-existent because the school holidays have just started and I am on mum duty, which means a lot of juggling, and I can’t write too well in those conditions. When it isn’t holiday time I am usually shacked up like a giant cliche in my favourite cafe, where I write from 9am to 1pm, every day (almost, or at least when I can afford it). I don’t fix on word counts, because any words on the page are a win, and my brain is very all or nothing- sometimes it’s a struggle to get out 50 words, on other (rarer) days, I can put down anything from one to six thousand, so I try not to worry about it too much. I do log it on a spreadsheet though because I need a system to keep on track. Evenings don’t work as well for me, I’m burned out by then. Plus that’s martini time, and I cannot write a word on alcohol. Perhaps I’m only 99.9% giant cliche.
Steve: If you started a series and for some reason had to have another author finish it, who would you choose?
Gemma: OOoh it would definitely be a crime thriller series (cough cough, massive hint) OR a fantasy epic series, and I’d rather burn in the fiery pits of hell than let someone else finish it- I suspect I’d stubbornly delay dying in order to do so. Fine, fine, maybe not. I grew up with Robert Jordan’s the Wheel of Time series, and as an avid fan it meant so much to me that the story was handed to an author who definitely did the arc and characters justice after Jordan’s untimely death. I wonder if it brought him comfort knowing the series would end properly and the characters would have some resolution. I’m not sure who I would choose, though. Perhaps V Castro, although she’s usually writing ten books at any given moment in time so I’d have to get in well in advance.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Gemma: My newest release is FULL IMMERSION, coming out on September 13th from Angry Robot books, which makes it my traditional debut. Which is weird, as I’ve brought out tons of other books but this one really does feel like a landmark for me (I say that with each new book). It’s intensely personal, mostly autobiographical (which is extremely scary to admit) and is centered around a young woman called Magpie, who has amnesia. She discovers her own dead body one morning on the banks of a river and has to go on a multi-reality odyssey to uncover the mystery of her own death. There’s some dubious VR technology, various points of view (standard for me) and a lot of slime and goo. Beyond that, it deals with mental healthcare provision and post-natal trauma. Which is a lot. I’m incredibly nervous about it, and also very proud. I hope at the very least it might, in some quarters, start a dialogue about what care and support mothers can access when they are struggling.
Steve: Bonus Question! If they made a movie about your life, what actor or actress would you suggest they get to play you?
Home: Nicholas Cage. I reckon he could pull it off. Failing that, Jenny Agutter.
Ha! He is a chameleon! Thank you again, Gemma and best of luck with the Full Immersion launch!
To find out more about Gemma, check the links!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gemma-Amor/e/B07DNGYLNV/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/manylittlewords
August 26, 2022
3Q’s – Christy Aldridge doesn’t care how PRETTY you are!
Today’s guest is a fun one! I’ve been a fan of Christy’s work for a bit now and I’m super excited to see that she’s been doing cover art lately as well. (I actually have a cover from her for an upcoming release in 2023!)
Please welcome the multi-talented, Christy Aldridge!
Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Christy: My writing time is always in the morning. I have a routine I try to stick to because it helps me keep writing and stay consistent. I usually go outside and write with the birds and squirrels. With a word count, I’d say I try to at least do 1000, but honestly, I just write until I’m done now. It’s more about a set time than a word count.
Steve: You win the lottery and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?
Christy: There are so many! Especially when it comes to the indie scene. I know it’s kinda cheating, but I have three in mind. So, I’m breaking the rules.
Anthony Create (Terrorfiction): Mister Music Man
John Huber: Road of Bones
Judith Sonnet: Chainsaw Hooker
All three are so different, but truly amazing stories that deserve so much love.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Christy: My newest release is ALL THE PRETTY HELLS YOU SEE, a short story collection that mostly deals with Hell and the many variations of the words. It’s got everything. Zits, cows, killer fridges, and so much much more. From weird and silly, to heartbreaking and dark, it really is a collection with something for everyone.
Steve: Bonus Question! If you could be an extra on any TV show, which one would it have been and why?
Christy: Lucifer, hands down. One of the best shows in existence and honestly, I just want to be close to Mazikeen’s perfection. I’d die to be in the same room with her.
Awesome! That’s a great choice!
Thank you so much, Christy! As always – check the links for more information!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Christy-Aldridge/e/B016OTPN66
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristyA_Horror
August 25, 2022
3Q’s – Aron Beauregard wants you to answer his ad!
One thing I love about the Dark Fiction community, is that there is always such a variety in readers out there. Some want quiet horror, others want creature features and still others want the most extreme of the extreme. Which brings us to today’s 3Q’s guest.
Aron Beauregard has cultivated a dedicated fan base of the last number of years and knowing what his readers want, he continues to deliver the goods.
Welcome, Aron!
Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
Aron: I don’t have a specific daily goal. Some days I may write thousands of words, other days I may not even write. However, I work on something “writing related” every day. It could be editing, marketing, horror store related duties, or reader interaction. Even just pondering a potential new story idea or the characters that might fit into it is important. There is always something to do if you want to continue treading water while in pursuit of your dreams.
Steve: If you started a series and for some reason had to have another author finish it, who would you choose?
Aron: It’s easy to get really dreamy on this question. Would I love for Clive Barker or Brian Keene to finish a series with me? Of course. But I also think that people you’re familiar with and gel well with are probably the more realistic selection. I’ve worked with Daniel J. Volpe a few times now. Neither of us ever seem to get stuck in the mud while creating. It also helps to have a friendship and understanding of the person. Our stories and ideas complement each other well, so I think Dan is the easy and most realistic choice for me.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Aron: My latest release is titled “The Cuck.” It’s about a pair of men who, on a drunken whim, decide to answer a back-page sex ad. The repercussion they garner as a result leads to what I believe is some of my creepiest writing to date. Additionally, some readers have informed me that the book as ruined their sex lives!
Steve: Bonus Question! If they made a movie about your life, what actor or actress would you suggest they get to play you?
Aron: I really like actor Marc Senter. He played Ray Pye in Jack Ketchem’s film adaptation of his book “The Lost.” I think he’s a criminally underrated actor, but more importantly, he plays a great weirdo!
Very cool! Thank you, Aron for doing this!
For those who want to discover more of his work, click the links!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Aron-Beauregard/e/B07RWS59JT
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AronHorror
Website: https://www.abhorror.com/
August 24, 2022
Book Review: If It Bleeds by Stephen King
Title: If It Bleeds
Author: Stephen King
Release date: April 21st, 2020
Lately, it seems to be in style to bash Stephen King, or rip on his work. No author is above criticism, it’s the reality of writing something you love and releasing it into the public void, but if you spend any time on any social media platforms, you’ll see the King hate.
2022 marks, what I think, is at least my 32nd year of reading his work. I don’t know if I started when I was eight but I’m pretty confident I was at least nine when I borrowed one of his books from our neighbor, Patti, and I’ve been hooked ever since. For many, many years, based on my remoteness and limited access too, he was the only author I really ever read that was horror. Peter Straub joined in, after I read The Talisman, but for the most part, I was limited.
No matter whether you enjoy King or not, one thing you can’t accuse him of is sitting back and resting as he’s getting older. His output is equal to, if not higher than, a lot of Indie authors and he’s opened a ton of doors for so many things in the horror world.
All of this is to say – while he is one to never be hurting for reviews – I still wanted to review this collection of novellas for two reasons. Number 1 – there are some out there who’ve still not read any of his work and this might entice them. Number 2 – as ridiculously arrogant as this sounds (good grief, I can’t believe I’m even typing this!!) there are two or three of you out there who read all of my reviews and would be genuinely curious as to what my thoughts were.
Let’s dive in!
What I liked: One thing King is renowned for is his ability to draw you in with his tried and true writing voice. It’s phenomenal. Much like my own favorite authors (Pyper, Nevill, Moncrieff, Sodergren etc) you’re instantly transported into his world and the characters and locations are vibrant and alive.
The first story is ‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.’ This story is classic King. The story follows a young kid who unknowingly befriends a reclusive billionaire. They strike up an unlikely friendship and each bringing something unique to the other’s life. The second half is a paranormal rollercoaster. I found it unique that the story itself would’ve been one of the best short stories I’d ever read, even before the ‘shift,’ which is testament to King’s versatility.
Up next was ‘The Life of Chuck.’ King throws us for a loop with a story told in reverse over three acts. It was a unique spin on following a singular character and the opening piece, with a doomsday secondary story was really well done.
The third novella was the title piece, ‘If It Bleeds.’ This story was the reason I delayed reading this novella and the collection. This one is a sequel story to ‘The Outsider,’ and follows Holly Gibney after the events and during a new occurrence. You need to read that first to really follow along, which is why I held off. I, personally, actually really enjoy Holly’s character. I know she’s a sticking point for many folks, but I dig her and always want to root for her. This one was the weakest of the four – which I’ll discuss shortly, but still super engaging.
Lastly was ‘Rat.’ The novella follows a man who has an idea for a novel fall into his lap and he has to chase it. His previous attempt was a colossal failure, but this time he knows it’ll be different. So, with his family’s blessing, he heads to the family cabin to get it onto paper ASAP. King does a phenomenal job of telling this story, and much like ‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,’ this one would’ve been stellar even without any paranormal/supernatural occurrences.
What I didn’t like: As I mentioned previously – for me the title story was the one that fell flat compared to the others. Saying that – I still really enjoyed it – but, I think it would’ve been better as a whole novel. A lot is covered in this novella, which led to the dreaded “quick finale” occurring. A lot of build up for a few paragraphs that finished off the danger. In ‘The Outsider,’ the final battle was drawn out and really well done, so in comparison, this one felt stunted and over far too quickly. It does open up the potential for a really intriguing follow up, so we’ll see if the reported next Holly Gibney book follows this path or not.
Why you should buy this: If you’re a long-time constant reader, you’ll already have this on your shelf (or your Kindle or both), and it’ll just be a matter of time until you read it. Much like every novella King produces, the story is really engaging and the writing voice shines through. If you’re new to the King world, you could read three of the four novellas and find an author who has been delivering some dark goods for fifty years. King will remain an auto buy for me and his storytelling still makes me a happy reader.
4/5
3Q’s – B.P. Gregory gets tricked!
Usually, usually, the title of each 3Q’s has to do with one of the answers or releases that the author has released. Not this time. This time – it has to do with how this 3Q’s went down. When I asked B.P. is she was interested in doing one – she replied that she had been hoping I would ask and had been trying to decide on who her favorite wrestler was – for the Bonus Question!! Well… The fav wrestler question was one of three bonus questions I had for SEASON 1!!! And now, in Season 2 – I have three other random bonus questions!! So, I wonder if, when Gregory opened up the email, she cursed my name and shook an angry fist in the air towards Canada!?!?
No matter – I’m super excited to have B.P. join me today for this fun 3Q’s!
Welcome, B.P.!
Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
B.P.: Thank you for having me Steve!
I work part-time and I have two days per week ostensibly put aside for writing, although as you can imagine normal chores around the house tend to eat them up a bit.
I don’t have a regular routine or word count; and how fast I write depends on the story. I find early drafting is a slog, but as the narrative pulls together the process gets faster and more exciting. Which means that writing a novel starts out a real bummer, then later gets offset by how enjoyable things are once they start ticking along. I’m also a chronic drafter – I could draft forever if there wasn’t a requirement to stop and publish. Heaven is going to be just a long perfect draft unspooling off the side of the table and across the floor as the sun comes through the window for the cat to sleep in, and my mug of coffee stays eternally hot.
Weirdly, I’ve found that waiting is one of the most important aspects of writing. Once I think a story is finished, I set it aside and work on something else for a month or so. When I can finally come back with a fresh eye the mistakes and bum notes suddenly seem so obvious, and I can give it a final polish.
Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?
B.P.: That’s a tough question! Most of the fictional worlds and series I’ve loved have been because they blew my mind in ways I’ve never thought of writing myself, they just seem so far beyond my abilities.
That being said, if we imagine limitless talent then the world I’d most like to write a story for is Catherynne M Valente’s Palimpsest. For those who haven’t read it yet, the mysterious city of Palimpsest has been sealed away from the ordinary world for years. Seekers wishing to live in this land of wonders must follow maps etched into their own and strangers’ skins, half awake and half dreaming. It’s such a luxurious, beautiful novel that’s unflinching and yet forgiving of human weakness, and the call to action at the end was so lovely it made me burst into tears. I want to be able to write stories that make other people feel like that someday.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
B.P.: In June this year I had the pleasure of releasing my first audiobook, in collaboration the very excellent Ed of One-stop Audiobook. Flora & Jim the audiobook is an all new way to experience the frozen glacial apocalypse as poor Jim struggles to keep his young daughter Flora alive against monsters, nightmares, the dangerous prospect of love, and worst of all, their past. Being an audiobook you can enjoy the end of the world on your way to work, pretend snow-dogs are chasing you as you exercise, or forage along with Jim as you do your chores.
Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?
B.P.: I have a few signed books that are special to me, but my MOST cherished book has to be my limited Folio Edition of Tristan Alice Nieto’s Imago. It’s an exquisite and haunting sci-fi/horror masterpiece about resurrection and existence, where every word and moment are crafted just so.
Amazing!
Thank you so much, B.P.!
To find more of her work – check the links!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/BP-Gregory/e/B009JWF4K6/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BP_Gregory
Website: https://www.bpgregory.com/
