Steve Stred's Blog, page 55
August 4, 2022
3Q’s – Joe Lansdale was Born For Trouble!
Not gonna lie – when I send out the invites for things (much like when I message regarding blurbs), there’s a few that you send out that A) you don’t expect a reply and B) if they do, it’ll be a thanks, but sorry. Look, life is busy and we have limited time. Some things just don’t slot in and being a small fish like myself, I’m never hurt or offended if someone declines anything I send their way.
Today’s guest, I’ll admit – was in B. Joe’s super nice and while I really wanted to feature him, I know how massively busy he is, so I honestly expected a thanks, but not right now reply. BUT TO MY ABSOLUTE SHOCK – he agreed! So, here we are. Today’s guest is one of the most accomplished and distinguished authors to walk the planet.
Please welcome the amazing Joe Lansdale!
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?
Joe: I write in the morning, three hours. I try and write pretty shortly after I wake up. I try for three to five pages a morning and sometimes get more. Polish as I go. No outlines.
Steve: If you started a series and for some reason had to have another author finish it, who would you choose?
Joe: Probably someone in my family.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Joe: The newest is BORN FOR TROUBLE and is about my Hap and Leonard characters. Mulholland/Little Brown publishes the novels, but the collections about the characters so far have been published by
Tachyon. I think they’re pretty exciting and funny, and I like to think they’re original.
Steve: Bonus Question! If they made a movie about your life, what actor or actress would you suggest they get to play you?
Joe: We don’t need a movie about my life.
There you have it! Thank you so much, Joe for doing this!
For more info – check the links!
Website: http://www.joerlansdale.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joelansdale
August 3, 2022
3Q’s – Antonia Rachel Ward pulls the strings!
Hello, hello!!!
Welcome to a fun 3Q’s today! These have all been a blast haven’t they?
Today’s is no different!
Please welcome, Antonia Rachel Ward!
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?
Ward: I usually try to write for at least an hour each day. I’m lucky that I’m in the position to arrange my own work schedule so I fit my writing into the day as and when it suits me. 500 words per day has always been my general rule of thumb, but with my current work-in-progress I’m trying a different approach of alternating writing and planning scenes, so some days are more about planning rather than actual writing. I think at times in the past I’ve focused too hard on hitting specific word counts, and I’ve worn myself out doing that and my writing has suffered as a result, so now I’m trying to pace myself and focus more on quality. Sometimes that means I don’t get a lot of new words written in a day, and that’s ok.
Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?
Ward: I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s something I’d particularly enjoy. I much prefer inventing my own worlds and characters, rather than trying to fit into something someone else has come up with. There are definitely authors whose work inspires me, though. With my current novel, I’m trying to capture something of the flavour of 19th century gothic novels like Dracula and Frankenstein.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Ward: My first novella, Marionette, is out 16th August. Set in fin de siècle Paris, it’s the story of an exotic dancer and ex-prostitute, Cece, who agrees to be the star of an erotic seance. But she becomes possessed by a lustful, vengeful ghost, and has to find a way to break the spell before she becomes lost in the afterlife. It’s supposed to be a bit of fun – plenty of sex and blood – but I also wanted to explore the way contemporary society viewed sexually available women as being dangerous or evil. Read it if you enjoy richly-described historical settings, gothic horror, and something that maybe subverts your expectations a little bit.
Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?
Ward: I have a couple of childhood favourites that I still keep on my shelf, one of which is The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo. It’s such a magical, bittersweet story, and Joanna Carey’s illustrations are beautiful and haunting. It’s a book that will always stay with me and is a huge inspiration of mine.
Awesomesauce!
Thank you so much for doing this!
To find out more info about Antonia click the links!
Website: https://antoniarachelward.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoniaRachelW1
August 2, 2022
3Q’s – Catherine McCarthy keeps churning them out!
Here we are today with another fantastic female author that you should be reading!
My guest today is the always amazing… Catherine McCarthy!
Welcome, Catherine!
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?
McCarthy: I tend to write (or edit) from around three in the afternoon until perhaps seven or seven-thirty. That’s what suits me best. Mornings are for chores or for going to the gym or shopping etc., and I don’t function well after eight in the evening because I’m a morning person. The afternoon is when I’m most calm, so it suits me best.
I don’t give myself a specific word count, but I might aim to finish a specific chapter or scene. When writing or editing I tend to work in stints, forcing myself to stay away from social media for periods of at least thirty minutes before allowing myself a five minute doomscroll. It’s what works for me.
Steve: If you started a series and for some reason had to have another author finish it, who would you choose?
McCarthy: First of all, I’ve always said I could never write a series. I don’t have the kind of commitment it takes. I know I’d get bored, and it would show in my work. I hardly ever read series for the same reason. A recent exception, though, has been Daniel Barnett’s Nightmareland Chronicles. I’ve had to intersperse them with other books because my TBR is so long, plus I get ARC and blurb requests, but it’s a series I will definitely read to the end.
To answer the question though, if ever I did write a series and disappeared off the face of the earth before I got to finish it, I would be thrilled if Laura Purcell picked it up. I love her work, and feel an affinity with her as a writer. Having said that, I’d be more than thrilled just to have her read any of my work, never mind continue my writing.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
McCarthy: I’m going to cheat here, because there’s more than one. I have a fair few short stories due to be published in anthologies this year, but these are the ones I’m allowed to speak about so far…
My short story, M1-k1, will be published in Issue 11 of Dark Matter Magazine this September. It’s best described as an Artificial Intelligence story with heart.
I also have a story called Monster Mistaken in the forthcoming anthology, Human Monsters (Dark Matter and the Night Worms team in October), which I’m ridiculously thrilled about. This one plays with the concept of human monsters and puts a spin on the title by telling the story from a child’s point of view—a child who has behavioural issues. It’s a real heart story, because I based it on a boy I taught.
My story called Soul Cakes is coming out in Gaby Triana’s (Alienhead Press) anthology Literally Dead: Tales of Halloween Hauntings this October. This one offers an insight into the Welsh tradition of Ysbrydnos – Night of the Spirits. Ysbrydnos is the one night of the year when the barrier between the living and the dead is rice-paper thin, so that might give you a hint of what’s to come.
I also have a tale called The Peddler’s Promise in Black Spot Books’ anthology Into the Forest: Tales of the Baba Yaga which will be published early November. The TOC for this one is ridiculously good!
Phew!
Perhaps most exciting of all is my forthcoming novel, A Moonlit Path of Madness, which will be published in 2023 by Nosetouch Press. I don’t have a precise date yet, but fans of Gothic ghost fiction with a twist will hopefully love it.
Last but not least, I’ve signed a contract on another novel, but the details have not been released publicly yet, therefore I’d better stay quiet.
Exciting stuff!
Steve: Bonus Question! If they made a movie about your life, what actor or actress would you suggest they get to play you?
McCarthy: Geez, now I know you’re kidding! I’ll let you into a secret…when I was younger, I quite fancied acting. I guess that’s why I became a teacher. There are a lot of similarities. Seriously though, this is a difficult question to answer. I won’t even think about it from a ‘looks’ point of view because that would be ridiculous, so I’ll choose Eva Green, because her role as Vanessa Ives in the series Penny Dreadful was outstanding. She does dark and moody to perfection, though at heart I’m bright and cheerful. I just write dark and moody.
Great choice!
Thanks so much for doing this, Catherine!
Now – you all need to go click those links and discover her work!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/serialsemantic
Website: https://www.catherine-mccarthy-author.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Catherine-Ann-McCarthy/e/B07RQYTT4P/
August 1, 2022
Book Review: Ghost Story by Peter Straub
Title: Ghost Story
Author: Peter Straub
Release date: January 1st, 1979
My history with Straub is limited. Growing up, my first exposure to horror was when my neighbor, Patti Moody, would let me borrow her Stephen King books. This started when I was eight or nine. I began making my through her books, always thankful to her for letting me read them. I eventually got to the one titled ‘The Talisman’ which was co-written by Straub and King. I loved it and asked Patti if she had any of Straub’s work. She didn’t but she did believe our tiny Burton Community Hall Library did. She looked for me and sure enough, the only book they had was one titled ‘Ghost Story.’ She borrowed it for me, as I was too young to take it out at the time. I devoured it. It had me up for nights, long past when I should’ve been asleep and it gave me nightmares for weeks after.
Now, some thirty years later, it was a book that I vaguely recalled events from but not enough to accurately recall most moments. You may know my love of a specific author and after seeing he had re-read it and raved that it held up, I knew I needed to dive back in once again.
What I liked: The story follows a group of older men who gather to tell each other stories. The stories are designed to frighten each other, but what occurs now, is one such tale coming back to have real life implications and events to unfold related to it.
Straub weaves the story masterfully, as one would expect from an author of his stature and ability. The characters all feel like older relatives we each have, with their odd little quirks and funny-isms that only they have. The location/setting works well to have a big city aesthetic with a small town flow and the first few discovers that occur are so spot on with creating internal terror, you’ll be absently pulling your feet closer to your body, no matter where you sit.
This book is a classic case of revealing done right. The opening sequences with the man standing over the girl and practically begging her to tell him who she really is would’ve made for an unsettling novella purely on its own, but once you understand it is wrapped up in a larger narrative, the ripples begin and they travel far off from the shoreline.
What I didn’t like: Large sections of the novel will feel dated and some newer (IE younger) readers will smirk or question why certain things are done they way they are, but that is the case for the year this occurs.
For me, it did remind me a lot of my recent re-read of ‘Frankenstein.’ That book had sections that came across as phenomenally tedious and completely unnecessary, especially when compared to the masterfully pristine portions that showcase some of the best writing and horribly dark moments you’ll ever read.
Why you should buy this: Straub has long been a favorite author of King and it is a book like this that showcases that. Straub has also been a massive, massive influence on so many of the current crop of super-authors, those horror writers who are churning out best-sellers, Netflix and Worldwide Theatrical releases. This book is a masterclass is developing atmosphere and keeping the reader’s mind agape with potential. Really, really dark and disturbing book and one that should be considered a must-read.
4/5
3Q’s – Somer Canon wants to eat the rude!
Got a fun one today, friends!
Today’s guest is the Splatterpunk Award-Nominated author that always brings some deliciously dark worlds to us. Please welcome, Somer Canon!
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?
Canon: I am definitely a creature that thrives with a routine. Having said that, these past two years because of the virus-that-shall-not-be-named, my two sons have been homeschooling and any routine that I ever had in regards to my own creative endeavors was thrown out of the window. Under my previous tried and true routine, I tried for at least two hours a day writing and I tried for a minimum of 1,000 words. It’s sometimes a hectic dash, and sometimes a really chill writing session. I never know what I’m gonna get.
Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?
Canon: I’d love to play in the Thomas Harris universe. I’d like to relegate Hannibal Lecter to a peripheral character rather than a main character, not because I hate him, but because that character is sacrosanct and my grubby fingers have no right to mess with him. But a horror-heavy crime novel with the FBI profilers and advice from Lecter? Heck yeah!
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Canon: My new release is titled “You’re Mine” and it’s my longest work to date. It’s a witchy book that’s sort of my love letter to the alt-goths of the late 90s-early 2000s. Possessive boyfriends, drug addiction, witchcraft, and curses are all some of the elements of this work. Young love is full of sex, drama, and big emotions that are sometimes too much for those young minds to handle. This book explores those different emotions and shows how young love can drastically shift from euphoria to dangerous and bad…sometimes with a body count.
Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?
Canon: I do! I have two copies of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy that includes the full set of wood engravings by Gustave Dore. A lot of these books would have the engravings cut out of them and framed for display, they’re so beautiful, so having a book with the full set of engravings is brag-worthy. If my house were on fire, these books would be on my list of things to save.
*Steve note – I’m not sure what edition Somer has, but when I searched for a cover image to use, I thought this one was really striking! *
Awesome! Thank you so much, Somer!
As always – check the links!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Somer-Canon/e/B01D3E9F78/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SomerM
Website: http://www.somercanon.com/
3Q’s – S.P. Miskowski knocks on some dark doors!
Hey, hey! Welcome back to another fun one!
Today’s guest is a critically acclaimed author who continues to rattle the blackness within with each and every release. I’m truly honored to introduce today’s 3Q’s guest!
Please welcome S.P. Miskowski!
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?
S.P.: The shape of my day varies throughout the week, but my best writing time is early morning. Before I read the news or check social media. The idea is to pick up as few bits of distracting information as possible before climbing back into the world of the story or novel.
Some writers benefit from keeping a daily word count. I don’t. For me, writing is a release from all things mundane and repetitive. A specific word count feels too much like an assignment. What works for me is content. I try to complete an arc or reach the end of a scene or chapter during a writing session.
On certain days, if I have some free time, my efforts may not be quantifiable at all. Let’s say I’m writing a novel and I’m drawn to a certain film, but I don’t know why. I screen the film and discover something not included in the synopsis, an image or a theme related to my novel. Because of this film I understand how certain elements of my story fit together. But I haven’t typed any words that day. Was the time wasted?
Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?
S.P.: It was an honor—and a lot of fun—to write a story for the Matthew M. Bartlett tribute anthology, Hymns of Abomination. Sending one of the characters from my series, the Skillute cycle, to Bartlett’s terrifying town of Leeds gave me a new understanding of both worlds. As you develop a background over several books, you can unintentionally lock into one way of seeing things. Placing a character in another writer’s fictional realm shakes things up. It’s great.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
S.P.: In July my novella, Muscadines, became the fifth book published in Mary SanGiovanni’s Tempest Line at Thunderstorm Books. It’s a lovely limited signed edition. I’m thrilled that the book, originally published by Jordan Krall at Dunhams Manor Press, has a new life. It was a finalist for a Shirley Jackson Award the year Victor LaValle’s brilliant novella The Ballad of Black Tom won. Read it to find out how scary women can be. Every reader who thinks of women as beneficent and maternal and caring should really have that cherry popped by a book like Muscadines. Happy reading!
Direct link: https://thunderstormbooks.com/thunderstorm/book/muscadines/
Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?
S.P.: I have many cherished books. One is Yoko Ogawa’s collection, Revenge. It’s full of strange, gorgeously written, interconnected stories. The layering of events and characters yields this dense, almost magical world that is nevertheless grounded in reality and tinged with horror. I love it.
Oh, very cool! Thank you so much for doing this S.P.!
For those looking to discover more work, click the links!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/S-P-Miskowski/e/B002GG88ZA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SPMiskowski
July 29, 2022
3Q’s – Matthew Vaughn is blacker than a really black thing!
Can you believe this! The end! The last 3Q’s feature of… SEASON 1!! Ahhh, what! Yeah, that’s right. This is the last one for this series and starting in August, we’ll see Season 2, featuring new guests, some new questions and a whole lot of fun!
For this last one, please welcome the awesomely extreme – Matthew Vaughn!
Welcome, good sir!
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?
Matthew: I know you know I have a big family, but for anyone that doesn’t know, I have five kids that range from one year old to thirteen years old. My writing style can only be described as a guerrilla style, which basically means I write whenever and wherever I can. I want more than anything to be able to get up before work and write for at least an hour everyday. I’ve tried, and I will continue to try, but so far I haven’t had any luck with that. So, until I can get it worked out, I write on my phone mostly. I just write in my notes app and email it to myself for final edits and formatting. I write at work if I can, I write sitting in the car while my wife runs into Target. I write at my sons soccer practices if the other parents don’t talk to me. Then, like I said, after editing it for a while on my phone I email it to myself for final editing, which I’ve been doing a lot of at work recently. As far as hitting a word count goes, I’m just happy to get any writing done, so I don’t focus on word counts so much.
Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a favorite character you’ve written?
Matthew: I don’t know if it’s weird or not, but I don’t have any strong connections to any of my characters. I like telling stories about bad things that happen, and that usually involves writing about a lot of bad people. And to be honest, I find writing bad people is much more enjoyable than writing good people. You get to really let your imagination run wild and think of lot’s of horrible, terrible things these people could do.
So, saying that, the Harrington family in the Hellsworld Hotel series are my favorite to write. That is why I decided to write the prequel stories, I just wanted to play with those characters some more, to flesh out some that didn’t get as much limelight as others. I have plans to revisit them still, I’ve roughly started on a sequel that will give me an opportunity to write about this crazy, whacked out family and to introduce some new relatives. So, there’s at least one more haunted house out there with blood soaked walls and gore filled rooms ran by a bunch of nut jobs that will see the light of day!
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Matthew: Coming out July14th on godless.com is the ebook of The Survivors. My wife and I were big fans of the TV show Lost, and if you’ve ever watched it then you know it has a lot of fantastical elements to it. At some point I got the idea of writing a story similar to Lost, of plane crash survivors that are marooned on an Island, but ground it in reality. No smoke monsters or time travel, the islands not magic, just real people in a bad situation. But obviously I make it a bit extreme. These are not all good people, and there’s some cannibals on the island. After it runs e book only for a little while I’ll release it in paperback form.
Also, very soon, I’ll be releasing the 30 Minutes or Less stories in paperback for the first time. This will be one book featuring all three stories combined together into one collection, with a forward by none other than Steve Stred! So it will be cool to see people being able to read this as one big story.
The Survivors by Matthew Vaughn
Steve: Bonus Question! What is your favorite album?
Matthew: This is probably the most difficult question out of the whole bunch! I love music, it has been a big part of my life since I was in middle school. I’m always listening to music, if I don’t have an audio book going. But my favorite album, out of all the ones I love, that’s tough. How about a couple –
Strapping Young Lad’s City. SYL was one of my favorite bands, and City was the first album I heard from them. It’s perfect, loud, aggressive, atmospheric, it has it all, there is not a bad song on the album.
Ministry’s Filth Pig. Another band that I have loved forever, they’re mainly known for earlier albums, but I love the raw and depressing sound of Filth Pig.
Lastly I’ll say Filter’s Short Bus. When Hey Man, Nice Shot came out it was overplayed like crazy. But, after seeing them live, I bought the album and it has so many bangers on it. Richard Patrick is angry and the guitars are super loud and hard. Those three albums are in constantly in rotation on my phone, and have been since the 90’s!
Very cool! Awesome, thank you so much, Matthew! And thank all the people out there who have checked out this first batch of 3Q’s!
For more from Matthew, check the links!
Website: mcvaughn.wordpress.com
Amazon: amazon.com/author/matthewvaughn
July 28, 2022
3Q’s – Jonathan Edward Durham wishes you a happy Barley Day!
Isn’t it a great feeling when you get a book and blows your socks off? I remember getting an ARC for review of today’s 3Q’s debut novel and thinking the synopsis was cool, but the cover was ultimately what pulled me in and – BOOM! Blown away!
Jonathan Edward Durham joins us for 3Q’s and I’m excited to see what he has to say!
Welcome, Jonathan!
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?
Jonathan: I definitely try and write at the same time each day…for whatever reason my life just runs smoother when my schedule is predictable. I try to get in two writing sessions a day, one after I’m done with my workout and errands in the afternoon, and then another one later at night after my husband goes to sleep. So overall I try to get in 4 or 5 hours total every day, but if I’m honest, that doesn’t always happen.
Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a favorite character you’ve written?
Jonathan: Well, seeing as “Winterset Hollow” is the only thing I’ve ever released, I suppose I’ll have to draw my answer from that, lol. I’ve been asked that question a lot, and to be honest my answer has changed a few times, and it will probably change again. But as of right now, my favorite character is Runny, the rabbit. I don’t know, I just identify with his more anxious sensibilities, and frankly, I really enjoyed writing his dialogue.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Jonathan: So “Jonah the Giant” should be out in 2023. It’s a dark historical fantasy set during the Great Depression and it involves a giant having to face the world at large after years of hiding. It’s a bit of an allegory for what it’s like to be different in a world that isn’t really built for you, but it’s also filled with really complex characters and a good dose of thrills as well, so I hope people will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Steve: I’ve been seeing you share bits of ‘Jonah…’ and I’m excited! Bonus Question! What is your favorite album?
Jonathan: This is a very, very hard question for me. My immediate answer is “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd, but honestly I’m not sure that I can even say that without mentioning “The Wall,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “Animals” because they’re all so damn brilliant and all in different ways. So I’m gonna throw a curveball your way and go “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis. Maybe the most important album ever recorded.
Awesome! Thank you good sir!
You can follow along with Jonathan’s adventures here;
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanEdwardDurham/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisone0verhere
July 27, 2022
Book Review: Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire
Title: Across the Green Grass Fields (Wayward Children 6)
Author: Seanan McGuire
Release date: January 12, 2021
Look, the reality is that many series begin to fizzle out after the first three book arc or after that magical 5th entry that seems to be a natural series ending. So, when we get to a series that has a book six, seven and more, you begin to wonder if the author can not only hold the initial magic that drew you in initially, but also whether the books themselves can still hold your attention. This isn’t meant as a negative, it’s just the hard truth that readers minds are finnicky and authors can also lose steam and/or world desire.
I have to say – not the case here. Probably should’ve led with that yeah?
The sixth entry in McGuire’s phenomenal Wayward Children’s series is a complete stand-alone story. Sure there may be nods to other characters in the world (there might be, but I don’t have a reader’s brain that let’s me remember every single character ever mentioned, sadly), but this one is a singular piece set in the shared world of the other five books. And honestly, I think that was exactly what needed to happen to keep this franchise fresh and vibrant.
What I liked: As with all of McGuire’s entries into this series, the story follows a child who finds an unexpected door and, after going through, finds themselves whisked away to a fantastical world. In this case, we follow Regan, who has discovered the reason behind why she’s not beginning puberty the same as the other girls in her class. After divulging this to her supposed best friend, she flees the school and finds a door.
As well, with all of McGuire’s entries, this story has an allegorical aspect to it that pertains to some very topical events going on in the world today. I’ll keep my yap shut about it, as I don’t want to spoil that, but I will say, it was a really refreshing way to discuss differences, belonging and how, sometimes, family isn’t always those you’re related to through blood.
The novellas always hum and crackle along and this one does the same. The story flows magically and it leads up to an ending that will most likely have reverberations across the future entries.
I really loved the characters within and the setting of this one. I’d think this was the most full on ‘fantasy’ style story thus far, with centaurs and fauns and Kings and Queens in a castle. Really made for some stunning imagery.
What I didn’t like: While I liked the ending, I thought it was a little too rushed. I would’ve loved to see a bit more action occur as a result of the decisions, but that’s minor.
Those folks who believe we live in a world of only males and females will most likely get their underwear in a knot reading this, but I think that’s part of McGuire’s goals when creating this phenomenal places and characters.
Why you should buy this: Being that this is a complete stand-alone, you could get away with reading this without having read any of the others. Saying that, you’d be missing out on some of the most sublime and pristine world-creating and characters you’ll fall in love with. Seanan is a master and I’m so happy to see that this series continues to rocket along at such a high level.
4/5
3Q’s – Brennan LaFaro get’s dangerous!
Today’s guest is both an author and a podcast host! Many of you will know Brennan from his writing, others from his co-hosting gig on the Deadhead Space podcast!
Welcome, Brennan!
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?
Brennan: My writing time looks a lot like that of a father of two boys who works two jobs. It can be erratic, but I try and maintain a schedule within the chaos. As a rule, I try to do writing-related things every day. This can be actual writing, editing, or sometimes promotional stuff. I’m lucky enough to have my lunch and prep period back to back at work, and I can typically get in an hour then, and maybe an hour after the kids are in bed. On days off, I like to write early in the morning, when the house is relatively quiet. I try not to stress about daily word counts. They can be helpful if I’m writing toward a deadline, real or self-imposed. There are days where I only get 200 words, but I’m truly happy with them. While I don’t adhere to word counts strictly enough to advertise them, I can see how they might benefit some writers. After all, writing is like exercise and if tracking your progress in that manner is an effective tool to help you get it done, more power to you.
Steve: Out of all your releases, do you have a character you absolutely detest?
Brennan: I really don’t, honestly. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got some despicable antagonists in various stories, but they’re all so much fun to write. The main antagonist in Slattery Falls, Robert Weeks, is detestable. Pure, unadulterated evil, but I enjoy the challenge of writing him. He’s a monster, but creating his dialogue is an exercise in control. He keeps a quiet calm regardless of what heinous misdeed he’s talking about, and when he loses control, it’s a careful crescendo. He’s also a character that it’s easy to overwrite for and turn into a mustache-twirling villain, so I enjoy the challenge of exercising restraint and making his actions speak louder and his words count for something.
In my upcoming horror western, Noose, the titular villain is absent much of the book, but when he shows up, he makes his impact felt on the main character right off the bat. Almost the opposite of Weeks, George “Noose” Holcomb doesn’t know when to shut up and abundantly chews the scenery. If you don’t hate him by the end of chapter one, I’m not doing my job, but I bet you’ll have a good time doing it.
Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
Brennan: Noose will be out later in 2022, so let’s talk about the re-release of Slattery Falls. The book originally came out in July of 2021, but when its publisher closed their doors, Slattery found a new home with Crossroad Press. I revised the entire manuscript, made a few additions, edited a few places that got missed on the original round of edits, and made some slight adjustments to continuity. The great Donnie Goodman worked up a magnificent cover that does the story justice.
In short, I wrote the book I wanted to read. It’s a haunted house book that revolves around ghost hunting. At the time, I didn’t realize how much the average reader absolutely hates ghost hunting books. That revelation made for more than a few panics after we announced the synopsis. Luckily, I had quite a few people reach out and say ‘I generally don’t go for this sort of thing, but the way you pulled it off worked’. The focus is less on gadgets and readouts, more on character and creeps. Despite the fact that the characters are in their early 20s at the start of the story, it’s got coming-of-age elements that have resonated with a lot of readers. It’s a tense ride with no fat on it.
I’m prepping the sequel, Decimated Dreams, for a late 2022 release, and currently writing the third and final book in the series with an eye to release it in mid-2023.
Steve: Bonus Question! What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?
Brennan: What a great question! It has to be Darkwing Duck. Everything from the theme song that still plays in the back of my mind, to the noir elements before I knew what noir was, makes DD, arguably, a perfect cartoon
Awesome! Thanks so much, Brennan!
Some links you should check out!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brennan-LaFaro/e/B08R6PT1NT/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrennanLaFaro
Website: brennanlafaro.com
