Nancy Kilpatrick's Blog, page 5
March 20, 2019
Get to know writer & software genius RICK CHIANT...
Get to know writer & software genius RICK CHIANTARETTO...
Rick Chiantaretto
NK - You're a writer of fiction and also a software genius. It's unusual to be both a word and a visual artist. How do those two careers get along within the same human being?
RC – I’ve always joked that my day isn’t complete until I’ve exercised both halves of my brain. My day job is incredibly logical—I’m a software engineer who develops large-scale commerce solutions for some of the world’s leading retailers. It’s all about problem-solving and solution architecting. But I also need an inspiring, creative outlet. I used writing as an escape from the worlds of math and science pretty early on in my schooling. I didn’t fall in love with writing until my senior year in high school, where I had an incredible A.P. English teacher.
I feel like graphic design and website work help unite my two interests. I get to be logical on the back end, but with the caveat that the finished project has to be a visual delight, polished, and user-friendly.
NK - What do you love most about graphic design, and what do you love most about fiction writing?
RC – I’ll be honest here: I think these two loves feed into two sides of my ego. I love being the source of information and the person people ask for when they need a problem solved. I like being the expert and the recognition that comes with that. At the same time, I also love entertaining people and am a story-teller at heart.
NK - You recently moved from Costa Rica back to the U.S. How has that move affected your work and your writing?
RC – I thought I would be extremely creative in Costa Rica. We had this amazing opportunity to experience life in a foreign country and I thought it would inspire me to move toward a slower way of life. It was a dream come true but ended up being a challenge for me creatively. I’m still not sure I understand why, but I’m glad to be back in the USA. I’m sure all of the Costa Rica experiences will become inspiration over the course of my life (in fact, some of their urban legends are just itching to be written), but while I was there I found myself preoccupied with my day job. I think maybe my creativity was zapped by things like finding creative ways to get internet to my house (true story)!
NK - You're busy. If you have any spare time, what do you do with it?
RC - I've often been accused of having done more in my life than the average person my age, but if I were completely honest I'd have to tell you my secret: I'm really 392. I enjoy the occasional Bloody Mary, although a Bloody Kathy or Susan will suffice. Mostly, I just try to keep a low profile so people don't figure out who I REALLY am.
NK - Lastly, can you mention a few projects where people can see your design work and read your fiction?
RC – Of course! Thanks for the opportunity! In the fiction world, I’m most proud of my Crossing Death trilogy (I’m working on the last book, Death of the Soul, now). Death of the Body (book 1) and Death of the Spirit (book 2) are available on Amazon. This is the series that finally made me feel like I can call myself an author, and the feedback I’ve gotten on them blows my mind. I also have short stories published in Nevermore! and a twisted fairy tale anthology titled Twice Upon a Time.
I wrote my first novel while still in high school. It was a YA vampire tale, Façade of Shadows. The first professional to ever write a blurb for it was YOU, Nancy! I don’t think you realize how exciting that was for a high school kid to have his work taken seriously by someone he looked up to for so long. I’m glad we’ve kept in touch.
My latest graphics/engineering project is my new website, tarotfellow.com . This website marks the first time I’ve brought my creative vision, engineering skills, personality (it’s a little kitschy, just like me), spirituality (there’s a whole ‘nother interview in there), and writing together into one project. Hopefully, it’s going to be a huge, ongoing part of my life (and it’s probably not in a state today where I should even be talking about it, but I’m excited for the potential). I also designed my website: ricktheauthor.com
And these:
www.streamline.rocks
psychicronalafae.com
nancykilpatrick.com
Rick's Latest Novels
Death of the Body
Death of the Spirit
Facade of ShadowsRick's Short Stories
Twice Upon a Time
nEvermore!: Tales of Murder, Mystery & the Macabre
March 19, 2019
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Get to know writer CARO SOLES...Caro SolesNK - ...
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Get to know writer CARO SOLES...
Caro Soles
NK - ...: Get to know writer CARO SOLES... Caro Soles NK - When did you start writing, and why writing instead of, say, singing? CS - Actuall...
Caro Soles
NK - ...: Get to know writer CARO SOLES... Caro Soles NK - When did you start writing, and why writing instead of, say, singing? CS - Actuall...
Get to know writer CARO SOLES...Caro SolesNK - When did y...
Get to know writer CARO SOLES...
Caro Soles
NK - When did you start writing, and why writing instead of, say, singing?
CS - Actually, I did start with singing first, but writing soon took over. I wrote as a child, lurid tales of daring do, long story ballads which all ended badly, and even an opera. Very short. It was called Sigismundo in the Tower. No idea what he was doing up there, but he did sing. Briefly. I even managed to win my school’s Essay Competition with a short story. Never been done before, or probably since!
NK - You've written in many genres: SF, mystery, fantasy, horror and more. A lot of writers, the majority, stick to one or two genres. Why not you?
CS - I don’t read just one genre so I don’t see why I should stick to writing just one, either. Writing is about exploring the inner and outer landscape for me and sometimes I like to make up that landscape. My last two books have been mysteries, one in New York City in 1916, one in Toronto in 1985. The one I am working on now is sf and the book coming out next year is literary fiction. It’s all about the story and how it is best told.
NK - You have what today might be deemed a 'space opera', a series of hermaphroditic dancing aliens from the planet Merculian. Where did this wild idea come from?
CS - The first novel I ever wrote was a Star Trek novel, or at least I thought it was. I have the rejection letter framed on my office wall. My main character (and my big mistake) was my own invention, an emotional hermaphrodite from Merculian who had joined the Enterprise after his graduation from Star Fleet Academy. He was everything the military ship was not and this intrigued me. I kept thinking about the idea and eventually, the Merculian sagas were born. There is a strong gay element in the books and originally they were marketed as gay SF. Three will be republished this year and the new one will appear when it is ready. All have dance in the title, since dance features prominently in the stories.
NK - What are you working on atm and when can we expect to read it?
CS - At the moment I am working on the fourth novel set in the world of the Merculians, but this time it is a murder mystery. Who killed the young dancer from a powerful family who was favored to win a prestigious dance competition? It is interesting to think about how a pleasure-loving peaceful society copes with sudden violent death and how their police force operates. This may take a while, though I hope to have it ready to go late this year. And then there is the fifth…lurking in my notebooks so far.
Caro`s latest Mysteries
A Friend of Mr. Nijinsky
People Like Us
* Caro's latest Sci Fi
The Danger Dance - Book 1 of The Merculians
The Danger Dance book trailer
Caro Soles
NK - When did you start writing, and why writing instead of, say, singing?
CS - Actually, I did start with singing first, but writing soon took over. I wrote as a child, lurid tales of daring do, long story ballads which all ended badly, and even an opera. Very short. It was called Sigismundo in the Tower. No idea what he was doing up there, but he did sing. Briefly. I even managed to win my school’s Essay Competition with a short story. Never been done before, or probably since!
NK - You've written in many genres: SF, mystery, fantasy, horror and more. A lot of writers, the majority, stick to one or two genres. Why not you?
CS - I don’t read just one genre so I don’t see why I should stick to writing just one, either. Writing is about exploring the inner and outer landscape for me and sometimes I like to make up that landscape. My last two books have been mysteries, one in New York City in 1916, one in Toronto in 1985. The one I am working on now is sf and the book coming out next year is literary fiction. It’s all about the story and how it is best told.
NK - You have what today might be deemed a 'space opera', a series of hermaphroditic dancing aliens from the planet Merculian. Where did this wild idea come from?
CS - The first novel I ever wrote was a Star Trek novel, or at least I thought it was. I have the rejection letter framed on my office wall. My main character (and my big mistake) was my own invention, an emotional hermaphrodite from Merculian who had joined the Enterprise after his graduation from Star Fleet Academy. He was everything the military ship was not and this intrigued me. I kept thinking about the idea and eventually, the Merculian sagas were born. There is a strong gay element in the books and originally they were marketed as gay SF. Three will be republished this year and the new one will appear when it is ready. All have dance in the title, since dance features prominently in the stories.
NK - What are you working on atm and when can we expect to read it?
CS - At the moment I am working on the fourth novel set in the world of the Merculians, but this time it is a murder mystery. Who killed the young dancer from a powerful family who was favored to win a prestigious dance competition? It is interesting to think about how a pleasure-loving peaceful society copes with sudden violent death and how their police force operates. This may take a while, though I hope to have it ready to go late this year. And then there is the fifth…lurking in my notebooks so far.
Caro`s latest Mysteries
A Friend of Mr. Nijinsky
People Like Us
* Caro's latest Sci Fi
The Danger Dance - Book 1 of The Merculians
The Danger Dance book trailer
February 28, 2019
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Women in Horror Month!My Guest appearances on:Co...
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Women in Horror Month! My Guest appearances on: Co...: Women in Horror Month! My Guest appearances on: Colleen Anderson's blog JG Faherty's Blog "Generation Why?"...
Women in Horror Month!My Guest appearances on:Colleen And...
Women in Horror Month!
My Guest appearances on:
Colleen Anderson's blog
JG Faherty's Blog
"Generation Why?" short story
by Nancy Kilpatrick
Elaine Pascale's blog
My Guest appearances on:
Colleen Anderson's blog
JG Faherty's Blog
"Generation Why?" short story
by Nancy Kilpatrick
Elaine Pascale's blog
February 6, 2019
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Icy Rain and in a Plane for...Costa Rica! That w...
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Icy Rain and in a Plane for... Costa Rica! That w...: Icy Rain and in a Plane for... Costa Rica! That was a wonderful experience, leaving the cold behind and landing in a tropical clim...
Icy Rain and in a Plane for...Costa Rica! That was a...
Icy Rain and in a Plane for...
Costa Rica!
That was a wonderful experience, leaving the cold behind and landing in a tropical climate for 10 glorious days. This holiday was under the auspices of a dear friend, once-in-a-lifetime, to be sure.
From Costa Rica's Liberia airport, it was a 3+ hr. ride to Arenal, the closest town being La Fortuna, not quite halfway between the west and east coasts of the country, in the north close to Nicaragua. The town is fortunate because the early settlers found it a fertile region and also because lava from the volcano stopped before it reached the town.
We stayed for the first 4 days in close view of Volcano Arenal. This is one of the 200 or so volcanos in Costa Rica. Only about 5 or 6 are still active. This one last erupted in 2010.
Volcano Arenal
Mostly I lounged by the pool and swam daily, and visited the on-site hot springs (the general area is awash with hot springs), basically just getting acclimatized to the warmth and humidity, drinking my share of Pina Coladas, the only rum drink I like.
Yes, there were bugs. I'm that person who frees bugs caught indoors (except mosquitoes. No, not mosquitoes). I spent time every day trying to rescue various bugs from our luxury room. Oddly, there were no screens anywhere so the little things could get in easily. One early evening (sunset is around 5:30 pm and it gets dark there by 6 pm) I was reading in bed when a giant moth flew out from under my bed, flapped crazily around the room and finally landed on a beam above the glass door. I'd already freed one giant moth the night before that either was playing dead or really was in that state—I found it on a pillow. Either way, I put it out on the balcony. It was gone the next morning. If it didn't fly away, the wind took its corpse afar.
Fortunately, there were no mosquitoes, although my arsenal contained: BUG (an anti-mosquito natural spray I bought on Amazon); Citronella (my friend bought for me on Amazon); Deet (which my friend had brought along for herself and I had access to); Skin So Soft by Avon (which another friend gave me because it has a rep as a mosquito repellent). I didn't use any of these products.
We did one rafting tour over very small rapids and saw Howler Monkeys high up in trees, lots of birds of various sorts, long-nosed bats resting on a tree's bole for the day, iguanas of different colors, and I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hrs. through water surrounded by a dense growth of trees and plants of all sorts that produced some of the best air in the world. I wanted to stay there just to keep breathing the oxygen as it likely should be found on this planet.
This Spectacle Owl couple was the highlight of that raft ride.
Spectacle Owls
The place we stayed in is a hotel/spa and I had a pedicure while my friend had a mani-pedi. There were a few flying bugs in the spa and the pedicurist said (translated by my friend) that they were not mosquitoes but bees. Until a yellow one landed on my leg which she picked off with her fingers, dropped on the floor, and it crept away stunned. Fortunately, it didn't sting me. Translation said it was NOT a bee but a wasp!
We headed south on what was supposed to be a 3-hour car trip but took 5-1/2 hrs., stopping only twice, once at a hotel that sold papaya jam by the jar, which of course I bought. On the deck was a charanga, a small rodent-like animal that was given a slice of bread by one of the servers.
Charanga
On the road, there were many other animals, from the domesticated horses, cows, cats, and dogs, to these guys, members of the raccoon family.
A community of Coatis
Our new location was Tamarindo, a beach/surfing town on the Pacific Ocean about half-way between the northern and southern-most boundaries of Costa Rica. Our wonderful hotel had a huge pool surrounded by forest on all sides, and I swam in the shade of the palm trees several times a day. My friend went to the property's private beach for the sunsets, and I was there once, but I have delicate, pale skin that requires me staying out of the sun (and which keeps me from many things in sunny climates).
The spa therapists gave free 10-minute neck and shoulder rubs by the pool which convinced my friend and me to buy full body massages. I've never had a massage outdoors before. It was in a curtained area surrounded by forest, the curtains blowing in the small breezes that wafted through which caressed the skin. What a lovely experience.
This area had lots of little black bitey bugs and mosquitoes and I suffered maybe a dozen bites overall during the last couple of days. We had a cabin to ourselves, which was amazingly wonderful. These small buildings sit here and there within the tropical forest, narrow winding paths to each, ours fortunately near the pool and the restaurant. The room didn't have many bugs but I did notice a twig on the bathroom floor moving very slowly, not the multipeds we in the north are familiar with as it seemed to have no legs. It took two days for it to reach the shadows under my bed where, apparently, all bugs were destined.
We took another tour, this time on a boat, to where the ocean (salt) and inland (fresh) waters meet. It was a terrific couple of hours with a super friendly and knowledgeable guide and we saw many birds, monkeys, and two crocodiles. Costa Rica takes care of its wild animals with no-hunting no-feeding laws. Tourism is their 'green gold' as the guide said, and they recognize the value of nature. This is why the boats can get near the shore and people can see the animals, which are not afraid and which do not come for handouts of people-food.
Young crocodile
Beautiful Blue Heron
I can't say enough about how wonderful it was to get out of winter clothes and into near-naked warmth. There are many things I could have done, like seeing the turtles laying eggs on the beach, but in truth I was pretty beat from the horrible weather in December and January which kept me locked indoors with a long and horrible cold/flu thing (icy cold weather which I've returned to in early February!) I had work to do, but really didn't mind doing it in the warmth.
I swam several times a day. Ate papaya and mango each morning. Read books!!! Enjoyed two meals a day and lost a few pounds. Listened to Howler Monkeys every night that sometimes jumped on our roof, and saw them close up as they visited the pool area in the afternoons. Raccoons converged on the outdoor restaurant during the dinner hour and one night I saw 7 of them in the restaurant. Neither hotel was crowded with humans and that worked for me. (And OK, I fended off mosquitoes towards the end but didn't use products. If I've contracted Malaria, Zika or Durango Fever, it's my own fault!). I guess this is called a vacation.
I'm exceedingly grateful to my friend—who wishes to remain anonymous—without whom I would not have had this incredible trip.
I'm so lucky!!!
(in Arenal)A break instead of a breakdown
Costa Rica!
That was a wonderful experience, leaving the cold behind and landing in a tropical climate for 10 glorious days. This holiday was under the auspices of a dear friend, once-in-a-lifetime, to be sure.
From Costa Rica's Liberia airport, it was a 3+ hr. ride to Arenal, the closest town being La Fortuna, not quite halfway between the west and east coasts of the country, in the north close to Nicaragua. The town is fortunate because the early settlers found it a fertile region and also because lava from the volcano stopped before it reached the town.
We stayed for the first 4 days in close view of Volcano Arenal. This is one of the 200 or so volcanos in Costa Rica. Only about 5 or 6 are still active. This one last erupted in 2010.
Volcano Arenal Mostly I lounged by the pool and swam daily, and visited the on-site hot springs (the general area is awash with hot springs), basically just getting acclimatized to the warmth and humidity, drinking my share of Pina Coladas, the only rum drink I like.
Yes, there were bugs. I'm that person who frees bugs caught indoors (except mosquitoes. No, not mosquitoes). I spent time every day trying to rescue various bugs from our luxury room. Oddly, there were no screens anywhere so the little things could get in easily. One early evening (sunset is around 5:30 pm and it gets dark there by 6 pm) I was reading in bed when a giant moth flew out from under my bed, flapped crazily around the room and finally landed on a beam above the glass door. I'd already freed one giant moth the night before that either was playing dead or really was in that state—I found it on a pillow. Either way, I put it out on the balcony. It was gone the next morning. If it didn't fly away, the wind took its corpse afar.
Fortunately, there were no mosquitoes, although my arsenal contained: BUG (an anti-mosquito natural spray I bought on Amazon); Citronella (my friend bought for me on Amazon); Deet (which my friend had brought along for herself and I had access to); Skin So Soft by Avon (which another friend gave me because it has a rep as a mosquito repellent). I didn't use any of these products.
We did one rafting tour over very small rapids and saw Howler Monkeys high up in trees, lots of birds of various sorts, long-nosed bats resting on a tree's bole for the day, iguanas of different colors, and I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hrs. through water surrounded by a dense growth of trees and plants of all sorts that produced some of the best air in the world. I wanted to stay there just to keep breathing the oxygen as it likely should be found on this planet.
This Spectacle Owl couple was the highlight of that raft ride.
Spectacle OwlsThe place we stayed in is a hotel/spa and I had a pedicure while my friend had a mani-pedi. There were a few flying bugs in the spa and the pedicurist said (translated by my friend) that they were not mosquitoes but bees. Until a yellow one landed on my leg which she picked off with her fingers, dropped on the floor, and it crept away stunned. Fortunately, it didn't sting me. Translation said it was NOT a bee but a wasp!
We headed south on what was supposed to be a 3-hour car trip but took 5-1/2 hrs., stopping only twice, once at a hotel that sold papaya jam by the jar, which of course I bought. On the deck was a charanga, a small rodent-like animal that was given a slice of bread by one of the servers.
CharangaOn the road, there were many other animals, from the domesticated horses, cows, cats, and dogs, to these guys, members of the raccoon family.
A community of CoatisOur new location was Tamarindo, a beach/surfing town on the Pacific Ocean about half-way between the northern and southern-most boundaries of Costa Rica. Our wonderful hotel had a huge pool surrounded by forest on all sides, and I swam in the shade of the palm trees several times a day. My friend went to the property's private beach for the sunsets, and I was there once, but I have delicate, pale skin that requires me staying out of the sun (and which keeps me from many things in sunny climates).
The spa therapists gave free 10-minute neck and shoulder rubs by the pool which convinced my friend and me to buy full body massages. I've never had a massage outdoors before. It was in a curtained area surrounded by forest, the curtains blowing in the small breezes that wafted through which caressed the skin. What a lovely experience.
This area had lots of little black bitey bugs and mosquitoes and I suffered maybe a dozen bites overall during the last couple of days. We had a cabin to ourselves, which was amazingly wonderful. These small buildings sit here and there within the tropical forest, narrow winding paths to each, ours fortunately near the pool and the restaurant. The room didn't have many bugs but I did notice a twig on the bathroom floor moving very slowly, not the multipeds we in the north are familiar with as it seemed to have no legs. It took two days for it to reach the shadows under my bed where, apparently, all bugs were destined.
We took another tour, this time on a boat, to where the ocean (salt) and inland (fresh) waters meet. It was a terrific couple of hours with a super friendly and knowledgeable guide and we saw many birds, monkeys, and two crocodiles. Costa Rica takes care of its wild animals with no-hunting no-feeding laws. Tourism is their 'green gold' as the guide said, and they recognize the value of nature. This is why the boats can get near the shore and people can see the animals, which are not afraid and which do not come for handouts of people-food.
Young crocodile
Beautiful Blue HeronI can't say enough about how wonderful it was to get out of winter clothes and into near-naked warmth. There are many things I could have done, like seeing the turtles laying eggs on the beach, but in truth I was pretty beat from the horrible weather in December and January which kept me locked indoors with a long and horrible cold/flu thing (icy cold weather which I've returned to in early February!) I had work to do, but really didn't mind doing it in the warmth.
I swam several times a day. Ate papaya and mango each morning. Read books!!! Enjoyed two meals a day and lost a few pounds. Listened to Howler Monkeys every night that sometimes jumped on our roof, and saw them close up as they visited the pool area in the afternoons. Raccoons converged on the outdoor restaurant during the dinner hour and one night I saw 7 of them in the restaurant. Neither hotel was crowded with humans and that worked for me. (And OK, I fended off mosquitoes towards the end but didn't use products. If I've contracted Malaria, Zika or Durango Fever, it's my own fault!). I guess this is called a vacation.
I'm exceedingly grateful to my friend—who wishes to remain anonymous—without whom I would not have had this incredible trip.
I'm so lucky!!!
(in Arenal)A break instead of a breakdown December 21, 2018
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Interview with author Nancy Kilpatrickin RED SUN ...
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Interview with author Nancy Kilpatrickin RED SUN ...: Interview with author Nancy Kilpatrick in RED SUN MAGAZINE, chatting with Jeremy Billingsley Red Sun
December 13, 2018
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Your Christmas Vampire!
Nancy Kilpatrick Writer: Your Christmas Vampire!: VAMPIRE LOVERS! In Time for the Holidays Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble Chapters Indigo ...
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