K.R. Gastreich's Blog, page 24
December 8, 2014
Will Hahn – REUNION OF THE SOULS Tour and Giveaway
Will Hahn is back! I’m so happy to have this very entertaining author as a guest on my blog again.
I met Will through The Magic Appreciation Tour. Will has been in love with heroic tales since age four, when his father read him the Lays of Ancient Rome and the Tales of King Arthur. He taught Ancient-Medieval History for years, but the line between this world and others has always been thin; the far reaches of fantasy, like the distant past, still bring him face to face with people like us, who have choices to make.
Will didn’t always make the right choices when he was young. Any stick or vaguely-sticklike object became a sword in his hands, to the great dismay of his five sisters. Everyone survived, in part by virtue of a rule forbidding him from handling umbrellas, ski poles, curtain rods and more.
Will has written about the Lands of Hope since his college days (which by now are also part of ancient history). His current epic is Judgement’s Tale; parts one and two, Games of Chance and Strength of Conviction came out in 2014 and part three, Reunion of Souls is available starting December 26th.
Please join me in welcoming Will Hahn!
Tell us about your latest release.
It’s called Reunion of Souls, the third installment in the epic fantasy Judgement’s Tale. This is classic fantasy with all the trimmings—sure, there’s the “meat and potatoes”, a dragon and a liche and a demon, miracles and spells, secrets from ages past in rhyme, that you just know are important. The main character, Solemn Judgement, is an alien and an orphan in the Lands of Hope. His first act after stepping ashore is to bury his father, and in many ways his life doesn’t get any better after that. But for “trimmings”, this series also has seen a bizarre tide-wading prayer ritual, six-legged wolves, a city where the law hasn’t been broken in forty centuries, and a four-year old narrator. Now in Part Three, you’ll read of actors who are normal-sized offstage but eight feet tall in character, a lost order of knighthood found again, and probably the most disastrous tea-party since the guy in the top hat yelled “no room!”
What inspired you to write Judgement’s Tale?
I cannot tell a lie. He did. But as for “inspired”… Solemn Judgement was the very first thing I ever saw about the Lands of Hope. He has been stalking my conscious thought for more than thirty years—I always see him gazing at me, and he hardly ever speaks, but his face is always so driven and purposeful. He hounds me, the truth to tell. I took copious notes on all parts of the Lands, and yet in every country I visited, following heroic bands whose deeds I have chiefly chronicled since 2011 in my books, it always seemed that Solemn Judgement was there, near the center of the action but not with anyone. Adventurers are not a well-respected group in the Lands of Hope, yet they are fiercely loyal to each other. But Solemn Judgement was a pariah even to them; it made me wonder, where he came from and what drove him to be like this. So I started looking further back into history than before, and I realized some of what shapes him, the reason why he is the Man in Grey. That is Judgement’s tale.
What do you find most challenging about the writing process?
What do yo u enjoy most about crafting a story?
Which is harder: writing, publishing, or marketing?
Writing to me is not measured in hardness, only relief. Just getting around to it is always fun, always rewarding. So by that light, all of Publishing and all of Marketing are harder. I’m also haunted by the constant thought that I made poor choices in Publishing, at least in my early career. Since I recently signed with a micro-publisher for the Judgement’s Tale series, I feel greatly reassured. As for Marketing, I’m more at ease; I’m quite sure I was never any good at that! But again, Katharina my publisher has helped me tremendously to do better there.
Is this the final book in the series, or is there more to come? Tell us what you have in the works right now.
Reunion of Souls is the third installment of Judgement’s Tale, which concludes with Part Four, Clash of Wills in late March of 2015. But the epic continues in the second novel, entitled The Eye of Kog, which is scheduled for publication starting in July 2015.
That is clearly job one right now and I’ve been writing fairly well towards that end. The stretch goal for me is to return to my other series, called Shards of Light, and complete Part Three, entitled Perilous Embraces. That’s been a rough go I can tell you!
Everyone has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is. What does success in writing look like to you?
The focus for me is on steady improvement. The only area where I don’t require an increase from year to year is in the word count; that will take care of itself. But to write more cleanly, to have to revise less, to get better comments each year from beta-readers (by which I mean, deeper and more detailed because I’ve cleared the way grammatically). I want more sales each year naturally, the “slow burn” that people talk about is the method. I never want to write a tale, or even a chapter of one, and look at it later to think I could have done as well two years ago.
Why would Judgement’s Tale make a great holiday gift?
Because right now, TODAY and going forward, you can give so much for so little! Reunion of Souls will be out soon, and you can get a fantasy-loving friend started with Part One, Games of Chance now for just 99 cents. And as you send that gift, let them know there will be two more books ahead of them, with the fourth on the way. That’s a lot of Hope in one present!
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? Any important messages hidden in your work?
Epic fantasy is not the home of brand-new morals or deconstructed philosophy. I can promise you that Hope is better than Despair, that crime does not pay, and that those who sacrifice for the ones they love are heroes. Solemn Judgement discovers that “noble” is an adjective, not a noun, and this great truth carries much of the action in this tale. It’s not an easy lesson to learn, but he was never one to shirk responsibility.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Please enjoy the holiday season—I think it’s more than nice to have, it’s vital. Whether in the Christmas spirit or whatever way you celebrate, it’s life-sustaining to feel the joy of giving. This is the fuel you will need in the very cold months ahead. And at the risk of shattering the mood I’ve just tried to create, I should mention if you’re stuck for ideas that e-books make excellent gifts!
~*~
About Reunion of the Souls
With a world in crisis, its heroes reach out to find companions, to take stock for the struggle ahead, and to look beneath the surface at clues that may make the difference between a person’s fame and a nation’s doom.
On the fringe of the cursed Percentalion, Treaman’s adventuring band revives the glory-days of Trainertown, celebrated by all—except themselves—as the hand of destiny. Somewhere in the remote Marble Swords, Sir Renan abandons name and fortune to seek a brotherhood that no one else believes exists. Near the forests north of Shilar, Prince Gareth wrestles with the choice to preserve his honor alone, or rejoin his royal father’s house and in so doing, cause a war between the children of Hope.
Now at the heart of Conar—safest city in the Lands—Solemn Judgement, the Man in Grey, uncovers the gateway to peril; he is thrown among adventurers that include his only friend, the woman who refused to teach him, and a man who has vowed his death, in… Reunion of Souls.
LINKS
Will’s Weirdly Whimsical Website is where he posts news about upcoming releases and blogs about writing, classic fantasy works you’ve never read and the unique photo-based series “It Figures”.
The Lands of Hope Facebook page contains a chronology of the Lands.
Will’s Tales of Hope are available at many online retailers:
https://www.facebook.com/TheLandsOfHope?ref=hl
http://www.amazon.com/William-L.-Hahn/e/B0057RBIO8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/WillHahn
December 1, 2014
Beggar Magic Premier Tour and Giveaway
I am very happy today to welcome author Heidi Lyn Burke, who I met through the Magic Appreciation Tour.
Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
Heidi is launching a new novel, Beggar Magic.
Heidi, Please tell us about your book.
Beggar Magic is a young adult fantasy set in a world of audible magic. The Strains are an invisible, intelligent force that communicate with various sounds, from voices to musical instruments, and they permeate the world of this story. It’s like living with your own soundtrack, which was fun to play with. It’s also about friendship and finding your place in the world. My last several books before this one had a focus on romance, so I wanted to take a break from that as my primary focus. Not that this book doesn’t have a little bit of romance. It does, but just a little. (I’m addicted to writing kissing scenes, so I had to slip at least one in there)
Who are the main characters? What are the challenges they face?
The main character is Leilani Weaver, but her best friend, Zebedy, is pasted to her side for most of the story. Leilani is of a lower class than Zeb and doesn’t have as much access to the magic. However, she’s more persistent and has both courage and common sense. When unknown forces threaten the Strains, Leilani’s the one who has to take charge. Since she’s considered a ‘second class citizen’, she has to fight for people to listen to her and take her seriously, and in the end her desire to find the truth no matter the cost endangers even her friendship with Zeb, who is a little less of a rule breaker.
What inspires you to write?
Writing lets me live vicariously through my characters. I started writing to put myself into the stories I enjoyed reading as a kid, but after a bit it becomes a part of your brain you just can’t turn off. I can hardly read now without thinking, “Well, this story is great, but what if. . .” and making my own versions or alternate ending.
What do you find most challenging about the writing process?
Finding the right story. I flail about every time I finish a piece, spending months writing the first few pages of one thing after another, only to get frustrated and put it aside. I swear I go through a dozen ideas trying to find exactly what I want to write. Once I get in a groove, I love it, but gosh, getting there takes a lot of twisting and turning.
What do you enjoy most about crafting a story?
Getting into my characters and letting them live the story. It’s almost like I’m following them around watching them do stuff.
Any projects in the works right now? Tell us what we can expect in the future.
I usually have one piece I’m writing and one I’m editing. I jokingly call it my writing assembly line. Right now I’m on mid-way drafts of a middle grade chapter book called Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon. It’s so stinking cute that some people who have read it have gone into shock. I’m thinking about putting a warning label on it. Seriously, the main character is an eternal kitten who never grows up and can fit into his owner’s slippers. Also, it has a dragon. I’m simultaneously writing (for National Novel Writing Month) an epic fantasy piece with the working title Lands of Ash, but that’s just a baby novel right now. We’ll have to see what it looks like when it grows up.
Who are the authors that have most influenced you?
It’s weird because the authors I like the most, I don’t particularly write like. My favorite authors are J. R. R. Tolkien, Kate DiCamillo, and Dostoevsky. However, the ones who influenced me the most would probably be Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine, simply because they introduced me to the “full length fairy tale” format that I usually work in. I like the concept of taking time honored tales and tropes and putting my own twist on them.
What is your approach to marketing? Any tools out there that every writer should be aware of?
I’m still very much a beginner in marketing. Right now I’m still dealing with readers and bloggers one on one whenever I can, creating fans by just being me and being open to communicating with people about my work. I think it is because I spent some time blogging before I started publishing my fiction. Blogging is more about “selling” my personality and creating connections. I will say, though, that you kind of have to be willing to give as much as you get. I help bloggers promote their pages on my pages. I retweet and like and pin, for other authors, yes, but also for book review bloggers and others who can use a hand up. People get sick of self-promotion really quick, so you have to have something out there, something they can identify with and come back for, even if it is just sharing Doctor Who memes on your Facebook page when nothing else is going on.
Everyone has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is. What does success in writing look like to you?
To some extent, I’ve already reached my original definition of success: I wanted to have people read and enjoy my books. It’s so annoying having all these worlds and characters and ideas and not having anyone else know about them. When I first decided to self-publish, it was just because I wanted to share it all with someone, anyone, even if only friends and family. Now I have fans, people who talk about my stories and characters the way I would gush about Aragorn or Princess Leia, or any of the other fictional folks who kept me company growing up. I will admit, though, that it would be nice to be able to support my family on this venture. My “other job” is as a stay at home mom, which I love, but financially my family depends on my husband. I’d like him to be able to retire when he reaches 20 years in service (he’s in the military) and for us to be able to live off of what I do, sort of for it to be my turn to be the bread winner. That’s my current goal.
What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
I watch way too much television, crochet, and play an occasional computer game. I used to be a World of Warcraft addict, but I had to put that aside to make time for my writing. I still indulge in an occasional puzzle or adventure game. In fact, a lot of the aesthetics of Beggar Magic were inspired by the Myst series of games.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
I consider myself a fun writer. I don’t tackle a lot of difficult topics. I’d prefer to make people laugh and smile than to make them cry. I do admit, though, the first time someone told me a scene in one of my stories had brought them to tears, I did get a little evilly gleeful, but I usually end my stories in a happy or at least hopeful place. I believe in fidelity and family and good old fashioned heroism. I’m a romantic, so yeah, I want people to be happy when they finish one of my books and feeling like they’ve had a bit of an adventure along with my characters.
Beggar Magic
A New Young Adult Fantasy from author H. L. Burke!
available December 9th, 2014
In Gelia City, magic is music: a constant ever-changing melody known as the Strains. Hereditary ability to use the Strains divides the city into two classes: the wealthy Highmost, who can access the full potential of the Strains, and the Common tradesmen, who are limited to mundane spells, known as beggar magic.
With the help of the Strains, Common teen Leilani rescues and befriends a gifted Highmost girl, Zebedy. The girls’ friendship opens Leilani’s eyes to the world of the Highmost. She’s intrigued by Zeb’s close relationship with the Strains, and longs to know them as she does. Zeb, in turn, comes to depend on Leilani’s strength and intelligence, making them an inseparable team, ready to take on anything with the Strains at their back.
As their unlikely friendship strengthens and endures, Zeb draws Leilani further into the Highmosts’ intrigues. Beneath the polished, academic facade of the Highmost manors lurks a threat to the Strains. An unknown force consumes their music, leaving only heart-rending silence behind.
Leilani and Zeb will do anything to save their beloved Strains, but as the silence grows, they face danger their previously sheltered lives could never prepare them for. Whoever is behind the death of the Strains is willing to kill to keep their secret safe. To preserve the Strains, the girls may have to sacrifice their friendship, or even their lives.
Link to pre-order on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beggar-Magic-H-Burke-ebook/dp/B00NYSOVLO/ref=la_B00EYQ1HLW_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415243403&sr=1-8
Link to H. L. Burke on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7230868.H_L_Burke
Link to H. L. Burke on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter
Author Website: http://www.hlburkeauthor.com/
November 27, 2014
Season of Thanks
One of many reasons to give thanks this year: the Native American and Pacific Islander Research Experience Program.
2014 started as a rough year, but it’s shaping up to roll out nicely. I’m talking on a personal level, of course. How you judge things on the regional, national, and international scene might be a different story altogether.
But in the small universe of my own life, I have much to be thankful for. Even the trials we had, in the long run, have proven rewarding experiences.
Today as I prepare to join my family for our annual turkey feast, I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the important people and big events this year that have made me thankful in many ways.
For professional and financial reasons, in 2013 my husband and I made the very painful decision that we would have to live in different countries for the time being. Needless to say, this was a source of extraordinary stress for me. Now, looking back on 2014, I am deeply thankful for the means and opportunities that we have had to enjoy each other’s company, despite the distance that has separated us on a day-to-day basis. I am also thankful that our love for each other has seen it through this latest trial, and shows no sign of abating as we look toward the new year. We will be together this Christmas season, and we have much to celebrate.
With my husband Rafael and my editor Eric at the launch party for High Maga. Just a few weeks before, we didn’t know whether the book would be released on schedule, much less whether Eric would be there to see it.
Early in 2014, my editor and good friend Eric T. Reynolds suffered a massive stroke. As days and weeks passed, and he continued in critical condition, many of us wondered whether we’d ever have Eric back with us again. This Saturday, I’ll be joining Eric and his family to celebrate his birthday – the birthday that almost wasn’t. I couldn’t be more grateful for this, to have him not only with us, but well on the road to recovery, working hard at rehabilitation, and blessed with the same joyful and fighting spirit that has always made him uniquely Eric.
Eric’s stroke gave me an unexpected opportunity to step inside Hadley Rille Books, as I was called upon and willingly gave my time to help keep the press afloat in his absence. Despite the very difficult circumstances under which all this happened, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work closely with Terri-Lynne DeFino and Kim Vandervort, fellow magas and sisters in writing, to accomplish something none of us were quite sure we could accomplish. Thanks to their help and support, High Maga was released on schedule; Eolyn came out in audio book over the summer, and High Maga is due to be released in audio any day now. And that’s just my stuff. Terri and Kim also put out multiple audio books, launched an indiegogo campaign, and as Eric has gotten back into things, have put into motion the release of another new publication, Harriet Goodchild’s After the Ruin. It’s been a TOUGH year for Hadley Rille Books, but also a year that I think has shown us what we are made of. And we’re made of some good stuff.
The other BIG item on my thank you list: the opportunity to co-coordinate the 2014 Native American and Pacific Islander Research Experience (NAPIRE) Program at Las Cruces Biological Station in Costa Rica. For this I am deeply indebted to fellow maga and kindred spirit Barbara Dugelby, easily one of the best supervisors I have worked with, and a woman to be admired on many levels. We had the most amazing group of mentors and students this year, and a top-notch staff to boot. More than a program or a research experience, this was a community, my family for eight weeks, and once in a while I still miss them dearly. I carry them, and the very rich experiences that we shared, in my heart everywhere.
This fall at Avila University, I at last realized my dream of teaching Ecology Through the Writers Lens, a course that integrates scientific and literary modes of inquiry in understanding natural ecosystems. Dr. Amy Milakovic and I took a group of eleven students to Konza Prairie, a breathtaking tall grass prairie reserve and biological station near Manhattan, Kansas. There we enjoyed three days of a truly transformative experience. The students will be presenting their final creative projects based on this experience in just a couple weeks, and these promise to be as diverse and exciting as the prairie itself.
Soaking up the inspiration at World Fantasy with Stephen Gould, Julia Dvorin, and Terri-Lynne DeFino.
The last 10-12 weeks of 2014 have been about reunions. My brother came through Kansas City for a brief visit late in October; on the heels of that weekend good friend and fellow Rice alumna Martha Carey (also a maga!) visited my home. November started off with a weekend at the World Fantasy Convention, where I caught up with Terri-Lynne DeFino, whom I hadn’t seen in over a year and a half, although we had worked intensively together over the spring and the summer. I also met up that weekend with another good friend, Suzanne Hunt, who lives and works in Washington D.C. as an environmental policy consultant. Shortly thereafter, thanks to financial support from Avila, I was able to attend a World Health conference in Costa Rica, with the added perk of seeing my husband after several months of separation. This string of happy reunions is set to continue through the end of December, and for that I am most thankful.
Last but not least, I am thankful for the renewed inspiration that has marked recent weeks. The World Fantasy Convention in Washington, D.C., fired up my imagination. That along with a string of extraordinarily good books has me moving forward again on Daughter of Aithne, which I hope to finish early next year, with an eye toward publication in late 2015. The World Health Conference at the University of Costa Rica has renewed my resolve to make a positive difference in this world – a reflection that merits its own blog post, and to which I will be returning in the coming weeks.
That is my year in brief. I have a break coming up this holiday season, and I’d say I’ve earned it. ;) But so has everyone else who helped make this such an amazing year. A simple thank you is not enough, but that’s what I have to give. I am so blessed to have such an extraordinary group of friends, colleagues, and family. May the holidays bring you many blessings, and may those blessings carry into the new year and beyond.
Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!
Our intrepid explorers – biologists and writers – at Konza Prairie.
November 19, 2014
Falling in Love Again
My take from the World Fantasy Convention. I’m hoping to find some very inspiring authors in this mix, as well.
I’ve been very lucky these past couple of months to come across some great authors who are not necessarily new, but are new to me.
Earlier this fall I read Susan Carroll’s The Dark Queen, a light and entertaining fantasy romance cleverly disguised as historical fiction. Close on the heels of that getaway, I opened up Robert Aickman’s collection of supernatural short stories, The Wine Dark Sea. Now after my recent brush with greatness, I have sunk into the vibrant world of Guy Gavriel Kay’s The Lions of Al Rassan.
Three authors, three voices, three very different approaches to story telling. Yet all of them have succeeded in drawing me deep into their world. They’ve also reminded me that the excitement of finding a new author is very much akin to the high of new love. Perhaps the response has precisely the same neurological roots in our brains – a sudden release of endorphin that gets all the gears buzzing in new and compelling ways. Whatever the explanation, the effect is wonderful — and a big part, I suppose, of why I keep reading.
Writers are commonly asked what other authors have inspired them. I’ve often understood this question as, What authors do you strive to emulate? But in exploring the works of Carroll, Aickman, and Kay, I’ve come to realize that inspiration is not always about emulation. More often – and more effectively, I think – it’s about the kind of story telling that gets one’s own stories spinning in our heads. These three authors have done that for me, in different ways. Concurrent with all this great reading, I find my energy and enthusiasm renewed for the final stretch of Daughter of Aithne.
After a long hiatus, the characters are “speaking” to me again. Last week, I topped 90K words on the manuscript, and I am more hopeful than ever that we might see the release of this novel by the end of 2015. Just thinking about it makes me want to stop writing this blog post & go back to the novel!
So that’s what I’m going to do.
Ah, the effervescent energy of new love!
~*~
I have an author interview up this week at The Masquerade Crew. Please stop by to check it out, and comment/ask questions if you’re moved to do so.
Also, my amazing editor and fellow author Terri-Lynne Defino has written a very interesting post on Heroines of Fantasy about the persistent lack of representation of women in fantasy fiction.
I will not be available this week on Goodreads Ask the Author, due to a Global Health conference that I’m attending in Costa Rica.
Have a great rest of the week, wherever your current adventure may lead!
November 14, 2014
Guest Author: Sheryl Tempchin
I am very excited today to be able to welcome author and editor Sheryl Tempchin. Back in 2008, Sheryl purchased my short story ‘Turning Point’ for the speculative fiction magazine Zahir. This was my first sale ever, an even that gave me the courage to continue as an author. It was a period before blogs and Eolyn and even Hadley Rille Books. I never imagined back then that one day I’d be welcoming Sheryl for a guest interview in my own virtual space.
Sheryl Tempchin is an accomplished author. She writes ghost stories, science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, and stories that are just plain weird. Her stories have appeared in a number of publications including Rosebud, where twice they were finalists for the Ursula K. Le Guin Award for Imaginative Fiction. For nine years she published and edited the zine, Zahir: A Journal of Speculative Fiction, finally leaving it behind in 2012 to focus on her own writing. Ghosts, Aliens & Magic is her first collection of short stories, and she has a paranormal novel in the works. Sheryl lives in Encinitas, California with her husband, songwriter Jack Tempchin.
Sheryl, tell us about your book.
First of all, Karin, I want to thank you for inviting me to be a guest on your blog. It’s an honor, and I appreciate the opportunity to connect with your readers.
Ghosts, Aliens & Magic is a collection of short speculative stories. Some have been around a while and have been published before, and some are fairly new. As you might guess from the title, there are several ghost stories, a few sci-fi tales and some stories about magic and magical objects. These were fun stories for me to write, and I hope they are fun to read.
Who are some of the main characters in your stories? What are the challenges they face?
I think my favorite character is the ghost in “The Permanent Guest.” He’s a mild sort of fellow, a thinker, interested in everything, a little envious of the living, trying to solve the mystery of who he was in life and why he’s stuck haunting an old hotel. Another favorite is Dahlia, in “The Tattoo Artist and the Fisherman’s Daughter.” She’s in high school, trapped in a bad home situation, but too young to move out, so she writes her life as a fairytale, turning her problems and frustrations into something magical.
What inspires you to write dark fantasy/horror?
I’ve always liked that kind of story. When I was in the 6th grade, I bought a book through the Scholastic Book Club at school called Tales to be Told in the Dark. That might have been my first introduction to the genre, and it totally hooked me. Later, as an adult, I discovered a different type of fantasy when I read the stories of the Argentine writer, Jorge Luis Borges, who was arguably the father of magical realism. His stories are connected by common themes such as dreams, labyrinths, libraries, and mirrors, things that have always fascinated me. He only wrote short stories and essays, never a novel, but you can get lost in his stories. I’ve read them over and over.
What do you find most challenging about the writing process?
Oh, just getting myself to sit down every day and do it. There always seem to be so many other things demanding my attention, and writing can seem like a selfish indulgence when there are practical, real-life problems that need to be taken care of. I have to convince myself every day that what I’m doing is worthwhile.
Any projects in the works right now? Tell us what we can expect in the future.
I’m putting the finishing touches on a novel about a woman who, at the age of sixty, rediscovers a psychic ability that she has suppressed for almost her entire adult life. She ends up on a cross country road trip with a similarly gifted elderly aunt, and they have adventures. That book should be out early next year. I have a few other things started as well, a fantasy that takes place on another world, and a romance/adventure that involves Aztec treasure, but they both have a way to go.
Everyone has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is. What does success in writing look like to you?
People wanting to read my books! If I can entertain people, take them away from their problems for a while and give them an enjoyable experience, that is success.
What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
I’m a painter, I grow vegetables, and I read really a lot.
What do you hope people will take away from your stories?
The feeling that there’s more to the world than meets the eye. That, really, we exist in an incredible, magical universe where anything is possible.
~*~
About Ghosts, Aliens, and Magic
Strange things are afoot… A ghost wanders the corridors of an old hotel, pondering his origins. An antique mirror, bought at a garage sale, reflects more than it should. A strange fungal growth on a cellar wall tries to communicate. In the corner of a thrift store, a sentient leather jacket waits patiently. A young couple discovers a very unusual elevator in their newly purchased house. In these and other stories, things are never quite what they seem. The world is a mysterious place full of shadows and dark corners where anything can happen—and does.
Excerpt
I walk these halls alone.
There are others here, of course, but they are not like me. They belong to time. I am aware of time, but I do not belong to it anymore.
This is not an unpleasant place. Really, I am quite fond of it. Every corner, every windowsill, every tiny detail of every room is intimately familiar. I have been a shadow on the wall, a pattern in the tiles, a curtain moving in the breeze.
It seems as if I have always been here, and yet that can’t be so, for the place itself has not always been here. In the lobby, a brass plaque states that the Hotel del Balboa was built in 1889, so I must have arrived sometime after that. I don’t remember. My past is an enigma, cloaked in a mist of forgetfulness. But I have come to understand that I am dead.
I have my routine. Even the dead are creatures of habit. In the morning I sit on the patio where they serve breakfast, and I watch the waiters with their shining silver trays rushing back and forth from the kitchen, so graceful and efficient. The guests look happy and well rested, their conversation ebbing and flowing like the sound of the surf on the nearby beach. On clear mornings, the sun shines through the dark green and brilliant magenta leaves of bougainvillea and dapples the red-tile floor with shifting patterns of light and dark. I sit in my corner, by the potted palm, watching. It is so beautiful, this dance of sound and light that is the living world.
A small child toddles over and stands before me staring. She is exquisite, with her tousled black curls and great brown eyes full of curiosity and intelligence. I smile and she smiles back. Then her mother is there lifting her up, glancing in my direction.
“What are you looking at?” she says to the child. “The chair? Do you like that pretty chair?”
It is a pretty chair, one of those high-backed wicker jobs that has lots of curlicues and looks like a throne. The child stares at me and points.
“Man!” she says.
The mother laughs nervously and carries her away. Over her mother’s shoulder, she continues to stare at me. I wave and she flaps her little hand.
Babies and small children sometimes see me. Animals, too. Dogs don’t like me. They bristle and growl, while their owners wonder what is wrong with them. Fortunately, not many dogs come here.
I get along better with cats. In the old days, the hotel always kept one or two on the premises to keep the mice under control. They would seek me out in the evenings and we would make our rounds together, walking the long hallways, wandering in the garden. Cats are subtle creatures, more imaginative and less respectable than dogs. They don’t mind consorting with the likes of me.
Occasionally there are others who see me. Once there was a woman who worked in housekeeping, an Indian from far down in Mexico. She sometimes spoke to me when no one else was around, and she treated me with great deference, as if I were important. I once heard one of her countrymen say in a hushed tone that she was a sorceress.
Then there was the girl in the white dress.
It was 1956. I had been wandering the hallways, as I often do, when I came upon her, near the elevators, standing in front of one of the big mirrors trying to fasten a string of pearls around her slender neck. The clasp must have come loose as she was on her way downstairs to the party in the main ballroom. She looked so lovely in her party dress, I stopped to watch her. It was a white dress, strapless, with a full skirt that rustled. She looked almost like a bride. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she struggled intently with the pearls, frowning and biting her red lips. Something about her seemed terribly familiar.
I moved closer. It has often puzzled me that in my insubstantial state, my four senses function quite well. She smelled of flowers and sunshine and health. A great longing filled me and I moved closer still… and then something strange occurred. I saw a figure, white faced and hollow eyed, dressed in a dusty tuxedo, reflected in the mirror. It was a vague floating image, just behind her left shoulder, hardly there at all, but I saw it.
And so did she.
Her eyes went wide with terror and she whirled around. Suddenly we were face to face, just inches apart. She screamed and screamed, then fainted. I looked back at the mirror and realized that the sad, pale face, those eyes full of longing, belonged to me.
November 11, 2014
My Brush with Greatness
I’m coming off the high of the World Fantasy Conference last weekend in Washington, D.C. Monday I posted on Heroines of Fantasy about the unforgettable experience of hearing Patricia McKillip read from her new novel. Today I’m going to rave just a little more, this time about Guy Gavriel Kay.
First, a confession: I had a dismal knowledge of fantasy literature when I started writing.
I’ve always been a reading omnivore, taking in little of everything and rarely sticking to a single story type. At the time I began crafting Eolyn, my genres of preference were history and historical fiction. Because writing was a hobby, I didn’t worry about this. It wasn’t until I was nearly done with Eolyn that it occurred to me I might try publishing. That’s when I sought out a speculative fiction writers group, so I could get some idea as to whether I had anything new and interesting to offer.
Within a few months of joining that group, the work of George R.R. Martin came to my attention. I was struggling with the issue of how to embed history without bogging down the plot. Martin was recommended to me as a good example to learn from. He would also, unbeknownst to me at the time, become my very first brush with greatness.
I met George R.R. Martin at ConQuesT in 2010. By then I had read three of his books. He gave me a full 15 minutes of chat time, a humble experience that left me starry-eyed for days. Looking back, I now know this was a final window of opportunity. A year later, the HBO series Game of Thrones was released. By the time Martin returned to ConQuest in 2013, he no longer had 15 minutes of chat time to give.
There was no chat time with Guy Gavriel Kay this past weekend, either. All I did was attend an interview with him at the con. Later that evening, I asked him to sign two copies of his books. This was enough, more than enough, to qualify as a brush with greatness. Kay’s words and ideas, combined with a certain humble and gracious presence, linger despite the brevity and distance of these encounters.
As with Martin, I really did not know who Kay was until well into my own journey as an author. I heard about him a few years back when a reviewer compared my stories to his. Always curious to find out who I am unintentionally imitating, I’ve had Kay on my TBR list ever since. It wasn’t until this past weekend, however, that I finally sat down with one of his novels.
I’ve known authors to get discouraged when they come across a writer whose work reflects their own. I suppose there was a time when I harbored that sort of anxiety. By now, I’ve come to realize there is more than just a niche for the work I do, there is a true need. Listening to an interview with Guy Gavriel Kay, who not only writes the sort of story I aspire to, but has made an extraordinary success of it, was in no way discouraging. On the contrary, it gave me another companion along the way.
Now as I sink into the delightful narrative that is The Lions of Al Rassan, I wonder whatever possessed that reviewer all those years ago to compare me to the extraordinary author of this enchanting tale. I do not have Kay’s finesse or his mastery. Though I’d like to believe I have the potential to get there someday.
Yet there’s something we do share, a certain commonality of intent. Perhaps that’s what my reviewer noticed as well. What I want to accomplish with my writing is reflected in Kay’s work.
It is a reflection compels me to move forward with the promise of possibility. Even if I don’t quite make it to my destination, authors like Guy Gavriel Kay assure me I have chosen the good journey. And I’ve always believed it’s the journey that counts the most.
November 5, 2014
My World Fantasy Schedule
We had an amazing Build-a-Scary-Story event at Heroines of Fantasy last Friday. A lot of participants, and everyone’s contribution was wonderful. Visit the blog to read our collective story.
I am SO excited to be heading out to D.C. for the 2014 World Fantasy Convention. Look for my story Creatures of Light in the 40th anniversary WFC anthology. My panels and events are listed below. When I’m not attending a panel, I’ll be at the bar or in the coffee shop (depending on the time of day…) Hope to see you there!
Ringing the Changes: Robert Aickman
Time: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday, Regency E
Panelists: Karin Rita Gastreich (M), Leslie Gardner, Laurel Anne Hill, Matt London, Peter Straub
Description: Robert Aickman has been described as “one of the authors you respond to on a primal level”. The panel will discuss how the “strange stories” of Robert Aickman such as “The Wine-Dark Sea,” “The Trains,” and “Your Tiny Hand is Frozen” have changed their expectations for tales of the supernatural.
For a preview of my thoughts on Robert Aickman, check out my October 23 post.
Look for me Thursday evening at the opening ceremonies and the ice cream social!
Mass Autograph Session
Friday evening, November 7, in the Independence Center of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. The session will begin at 8 p.m. and continue until midnight or whenever the signers and seekers of autographs are content, whichever cometh first.
I’ll be at a table with the incomparable Terri-Lynne DeFino. Be sure to stop by for a visit.
October 31, 2014
Halloween Delights
Happy Halloween!
I am off celebrating in true witchy style today, but as a treat I’d like to leave you with this collection of short stories and scenes from our reviewers and contributors at Heroines of Fantasy.
Also, please stop by HoF today to build a spooky story with us! The activity will be open all day & through the weekend.
Wishing you lots of fun and horror on this All Hallows Eve. Don’t let the ghouls get you!
A dance through the ghastly and the ghoulish with spooky stories and excerpts:
October 2 – Karin Rita Gastreich: The Ghost of the Wide-Eyed Hollow
October 3 – Terri-Lynne DeFino: A Story of Possession
October 6 – Kim Vandervort: Boo! It’s Fright Fest
October 10 – Julia Dvorin: Wraiths, Ghosts, and Zombies
October 13 – Karin Rita Gastreich: The Summoning
October 17 – Louise Turner – The Morrigan Remembers
October 20 – Eric Griffith – A Fright Fest Beta Test
October 24 – Cybelle Greenlaw – Medea’s Disciple
October 27 – Joseph Finley – The Devil’s Bridge
October 30 – Mark Nelson – The Guardian
October 31 – Build-a-Scary-Story!
October 28, 2014
Mushroom Magick
A glimpse of the diversity of fungi collected during a two-hour period in the forests and fields of the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica.
I came across this brief video thanks to my good friend and fellow maga, Suzanne Hunt. I wish I’d known about the documentary “Fantastic Fungi” a few weeks back, when we did a short unit on this group in my plant biology class. But I’ll have a chance to teach that course again, and in the process will, perhaps, do fungi a little more justice.
For a long time, fungi were tucked into the kingdom of plants because of their sessile lifestyle, but that taxonomic mistake was fixed years ago when these modest organisms were elevated to their own kingdom. We know distressingly little about mushrooms, but there can be no doubt regarding their fundamental importance for life on this planet. And they are inherently beautiful, if one takes a moment to truly observe them.
In this video, I especially enjoyed the narration of Paul Stamets. He is precisely the kind of personality that inspired the mages and magas of Eolyn’s world. Listen to his message. It’s important. Most of all, enjoy the lovely footage.
October 23, 2014
World Fantasy Convention 2014
Robert Aickman, 1914-1981
Just two weeks from now I will be in Washington, D.C., for the 2014 World Fantasy Convention. The very thought sends chills up my spine. I have not been back to WFC since it was celebrated in sunny San Diego in 2011. Wow! Has it been that long? No wonder I am suffering from this overwhelming need to return.
This year’s convention will celebrate the 100th anniversaries of the births of Robert Aickman and Virgil Finlay, as well as commemorating the start of World War I.
I admit, I knew very little of Robert Aickman before his name showed up on the WFC 2014 home page. Yet I have found a kindred spirit in this author, and I am very excited to be joining others in a celebration of his work.
Aickman was a writer and conservationist, a healthy blend if there ever was one (if I may say so myself). This month, in preparation for the con, I have been indulging in a wonderful collection of his short stories, The Wine Red Sea.
Aickman’s supernatural fiction is subtle and deeply compelling. Unlike many fantasy writers, he does not take the reader out of this world. Rather, he inserts his world into ours. The effects are downright spooky.
After reading Trains, every time I heard a train at night the threads of that story were reignited, its reality disturbingly near. A few nights after completing Your Tiny Hand Is Frozen, I woke up from my sleep thinking I’d heard the phone ring. (Thank goodness for the “recents” function on the modern cell!)
It’s this stickiness of Aickman’s stories that fascinates me. Despite the supernatural elements, the characters and plots are very firmly embedded in this world. Our world. A world painted in disturbing detail by the very talented Robert Aickman.
I am honored to be moderating one of the first panel discussions on this author’s work, with co-panelists Leslie Gardner, Laurel Anne Hill, Matt London, and Peter Straub. The full panel description is listed below, along with a few other activities where you’ll be able to find me, if you’re at the con.
I should probably add that my short story ‘Creatures of Light’ was chosen for inclusion in WFC’s 40th anniversary anthology, which will be distributed in ebook to this year’s members. Woohoo!
You’ll be hearing more about WFC in the coming days. If you plan to be there, let me know! I would love to see you.
~*~
Karin’s World Fantasy Convention Schedule:
Ringing the Changes: Robert Aickman
Time: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday, Regency E
Panelists: Karin Rita Gastreich (M), Leslie Gardner, Laurel Anne Hill, Matt London, Peter Straub
Description: Robert Aickman has been described as “one of the authors you respond to on a primal level”. The panel will discuss how the “strange stories” of Robert Aickman such as “The Wine-Dark Sea,” “The Trains,” and “Your Tiny Hand is Frozen” have changed their expectations for tales of the supernatural.
Look for me Thursday evening at the opening ceremonies and the ice cream social!
Mass Autograph Session
Friday evening, November 7, in the Independence Center of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. The session will begin at 8 p.m. and continue until midnight or whenever the signers and seekers of autographs are content, whichever cometh first.
I’ll be at a table with the incomparable Terri-Lynne DeFino. Be sure to stop by for a visit.
When I’m not listening to panels or attending parties, you’ll find me in the bar!
