Carl Alves's Blog, page 27
August 30, 2016
Movie Review: Don't Breathe
Don’t Breathe was a strange kind of horror/thriller in that there were a great deal of shades of gray in terms of who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. The protagonists in this story are three kids who break into people’s houses and rob them. They find out that a blind, Iraq war veteran has a massive stash of cash in his house and decide to rob him. However, when they do, the vet turns the table on them.
Normally, in a horror movie, you’re supposed to root for the protagonists and root against the antagonist. Perhaps it says something about me as a person, but I was totally rooting for the blind vet to put a serious hurting on those three punks. I didn’t find any of the kids to be remotely sympathetic. One was a total loser. Alex, who I think was supposed to be the most sympathetic, uses keys and a device from the security company that his father’s house to break into houses that are contracted with his dad’s company. I suppose the writers think we should like him because he has a thing for Rocky, the female of the group. She’s supposed to be sympathetic because her parents are awful and she wants to run away with her younger sister. Boo-hoo. None of these three losers played on my heartstrings. I did, however, have empathy for the blind vet. Without spoiling the movie, it turns out that he has some seriously bad secrets to hide, but I still was rooting for him to kill the kids who were trying to rob him.
Pick whatever side you choose, but this was a rare horror movie that I actually enjoyed.
Normally, in a horror movie, you’re supposed to root for the protagonists and root against the antagonist. Perhaps it says something about me as a person, but I was totally rooting for the blind vet to put a serious hurting on those three punks. I didn’t find any of the kids to be remotely sympathetic. One was a total loser. Alex, who I think was supposed to be the most sympathetic, uses keys and a device from the security company that his father’s house to break into houses that are contracted with his dad’s company. I suppose the writers think we should like him because he has a thing for Rocky, the female of the group. She’s supposed to be sympathetic because her parents are awful and she wants to run away with her younger sister. Boo-hoo. None of these three losers played on my heartstrings. I did, however, have empathy for the blind vet. Without spoiling the movie, it turns out that he has some seriously bad secrets to hide, but I still was rooting for him to kill the kids who were trying to rob him.
Pick whatever side you choose, but this was a rare horror movie that I actually enjoyed.
August 27, 2016
Mercy House by Adam Cesare
The old folks are on the loose at Mercy House and they’re angry, menacing, and have transformed physically in a way where they are no longer frail and weak. It’s never quite explained in the novel, which is something that is missing for my satisfaction, but the geezers at an old age home all at once transform. They are no longer constrained by the physical challenges of old age, but beyond the physical transformation is a mental one. The old folks go on a rampage, massacring the staff at Mercy House. Caught in the crossfire is Nikki Laurel, who is there to admit her extremely unpleasant mother-in-law, Harriet, to Mercy House. Nikki must rally the other survivors to try to make it out of Mercy House alive.
This is a very different kind of horror novel by Adam Cesare. You tend not to get a lot of elderly characters in horror novels, and certainly not elderly antagonists. These characters have become quite monstrous in this novel, but at the same time there is a certain level of underdog to the characters. After all, it wasn’t too long before they were suffering in various ways—some physical, some emotional. Of the old folks, Arnold Piper, an ex-Marine, is probably the one that has the most humanity to him and doesn’t become quite as depraved as the others. The novel is well written and compelling. I like that it’s not your typical horror story. It’s gritty and intense and delivers at many different levels. This is a novel to put on your to-read list for all horror fans.
This is a very different kind of horror novel by Adam Cesare. You tend not to get a lot of elderly characters in horror novels, and certainly not elderly antagonists. These characters have become quite monstrous in this novel, but at the same time there is a certain level of underdog to the characters. After all, it wasn’t too long before they were suffering in various ways—some physical, some emotional. Of the old folks, Arnold Piper, an ex-Marine, is probably the one that has the most humanity to him and doesn’t become quite as depraved as the others. The novel is well written and compelling. I like that it’s not your typical horror story. It’s gritty and intense and delivers at many different levels. This is a novel to put on your to-read list for all horror fans.
August 21, 2016
10 Questions with Mike McCarty
1. Why did you choose the legendary characters of Romulus and Remus to use as a vehicle to create a werewolf origin story in Gemini Rising?
Romulus and Remus always seemed cool to me. The whole idea of twin babies found nursed back to health by a wolf was very cool and weird and animalistic. When I started with the initial idea of werewolf bikers I figured they had been around since WWII. A lot of early biker cultures borrowed from the nazis, not because they were racists, but because nazi stuff made people uncomfortable, and bikers love making people uncomfortable. So I figured if they were an SS troop in WWII then they had to come from somewhere before that. The nazis had borrowed some imagery and tones from ancient Rome with things like the golden Eagle standard so just put 2 and 2 together and it came up werewolves. I couldn’t believe that it hadn’t been done already. Sure people hinted at it now and then but as far as I know I was the first to run with it as a full story.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
Like most horror writers I grew up reading, Stephen King, Peter Straub, then I found the likes of F Paul Wilson, Conn Iggulden, James A Moore. I like to think that most writers I read either influence or inspire me in some way.
3. How did you first get involved in being a Hollywood makeup artist?
It was something I always wanted as a kid, I was way into horror movies…obviously. Halloween was my favorite time of year, I loved art, had some skills and Tom Savini was my hero. That appropriately ticks all the makeup fx artist boxes right there. From there on I learned a bunch of it myself did a little class here and there and started to slowly creep my way into the business. Now I’ve been doing it over 25 years.
4. What current writing projects are you working on?
The shop I currently work at, KNB efx, is responsible for all things Walking Dead so I get to do a lot of stuff for those shows. Which is cool, but as a fan of the series it’s a total spoiler alert fest.
5. Would you rather have a novel that reaches number one on the New York Times bestseller list or win an Oscar for best makeup for one of the movies you worked on?
A novel for sure! But I would’nt not accept an Oscar ;)
6. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
I love the transformation scenes and anything I think is going to scar people, freak them out a little, or put people out of their comfort zones. I think I may have done that in Book 1. Every now and then someone comes up to me and says “Poor Marcus.” (Referring to one of the books characters.)
7. What’s your favorite werewolf movie of all time?
The Howling! My aunt Mary Jane took me to see the Howling when I was 13 in the theater, she had no idea what the movie was other than werewolves. It’s a pretty intense movie for a 13 year old, full of sex and violence and a fantastic werewold transformation which I still love….I think it was paramount in changing my life and shaping who I am today. Even though I had to watch the sexy parts through her well placed hand over my eyes lol. That movie definitely made me the fan of werewolves I am now. I also got a chance to see American Werewolf in London in the theater as a young lad. I had to totally sneak in but it was worth its weight in gold. Both of those movies are pretty awesome.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
No not at all, no one should limit themselves there may be some things that are harder to write, but I would never limit myself.
9. What was your favorite makeup FX television show or movie that you worked on?
That’s a tough one. For years it was Sin City, now maybe the Maniac remake? Hostel 2 was an amazing time as far as being on set and having things go well. We shot that movie in Prague which is a fantastic city to live in for 2 months. The people are great and it’s one of the few major European cities that survived WWII unscathed. It’s truly a site to see.
10. Who did Negan kill on the final episode of season 6 of The Walking Dead?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…I’m sorry what was the question?
Romulus and Remus always seemed cool to me. The whole idea of twin babies found nursed back to health by a wolf was very cool and weird and animalistic. When I started with the initial idea of werewolf bikers I figured they had been around since WWII. A lot of early biker cultures borrowed from the nazis, not because they were racists, but because nazi stuff made people uncomfortable, and bikers love making people uncomfortable. So I figured if they were an SS troop in WWII then they had to come from somewhere before that. The nazis had borrowed some imagery and tones from ancient Rome with things like the golden Eagle standard so just put 2 and 2 together and it came up werewolves. I couldn’t believe that it hadn’t been done already. Sure people hinted at it now and then but as far as I know I was the first to run with it as a full story.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
Like most horror writers I grew up reading, Stephen King, Peter Straub, then I found the likes of F Paul Wilson, Conn Iggulden, James A Moore. I like to think that most writers I read either influence or inspire me in some way.
3. How did you first get involved in being a Hollywood makeup artist?
It was something I always wanted as a kid, I was way into horror movies…obviously. Halloween was my favorite time of year, I loved art, had some skills and Tom Savini was my hero. That appropriately ticks all the makeup fx artist boxes right there. From there on I learned a bunch of it myself did a little class here and there and started to slowly creep my way into the business. Now I’ve been doing it over 25 years.
4. What current writing projects are you working on?
The shop I currently work at, KNB efx, is responsible for all things Walking Dead so I get to do a lot of stuff for those shows. Which is cool, but as a fan of the series it’s a total spoiler alert fest.
5. Would you rather have a novel that reaches number one on the New York Times bestseller list or win an Oscar for best makeup for one of the movies you worked on?
A novel for sure! But I would’nt not accept an Oscar ;)
6. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
I love the transformation scenes and anything I think is going to scar people, freak them out a little, or put people out of their comfort zones. I think I may have done that in Book 1. Every now and then someone comes up to me and says “Poor Marcus.” (Referring to one of the books characters.)
7. What’s your favorite werewolf movie of all time?
The Howling! My aunt Mary Jane took me to see the Howling when I was 13 in the theater, she had no idea what the movie was other than werewolves. It’s a pretty intense movie for a 13 year old, full of sex and violence and a fantastic werewold transformation which I still love….I think it was paramount in changing my life and shaping who I am today. Even though I had to watch the sexy parts through her well placed hand over my eyes lol. That movie definitely made me the fan of werewolves I am now. I also got a chance to see American Werewolf in London in the theater as a young lad. I had to totally sneak in but it was worth its weight in gold. Both of those movies are pretty awesome.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
No not at all, no one should limit themselves there may be some things that are harder to write, but I would never limit myself.
9. What was your favorite makeup FX television show or movie that you worked on?
That’s a tough one. For years it was Sin City, now maybe the Maniac remake? Hostel 2 was an amazing time as far as being on set and having things go well. We shot that movie in Prague which is a fantastic city to live in for 2 months. The people are great and it’s one of the few major European cities that survived WWII unscathed. It’s truly a site to see.
10. Who did Negan kill on the final episode of season 6 of The Walking Dead?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…I’m sorry what was the question?
August 16, 2016
My novel Reconquest: Mother Earth on sale for 99 cents
You can now buy my sci-fi thriller Reconquest: Mother Earth for 99 cents on Amazon at http://www.carlalves.com/news-story/r...
August 14, 2016
Gemini Rising by Mike McCarty
Gemini Rising is a terrific piece of fiction and one of the best werewolf novels I’ve ever read. I love how the author used the mythic story of Romulus and Remus and the creation of Rome in order to tell an origin werewolf story. Like most of the other aspects of this novel, the premise was very clever and well done.
The novel starts in the pre-Roman era. A wolf-god impregnates a woman and dies when his two offspring are born. They are originally taken in by a wolf before being adopted by a man and woman who can’t have their own children. The story fast forwards to Romulus and Remus in their early teens and the wolves within them begin to manifest. Romulus fully embraces this aspect of himself. Remus, on the other hand, rejects being a werewolf, which sets the brothers at odds. Romulus has a grand plan to raise an army of werewolves and overthrow the king, but Remus won’t have any of it.
I loved how the author retold this mythical almost exactly the way it happened according to legend, yet still incorporated the brothers being werewolves. The characterization in this novel was very strong as was the plot. I like the struggle between the brothers and how there wasn’t one who was obviously right or obviously wrong. Each one of them had elements that I could agree with or disagree with. The buildup and the climax were strong. There was little that I found to quibble about and mostly just enjoyed the ride. This is a must read novel. You can get your copy on Amazon here.
The novel starts in the pre-Roman era. A wolf-god impregnates a woman and dies when his two offspring are born. They are originally taken in by a wolf before being adopted by a man and woman who can’t have their own children. The story fast forwards to Romulus and Remus in their early teens and the wolves within them begin to manifest. Romulus fully embraces this aspect of himself. Remus, on the other hand, rejects being a werewolf, which sets the brothers at odds. Romulus has a grand plan to raise an army of werewolves and overthrow the king, but Remus won’t have any of it.
I loved how the author retold this mythical almost exactly the way it happened according to legend, yet still incorporated the brothers being werewolves. The characterization in this novel was very strong as was the plot. I like the struggle between the brothers and how there wasn’t one who was obviously right or obviously wrong. Each one of them had elements that I could agree with or disagree with. The buildup and the climax were strong. There was little that I found to quibble about and mostly just enjoyed the ride. This is a must read novel. You can get your copy on Amazon here.
August 10, 2016
10 Questions with AJ Brown
1. Where did you come up with the concept of your website Type AJ Negative?
Type AJ Negative is more like a blog. It acts pretty much like a website though. My wife and I were walking along a stretch of the River Walk here in Columbia. I wanted to create some sort of web presence. To me, a blog could serve the purpose of what I wanted to do. I could write posts and advertise and it would all show up on the home page. We both threw out some names and shot them down. Nothing felt right. I wanted something to do with blood—not so much gore, but the actual substance—but nothing made sense. I finally said, ‘If I could just create a type of…’ And yeah, my words fell away and I looked at Cate and said, ‘How about Type AJ Negative?’ The rest is history.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
To be honest, my wife. Though she is not a writer, she is a constant inspiration to keep trying and never give up. She believes in my abilities and that, in and of itself, pushes me each day. Now, if you mean which writer has been my biggest influence, I would have to say Stephen King, simply because in his book On Writing, he said the writer is a book’s first reader and we’re really just along for the ride. I find that to be one of the truest statements I have ever heard. After reading On Writing I changed everything about my writing style and created what it is today. I would say that is a significant influence.
3. Out of all of your novels, which one most defines who you are as a writer?
I only have two novels at the moment, but I would have to say Cory’s Way defines me as a writer because it was the first novel I wrote from wire to wire with no interruptions from other stories. It also showed me I could actually write a novel—and a good one at that—if I just put my head down and went at it.
4. What current writing projects are you working on?
The one definite project right now is Interrogations. It’s a Hank Walker novella that will bridge Dredging Up Memories to Eradication. Other than that there is always the marketing and networking and finishing up items that need to be done for anthologies.
5. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
Most of my stories have a dark texture to them. They are typically your every day person who goes through things that are not quite every day events. They are conversational in tone and, if I’m really on the ball, emotional roller coasters.
6. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
I love writing the beginnings of stories. That is the part where I get to set everything up and build from. A great beginning helps you keep a reader’s attention and it’s also the part where I learn the most about my characters and in which direction the story will go.
7. What made you start writing?
A recurring nightmare. I was told to write it next time I had it and it would go away. Supposedly Robert Lewis Stevenson had the same problem and ended up writing the book The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and My Hyde. I didn’t know if that was true or not, but I decided to give it a go. Turns out it did make my nightmare go away. But I enjoyed it and I’ve been writing ever since.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I wouldn’t say there is anything that is off limits, but there are things that I choose not to write. I don’t do sex scenes. I don’t think it is needed in most of the books I see them in. I don’t do gore for gore’s sake. Yeah, there is blood and violence in my stories, but just to write lavishly detailed bloodbaths—not my thing. I also don’t have my characters (or narrator) cuss just to cuss. To me, that is lazy writing. That doesn’t mean I don’t use cuss words where it is needed, but I don’t need to drop the F-Bomb every other sentence to tell a good story. To be honest, I don’t think you need any of the three things I just mentioned in order to tell a good story.
9. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
Probably Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She wrote what I feel is the greatest and one of the most disturbing stories in The Yellow Wallpaper. How could I not want to write something with her? (Okay, all of you out there who thought I would say Stephen King—you were almost correct).
10. If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
1. Stephen King 2. John Ritter 3. Abraham Lincoln 4. Natalie Wood 5. Doc Holliday as played by Val Kilmer in Tombstone.
Type AJ Negative is more like a blog. It acts pretty much like a website though. My wife and I were walking along a stretch of the River Walk here in Columbia. I wanted to create some sort of web presence. To me, a blog could serve the purpose of what I wanted to do. I could write posts and advertise and it would all show up on the home page. We both threw out some names and shot them down. Nothing felt right. I wanted something to do with blood—not so much gore, but the actual substance—but nothing made sense. I finally said, ‘If I could just create a type of…’ And yeah, my words fell away and I looked at Cate and said, ‘How about Type AJ Negative?’ The rest is history.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
To be honest, my wife. Though she is not a writer, she is a constant inspiration to keep trying and never give up. She believes in my abilities and that, in and of itself, pushes me each day. Now, if you mean which writer has been my biggest influence, I would have to say Stephen King, simply because in his book On Writing, he said the writer is a book’s first reader and we’re really just along for the ride. I find that to be one of the truest statements I have ever heard. After reading On Writing I changed everything about my writing style and created what it is today. I would say that is a significant influence.
3. Out of all of your novels, which one most defines who you are as a writer?
I only have two novels at the moment, but I would have to say Cory’s Way defines me as a writer because it was the first novel I wrote from wire to wire with no interruptions from other stories. It also showed me I could actually write a novel—and a good one at that—if I just put my head down and went at it.
4. What current writing projects are you working on?
The one definite project right now is Interrogations. It’s a Hank Walker novella that will bridge Dredging Up Memories to Eradication. Other than that there is always the marketing and networking and finishing up items that need to be done for anthologies.
5. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
Most of my stories have a dark texture to them. They are typically your every day person who goes through things that are not quite every day events. They are conversational in tone and, if I’m really on the ball, emotional roller coasters.
6. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
I love writing the beginnings of stories. That is the part where I get to set everything up and build from. A great beginning helps you keep a reader’s attention and it’s also the part where I learn the most about my characters and in which direction the story will go.
7. What made you start writing?
A recurring nightmare. I was told to write it next time I had it and it would go away. Supposedly Robert Lewis Stevenson had the same problem and ended up writing the book The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and My Hyde. I didn’t know if that was true or not, but I decided to give it a go. Turns out it did make my nightmare go away. But I enjoyed it and I’ve been writing ever since.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I wouldn’t say there is anything that is off limits, but there are things that I choose not to write. I don’t do sex scenes. I don’t think it is needed in most of the books I see them in. I don’t do gore for gore’s sake. Yeah, there is blood and violence in my stories, but just to write lavishly detailed bloodbaths—not my thing. I also don’t have my characters (or narrator) cuss just to cuss. To me, that is lazy writing. That doesn’t mean I don’t use cuss words where it is needed, but I don’t need to drop the F-Bomb every other sentence to tell a good story. To be honest, I don’t think you need any of the three things I just mentioned in order to tell a good story.
9. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
Probably Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She wrote what I feel is the greatest and one of the most disturbing stories in The Yellow Wallpaper. How could I not want to write something with her? (Okay, all of you out there who thought I would say Stephen King—you were almost correct).
10. If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
1. Stephen King 2. John Ritter 3. Abraham Lincoln 4. Natalie Wood 5. Doc Holliday as played by Val Kilmer in Tombstone.
August 6, 2016
10 Questions with Benedict Jacka
1. Where did you come up with the Ask Luna segment for your blog?
It’s a really long time ago now, but I think I got the idea from a webcomic that had one of its characters answer reader-written messages. I spent a while trying to figure out which character would do the answering – I thought about using Alex, but decided in the end that Luna would have more of an outsider’s perspective (plus it’d give me a break from writing everything in Alex’s voice all the time).
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
Probably Agatha Christie. In my teens and twenties I think I read almost every single one of her novels (and she wrote a lot of them). Multiple times over in some cases.
3. Do you have an end in mind for your Alex Verus series or is this a series that can keep going indefinitely?
No, it’s going to have an end. I’ve always hated endless-series syndrome, where something just goes on and on forever until the readers get sick of it and/or the creator dies of old age. Don’t know exactly when the Alex Verus series will finish, but it will.
4. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
Nowadays, dialogue. I used to enjoy action scenes more, but as the characters have developed and evolved I find that I enjoy bouncing their personalites off each other.
5. What made you start writing?
Not actually sure. I wrote stories when I was young, but no more so than any other kid who likes books. Then one day I started writing a story, and it just went longer and longer until it turned into a book. I’ve never really known why.
6. What do you like most about living in London?
It’s pretty, it’s familiar, and it’s dense. You can live your whole life in a London borough and still not know half its secrets.
7. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
There’s nothing 100% off-limits, but I try not to make things too graphic. Sometimes it’s necessary, though.
8. You do a great job of worldbuilding in your Alex Verus series as can be seen in your Encyclopaedia Arcana on your website. Did you borrow from other sources in creating this magical world or is it entirely your own doing?
I borrow from a lot of sources, but from so many that it’s often hard for me to remember exactly where! The more that I’ve done, though, the more it’s become my own creation, and the less it’s assembled from other places.
9. What is your best quality as a writer?
No idea. You’d have to ask the people who like my books!
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation of your Alex Verus series, and the director asked you to cast the role of Alex, who would you choose?
I’ve actually had people ask me this one before, and it usually stumps me. I probably would have had a better idea when I was younger, but these days I don’t watch enough films. That said, some of the secondary characters in the Alex Verus series were originally written with a TV or movie character in mind as a visual model – Talisid, for one.
It’s a really long time ago now, but I think I got the idea from a webcomic that had one of its characters answer reader-written messages. I spent a while trying to figure out which character would do the answering – I thought about using Alex, but decided in the end that Luna would have more of an outsider’s perspective (plus it’d give me a break from writing everything in Alex’s voice all the time).
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
Probably Agatha Christie. In my teens and twenties I think I read almost every single one of her novels (and she wrote a lot of them). Multiple times over in some cases.
3. Do you have an end in mind for your Alex Verus series or is this a series that can keep going indefinitely?
No, it’s going to have an end. I’ve always hated endless-series syndrome, where something just goes on and on forever until the readers get sick of it and/or the creator dies of old age. Don’t know exactly when the Alex Verus series will finish, but it will.
4. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
Nowadays, dialogue. I used to enjoy action scenes more, but as the characters have developed and evolved I find that I enjoy bouncing their personalites off each other.
5. What made you start writing?
Not actually sure. I wrote stories when I was young, but no more so than any other kid who likes books. Then one day I started writing a story, and it just went longer and longer until it turned into a book. I’ve never really known why.
6. What do you like most about living in London?
It’s pretty, it’s familiar, and it’s dense. You can live your whole life in a London borough and still not know half its secrets.
7. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
There’s nothing 100% off-limits, but I try not to make things too graphic. Sometimes it’s necessary, though.
8. You do a great job of worldbuilding in your Alex Verus series as can be seen in your Encyclopaedia Arcana on your website. Did you borrow from other sources in creating this magical world or is it entirely your own doing?
I borrow from a lot of sources, but from so many that it’s often hard for me to remember exactly where! The more that I’ve done, though, the more it’s become my own creation, and the less it’s assembled from other places.
9. What is your best quality as a writer?
No idea. You’d have to ask the people who like my books!
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation of your Alex Verus series, and the director asked you to cast the role of Alex, who would you choose?
I’ve actually had people ask me this one before, and it usually stumps me. I probably would have had a better idea when I was younger, but these days I don’t watch enough films. That said, some of the secondary characters in the Alex Verus series were originally written with a TV or movie character in mind as a visual model – Talisid, for one.
August 3, 2016
Fated by Benedict Jacka
The protagonist in Fated is Alex Verus, a wizard who runs a magic shop and has powers of divination. He has the ability to foresee the future, a power that makes him very popular with light and dark mages who are trying to gain possession of a fateweaver, an ancient relic found in a London museum that is being highly protected. Alex is a pawn in these machinations as he is given the option of helping these various forces in attaining this relic or die. His main objective is to keep himself and his friend, Luna, safe, something that isn’t an easy task with all of these mages gunning for him.
I really like the character of Alex Verus. He isn’t an overly powerful wizard. In a one-on-one fight against mages more skilled in battle, he will get mauled. He has to overcome this disadvantage by outsmarting and outmaneuvering his opponents. Although he isn’t very powerful, his skills in divination are really cool. He can look at all of the various paths his decisions would result in, and pick the one with the most favorable outcome. I like the fact that he isn’t this super-powerful protagonist that can just crush all in his path. It makes his problems to solve all the more interesting. The story moved at a fast pace and never lagged at any point. The conclusion was satisfying and didn’t betray the build-up. The writing was high-level and everything about it was very enjoyable. I highly recommend this novel and am looking forward to reading more about Alex Verus in the future.
I really like the character of Alex Verus. He isn’t an overly powerful wizard. In a one-on-one fight against mages more skilled in battle, he will get mauled. He has to overcome this disadvantage by outsmarting and outmaneuvering his opponents. Although he isn’t very powerful, his skills in divination are really cool. He can look at all of the various paths his decisions would result in, and pick the one with the most favorable outcome. I like the fact that he isn’t this super-powerful protagonist that can just crush all in his path. It makes his problems to solve all the more interesting. The story moved at a fast pace and never lagged at any point. The conclusion was satisfying and didn’t betray the build-up. The writing was high-level and everything about it was very enjoyable. I highly recommend this novel and am looking forward to reading more about Alex Verus in the future.
July 31, 2016
10 Questions with Jonathan Ondrashek
1. What was the genesis for your series The Human-Undead War?
I was enrolled in a short story snail-mail writing course, and a deadline for a fiction piece loomed. I hadn’t delved into genre fiction much and was stuck. Then, I had a vivid dream involving vampires and an ugly, blood-producing mushroom…
That dream turned into a short story, which I felt was brilliant. My instructor didn’t much care for it because it didn’t fit the parameters of a short: it didn’t have an ending. No profound epiphany. No resolution. Nor did it have a true beginning.
I returned to it, determined to make it work. However, the more I pored over the story, the more I realized I’d tried to fit far too much on a tiny stage, and The Human-Undead War was born.
2. What has drawn you to the horror genre?
Rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms and pits, cottonmouth, shaky knees—nothing compares to that kind of adrenaline rush. Whether it be extreme or subtle, horror draws on the darkness which resides inside everyone. And I eat that shit for breakfast. (Blood, gore, and all manners of monsters have always intrigued me as well.)
3. Who is your favorite writer?
Terry Brooks. He’s created an amazing world with Shannara, and the recent television series is pretty badass as well. His Word and Void trilogy in particular still resonates with me—to link seemingly unrelated worlds and eras together is awe-inspiring. I’d like to someday emulate his knack for creating a series that spans generations.
4. What is the coolest haunted house that you ever visited?
I’ve been hunting for the best haunted house since an early age, so I’m glad you asked! Unfortunately, I can’t choose just one.
The Edge of Hell in Kansas City, Missouri has garnered my highest fear rating yet: 8.5 out of 10. It has everything: sensory deprivation, wicked lifelike digital images, animatronics, a seizure-inducing spinning tunnel, and a fun slide as a climax.
The Beast in Kansas City, Missouri has a heart-pounding finale: a two-story jump onto a stunt bag.
And Worlds of Fun has some of the coolest, most graphic themes. Plus, it boasts about 10 different haunted houses onsite.
5. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
Fight and action scenes. It’s exciting to picture each individual movement happening as the words appear on the screen, and sometimes the pre-planned outcome is changed with but a simple thrust or jab.
I also enjoy writing the more emotional scenes, particularly those dealing with death or other such loss. Though they are darker parts of reality most prefer to ignore, they are indeed integral to the human experience—that gut-wrenching feeling reminds us we are alive.
6. What made you start writing?
Sex education. No, seriously.
In the 5th grade, amidst sex education classes at a Catholic elementary school, I created an immature fantasy story about a pencil to submit to a state-wide writing contest. It started off with, “It was big and long…”
It won 2nd place in my grade level.
7. What is your best quality as a writer?
You mean hack, right?
In all seriousness, I like to think I bring a bit of lyricism mixed with bluntness to the fray in my writing. A certain flow. (I’m far from the best and far from the worst. Still coming into my style.)
I also believe my editing is decent enough to convince the masses I know what the hell I’m doing. Boy, are they in for a surprise!
8. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
David Owain Hughes. He’s an all-around demented writer and cool dude. We’ve worked together as co-editors on an upcoming anthology, and he’s hooked us up with Veronica Smith to tackle yet another anthology later this year. If it weren’t for my day job and other growing workloads, we probably would’ve already knocked out a few more projects together by now!
I’d also jump at the chance to work with Kerry Alan Denney and Lindsey Goddard, as I feel their styles are similar to mine. (Or I could just be delusional.)
9. Which person do you most admire?
At this very moment? Bernie Sanders. (Yeah, it just got political in here. And yeah, I may turn some folks off at this point, but I’m okay with that.) It’s not even about all the “free” shit. In my opinion, he’s the embodiment of what it means to be humane, and he gives a shit about the future. It’s refreshing to see such raw energy and naked truthfulness being strapped down spread-eagle before the public eye.
Like him or hate him, it’s impossible to deny the power of millions and millions of progressive, hopeful voices being channeled through one.
10. If you could create a Mount Rushmore of the greatest authors in the horror genre, which four writers would you choose?
Fear Street and Goosebumps are unforgettable series from my youth, so R. L. Stine would be an obvious choice for me.
The great Edgar Allen Poe is another no-brainer. We wouldn’t be where we are today without his dark works.
Frankenstein remains one of my favorite works in existence, so I must include Mary Shelley. Her aforementioned classic even inspired some aspects of The Human-Undead War series.
And, of course, Stephen King. I don’t care for his work, but I fear I’d be hanged by the horror fanatics if I didn’t include his mug on Mount Horrormore.
I was enrolled in a short story snail-mail writing course, and a deadline for a fiction piece loomed. I hadn’t delved into genre fiction much and was stuck. Then, I had a vivid dream involving vampires and an ugly, blood-producing mushroom…
That dream turned into a short story, which I felt was brilliant. My instructor didn’t much care for it because it didn’t fit the parameters of a short: it didn’t have an ending. No profound epiphany. No resolution. Nor did it have a true beginning.
I returned to it, determined to make it work. However, the more I pored over the story, the more I realized I’d tried to fit far too much on a tiny stage, and The Human-Undead War was born.
2. What has drawn you to the horror genre?
Rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms and pits, cottonmouth, shaky knees—nothing compares to that kind of adrenaline rush. Whether it be extreme or subtle, horror draws on the darkness which resides inside everyone. And I eat that shit for breakfast. (Blood, gore, and all manners of monsters have always intrigued me as well.)
3. Who is your favorite writer?
Terry Brooks. He’s created an amazing world with Shannara, and the recent television series is pretty badass as well. His Word and Void trilogy in particular still resonates with me—to link seemingly unrelated worlds and eras together is awe-inspiring. I’d like to someday emulate his knack for creating a series that spans generations.
4. What is the coolest haunted house that you ever visited?
I’ve been hunting for the best haunted house since an early age, so I’m glad you asked! Unfortunately, I can’t choose just one.
The Edge of Hell in Kansas City, Missouri has garnered my highest fear rating yet: 8.5 out of 10. It has everything: sensory deprivation, wicked lifelike digital images, animatronics, a seizure-inducing spinning tunnel, and a fun slide as a climax.
The Beast in Kansas City, Missouri has a heart-pounding finale: a two-story jump onto a stunt bag.
And Worlds of Fun has some of the coolest, most graphic themes. Plus, it boasts about 10 different haunted houses onsite.
5. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
Fight and action scenes. It’s exciting to picture each individual movement happening as the words appear on the screen, and sometimes the pre-planned outcome is changed with but a simple thrust or jab.
I also enjoy writing the more emotional scenes, particularly those dealing with death or other such loss. Though they are darker parts of reality most prefer to ignore, they are indeed integral to the human experience—that gut-wrenching feeling reminds us we are alive.
6. What made you start writing?
Sex education. No, seriously.
In the 5th grade, amidst sex education classes at a Catholic elementary school, I created an immature fantasy story about a pencil to submit to a state-wide writing contest. It started off with, “It was big and long…”
It won 2nd place in my grade level.
7. What is your best quality as a writer?
You mean hack, right?
In all seriousness, I like to think I bring a bit of lyricism mixed with bluntness to the fray in my writing. A certain flow. (I’m far from the best and far from the worst. Still coming into my style.)
I also believe my editing is decent enough to convince the masses I know what the hell I’m doing. Boy, are they in for a surprise!
8. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
David Owain Hughes. He’s an all-around demented writer and cool dude. We’ve worked together as co-editors on an upcoming anthology, and he’s hooked us up with Veronica Smith to tackle yet another anthology later this year. If it weren’t for my day job and other growing workloads, we probably would’ve already knocked out a few more projects together by now!
I’d also jump at the chance to work with Kerry Alan Denney and Lindsey Goddard, as I feel their styles are similar to mine. (Or I could just be delusional.)
9. Which person do you most admire?
At this very moment? Bernie Sanders. (Yeah, it just got political in here. And yeah, I may turn some folks off at this point, but I’m okay with that.) It’s not even about all the “free” shit. In my opinion, he’s the embodiment of what it means to be humane, and he gives a shit about the future. It’s refreshing to see such raw energy and naked truthfulness being strapped down spread-eagle before the public eye.
Like him or hate him, it’s impossible to deny the power of millions and millions of progressive, hopeful voices being channeled through one.
10. If you could create a Mount Rushmore of the greatest authors in the horror genre, which four writers would you choose?
Fear Street and Goosebumps are unforgettable series from my youth, so R. L. Stine would be an obvious choice for me.
The great Edgar Allen Poe is another no-brainer. We wouldn’t be where we are today without his dark works.
Frankenstein remains one of my favorite works in existence, so I must include Mary Shelley. Her aforementioned classic even inspired some aspects of The Human-Undead War series.
And, of course, Stephen King. I don’t care for his work, but I fear I’d be hanged by the horror fanatics if I didn’t include his mug on Mount Horrormore.
July 28, 2016
10 Questions with Peter Oliver Wonder
1. How has your time in the Marines influenced you as a writer?
When you spend that much time with, what could very well be, the most foul mouthed and sarcastic bunch of people this world has to offer, it really has a tendency to help you grow as a person. The sarcasm and swearing was a part of me well before I joined the Marines, but they helped me forge it into a weapon that comes out pretty cool in my writing.
2. Who is your favorite writer?
I can't help but wonder how many times you've given out this question and just reeeally pissed someone off. That being said, I'm going to answer a different question, because I am a cheater. Then, I won't even answer that question write. The writer I'm most grateful to have found is a draw between two. J.L. Bourne and David Wong are the reasons I began writing. If it wasn’t for them, there is likely a chance I never would have chosen to begin writing in the first place. And then I wouldn't be answering questions because no one would care what I have to say.
3. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
Oh, God no. In the first book of the POW! Series you can see that I'm too crazy to stay on one theme for too long. My writing outside of the series is quite a bit more sinister and less light hearted.
4. What made you start writing?
The first books from the authors mentioned above were only part of the equation. When you've got a mind that runs a mile per minute and you have an overactive imagination and no cable or internet because you're poor . . . masturbation only gets you so far. I was forced to provide my own entertainment and writing was what I found.
5. What made you want to start writing horror?
My unusual answer is nothing. I began writing The Zombie Days to be more of a comedy than a horror. Mind you, it's not a funny story, just funny and lovable characters. After that, I found other open calls for horror due to the connections I'd made in the world of indie authors and tried my hand in real horror. Turns out, I'm not terrible at it. The things I'm writing now are a far leap from when I wrote TZD three years ago.
6. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I'm not overly PC and I don't mind getting my (character's) hands dirty. I suppose I draw the line at overly descriptive rape. As I continue to write, there is a chance that things can go in any direction, but to glorify such a thing as sexual abuse, I simply cannot do.
7. What is your best quality as a writer?
Isn't the best quality of any writer the fact that they write? Perhaps you mean what's best about my writing itself. If that's the case, I have been told that my characters are very believable. Also, in my short stories, I'm able to tell a complete story in as little as just under 1500 words, so far. I don't often say a lot of good things about my writing. I prefer to leave that to other people.
8. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
I don't know who I would pick, but I currently have planned a project with the great David Owain Hughes. We've been friends since a, shall we say, 'Kerfuffle' took place late 2014 / early 2015. He's a great author with a talent for the filth and together, we'll write something that can make you laugh and throw up all at the same time. Or just throw up . . . a lot.
9. Which person do you most admire?
I admire anyone that's made their way up from something small. I don't ever expect to rise to the likes of Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, but those that come from humble backgrounds and build themselves an empire really just impress the hell out of me.
10. If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
No one. Instead, I would crash the Mad Hatter's tea party. They're all mad. Bonkers. Off their heads. And so am I.
When you spend that much time with, what could very well be, the most foul mouthed and sarcastic bunch of people this world has to offer, it really has a tendency to help you grow as a person. The sarcasm and swearing was a part of me well before I joined the Marines, but they helped me forge it into a weapon that comes out pretty cool in my writing.
2. Who is your favorite writer?
I can't help but wonder how many times you've given out this question and just reeeally pissed someone off. That being said, I'm going to answer a different question, because I am a cheater. Then, I won't even answer that question write. The writer I'm most grateful to have found is a draw between two. J.L. Bourne and David Wong are the reasons I began writing. If it wasn’t for them, there is likely a chance I never would have chosen to begin writing in the first place. And then I wouldn't be answering questions because no one would care what I have to say.
3. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
Oh, God no. In the first book of the POW! Series you can see that I'm too crazy to stay on one theme for too long. My writing outside of the series is quite a bit more sinister and less light hearted.
4. What made you start writing?
The first books from the authors mentioned above were only part of the equation. When you've got a mind that runs a mile per minute and you have an overactive imagination and no cable or internet because you're poor . . . masturbation only gets you so far. I was forced to provide my own entertainment and writing was what I found.
5. What made you want to start writing horror?
My unusual answer is nothing. I began writing The Zombie Days to be more of a comedy than a horror. Mind you, it's not a funny story, just funny and lovable characters. After that, I found other open calls for horror due to the connections I'd made in the world of indie authors and tried my hand in real horror. Turns out, I'm not terrible at it. The things I'm writing now are a far leap from when I wrote TZD three years ago.
6. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I'm not overly PC and I don't mind getting my (character's) hands dirty. I suppose I draw the line at overly descriptive rape. As I continue to write, there is a chance that things can go in any direction, but to glorify such a thing as sexual abuse, I simply cannot do.
7. What is your best quality as a writer?
Isn't the best quality of any writer the fact that they write? Perhaps you mean what's best about my writing itself. If that's the case, I have been told that my characters are very believable. Also, in my short stories, I'm able to tell a complete story in as little as just under 1500 words, so far. I don't often say a lot of good things about my writing. I prefer to leave that to other people.
8. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
I don't know who I would pick, but I currently have planned a project with the great David Owain Hughes. We've been friends since a, shall we say, 'Kerfuffle' took place late 2014 / early 2015. He's a great author with a talent for the filth and together, we'll write something that can make you laugh and throw up all at the same time. Or just throw up . . . a lot.
9. Which person do you most admire?
I admire anyone that's made their way up from something small. I don't ever expect to rise to the likes of Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, but those that come from humble backgrounds and build themselves an empire really just impress the hell out of me.
10. If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
No one. Instead, I would crash the Mad Hatter's tea party. They're all mad. Bonkers. Off their heads. And so am I.
