Carl Alves's Blog, page 46
May 29, 2014
The Strangers by Mort Castle
The Strangers is a bit of a demented novel with a killer premise. Michael Louden lives as ordinary a life as he could. He has a well-paying professional job, a wife and two kids, and is ordinary in every way – except for the fact that he is sociopathic killer lurking underneath his placid exterior. Michael is a part of a society that calls itself The Strangers. They live normal lives and kill people when the opportunity presents itself, waiting for one day when the Strangers will rise and go on a killing spree taking over society from the normals.
This is a disturbing novel in so many ways. Most of it is because Michael comes off as so ordinary and is convincing about it. It makes you wonder if your neighbor or co-worker or friend could be a cold-blooded killer just waiting for the right moment to explode. He even hates his children and wants to kill them as well. That last part was a little hard to swallow. I figure even a sociopath would care about his children. His wife begins to suspect that Michael isn’t the person who she thinks he is, but with a psychiatrist friend gets her committed. Toward the end, Michael’s cruelty really comes to the forefront. The story is well written and stylistically very enjoyable. I really enjoyed the twist at the end of the story. Even though the clues were planted earlier on, I did not see it coming. This was a strong novel that I recommend reading.
This is a disturbing novel in so many ways. Most of it is because Michael comes off as so ordinary and is convincing about it. It makes you wonder if your neighbor or co-worker or friend could be a cold-blooded killer just waiting for the right moment to explode. He even hates his children and wants to kill them as well. That last part was a little hard to swallow. I figure even a sociopath would care about his children. His wife begins to suspect that Michael isn’t the person who she thinks he is, but with a psychiatrist friend gets her committed. Toward the end, Michael’s cruelty really comes to the forefront. The story is well written and stylistically very enjoyable. I really enjoyed the twist at the end of the story. Even though the clues were planted earlier on, I did not see it coming. This was a strong novel that I recommend reading.
May 24, 2014
10 Questions with Jeremy Brown
1. Out of all of the jobs you have held, which is the most interesting?
a. My current job as a Content Manager and Lead Writer for the video game Heroes of Newerth is by far the most interesting. Every day I get to create characters, write origin stories, tweak heroic abilities, and solve problems like “Is this magical female turtle warrior sexy enough?”
I have had other interesting jobs, like pharmaceutical validation documentation professional and editor for an engraving magazine, but those were interesting in a different way, as in: “I’m interested to see how I can get through the day without jumping off the roof.”
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
a. The Master: Elmore Leonard. I had an epiphany about first-person narration and tone the first time I read Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep, but Mr. Leonard’s writing showed me it was possible to have fun with characters in any situation, and of course his dialogue is better than anything in existence. If Elmore Leonard had written the Bible, there would be no holy wars. Everyone in the world would just walking around nudging each other, saying “Now we’re getting to it, uh?”
3. Are any of the characters in your Woodshed Wallace series based on real life characters?
a. I have actors in mind when I’m writing but the characters aren’t based on any real people. I’m sure there are shared tendencies and attitudes with people in the MMA world—Banzai Eddie’s ability to rub people the wrong way and not give a shit shares some space with Dana White (who I love)—but I didn’t take any real people, slap a new name on them, and toss them into the book.
I do have some minor characters, usually fighters mentioned in passing, named after friends of mine but they share no characteristics. My friends are too sane to fight.
4. Who is your favorite writer?
a. Mr. Leonard always holds that title, but I go through phases of who I like to read based on what I’m writing and researching, or if I’m on vacation, etc. Right at the top of the list is Steven Pressfield’s fiction and non-fiction. The War of Art is an absolute must-read for anyone who wants to create something, and Gates of Fire makes me cry every time I read it.
I love Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series and have re-read the entire thing several times. John Sandford never fails to pull me in and make me laugh, and Lee Child drives me crazy with how perfect his Jack Reacher is for the genre. How I wish I’d invented him.
5. If you could watch a fight between two people who have ever lived, who would you choose?
a. This is a tough one. The key to a great fight is two people with something to prove/something on the line and the overwhelming desire to be in the cage mixing it up. So it wouldn’t be any fun watching someone who had no interest in the fight get beat on, e.g. Gandhi (see Fight Club).
Of course styles also make fights, so two people with opposing styles would be a bonus. I’d say Chuck Norris vs. Royce Gracie, both in their prime. Chuck gets to wear jeans and cowboy boots and Royce gets to wear his gi.
6. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
a. Rapid dialogue with two people on the verge of escalating the tension into physical violence, usually with one person eager to make the leap and the other trying to defuse the situation.
The quick back-and-forth keeps the scene moving and having just two people minimizes the need for tags like, “Darwin said.” If the character’s voice is there (see Mr. Leonard), the tags are redundant anyway.
I hate writing exposition and try to keep it short. With every word I’m thinking, “This is where they stop reading.”
7. What made you start writing?
a. I dabbled in it from my early teens until college, when I got my BA in English with an emphasis on creative writing, but that doesn’t answer the question what made me start writing. That was a combination of a friend of mine reaching out to me for a new series Scholastic wanted to do (which eventually became Crime Files) and the fact that not writing at all had finally become more miserable than trying to write.
I had to start writing for the Scholastic project because they paid me and I had a deadline—two very helpful motivators—and I kept writing after that because I realized how much I loved it and never wanted to go back to how it felt to not write. So I kept it rolling, and the stories I needed to share continued to show up. So far they’re still coming, and I think as long as I respect the Muse by putting my ass in the chair and listening they always will.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
a. Violence toward animals is repulsive to me, and I think it’s a lazy plot device. A few of my stories have required a hint at it, and I always look for a way around it, but I believe the story already exists and it’s my job to write it down. To shy away from what the story requires cheats the story and the reader.
I also don’t approve of sexual violence toward women as entertainment. It is unnecessary and lazy.
9. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
a. I would say Mr. Leonard, but he was so talented it might drive me insane to collaborate with him. His process was also very different than mine, and I’m not sure I could ask him to slow down and explain why he put a scene here, a line of dialogue there. It would be like playing with Michael Jordan, with him going, “Why don’t you just put it in the hoop every time?”
Working with Lee Child or James Patterson would be great. They have a masterful understanding of hooks, inciting incidents, and plot structure, and getting my work in front of their readers would be huge. Lee and JP read this blog, right? Call me guys.
10. Who would win in a fight, Bruce Lee or UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones?
a. I, Jeremy Brown, am fully aware the statement I am about to make will offend the martial arts gods and earn me a one-inch punch upon my arrival in the next realm.
I think Jonny Bones would destroy Bruce Lee. He’s too big, too strong, too long, and too well-rounded for Lee. Lee would have to dart in and out to land any strikes, and eventually Jones would grab him, throw him into the rafters and elbow/choke/smash him until the ref stopped the fight.
Then he would bow to Lee and take him out for ice cream, because that’s what martial artists do.
a. My current job as a Content Manager and Lead Writer for the video game Heroes of Newerth is by far the most interesting. Every day I get to create characters, write origin stories, tweak heroic abilities, and solve problems like “Is this magical female turtle warrior sexy enough?”
I have had other interesting jobs, like pharmaceutical validation documentation professional and editor for an engraving magazine, but those were interesting in a different way, as in: “I’m interested to see how I can get through the day without jumping off the roof.”
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
a. The Master: Elmore Leonard. I had an epiphany about first-person narration and tone the first time I read Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep, but Mr. Leonard’s writing showed me it was possible to have fun with characters in any situation, and of course his dialogue is better than anything in existence. If Elmore Leonard had written the Bible, there would be no holy wars. Everyone in the world would just walking around nudging each other, saying “Now we’re getting to it, uh?”
3. Are any of the characters in your Woodshed Wallace series based on real life characters?
a. I have actors in mind when I’m writing but the characters aren’t based on any real people. I’m sure there are shared tendencies and attitudes with people in the MMA world—Banzai Eddie’s ability to rub people the wrong way and not give a shit shares some space with Dana White (who I love)—but I didn’t take any real people, slap a new name on them, and toss them into the book.
I do have some minor characters, usually fighters mentioned in passing, named after friends of mine but they share no characteristics. My friends are too sane to fight.
4. Who is your favorite writer?
a. Mr. Leonard always holds that title, but I go through phases of who I like to read based on what I’m writing and researching, or if I’m on vacation, etc. Right at the top of the list is Steven Pressfield’s fiction and non-fiction. The War of Art is an absolute must-read for anyone who wants to create something, and Gates of Fire makes me cry every time I read it.
I love Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series and have re-read the entire thing several times. John Sandford never fails to pull me in and make me laugh, and Lee Child drives me crazy with how perfect his Jack Reacher is for the genre. How I wish I’d invented him.
5. If you could watch a fight between two people who have ever lived, who would you choose?
a. This is a tough one. The key to a great fight is two people with something to prove/something on the line and the overwhelming desire to be in the cage mixing it up. So it wouldn’t be any fun watching someone who had no interest in the fight get beat on, e.g. Gandhi (see Fight Club).
Of course styles also make fights, so two people with opposing styles would be a bonus. I’d say Chuck Norris vs. Royce Gracie, both in their prime. Chuck gets to wear jeans and cowboy boots and Royce gets to wear his gi.
6. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
a. Rapid dialogue with two people on the verge of escalating the tension into physical violence, usually with one person eager to make the leap and the other trying to defuse the situation.
The quick back-and-forth keeps the scene moving and having just two people minimizes the need for tags like, “Darwin said.” If the character’s voice is there (see Mr. Leonard), the tags are redundant anyway.
I hate writing exposition and try to keep it short. With every word I’m thinking, “This is where they stop reading.”
7. What made you start writing?
a. I dabbled in it from my early teens until college, when I got my BA in English with an emphasis on creative writing, but that doesn’t answer the question what made me start writing. That was a combination of a friend of mine reaching out to me for a new series Scholastic wanted to do (which eventually became Crime Files) and the fact that not writing at all had finally become more miserable than trying to write.
I had to start writing for the Scholastic project because they paid me and I had a deadline—two very helpful motivators—and I kept writing after that because I realized how much I loved it and never wanted to go back to how it felt to not write. So I kept it rolling, and the stories I needed to share continued to show up. So far they’re still coming, and I think as long as I respect the Muse by putting my ass in the chair and listening they always will.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
a. Violence toward animals is repulsive to me, and I think it’s a lazy plot device. A few of my stories have required a hint at it, and I always look for a way around it, but I believe the story already exists and it’s my job to write it down. To shy away from what the story requires cheats the story and the reader.
I also don’t approve of sexual violence toward women as entertainment. It is unnecessary and lazy.
9. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
a. I would say Mr. Leonard, but he was so talented it might drive me insane to collaborate with him. His process was also very different than mine, and I’m not sure I could ask him to slow down and explain why he put a scene here, a line of dialogue there. It would be like playing with Michael Jordan, with him going, “Why don’t you just put it in the hoop every time?”
Working with Lee Child or James Patterson would be great. They have a masterful understanding of hooks, inciting incidents, and plot structure, and getting my work in front of their readers would be huge. Lee and JP read this blog, right? Call me guys.
10. Who would win in a fight, Bruce Lee or UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones?
a. I, Jeremy Brown, am fully aware the statement I am about to make will offend the martial arts gods and earn me a one-inch punch upon my arrival in the next realm.
I think Jonny Bones would destroy Bruce Lee. He’s too big, too strong, too long, and too well-rounded for Lee. Lee would have to dart in and out to land any strikes, and eventually Jones would grab him, throw him into the rafters and elbow/choke/smash him until the ref stopped the fight.
Then he would bow to Lee and take him out for ice cream, because that’s what martial artists do.
May 22, 2014
Suckerpunch by Jeremy Brown
In this novel, Aaron “Woodshed” Wallace is a professional mixed martial arts fighter with a very shaky past. He’s rough around the edges and is the kind of person who only knows fighting, so he might as well get paid for it. He’s a club fighter operating in regional shows when promoter Eddie Banzai from the world’s largest fighting organization (this novel’s version of the UFC), offers him to fight one of their most prominent fighters on two days notice, who Woody incidentally had previously beaten, in the co-main-event of a Pay Per View card. After he signs a contract all hell breaks loose. He is out to dinner with Marcela, the cousin of his Brazilian training partners when an old friend whom Woody owes a big favor asks to back him up to a bookie he owes money to. Woody intervenes when the bookie’s henchman starts beating up his friend. This later leads to Marcela being kidnapped. Woody is told that he has to win the fight or bad things will happen to Marcela. The story then evolves into rival gangs, illegal pit fighting, and the Yakuza.
I thoroughly enjoyed the training and the fight scenes. The author either has a background in mixed martial arts or has done a lot of research because this aspect of the book is very well done. The book is extremely fast paced and was a quick read, things that I appreciate in a novel. The main characters, such as Woody, his training partners, and Marcela are well done. The villain characters in this story, such as Eddie Banzai, Kendall, and Chops weren’t quite as well developed. My biggest issue centers about the believability aspects on certain plot points. The quandary that Woody gets himself could have been explained better and was hard to buy into. The way he gets himself out of it is also a stretch. I found the climax difficult to follow in spots and could have gone through a bit of rewrite for clarity. These things don’t take away from the entertainment value of the book, but certainly could have enhanced the reading experience. Overall, I find this to be an enjoyable read and would recommend it.
I thoroughly enjoyed the training and the fight scenes. The author either has a background in mixed martial arts or has done a lot of research because this aspect of the book is very well done. The book is extremely fast paced and was a quick read, things that I appreciate in a novel. The main characters, such as Woody, his training partners, and Marcela are well done. The villain characters in this story, such as Eddie Banzai, Kendall, and Chops weren’t quite as well developed. My biggest issue centers about the believability aspects on certain plot points. The quandary that Woody gets himself could have been explained better and was hard to buy into. The way he gets himself out of it is also a stretch. I found the climax difficult to follow in spots and could have gone through a bit of rewrite for clarity. These things don’t take away from the entertainment value of the book, but certainly could have enhanced the reading experience. Overall, I find this to be an enjoyable read and would recommend it.
May 20, 2014
World Horror Convention: Saturday Recap
After a night of debauchery, I woke up bright and early on Saturday to attend the pre-pitch panel where editors were telling prospective writers about what they were looking for. I had a chance to meet with a few editors to pitch my latest novel to them. Special thanks goes out to RJ Cavender, Brian Mathews, and Rena Mason for assisting in the process. They helped make the event run smoothly.
After the pitch session, I was running out of fuel after staying up late and getting little sleep, and had to reload with some food. Unfortunately, it always seems to rain in Portland and I had to make a run for a nearby restaurant. Afterwards I went to a panel on podcasting and the art of Shameless Self Promotion where I got some valuable insight.
After milling about and talking to some good folk I met at the con, I got ready for the Stoker banquet where I had the pleasure of sitting with Brian Mathews, Ed Kurtz, John Little, and their significant others. Patrick Frievald and I were the only non-couples at the table so I kept my distance from Patrick so that people wouldn’t get the wrong idea.
Jeff Strand slayed as usual. The man is comic gold. Stephen King took the big prize for best novel, but I was thrilled for Eric J. Guignard, Rain Graves, and Rena Mason for winning their Stokers. Stephen Jones took home a lifetime achievement award, as did R.L. Stine, who accepted via a recorded video feed.
After stopping by the Samhain afterparty, I enjoyed my first ever Gross Out Contest. The way it works is that ten contestants come up with a five minute disgusting and repulsive story. After the first three minutes, the audience gives them the thumbs up to continue or the thumbs down to stop. They are then judged by a panel of luminaries including Brian Keene, John Skipp, and Daniel Knauf. It was a cool experience that I won’t soon forget.
I went back to the Samhain party and said my goodbyes to the people at the Con. It was a fun time and I look forward to next year’s convention in Atlanta.
After the pitch session, I was running out of fuel after staying up late and getting little sleep, and had to reload with some food. Unfortunately, it always seems to rain in Portland and I had to make a run for a nearby restaurant. Afterwards I went to a panel on podcasting and the art of Shameless Self Promotion where I got some valuable insight.
After milling about and talking to some good folk I met at the con, I got ready for the Stoker banquet where I had the pleasure of sitting with Brian Mathews, Ed Kurtz, John Little, and their significant others. Patrick Frievald and I were the only non-couples at the table so I kept my distance from Patrick so that people wouldn’t get the wrong idea.
Jeff Strand slayed as usual. The man is comic gold. Stephen King took the big prize for best novel, but I was thrilled for Eric J. Guignard, Rain Graves, and Rena Mason for winning their Stokers. Stephen Jones took home a lifetime achievement award, as did R.L. Stine, who accepted via a recorded video feed.
After stopping by the Samhain afterparty, I enjoyed my first ever Gross Out Contest. The way it works is that ten contestants come up with a five minute disgusting and repulsive story. After the first three minutes, the audience gives them the thumbs up to continue or the thumbs down to stop. They are then judged by a panel of luminaries including Brian Keene, John Skipp, and Daniel Knauf. It was a cool experience that I won’t soon forget.
I went back to the Samhain party and said my goodbyes to the people at the Con. It was a fun time and I look forward to next year’s convention in Atlanta.
May 19, 2014
World Horror Convention: Friday Recap
After arriving at the World Horror Convention on Thursday and doing little other than reconnecting with some friendly horror folks, the Convention started for me in earnest on Friday. I met up early with Brian Mathews and Benjamin Kane Ethridge, where I helped Brian Mathews retool his book signing catch phrase.
My first official event was a writer workshop along with Rain Graves with new writer Vaughan Drake. This is the first time the World Horror Con was doing this type of workshop as well as the first time I’ve met Rain. We were on the same page as far as our comments to Vaughan’s novel excerpt, and he was very receptive to our comments.
After that I went to a panel on Social Media Marketing. A definite highlight so far was a panel on Hardcore F***ing Horror. The crowd was lively and the guests shared great stories. It was cool to hear from Horror luminaries like Wrath James White and Jack Ketchum as well as Aaron Sterns, the writer of the Wolf Creek movies. The panelists were humorous and surprisingly poignant at times. I also got a chance to talk to S.G. Browne, one of my favorite authors.
Later on that evening I attended the mass author signing. I enjoyed meeting Brian Keene for the first time, who happens to be a neighbor of mine in Central Pennsylvania. It was fun to get to connect with him and get signed books from some authors that I enjoy reading. The highlight for me was entertaining Chris Payne’s one-year-old son who was a good sport for the event.
Afterwards was a number of after parties whose particulars will remain confidential. Stay tuned for my Saturday recap.
My first official event was a writer workshop along with Rain Graves with new writer Vaughan Drake. This is the first time the World Horror Con was doing this type of workshop as well as the first time I’ve met Rain. We were on the same page as far as our comments to Vaughan’s novel excerpt, and he was very receptive to our comments.
After that I went to a panel on Social Media Marketing. A definite highlight so far was a panel on Hardcore F***ing Horror. The crowd was lively and the guests shared great stories. It was cool to hear from Horror luminaries like Wrath James White and Jack Ketchum as well as Aaron Sterns, the writer of the Wolf Creek movies. The panelists were humorous and surprisingly poignant at times. I also got a chance to talk to S.G. Browne, one of my favorite authors.
Later on that evening I attended the mass author signing. I enjoyed meeting Brian Keene for the first time, who happens to be a neighbor of mine in Central Pennsylvania. It was fun to get to connect with him and get signed books from some authors that I enjoy reading. The highlight for me was entertaining Chris Payne’s one-year-old son who was a good sport for the event.
Afterwards was a number of after parties whose particulars will remain confidential. Stay tuned for my Saturday recap.
April 24, 2014
The Hittite by Ben Bova
The Hittite is a retelling of the story of the Trojan War from the prospective of Lukka, an outsider, who comes to Troy with his band of soldiers after his homeland has been ravaged, his father killed, and his wife and children enslaved. He fits the mold of someone who will do whatever is necessary to save his family. He enlists his men on the side of the Spartans, even though he seems to be more sympathetic to the plight of Helen and Troy. Once there, he is taken in by Odysseus, who sees a strong ally in Lukka. He meets Helen when he is sent by Odysseus to bargain with the Trojans, and is struck by her. Despite that he will do whatever is needed to bring down Troy and in turn doom Helen to her retched husband Menaleus.
I enjoyed the retelling of this tale. Even though I was familiar with the story, it was a fresh prospective. Lukka is a fascinating and well written character. I also liked Bova’s take on existing characters, especially Helen, Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus. There was an excellent adventure component in this novel. Bova is a competent and professional writer. The pace was very swift. I don’t really have much negative to write about this other than since the story was familiar there was no real surprise to it, which removed some of the tension in the novel, since ultimately I knew how things turned out. All the same, if you like adventure, historical fiction, or epic fantasy, then this novel should appeal to you.
I enjoyed the retelling of this tale. Even though I was familiar with the story, it was a fresh prospective. Lukka is a fascinating and well written character. I also liked Bova’s take on existing characters, especially Helen, Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus. There was an excellent adventure component in this novel. Bova is a competent and professional writer. The pace was very swift. I don’t really have much negative to write about this other than since the story was familiar there was no real surprise to it, which removed some of the tension in the novel, since ultimately I knew how things turned out. All the same, if you like adventure, historical fiction, or epic fantasy, then this novel should appeal to you.
April 21, 2014
Interview at Creatively Green
Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I am a writer of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. My first novel, Two For Eternity, is an historical fantasy novel that takes place of 12,000 years. I followed that up with Blood Street, a paranormal thriller featuring vampires feuding with mobsters. My latest novel, Reconquest: Mother Earth, is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller. I basically find concepts that really interest and excite me and I turn it into a story. I see myself doing more of that in the future, regardless of genre.
For my day job, I’m a Quality Engineer at a medical device company. It’s probably not as exciting as it sounds, but my role is basically to make sure the product line that I am working with, which is a surgical lighting product, meets all the demands that the FDA requires.
Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
My novel Reconquest: Mother Earth is a post-apocalyptic thriller. The story’s protagonist, Navy SEAL, Mitch Grace was among the first humans to see the aliens when they invaded the planet. On the day of the invasion, he was injured and went into a coma. He wakes up five years later in the care of an alien physician that they now control the planet and use humans as slaves. Mitch rehabilitates himself physically and mentally and creates a resistance movement to take the planet back from the aliens. He is later captured and enslaved, becoming an intergalactic gladiator fighting as the sole representative of the planet. He has to win back his freedom and reconquer the planet from the aliens. I like to describe it as a combination of Independence Day, Red Dawn, and Gladiator.
Are you a parent?
I have two boys, one four years old and another nine, and they certainly keep my busy.
If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?
I work full time, have two small children and a wife who has a very demanding job. Of course it’s difficult, but all good things in life have to come with a struggle. I basically write whenever I can, even if it’s just a few minutes here and there.
Is there a theme or message in your work that you would like readers to connect to?
I try not to overtly put messages in my novels, however, Reconquest: Mother Earth is mostly about the human will to survive and adapt, to find ways of fixing very complicated problems. This perseverence and unwillingness to accept defeat is embodied in my main character Mitch Grace, a former Navy SEAL who is determined to take back the planet Earth from the alien conquerors.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I can speak two languages (English and Portuguese).
When you’re not writing what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?
I lift weights and work out on a daily basis, something I always strive to make time for. I’m also a big sports enthusiast. My favorite sports are football and mixed martial arts.
Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?
At some point I might dabble with writing a mystery.
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
In my novel Reconquest: Mother Earth my favourite character is Mitch Grace, the lead protagonist in the story. He’s a Navy SEAL who is knocked into a coma on the first day of the alien invasion and wakes up five years later to find that aliens have taken control of the planet, and is determined to take the planet back from the aliens. I’ve always had a deep admiration for members of our military, specifically the Navy SEALs. They are almost superhuman to me. What they are capable of doing is amazing. For me Mitch Grace is the embodiment of what is good about the United States. He is intelligent, fit, strong in both mind and body, and has an uncompromising will to survive and not accept defeat.
What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?
Just recently I finished a manuscript am I currently titling Beyond Ragnarok, which starts off with the Battle of Ragnarok taken from Norse mythology. In my story Loki swerves the Asgardian gods by not appearing at Ragnarok, and instead spending the last decade on Midgard (Earth) creating a virus designed to wipe out most of the population so that he can wrest power from the world’s leaders. It is up to two of the survivors of the Battle of Ragnarok to stop him.
What book are you reading now?
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
What is in your to read pile?
Next up on my list is Bloodstone by Nate Kenyon and Seven Brains by Michael Louis Calvillo.
I am a writer of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. My first novel, Two For Eternity, is an historical fantasy novel that takes place of 12,000 years. I followed that up with Blood Street, a paranormal thriller featuring vampires feuding with mobsters. My latest novel, Reconquest: Mother Earth, is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller. I basically find concepts that really interest and excite me and I turn it into a story. I see myself doing more of that in the future, regardless of genre.
For my day job, I’m a Quality Engineer at a medical device company. It’s probably not as exciting as it sounds, but my role is basically to make sure the product line that I am working with, which is a surgical lighting product, meets all the demands that the FDA requires.
Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
My novel Reconquest: Mother Earth is a post-apocalyptic thriller. The story’s protagonist, Navy SEAL, Mitch Grace was among the first humans to see the aliens when they invaded the planet. On the day of the invasion, he was injured and went into a coma. He wakes up five years later in the care of an alien physician that they now control the planet and use humans as slaves. Mitch rehabilitates himself physically and mentally and creates a resistance movement to take the planet back from the aliens. He is later captured and enslaved, becoming an intergalactic gladiator fighting as the sole representative of the planet. He has to win back his freedom and reconquer the planet from the aliens. I like to describe it as a combination of Independence Day, Red Dawn, and Gladiator.
Are you a parent?
I have two boys, one four years old and another nine, and they certainly keep my busy.
If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?
I work full time, have two small children and a wife who has a very demanding job. Of course it’s difficult, but all good things in life have to come with a struggle. I basically write whenever I can, even if it’s just a few minutes here and there.
Is there a theme or message in your work that you would like readers to connect to?
I try not to overtly put messages in my novels, however, Reconquest: Mother Earth is mostly about the human will to survive and adapt, to find ways of fixing very complicated problems. This perseverence and unwillingness to accept defeat is embodied in my main character Mitch Grace, a former Navy SEAL who is determined to take back the planet Earth from the alien conquerors.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I can speak two languages (English and Portuguese).
When you’re not writing what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?
I lift weights and work out on a daily basis, something I always strive to make time for. I’m also a big sports enthusiast. My favorite sports are football and mixed martial arts.
Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?
At some point I might dabble with writing a mystery.
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
In my novel Reconquest: Mother Earth my favourite character is Mitch Grace, the lead protagonist in the story. He’s a Navy SEAL who is knocked into a coma on the first day of the alien invasion and wakes up five years later to find that aliens have taken control of the planet, and is determined to take the planet back from the aliens. I’ve always had a deep admiration for members of our military, specifically the Navy SEALs. They are almost superhuman to me. What they are capable of doing is amazing. For me Mitch Grace is the embodiment of what is good about the United States. He is intelligent, fit, strong in both mind and body, and has an uncompromising will to survive and not accept defeat.
What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?
Just recently I finished a manuscript am I currently titling Beyond Ragnarok, which starts off with the Battle of Ragnarok taken from Norse mythology. In my story Loki swerves the Asgardian gods by not appearing at Ragnarok, and instead spending the last decade on Midgard (Earth) creating a virus designed to wipe out most of the population so that he can wrest power from the world’s leaders. It is up to two of the survivors of the Battle of Ragnarok to stop him.
What book are you reading now?
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
What is in your to read pile?
Next up on my list is Bloodstone by Nate Kenyon and Seven Brains by Michael Louis Calvillo.
April 19, 2014
10 Questions with Jeff Strand
What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
After writing out a total wuss-out response where I claimed that this question was impossible to answer, I've given it much more thought and decided that the greatest moment was probably when Paul Miller at Earthling Publications called to tell me he wanted to publish my novel Pressure. I'd published several books prior to that, and this was not a big mass-market deal, but it was my first sale to a publisher that other horror authors knew and respected. My whole career has been a long series of baby steps, but this was probably the closest thing to a game-changer.
What was it like growing up in Alaska, and do you draw from those experiences in your writing?
It was very cold in the winter, it never got dark during the summer, and our NBC and ABC stations were combined on the same channel. Madness!!!
My only book that specifically draws from my Alaskan experience is Faint of Heart, which is set in an approximation of the area where I lived. I took some creative license with the geography and with the presence of psycho killers. These days, I don't do cold weather, and I live happily in Florida.
Who is your favorite writer?
He's a relatively new discovery for me, but after reading five of his six books, I can officially call Jonathan Tropper my favorite writer. His books are laugh-out-loud funny, touching, surprising, and filled with brilliant character touches. When I read his stuff, I want to bury my own books in in the backyard in shame.
If you could be friends with any type of monster, what kind would you choose and why?
I'd be friends with Owen, the sort-of Bigfoot creature from Dweller. That way, when our demented friendship was eventually exposed, people would scream, "Oh my God! The book was REAL!!!" and sales would skyrocket. I might have to deal with an unruly mob showing up at my front door with torches and pitchforks, but it would be a small price to pay for literary immortality.
What advice do you have for beginning writers?
Don't be in a hurry to get published. Today, with self-publishing a viable option for everyone, you can have a book up for sale hours after it's written. This is a great thing...but, yet, nothing horrifies me more than the thought of my early novels (which, at the time, I thought were mind-bogglingly awesome) having actually been published and made available for purchase by innocent readers. It's okay to have a couple/few practice novels before your first novel comes out. Learn your craft before you stampede to put your book up on Amazon.
What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
Funny dialogue-heavy scenes. I love having written big elaborate action sequences, but dialogue comes the most naturally to me and it's the most fun.
As horror’s resident funny man, have you ever tried stand-up comedy, and if not would you ever give it a try?
The extent of my stand-up comedy experience is emceeing an awards banquet once a year. Honestly, I think I'd be pretty good as a stand-up comic as far as material and delivery, but the idea of trying to do jokes in front of drunken hecklers scares the crap out of me. As a comedian, you've got to be good at crowd management, and that is not one of my skills. I love watching live comedy, but I usually watch it thinking, "Boy, I'm glad I'm not the poor sucker up there!"
Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
Nothing is off limits, but I'm also not going to go, "Wooooo! Look at me! I'm pushing people's buttons!" I love to write stories that are dark and disturbing, but the intent is never to offend. I've written about a factory that exists only to chop babies in half, and I've written a dark comedy about a rape survivor, and I've put young children in jeopardy plenty of times, but the invisible line is "Am I trying to entertain the reader and tell a great story, or am I just trying to shock them or piss them off?" I've never written about child molestation. I doubt that I ever will. But if I had a story that fell on the right side of the invisible line, well....
What is your best quality as a writer?
I never lace my books with deadly poison.
If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
Stephen Colbert, Jeff Probst, Tina Fey, Chris Hardwick, and a sewn-together version of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett from Rifftrax. I know that the question allowed for dead or fictional people, but I'd really want Stephen Colbert at my dinner party, and I'm concerned that having dead or fictional people there would freak him out a little and make things awkward for everybody. I want this party to be FUN! And, yes, I would squander this amazing opportunity just so I could sit next to Jeff Probst and say things like, "So, on Survivor, how much leeway do you have in deciding when to mix up the tribes? Does it have to be planned out before you start taping the season?" It's my party, and I don't have to invite William Shakespeare if I don't want to.
After writing out a total wuss-out response where I claimed that this question was impossible to answer, I've given it much more thought and decided that the greatest moment was probably when Paul Miller at Earthling Publications called to tell me he wanted to publish my novel Pressure. I'd published several books prior to that, and this was not a big mass-market deal, but it was my first sale to a publisher that other horror authors knew and respected. My whole career has been a long series of baby steps, but this was probably the closest thing to a game-changer.
What was it like growing up in Alaska, and do you draw from those experiences in your writing?
It was very cold in the winter, it never got dark during the summer, and our NBC and ABC stations were combined on the same channel. Madness!!!
My only book that specifically draws from my Alaskan experience is Faint of Heart, which is set in an approximation of the area where I lived. I took some creative license with the geography and with the presence of psycho killers. These days, I don't do cold weather, and I live happily in Florida.
Who is your favorite writer?
He's a relatively new discovery for me, but after reading five of his six books, I can officially call Jonathan Tropper my favorite writer. His books are laugh-out-loud funny, touching, surprising, and filled with brilliant character touches. When I read his stuff, I want to bury my own books in in the backyard in shame.
If you could be friends with any type of monster, what kind would you choose and why?
I'd be friends with Owen, the sort-of Bigfoot creature from Dweller. That way, when our demented friendship was eventually exposed, people would scream, "Oh my God! The book was REAL!!!" and sales would skyrocket. I might have to deal with an unruly mob showing up at my front door with torches and pitchforks, but it would be a small price to pay for literary immortality.
What advice do you have for beginning writers?
Don't be in a hurry to get published. Today, with self-publishing a viable option for everyone, you can have a book up for sale hours after it's written. This is a great thing...but, yet, nothing horrifies me more than the thought of my early novels (which, at the time, I thought were mind-bogglingly awesome) having actually been published and made available for purchase by innocent readers. It's okay to have a couple/few practice novels before your first novel comes out. Learn your craft before you stampede to put your book up on Amazon.
What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
Funny dialogue-heavy scenes. I love having written big elaborate action sequences, but dialogue comes the most naturally to me and it's the most fun.
As horror’s resident funny man, have you ever tried stand-up comedy, and if not would you ever give it a try?
The extent of my stand-up comedy experience is emceeing an awards banquet once a year. Honestly, I think I'd be pretty good as a stand-up comic as far as material and delivery, but the idea of trying to do jokes in front of drunken hecklers scares the crap out of me. As a comedian, you've got to be good at crowd management, and that is not one of my skills. I love watching live comedy, but I usually watch it thinking, "Boy, I'm glad I'm not the poor sucker up there!"
Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
Nothing is off limits, but I'm also not going to go, "Wooooo! Look at me! I'm pushing people's buttons!" I love to write stories that are dark and disturbing, but the intent is never to offend. I've written about a factory that exists only to chop babies in half, and I've written a dark comedy about a rape survivor, and I've put young children in jeopardy plenty of times, but the invisible line is "Am I trying to entertain the reader and tell a great story, or am I just trying to shock them or piss them off?" I've never written about child molestation. I doubt that I ever will. But if I had a story that fell on the right side of the invisible line, well....
What is your best quality as a writer?
I never lace my books with deadly poison.
If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
Stephen Colbert, Jeff Probst, Tina Fey, Chris Hardwick, and a sewn-together version of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett from Rifftrax. I know that the question allowed for dead or fictional people, but I'd really want Stephen Colbert at my dinner party, and I'm concerned that having dead or fictional people there would freak him out a little and make things awkward for everybody. I want this party to be FUN! And, yes, I would squander this amazing opportunity just so I could sit next to Jeff Probst and say things like, "So, on Survivor, how much leeway do you have in deciding when to mix up the tribes? Does it have to be planned out before you start taping the season?" It's my party, and I don't have to invite William Shakespeare if I don't want to.
April 14, 2014
Dweller by Jeff Strand
Dweller is a thoroughly enjoyable book about a boy and his monster. The tale starts with Toby seeing a monster in the woods. He runs away terrified. The next time they meet, Toby is a nerdy teen who is bullied at school and doesn’t have any friends. He runs across the monster again, but this time he comes back with the intent of discovering this monster. Except that he and the monster, who he names Owen, become friends in an odd sort of way. Toby brings Owen food, and Owen helps him out of a jam by eating the remains of the bullies after Toby kills them. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Their relationship evolves over the years as Toby graduates high school and grows into an adult. Toby has very few meaningful relationships except for Owen, and those relationships tended to end very badly. The novel chronicles their relationship and all of its twists and turns until Toby is an old man.
I really liked the light tone that Strand uses in his narrative. Even when deep, dark things were happening, he still had a way of keeping it light. This book is very fast paced, the kind that you can devour in a few sittings. Probably the best part of the novel is the characterization. Both Toby and Owen are well fleshed out character. Reading about their relationship was enjoyable. My only criticisms were that Strand employed scenes that often consisted of a few sentences with little context that made it hard to follow and jumped a bit too much. I would have also liked a little more of a happy ending even though I knew all along that a relationship with a monster couldn’t possibly end well. All together, a fun novel that I highly recommend.
I really liked the light tone that Strand uses in his narrative. Even when deep, dark things were happening, he still had a way of keeping it light. This book is very fast paced, the kind that you can devour in a few sittings. Probably the best part of the novel is the characterization. Both Toby and Owen are well fleshed out character. Reading about their relationship was enjoyable. My only criticisms were that Strand employed scenes that often consisted of a few sentences with little context that made it hard to follow and jumped a bit too much. I would have also liked a little more of a happy ending even though I knew all along that a relationship with a monster couldn’t possibly end well. All together, a fun novel that I highly recommend.
April 12, 2014
Monster Mash Tournament Final: Cthulhu vs. Basilisk
Cthulhu
Although Cthulhu is the most popular of Lovecraft’s characters, he has created a number of other characters in the Cthulhu mythos. Lovecraft's central deities are Azathoth and Yog-Sothoth, both representing opposing cosmic principles. Azathoth lives in the center of the universe, whereas Yog-Sothoth, exists in all places and all times. Shub-Niggurath is next in the pantheon, and is sort of a pagan fertility god. There are numerous Other Gods in Azathoth’s court. They are mysterious beings that dance mindlessly around Azathoth's throne in cadence to the piping of a demonic flute. Nyarlathotep, who is their avatar and messenger, is the only being that can interact intelligently with human beings and often takes human form.
Basilisk
The Basilisk was called the king of the serpents. They are endowed with a crest, or comb upon their head. They are supposed to be produced from the egg of a cock hatched under toads or serpents. One species of Basilisk scorched everything near them, and a second kind caused instant horror immediately followed by death on whoever they looked.
This is the final of the 2014 Monster Mash tournament, and it is clearly a Clash of Titans in this mythical encounter. Although, the Basilisk certainly doesn’t have the massive size and stature that Cthulhu has, it is equally as deadly. Can its ability to kill on sight apply to a powerful extraterrestrial god? Will its venom have an effect on this underwater behemoth? My guess is that the Basilisk would meet its match in Cthulhu. Plus Cthulhu just looks so cool. My four year old son even has a Cthulhu doll. Therefore, the winner of the 2014 Monster Mash tournament is HP Lovecraft’s legendary creation.
Although Cthulhu is the most popular of Lovecraft’s characters, he has created a number of other characters in the Cthulhu mythos. Lovecraft's central deities are Azathoth and Yog-Sothoth, both representing opposing cosmic principles. Azathoth lives in the center of the universe, whereas Yog-Sothoth, exists in all places and all times. Shub-Niggurath is next in the pantheon, and is sort of a pagan fertility god. There are numerous Other Gods in Azathoth’s court. They are mysterious beings that dance mindlessly around Azathoth's throne in cadence to the piping of a demonic flute. Nyarlathotep, who is their avatar and messenger, is the only being that can interact intelligently with human beings and often takes human form.
Basilisk
The Basilisk was called the king of the serpents. They are endowed with a crest, or comb upon their head. They are supposed to be produced from the egg of a cock hatched under toads or serpents. One species of Basilisk scorched everything near them, and a second kind caused instant horror immediately followed by death on whoever they looked.
This is the final of the 2014 Monster Mash tournament, and it is clearly a Clash of Titans in this mythical encounter. Although, the Basilisk certainly doesn’t have the massive size and stature that Cthulhu has, it is equally as deadly. Can its ability to kill on sight apply to a powerful extraterrestrial god? Will its venom have an effect on this underwater behemoth? My guess is that the Basilisk would meet its match in Cthulhu. Plus Cthulhu just looks so cool. My four year old son even has a Cthulhu doll. Therefore, the winner of the 2014 Monster Mash tournament is HP Lovecraft’s legendary creation.
