Konn Lavery's Blog: Posts from konnlavery.com, page 47
July 21, 2017
Featured Author on Shh, I am Writing Blog
Visit the Shh, I am Writing Blog to see the full interview where we chat about Seed Me.
Featured Author Konn Lavery
We cover the following questions:
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
What inspired you to write?
What inspired your novel?
What is the genre?
What draws you to this genre?
How did you develop your plot and your characters?
What inspired your protagonist?
What inspired your antagonist?
What was the hardest part to write in the book?
What was your favourite part of your book to write?
Are you a full time or a part time writer? If part time, what do you do besides write?
What are you currently reading?
Who would you say are your favourite authors?
How about your favourite books? What would be your top 5?
What are your future projects, if any?
What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you and your books?
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
The post Featured Author on Shh, I am Writing Blog appeared first on Konn Lavery.
July 19, 2017
Nancy Kilpatrick – Horror and Dark Fantasy Author
This month’s guest writes in the same genre as I do – horror! Nancy Kilpatrick is known for her work in the horror literary world. She has been a recipient of several awards, including the Arthur Ellis Award, and Fangoria has called her “Canada’s answer to Anne Rice”.
She has also edited anthologies such as nEvermore!, one of the top 10 anthologies in Canada. So let’s welcome her to the blog!
Nancy Kilpatrick, introduce yourself to us.
I’m a writer and editor of horror and dark fantasy fiction. I’ve just published my 19th novel Revenge of the Vampir King, with Macabre Ink, an imprint of Crossroad Press. This is the first novel of a new series of 6 titles in the Thrones of Blood world. It’s available in ebook and trade pb formats. I have in print 220 short stories or thereabouts. And I’ve edited 15 anthologies, the most recent being nEvermore! Tales of Murder, Mystery & the Macabre (co-edited with Caro Soles for Edge SF&F Publishing). Also, I’ve scripted a graphic novel, and a story in a graphic novel anthology. As well, a stage play, 2 radio scripts, lots of non-fiction, My work has been translated into 7 languages, yadda yadda. My website is badly out of date but people interested in what I do can friend me on Facebook. I live in Montreal with my calico cat Fedex, who appeared on my doorstep like a parcel. When I’m not writing, I like to travel and view Danse Macabre artwork, cemeteries, crypts, ossuaries, mummies, anything darkly fascinating to me. My current obsession is jeweled skeletons!
You’ve been in the horror genre for a long time, where did this interest originate from?
When I was a child I used to love horror movies and begged to stay up for the late late show on TV. I used to race home from school to catch Dark Shadows. And whenever I went to the movies, which was a lot with my grandfather, I preferred the horror films. The first book I took out of the big downtown library was The Little Witch.
Some people say that childhood trauma is the key that unlocks the fears that lead people to write horror. And while there were enough traumas in my childhood, deaths in particular, I don’t think that’s the whole answer. I see horror fiction as a no BS genre, a dark world of night where writers use the glow of a full moon to illuminate what’s really going on in the darkness, often presented in metaphor. Life is opposites and hard-to-hold-onto paradox. Without the dark side, we only have half the picture and are only living a half life and ultimately a lie. Horror is like the old and very scary fairytales that were told differently in every country. In one, the witch is killed; in another version she transforms into something even more evil; or turns into a beautiful fairy; or disappears, or murders the princess, or eats the princess and the prince who is supposed to save the princess, and so on. There are endless endings and fairytales tell us about life, that these are lots of possibilities to consider so we can prepare ourselves and adapt as things happen. Horror does the same thing in a very direct, often visceral way, and frequently using a psychological and even spiritual approach. Horror might be the badboy/badgirl of writing, but it’s crucial that the dark side be out there and represented because life is not just sunlight and pretty things. People ignore the dark side at their peril.
What was your first published literary piece?
The first was a short story written in my youth and not worth mentioning. And it took a while to get a novel published so I wrote short stories in the meantime and I honestly can’t recall the place where my second short story was published. When I finally had a novel published, there were two in the same year, this after years of no interest. One was Near Death, which is actually the second book in the Power of the Blood world. Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster) published it then planned on Child of the Night which is the first chronologically. Yes, it’s a crazy business! The other book published that year was in another series, The Darker Passions (published by the now defunct Masquerade Books in NY), which turned into 7 novels eventually, all pastiches of horror classics and extremely erotic and tongue-in-cheek fun. The first novel was Dracula (of course!), writing the scenes between the scenes, using some of the dialogue from Stoker’s novel, the characters, etc. It’s a crazy and hot and merry romp.
If you could look back at when you first started your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Trust no one! LOL There’s a lot in this biz that doesn’t work and lowering expectations is part of the evolution for most writers. Every step is a fight and the writing of a book is the easy and fun part compared to the marketing of that book and the promotion that has to follow. What I was only vaguely aware of in the past and am keenly aware of now is that a writer needs to assess who is their reader. Many writers hope to be best-selling authors, but at some point realize that won’t happen. It doesn’t mean that nothing will happen, just that in the pyramid of all things in life, there are a tiny few at the top and as you go down and down you reach the bottom where most writers languish. There used to be a mid-list category, which I was in. Publishers bought your work because they saw your potential and your books sold, so it was a form of support, hoping you’d climb higher on that pyramid, understanding that almost none would reach the top, or best-seller status. I don’t believe that happens now, at least not the way it did, and there is no more mid-list. There are the top few best-selling authors who get all the promotion, and the bottom many who get none. So, recognizing this cold reality, it’s important to know who your audience is, which won’t be ‘everybody’. Once you identify your audience, it really helps in how you put your book out into the world. For me, my audience loves horror and dark fantasy, loves darkness, loves vampires (but I write other things, that’s just an example). My readers are intelligent, smart in a lot of ways, literate, like the unusual and even the grotesque, see the humor in life, like stories that tap into undercurrents and the dark side, stories laced with romanticism and eroticism–sometimes violent–, and they do not fear reading violent scenes. My readers realize that fiction is a living metaphor, like the fact that there are manipulative characters and vicious characters and purely evil characters, and that also even the worst characters can make serious mistakes and then turn it around. I’m glad I know this now!
Out of all the stories you have written, what is your personal favourite?
Everything I write is important to me in some way and reflects where I was at when I wrote it. I couldn’t really pick a favorite.
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on volume 2 in the Thrones of Blood world: Sacrifice of the Hybrid Princess. This book will be out later in 2017. The series will be at least 6 and maybe 7 books. And while each book is a story unto itself and complete, there is an over-arching plot as well.
I’m also writing a short story for a futuristic anthology. And I have a stand-alone novel to complete.
Any final thoughts you’d like to share with us?
Just my coordinates:
Goodreads (hardly ever there but I still appreciate that it exists)
Trade pb: 978-1-941408-99-5
Hardcover it is: 978-1-941408-98-8
Thank you for joining us Nancy Kilpatrick to talk about your writing!
The post Nancy Kilpatrick – Horror and Dark Fantasy Author appeared first on Konn Lavery.
July 14, 2017
Dream Launch at Happy Harbor Comics
The time for damnation is upon us! Join us on September 13th for the launch of the new Mental Damnation: Dream novel. Mark your calendars and be prepared to enter the land of the damned.
When?
April 19th.
Signing is from 6pm to 10pm.
Where?
10729 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 3K1
Dream: Part Two of Mental Damnation Synopsis
Thought to be banished to the underworld by the humans, Krista mysteriously finds herself as the first of her kind to walk on the surface in centuries. This was caused by one of the underworld’s corrupt leaders, Danil, who uses her in an unholy ritual to set their people free. Danil’s infectious touch gives Krista the nightmarish disease known as Mental Damnation.
She becomes the key interest of two men, Paladin and Dr. Alsroc, who struggle to make sense of her sudden appearance and how it relates to Mental Damnation. Her friend back in the underworld, Darkwing, abandons his gang to begin his search for her.
Krista finds herself torn between two worlds, gaining acceptance among the humans while experiencing inner turmoil from hallucinations caused by her disease. These visions paint a hellish dream world known as Dreadweave Pass where the realm’s ruler, a corrupt god known as the Weaver, is on the hunt for her. Krista’s blood is believed to be a key component for the Weaver’s retribution against the Heavenly Kingdoms that once banished him!
Pass this announcement along and bring your friends to be damned!
The post Dream Launch at Happy Harbor Comics appeared first on Konn Lavery.
July 4, 2017
Dream Well This Fall
Following the re-release of Reality: Part 1 of Mental Damnation back in the spring, Dream is also being re-released. Originally the second Mental Damnation novel was hinted on June 13th through social media. Now the second edition’s manuscript is complete and being prepared for release.
Dream: Part Two of Mental Damnation will be out Fall 2017.
Reality’s second edition had a massive overhaul from the first edition with lore adjustments, deleted chapters and characters and re-written chapters. The feedback from readers who read both editions was insightful and encouraging.
Moving forward, the majority of the original 58,000 words within Dream are left as is. Another 40,000 has been added to elaborate on scenes, characters and subplots within the series. This totals to approximately 100,000 words for the new edition.
Some of the new additions within the novel are:
A re-written introduction.
Darkwing’s search for Krista elaborated.
Additional chapters following Dievourse.
New and updated illustrations.
A new map.
An encyclopedia detailing every character, place, and race to-date within the series.
Dream still reads independently from Reality.
If you’ve followed the original edition of the series, Reality was branded as a prequel and Dream was branded as book one. Dream can still be read in this manner if you haven’t read through Reality, however you would be missing out on some juicy fantasy lore in Reality!
Dream Cover Art
The new art follows the occult theme from the new Reality with glowing line work pressed into a dark leather cover.
The simple line art represents the concept of the novel a little more than the brain-pentagram seen in the first edition.
Dream: Part Two of Mental Damnation Synopsis
Thought to be banished to the underworld by the humans, Krista mysteriously finds herself as the first of her kind to walk on the surface in centuries. This was caused by one of the underworld’s corrupt leaders, Danil, who uses her in an unholy ritual to set their people free. Danil’s infectious touch gives Krista the nightmarish disease known as Mental Damnation.
She becomes the key interest of two men, Paladin and Dr. Alsroc, who struggle to make sense of her sudden appearance and how it relates to Mental Damnation. Her friend back in the underworld, Darkwing, abandons his gang to begin his search for her.
Krista finds herself torn between two worlds, gaining acceptance among the humans while experiencing inner turmoil from hallucinations caused by her disease. These visions paint a hellish dream world known as Dreadweave Pass where the realm’s ruler, a corrupt god known as the Weaver, is on the hunt for her. Krista’s blood is believed to be a key component for the Weaver’s retribution against the Heavenly Kingdoms that once banished him!
Release Date
Dream: Part Two of Mental Damnation will be out this fall. Official release date to be announced. Keep watch for the launch date, illustration and chapter samples in the coming months.
Spread the damnation!
The post Dream Well This Fall appeared first on Konn Lavery.
July 1, 2017
Summer Plans?
Summer is finally here! With that in mind, check out the upcoming book signings this summer. Now that the spring book tour has come and gone, all of June and July I am focusing on wrapping up the launch of the next novel for the fall. If you did not seen the social media post about it, Mental Damnation: Vol II will be out this fall. The manuscript is complete, next will be the book formatting and launch preparation.
Welcome to June’s edition of Unprocessed Thoughts: Summer Plans?
As mentioned above, a new Mental Damnation novel is in the works. There will be more to share on that in the coming weeks, stay tuned. June and July are work lock down months, meaning no signings or other events, with the exception of the Calgary Horror Con early in June. Plus, summer is often a good time to enjoy patio beers and the sun, which is where I find I get a lot of writing done. Now that the next Mental Damnation book is written and edited, I’ll be writing new work, unrelated to the dark fantasy series, that is projected for some time next year.
June was also a heavy hitter when it came to the graphic design work, and July is looking very similar. It is one of those good problems to have, it means I will be seeing income but it will also be a lot of juggling work projects and writing – basically the normal. I’ll make a note to blog more about the graphic design work and project management, it may come in handy to some of you.
Outside of that, there isn’t a lot to share. I wanted to give you a small update on what is going on, more to come in the near future. Keep watch in the coming weeks for announcements regarding the next installment of Mental Damnation: Vol II.
Enjoy the summer and Canada’s 150!
A post shared by Konn Lavery (@_konnartist) on Jun 13, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT
Beer note: Alley Kat Full Moon
Another one of my preferred beers. Alley Kat’s Full Moon is a pale ale and good any time of the year. It’s not overwhelmingly hoppy and easy to drink with only a 5% alcohol level. Their brewery is in Edmonton which makes it easy to find on tap in a lot of bars in town too.
If you enjoy pale ales then this is not going to disappoint or surprise you. 4/5.
The post Summer Plans? appeared first on Konn Lavery.
June 22, 2017
Matt Mayr –Science Fiction Author of Bad City
This month’s guest is Matt Mayr whose debut novel is Bad City published by Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy publishing. He grew up in a small mining community north of Lake Superior and currently lives in Toronto with his wife and daughter.
Matt has also done an excessive amount of traveling in India, Nepal and South America to name a few. Let’s welcome him to the blog!
Matt Mayr, introduce yourself to us.
Hi Konn, Thanks for having me! I’m a novelist, family man, and arborist with an English degree living in Toronto.
Tell us about your debut novel, Bad City?
Bad City is a Post-apocalyptic novel that takes place fifteen years in the future after a major world event, a paradigm shift. It’s definitely fits the sci-fi genre, but I think it’s more of a literary novel than anything else. Character is important to me, as is setting. The novel is set in a stripped-down, bare-bones place called South Town where a few bad men rule, and the rest are simply trying to survive. It’s the Walking Dead without zombies; it’s a western in the classic theme of good vs. evil and all the grey in between. Parts of the novel are set in the Northern Ontario bush where I grew up, and parts are set in South India.
Do you prefer writing about post-apocalyptic stories? Or is there another genre you like?
My most recently completed novel is a literary fiction that takes place in Northern Ontario. It’s a blue collar story about a logger whose life begins to unravel. Much of the story is about setting and place, how to live in and around the wilderness. City vs. rural is a common theme in the book, staying vs. going, living vs. existing. I received a $12000 Ontario Arts Council grant for that book, which allowed me to take some time off work to focus on writing. It’s currently being shopped to editors.
Is Bad City your first written novel?
Bad City is my first published novel, but not my first written novel. I think every writer writes a few things before having any real success.
Would you say your extensive traveling has sparked many writing ideas or inspiration for Bad City?
Absolutely. I’ve always said I learned more in many months of travel than I did in four years of University. Nothing opens your mind and gives you more perspective than being completely submerged in another culture for a length of time. No resort, no cruise, but real travel. Parts of Bad City take place in Kochi, a city in South India that had a lasting impression on me.
Any final thoughts you’d like to share with us?
When it comes to writing fiction, there’s nothing more important than sitting and writing, putting in the time. Everything else is secondary.Thank you for joining us Matt Mayr to talk about your writing!
You can find Matt Mayr’s on his website, Amazon, Kobo, Nook and the iBookStore:
You can follow Matt Mayr on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads at:
https://www.facebook.com/Matt-Mayr-153644124846939
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8339372.Matt_Mayr
The post Matt Mayr –Science Fiction Author of Bad City appeared first on Konn Lavery.
June 18, 2017
Mental Damnation: Reality Signing at West Edmonton Mall
I’ll now be heading over to Chapters West Edmonton Mall for a signing of Mental Damnation: Reality. Drop in for a meet & greet the author, artwork, and of course, the books themselves.
When and Where:
Saturday, August 26th from 11:00am – 4:00pm
West Edmonton Mall, 8882 – 170th
Edmonton, AB
T5T 4M2
The post Mental Damnation: Reality Signing at West Edmonton Mall appeared first on Konn Lavery.
June 17, 2017
Reality Signing at Chapters Strathcona
I’ll be heading over to Chapters Strathcona (Whyte Ave) for a signing of Mental Damnation: Reality. Drop in for a meet & greet the author, artwork, and of course, the books themselves.
When and Where:
Tuesday, August 22nd from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Chapters Strathcona
10504 82nd Avenue,
Edmonton, AlbertaT6E 2A4
The post Reality Signing at Chapters Strathcona appeared first on Konn Lavery.
June 12, 2017
Mental Damnation: Reality Signing at Chapters West Side
I’ll now be heading over to Chapters Westside for a signing of Mental Damnation: Reality. Drop in for a meet & greet the author, artwork, and of course, the books themselves.
When and Where:
Saturday, August 26th from 11:00am – 4:00pm
Chapters – Westside
9952 170th Street, Edmonton, Alberta
The post Mental Damnation: Reality Signing at Chapters West Side appeared first on Konn Lavery.
Mental Damnation: Reality Signing at Indigo Signal Hill
I’ll now be heading over to the one and only Indigo Signal Hill for a signing of Reality. Drop in for a meet & greet the author, artwork, and of course, the books themselves.
When and Where:
Sunday, August 13th from 11:00am – 4:00pm
Indigo 5570 Signal Hill Centre SW,
Calgary,
AB T3H 3P8
Mark your calendars.
The post Mental Damnation: Reality Signing at Indigo Signal Hill appeared first on Konn Lavery.
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