C.R. Langille's Blog, page 7

Author Interview: Lucy A. Snyder

What kind of books/stories do you write?

I mostly write in different sub-genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I occasionally do media tie-in work and have written stories for a Doctor Who anthology, a Shadowrun gaming anthology, an X-Files anthology, and a Hellraiser anthology. I’ve written some erotica, but I haven’t written any romance (some readers picked up my urban fantasy novels expecting them to be romances and were not prepared for all the demonic mayhem). My science fiction is also often fairly dark, and my horror is darker still.

I’ve written a fair bit of zombie fiction and other post-apocalyptic fiction; I also write Lovecraftian fiction, steampunk, arcanepunk, biopunk, weird westerns, alternate history, quiet horror, social science fiction … if I enjoy it as a reader, chances are I’ve written it.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I wanted to become a writer pretty much from the moment I became an avid reader.

The United States Space & Rocket Center at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama was a huge influence on me in terms of me becoming a speculative fiction reader. My father’s aunt and mother lived near it. Whenever we went to visit, they’d take me to the museum, and the notion of space travel caught my fancy and kept it. Once I was old enough to read anything of substance, I grabbed pretty much anything with a space ship or a fantastic creature on the cover that appeared on the school library’s shelves.

It was Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time that simultaneously hooked me as a lifelong science fiction/fantasy reader and fixed me on the idea of writing fantasy and SF instead of mainstream work. I remember that the book spoke to me in a way that nothing I’d read until then really had, and I had that shivery sense of wonder you get with really good speculative fiction. And I thought to myself that if I could write something that made another person feel the way I was feeling, then that would have to be the best job in the world.

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?

At this point, I know a whole lot of other authors I've met at conventions and through social media. The person who helped me the most when I was starting out was Gary A. Braunbeck -- he helped me understand horror in a way that I hadn't before, and he gave me a lot of critical feedback on my stories to help make them better.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?

Marketing is a moving target. What works well for one book won't necessarily work for another. That said, BookBub is an incredibly useful marketing tool, but they won't take every book that's submitted, so not everyone can use it.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I do as much research as necessary to understand the characters and world I'm creating. I don't have to understand everything right from the start, but there needs to be a basic foundation. The amount varies from story to story. If I'm writing a story based closely on my own experiences, I can probably dive right in. But if I'm writing technical hard SF that requires, say, figuring out planetary orbits and ecosystems, I'll be hitting the books for a while before I start the story.

Any last thoughts for our readers?

You can find my most recent stories in the anthologies Shadows Over Main Street, Vol. 2 (Cutting Block Books), Ride The Star Wind (Broken Eye Books), Hath No Fury (Ragnarok Publications), Looming Low (Dim Shores), and Behold! Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders (Crystal Lake Publishing). You can also find my articles on using Kickstarter to crowdfund novels and using poetry techniques in writing flash fiction in the December and January issues of Writer's Digest.

Right now, all my income comes from my freelance writing, writing coaching, and adjunct teaching ... and the pay is wildly unpredictable. My husband is disabled due to a chronic pain condition called reflex sympathetic dystrophy/complex regional pain syndrome (RSD/CRPS), so I'm largely responsible for keeping our household afloat financially. And as a result of his disability, we have ongoing medical expenses that are sometimes difficult to manage.

So, I've set up a Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/LucyASnyder ... through it, patrons can receive poems, stories, and exclusive access to my novels in progress.  

And if you're another writer? I want to help you, too. You can get a first look at my new writing articles. And if you like, I can give you a professional critique of your work each month to help you meet your own writing goals. Why get a critique? Aside from providing you with valuable feedback in improving your stories or chapters, knowing that I'll be expecting pages from you every month should give you extra motivation to write new work.

www.patreon.com/LucyASnyder
www.lucysnyder.com

Tales from the Storm Volume One

I just put together my first collection of horror stories! I'm pretty excited about this because it revives a lot of stories that have been previously published under various presses. I give a little insight as to what was going on at the time it was picked up, or what inspired each tale. Another cool thing, was this was my first time creating my own cover art. It was quite the learning experience for me, but it was definitely fun. Check it out!

The storm rages on, leaving death and destruction in its path. With the chaos comes strange tidings and wicked ordeals. 

From C.R. Langille, author of the Dark Tyrant Series comes a collection of weird and horrifying stories spanning all across history: the Spanish Conquest; the Old West; present day; and even a desolate, apocalyptic future.

Haunted hotel rooms, mysterious, mind-bending spots, infernal cargo, and misplaced wishes abound in this collection. 

Get Your Copy Here

Author Interview: M.T. DeSantis

What kind of books/stories do you write?
I mainly write science fiction and fantasy. Often, these include romantic elements, and I’ve even been known to write the occasional romance. Though, the romances tend to be filled with lots of people who love science fiction and fantasy.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
My senior year of college. After 3.5 successful years as a psychology major, I decided I wanted to write stories. So, I got my B.A. and went to grad school for fiction writing to learn the ropes. Now, I do, indeed, write stories, and yes, that psychology degree does come in handy for analyzing my characters.

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. The story sticks with me to this day. I just loved the sense of wonder and adventure and also loved the idea of taking readers on a journey of my own. A close second might be Book of Enchantment by Patricia C. Wrede. It’s a bunch of short stories, followed up by Wrede’s inspiration for each one. That inspiration really stoked a fire for me. It was the first time I thought “hey, I could do this, too.”

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you
become a better writer?
I am forever indebted to the community of Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program. If not for them, I’m not sure where I’d be. The program kicked my butt into gear and really helped me find my writing feet, as it were. I also must thank my local writer’s support group, where I met my boyfriend. They, and especially he, have helped me grow as a writer in ways beyond the capabilities of an MFA. The combination has really helped me hone my craft.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
Hah, I have no idea. Lol. I know in today’s market author’s must also be business people. I won’t lie. I’m much better at authoring than advertising. But I’m working on it. That said, write an amazing, gripping book. I suspect the rest will follow.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching
before beginning a book?
Are you sitting down? Good. I don’t research before starting. Nope, I just dive right in. Then, I do research as I go along. It makes the entire process feel much less daunting. I find it much easier to build a world around a story, rather than building a story into a world.

Any last thoughts for our readers?
How much time do you have?

Author Interview: J.L. Gribble

What kind of books/stories do you write?

--I call myself a nontraditional urban fantasy author, because I buck a lot of the established trends for that particular sub-genre. My books also have a healthy dose of alternate history, and I think I’ve created a fun playground for my characters. Luckily, I write for a small press that is known for bending the rules, and so far they support my creativity.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

--Around the summer I attended my third Space Camp, much to my parents’ dismay. My love of space and science led me to science fiction, and eventually, creating my own worlds seemed so much more interesting (an attainable) than merely leaving this one.

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?

--Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (known more commonly in the United States under The Golden Compass) was a huge inspiration to me in high school because it combined so many disparate elements of fantasy set in a familiar, yet completely different, world. It’s been a guiding star in my creative endeavors, especially as I see so many other stories forced into certain molds due to mainstream genre expectations.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

--While I do extensively outline my books, scene by scene, before I start writing a word, if I did all the research I thought I might need beforehand, I’d never actually write the book. Instead, I get a good sense of the big picture, which might mean dedicating a day to immersing myself in Chinese names online or visiting the Smithsonian Natural History museum. Then, as I come across minor details while I write, I leave notes to myself about things I need to look up to fill in the narrative canvas during my second draft.

Any last thoughts for our readers?

--As a small press author, I love encouraging readers to try something new. While it’s certainly easy to stick to what’s put face-out by the booksellers at Barnes & Noble, there are dozens of excellent authors going the indie publishing route (whether small press or self-published) for every one published by a big New York company. A great way to start is to check out what your favorite authors are reading if they talk about it on their blog or other social media.
​
Links/promotional things (include any photos you would like)
--Blog: www.jlgribble.com
--Facebook: www.facebook.com/jlgribblewriter
--Twitter: www.twitter.com/hannaedits
--Instagram: www.instagram.com/hannaedits

--Steel Victory (Steel Empires #1): http://amzn.to/2d4BacM 
--Steel Magic (Steel Empires #2): http://amzn.to/2dBFAM4
--Steel Blood (Steel Empires #3): http://amzn.to/2pPShZH By day, J. L. Gribble is a professional medical editor. By night, she does freelance fiction editing in all genres, along with reading, playing video games, and occasionally even writing. She is currently working on the Steel Empires series for Dog Star Books, the science-fiction/adventure imprint of Raw Dog Screaming Press. Previously, she was an editor for the Far Worlds anthology.
Gribble studied English at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She received her Master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where her debut novel Steel Victory was her thesis for the program.
She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her husband and three vocal Siamese cats. Find her online (www.jlgribble.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jlgribblewriter), and on Twitter and Instagram (@hannaedits).

"Kathy Loves Kittens" on Tales to Terrify

Last year I sold my short story, "Kathy Loves Kittens" to Tales to Terrify. It just recently debuted as an audio short story on their podcast. The story is about a man who survives a horrible car wreck, only to find out that his wife died in the crash and his daughter disappeared. She didn't just go missing, but has been completely erased from existence. Her room is empty of furnishings, pictures that used to be of her are left empty, and nobody believes that she was ever real. Things get even stranger when a short wave radio appears on his doorstep, pre-tuned to a numbers stations playing his daughter's voice. 

You can listen to the story here for free!

http://talestoterrify.com/tales-to-terrify-314-c-r-langille/ 

Bushcraft Interview: Luke McLaughlin

Today we meet, Luke McLaughlin, Founder, Director and Instructor at Holistic Survival School outside of Asheville, NC. He's an avid outdoorsman, survival/primitive skills instructor, and appeared on the television show, Naked and Afraid (twice). In fact, I took a survival skills course from him awhile back. You can read about that here. 

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you? 

It's hard to answer that question because I view the "outdoors" and nature as everything.  I firmly believe that if we humans wish to live full, healthy and meaningful lives we must be connected to the natural world.  For hundreds of thousands of years our ancestors have lived a life where nature was our food, shelter, clothing, gods, entertainment, and everything else.  That is how we have evolved and we need nature emotionally, physically, spiritually.
Beyond that I love the stillness of nature, the endless connection, and the contradictory nature of nature (gentle yet savage, slow yet quick)  

When did you first start having an interest in the outdoors and specifically learning bushcraft/primitive survival skills? 

I got introduced to primitive skills by working at a Wilderness therapy program in Utah.  In the program students lived in the West Desert of Utah for 2- 3 months.  My job was to keep them alive, have fun, and help them work through their issues by teaching them primitive skills.  I loved the skills and the way they can teach us more about ourselves and each other.  After a few months working their I felt the most whole I had ever felt so I dedicated my life to the Earth and learning and teaching these skills. 

What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?

Hmm. Probably that one time I was being stalked by a leopard in Namibia.   She came and sniffed me in the middle of the night. I didn't hear a thing but saw her tracks.  She was less that 15ft. away from me.  Turns out, I had invaded her territory and she had a small 2 month year old kitten.  She had the right to kill me and I wouldn't have blamed her.  I am always grateful to her for sparing my life. 

What is your favorite patch of wilderness?

Oh man that's hard.  I got too many.   I love the Great Basin Desert, Northern Michigan forests, Southern Appalachia, and everywhere in between.  I love them all for different reasons. 

Why do you think bushcraft/primitive survival skills are important in today's modern age? 

If we want to continue as a species on this earth we need to come back to our roots. Simplicity, connection, community, gratitude.  These are the things that will save us, not new technology, more agriculture, and the cure for _______.   Primitive skills are doorways for us to learn the traits of our ancestors and learn how to live in balance again. 

What is one piece of survival equipment that you cherish over anything else and why? 

haha to be honest I hate how people fetish-ize survival equipment.  If our ancestors can make it work with no bone and stone then I can do it with any steel.  One of my favorite (less sexy) pieces of equipment is the fire flapper. It's really just a simple piece of bark or sleeping pad that you can use to feed oxygen to the fire.  It has saved my life a few times in really cold, wet situations. 

Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

GET OUTSIDE!!! now!   Stop reading and go play.  you will be happy later because of it.

If you want to know more about Luke McLaughlin and his courses, check him out here:
https://www.holisticsurvivalschool.com/ 

Author Interview: M.L. Forman

What kind of books/stories do you write?
 
Kind of books... well I call them Fantasy/Adventure, but others say they are YA Fantasy Adventure. I have other things I would like to write, but I haven't done them yet. Historical Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi, etc. Working on all of that, but slowly.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 
I think I always wanted to be a writer, but as you know, real life gets in the way of that and you need to find what people call a "real" job. Still, bits of stories have been turning up here and there for years. Someday they might all get told.
 
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
 
Most influential book? Tough one that, as there have been several. The Lord of the Rings would be one, most anything by Isaac Asimov, Ender's Game maybe, or A Wizard of Earthsea.  I do remember reading "Riddle of Stars" by McKillip and thinking if I could write like that I'd be set. The story doesn't appeal to everyone bu I loved it. Sorry, but there isn't just one book that changed everything for me.
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
 
I know several other authors, some published some not.  J. Scott Savage, James Dashner, the talented Lisa Mangum who has also been my editor  (Lucky me), You of course, some romance writers, my brother Scott, Tyler Whiteside, Chad Morris, Brandon Mull, and others. They have all helped me in different ways. Mostly by sharing their work and ideas with the rest of us. I learn a great deal by reading what other people write. As for learning about being a writer, Lisa Mangum might be the one who has influenced my writing the most, but she has been my editor so I have learned to l listen to what she has to say. Jeff Savage has told me the most about the business of being a writer. All the authors I know, and all those that I have read have helped me become a better writer, and I'd like to say they or you all have been very willing to help in one way or another. Thanks.
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
 
Oh Marketing...  maybe my worst thing. As my publisher deals mostly with this I've tried to avoid it. Oh, I do try to be available, mostly for readers who post questions and such on my website or Facebook page. Readers who like what you right might be the best marketing tool you can find, and they should never be ignored.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
 
Research before writing... I would depend on the kind of book really. Pure Fantasy may need very little, as you make most of it up. You do need to research monsters and such, just so you know what they do or can do and not go too far out of the lines. For something more "Real", a lot more thought and research is needed or what you write will sound fake and the readers won't buy into the story.
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
The best bit of writing advice I've ever heard: Write for yourself first. That's it. If you aren't happy with it, why would anyone else be?
 
Links/promotional things:
 
https://www.facebook.com/AdventurersWanted/
https://www.facebook.com/ML-Forman-165353446913522/
 

Gamer Interview: Joe Borrelli

What's your favorite RPG system and why?
 
My go-to has always been the Call of Cthulhu system. It’s elegant in its simplicity, it’s surprisingly adaptable, and it has a great balance between character advancement versus threat escalation.
 
To explain the last bit, I think that the problem with most conventional systems is that threats and challenges become more abstract the farther your character advances. There comes a point with a D&D campaign where mundane threats cannot begin to touch players. In the Chaosium/CoC system, you can become very skilled and dangerous, but you still have to worry about how to take out the sentry standing watch. Skilled doesn’t equate to invincibility, and I require some sense of danger to remain in the game without simply sending them out against Tiamat or whoever.
 
What made you want to become a DM/GM?
 
Unlike many players and GMs I’ve spoken to, there was never a transition point for me. I didn’t start off on one side of the shield and cross over to the GM spot. Instead, a friend bought me a book with the expectation that I would be running the game and I took to it very naturally. I’ve always had that storyteller gene, plus I’m adaptive and skilled at performing, so it was a natural fit for me.
 
GMing feels like an underappreciated art for me. I think running a quality event really helps create something magical and a good GM makes or breaks a game. The burden of narrative is on the players, as they have the agency and the incentive to engage in your story, but a GM holds the entire thing together with as light a touch as possible.
 
How much prep time do you conduct before a gaming session?
 
The prep time varies per game. D&D, for example, requires more stat-juggling to make sure the challenges balance out fairly and I spend the bulk of my prep time crunching numbers. In terms of narrative, I generally sketch the bare bones of the story as well as a timeline of what would happen WITHOUT player intervention and then I just turn them loose.
 
What is one of your most memorable moments running a game?
 
I think for me, it’s less about “oh shit, we killed a Tarrasque on a freak natural 20 roll” and more about introducing beginners to gaming.
 
I specialize in running games for players who have never done an RPG before or who have had bad experiences with them in the past. A lot of people come in and don’t quite “get” how they work or they have misconceptions, but once they realize that they can essentially do what they want, there’s a little spark that lights up in their eyes when it all clicks. I like that feeling. Good RPG sessions are special and it’s nice to share the joy.
 
Do you do anything to set the mood or atmosphere?
 
99% of what I do to set mood is through performance. A large part of gaming is drawing people into the world you’re trying to create and the more you can actualize it, the better your players will respond to it. So I find visual aids, I prepare maps, I think about the NPCs they will interact with and try to present them in a distinctive way. When people get emotionally invested in the world to the point where they care about something other than leveling up, then you’ve done your job.

There is one unique type of gaming that requires more work on atmosphere and that’s horror gaming. Horror is probably the hardest type of game to run (excluding Toon, because I’ve NEVER understood how to successfully run that game) because it’s both easy for a group of players to dispel an atmosphere of dread that you’re trying to build and most people in gaming think “horror” is just “action with scarier opponents.”
 
The way I make horror games memorable is 1) pre-screen players. I make it clear that we’re trying to be scary, so people who like more light hearted games should probably look elsewhere. One comedian can tank things for everyone. 2) I run the game like telling a ghost story. We play in the dark, people use oversized flash cards rather than character sheets (easier to see in low light) and I use every dirty trick in the book to freak people out. If done right, this type of gaming can be the most rewarding.
 
What's one tip you would give to other DM/GM's out there?
 
I want to give so many more than just one tip, but the one I think is the most important is to find the sweet spot between too much and not enough. How much is too much open world farting around versus plot railroading, how much is drowning your player in florid description versus too little so everything boils down to “10x10 room, treasure chest, orc.” Gaming is a social thing and a good GM has to learn to read the room, read the group dynamics, and play them like a fiddle. 
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
Gaming has given me a lot over the years. It built my social skills and my confidence, it taught me the basic structure of narrative, it taught me how to intuit the needs of a group, and it taught me how to build amazing things out of the imagination. I don’t get a chance to do much of it these days because it’s hard to get a bunch of mid-30s people to agree on a consistent schedule, but it’s a wonderful activity and well worth taking seriously while still keeping a sense of joy and discovery.
 
(please include any links, pics, or other things you'd like me to include in the post)
 
Joe Borrelli used to write under the pseudonym of Justin Bailey, both because it’s a Metroid joke and because he wanted to be anonymous for deeply pretentious grad school reasons. Now he’s a member of the Horror Writers Association, he’s hosted a paranormal skeptic’s show for Littlethings.com, he has a podcast, and he’s one of the organized of Brooklyn’s legendary Bushwick Writers Group. He’s been published in Nightmare Magazine, Corporate Cthulhu, and has written some truly smutty vampire erotic for Blood in the Rain 2. Find him at creaturecast.net or search “Littlethings.com The Beyond” for his show on YouTube. 

Author Interview: K. Scott Forman, The Prince of Darkness

My next interview is with a great and close friend of mine, K. Scott Forman. 

What kind of books/stories do you write?

What do I write, or what do I publish? It's interesting, because I really like to write literary stuff, even poetry, but from a publishing angle, most of my work that gets published has a horror or Gothic flavor to it. I'm still trying to crack the code on getting a book (novel) published - I've written a dozen, all over 50,000 words, most in the 80 to 90k realm, and all different genres. I have to admit, every one of them has an element of the dark - not full-on horror, but definitely horror. I think the reason is because I like to look at things from all angles and the dark side, so to speak, is always a little more interesting, a little more literary, a little more sublime. 
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Do you ever realize it, or are you just a writer without knowing it for most of your life? I think I came to that conclusion early on reading comic books - I loved comic books, but I loved making up my own stories more - I think the early days of my "writer" self was like so many others before me - imitation - although, ironically, I never really imitated Poe or the good horror stories in the Bible, both of which I head read as soon as I could read, probably 5th or 6th grade. When I got to college, I thought I wanted to be a poet, which is kind of a writer, right, but several classes, a BA and MFA later, I guess I realized I was a writer. 
 
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?

I keep reading that book. There was one called As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, kind of a non-fiction, self-help book, but I think what really influenced me was W. Somerset Maugham. I started with Cakes and Ale and The Moon and Sixpence, which I read for fun while I was reading Dickens in college. Then I read The Razor's Edge and most of his short stories. I was hooked. I think in later years, I would have to say the only novel that has really affected or influenced me would be Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian. It's a continuation of the Dracula saga set during the Cold War: it was a page turner and I read it every October, just like I read Dickens' A Christmas Carol every December.
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?

I have to say by brother, M.L. Forman, and C.R. Langille, of course, who I consider closer friends than several of my other writer friends - I have a stable of colleagues from graduate school days, and then several friends I've met through the Horror Writers Association, LDStorymakers, and the League of Utah Writers. I think how M.L. and C.R. (what's with the initials) have helped me is we are all serious about writing - it's more than just a hobby - and each of us are at different places, no matter where we started - we keep each other going, we teach each other, and we learn from each other. It's nice also that some of my other writer friends, who are pretty famous, still treat me just like a normal guy. They give me the determination to keep going, that I can do it, I can make this thing work!
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books/stories/poetry?

I haven't - one of the reasons is I'm still stuck in a traditional mindset - I want a publisher to discover me and do all that marketing stuff for me. Unfortunately, what I write is so niche I'm afraid that no agent or publisher will pick me up (which also kind of confirms I haven't found a way to even market myself, let alone my books). Per the previous question, my brother, my friend, C.R., and others, are helping me get the courage to jump off the curb and into the gutter of self-promotion, self-marketing, and even self-publishing (Indie sounds so much better). That story is still being written. 
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I do a $hit-load of research - can I say that here? My wife would recommend I say Buttload, which according to research is 126 gallons - actually, a butt is is two hogsheads, which vary in size: typically a hogshead is 63 gallons and a butt is 126 gallons. That said, I do my research as I write, which can be really distracting at times. I write a lot of stuff that needs authenticity, for example, when I bring the Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos into my work and I want to make Abdul Alhazred, the Mad Arab, more real by finding an actual Arabic name, it can take some work. I also want to get places and history right, which makes writing so much fun because I've always liked to learn. I also like to read non-fiction for ideas. I just finished a great book called The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston, which has given me some great ideas, in fact a short story I'm working on currently, The Curse of the Fire Monkey. Unfortunately, non-fiction also makes me have to change some things from time to time: in Preston's book, it mentioned that Ubar or Irem, the lost City of a Thousand Pillars, had been found, which made me have to go back and re-examine/re-write portions of my Mad Arab novel. So...
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?

Keep reading, support your local authors, and read my work if you can - ha ha ha... 
 
Links/promotional things:
http://fearknocks.com
https://www.facebook.com/PrinceoDarkness
https://twitter.com/KScottForman
 

Hunter Interview: Jeffory "Padre" Mulcahy

​What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you?

Beauty of the Earth, fresh air, freedom from stress/work, the fun of shooting sports, chopping wood for the fire, the sound of a running creek/river

When did you first start hunting/fishing?

I had been hunting and fishing with my dad and brothers on occasion growing up and I always had an interest in both, but as a kid, I was dependent on others to take me with them. It wasn't until I was able to provide for myself, and able to get myself into the woods that I became a hunter. It was also important for me to provide that opportunity to my children an a young age, on a regular basis, because I know that I would have like to have gone camping/hunting/fishing a lot more as a kid. It is a hobby/sport that has strengthened my relationship with my children.

What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?

There are many, but the those most memorable are hunting trips. It could be my first Buck or Bull Elk, camping with my buddies, fishing alpine lakes, etc., all of which I will always remember. But most memorable will always be the time my son Jacob thanked me, as we were hunting this past Deer season, for always taking him with me. He is 30-years-old now and a very successful hunter. He has been going with me since he was 10. That was a special moment for me.

Okay, one more... My son Dillon and I were sitting against a large Pine tree on a ridge line overlooking hundreds of miles of land. We had just finished a walk through a thick forested area where we were hunting Elk. I had been blowing my Cow Elk call as we sat enjoying the view. After about half an hour, we decided to hunt our way back to the truck where we would have some lunch. As we got up, I saw movement to my left (Dillon was on my right), so I turned, only to see a Mountain Lion running at me at full speed toward us. It put on the brakes (realizing I wasn't an Elk), and kicked up dirt and debris on me, as he turned and ran into the woods. It was about five feet from me when it turned. Needless to say, the hairs on the back of my neck were on end, my hands were shaking, and adrenaline was pumping. Dillon asked me, what was that? I answered, a Mountain Lion. He was confused. Here? he asked. He never saw it. That was the only time I have ever seen a Mountain Lion in the woods. It was an awesome sight. I can only assume that I called it in with my Cow calls. It is experiences like these that make it worth being in the woods.

What is your favorite animal to hunt?

I hunt Deer and Elk, with Elk being my favorite.

Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?

In the modern age, science has played a huge role in our stewardship, as humans, to take care of animal populations. Managing and taking care of them is our responsibility. As a result, not only are our livestock herds thriving, but also game animal populations are flourishing. I appreciate being able to go into the woods and see these magnificent animals. I enjoy taking a break from the day-to-day activities and being able to "wet a line" or follow a game trail. Being able to "reset" my mind and attitude help me to be better at the day-to-day activities required of us in this modern age. In addition, I think it is important to have hunting and fishing skills to be able to provide for yourself and family. It is important to pass these skills on to our children, and gives us opportunities to connect with our parents and grandparents. 

What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?

There are non-hunters who are not opposed to hunting (my daughter and wife), and there are non-hunters who protest hunting, gun ownership, etc. To those not opposed to hunting, I think we have an understanding that most humans eat meat. And in this modern age of healthy living, game meat is much more nutritious than animals raised specifically for their meat, injected with hormones and other additives in an effort to grow them at an accelerated rate, all in the name of profits. To those opposed to hunting, herd management includes controlling the population so that herds do not over graze their habitat, affording the stronger animals to procreate, strengthening the population. Additionally, millions of dollars are collected from hunters/fishermen, which in turn fund programs for the betterment of our wildlife resources. I do not kill for the enjoyment of killing. I kill for good, nutritious meat, which feeds my family.

Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

Be wise, be safe, take care of your equipment, and have fun.