Interview with Eric Johnson, Author of Red Eyes

My next author interview is with Eric Johnson, the author of Red Eyes.

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Eric Johnson: David Drake’s Hammers Slammer’s series has influenced me a lot. It brought a military veteran’s experience into writing and how it could be used to bring up issues that concern me as a military veteran myself. His work set the tone for my books and writing style, which I emulate due to fascination of making current military issues into readable fiction

 What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?

Eric Johnson: I love the military tone that my genre entails. As a military veteran it helps to have the normal trope of crazy military vets and also a focused unit and the ethos it brings up.

 Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)

Eric Johnson: Major Veerkamp as she’s nuts and doesn’t care much about who she offends or deals with. She’s a definite fav to write as she is crazy yes, but she does it in a way that shows that she does it for a reason (that means much to her) and is aware that she’s got issues but somehow appeals to me as a character I’ve started to use more and more.

Cover of Eric Johnson’s Red Eyes

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?

Eric Johnson: Well the pandemic hasn’t affected me as most people so I can recommend that getting through this is important and want to stress that while you’re restricted (or not) that life still has to go on and that things will be alright.

 What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Eric Johnson: Video gaming is one of my hobbies. But I have artistic talent and usually create something for my stories or something that I need to visualize for my stories, if needed.

 What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?

Eric Johnson: I watch a variety of movies, mainly military or some other form of movie. I do like Marvel Cinematic Universe movies a lot and watched most of them up till now

 What’s your favorite animal?

Eric Johnson: Cats are my favorite animal. I own a cat and love him dearly and couldn’t ask for a better animal to take care of.

Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game ever influenced you as a writer?

Eric Johnson: I currently play The Division 2 and it influences me into writing a story where a pandemic happens. My characters will get involved somehow and there’s the story I guess. I haven’t worked out the details yet (I have other WIPs to worry about right now) but that’s a future story that features a pandemic (which is influenced by the current one now).

Do you like playing board games or role playing games like D&D? If so, which games do you like best?

Eric Johnson: I like D&D and have played it in the past. Unfortunately I don’t know anybody nearby that plays the game or I’d probably join a group and play.

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Eric Johnson: That it’s a long hard path for some and that to stick with it even though it may take a long time. It takes me sometimes a long time to write even a short story but I just say stick with it until you get published, whether it being self- or traditional publishing

 How do you choose what books you want to read?

Eric Johnson: Mainly based on interest and whatever appeals to me at the time. Some books I buy are to learn a subject (sometimes non-fiction) and other related stories to help form ideas based on my own desires in what I want to write in the future.

If you write sci-fi, what technology or innovations or scientific discoveries have inspired your work?

Eric Johnson: So far the railgun has influenced my work a lot. A lot of weapons in my stories is based on that technology. However, I somewhat keep aware of future theories or ideas based on current theory and practice. Sometimes though I incorporate those ideas into writing if it sounds good enough or is plausible enough to use.

 More About Eric Johnson

 Books: Red Eyes, Operation Arrow, and 5th Kommando

Website: http://flanker56.com/index.htm

Social Media: Goodreads and Twitter

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Interview with M.J. Irving, Author of Nova's Quest for the Enchanted Chalice

My next interview is with M.J. Irving, author of Nova’s Quest for the Enchanted Chalice!

What inspired you to start writing?

M.J. Irving: I hate to start on a negative note, but in March I came down with Covid. I was extremely sick for weeks and with so much on the news about people of ethnic minorities being at higher risk and also people with underlying health conditions, there were times that I thought that was it for me! It is scary when at times you cannot breathe properly, and you feel so unwell you can’t get out of bed. I obviously have felt so grateful that I came out the other side of my illness, but it really made me stop and think about how life is so short, and that you need to do the things that you are passionate about. The present is truly a gift so don’t wait for the future!

Alexis: I’m so glad you recovered! I’ve heard so many devastating stories about Covid, and even young people are getting very, very sick. Readers, don’t forget to wear your masks, wash your hands, and stay six feet apart!

 Have you always wanted to be a writer?

M.J. Irving: Yes, almost always. Well, apart from when I was really young and wanted to be a marine biologist or vet because I love animals. I was always worried because you hear about how writers and artists can never make it. I didn’t want to be in that situation, so I made the idea of writing in to something that I pictured myself doing when I was old and grey. But, after my illness earlier in the year, I thought, what is stopping me? Plus, with lots of holiday days and no holiday to go on because of Covid, I thought why not spend those days writing? I have also been lucky enough to know a few authors who inspired me over the years and their successes made me realize that I can do it too! If you put your mind to it, even your wildest dreams can come true.

Alexis: Yes, it’s so easy to put things off and assume we have all the time in the world. But no one does, and the time goes by so fast!

 Pantser or Planner?

M.J. Irving: I’m both. At first, I didn’t think I was since I organize everything in my life. I am bad at remembering things, so I have always been good at keeping myself organized so that I don’t forget what I’m doing. With Nova’s Quest I spent two weeks planning out everything: the settings, the characters, the cliff hangers etc. But, once I started writing it was like the characters took on a life of their own and they surprised me. The story became a living thing, an entity with its own volition and I became its servant – the humble writer. It was a strange feeling since I had control over the story but it had its own special power all at the same time!

What do you hope your readers take away from your book?

M.J. Irving: From an entertainment perspective, I honestly really hope that readers just have fun with the story, that they feel hooked and don’t want to put it down. I hope that they want to hear more about Nova’s Quest because there is so much more to come! From the perspective of the message that I am trying to deliver, there really are a number throughout the book. One is really the importance of standing up for what is right and making change collectively in the face of adversity and corruption. I don’t want to give any spoilers so I will stop there.

Alexis: I feel that the last few years, at least in the United States, have definitely shown how absolutely important it is to stand up to corruption and do what’s right.

 What made you pick the setting for your book?

M.J. Irving: I actually wanted to play with high fantasy and low fantasy settings so you essentially get two worlds. One setting is a lot more like the world we live in today, and another is like a colourful painting bringing all of the wonderful things of fantasy all together. In the series, I intend to build on these worlds and reveal a whole lot more. I also wanted to bring a fantasy world to Canada and to a place that I hold dear to my heart. The world of Dacaan is depicted with every drop of beauty that I found in the place where I spent my high school years – in the Kootenays in the province of British Columbia. I really believe that it is one of the most beautiful places in the world! I obviously recreated the region in to a fantasy world but I used a lot of place names and reference the beautiful mountains, lakes, trees, streams and so on.

Nova’s Quest Book Blitz Banner

Are you reading anything right now?

M.J. Irving: I am in the middle of reading my way through a few series including Scythe as well as Caraval and Six of Crows. I love anything fantasy and dystopian but I do read all genres and am keen to one day write in other genres too.

What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

M.J. Irving: I really love travelling. I’ve travelled to over 50 countries and really love feeling immersed in other cultures and experiencing different things – I really believe travelling is the easiest way to building yourself as a person – it opens your mind! Obviously, this year I haven’t been able to travel quite so much and have just had one staycation in Cornwall with my boyfriend. I do however love hikes in the wilderness and exploring nature. That is probably my happy place. 

Alexis: I also love hiking and being outdoors. Travel can be so wonderful!

 What’s for dinner?

M.J. Irving: I love, love, love to cook! And to eat, haha. I like to cook almost anything and wish I was better at baking, but find that harder because you have to have patience and follow recipes. Plus I’ve never been good with numbers and measurements. A teaspoon can all of a sudden get mixed with a tablespoon and you’ve ruined your treat! My favourite food is most definitely seafood and more specifically lobster, but I like to save that for special occasions because it tastes even better then! My favourite sweet treat is chocolate fondant.

Alexis: I love cooking, too. And while I didn’t initially love baking as much, I’m so addicted to the Great British Baking Show that I’ve started baking much more and love that, too.

 Share something about yourself your readers don’t already know.

M.J. Irving: I’m really clumsy and awkward. Thankfully, people who know me laugh and see it as endearing but it can be hugely embarrassing! I also firmly believe that laughter is the best medicine. The world is a grey place without laughter. I try not to take things too seriously and am almost always joking about something.

If you could go anywhere for the weekend, where would you go?

M.J. Irving: Happenstance, I mean I do go there most weekends in my writing haha! But in terms of real places it would probably be Iceland. I am honestly in awe of the beauty of that country. It is the last place that I visited and I could have stayed for forever.

The cover of Nova’s Quest by M.J. Irving!

Are you working on anything new?

M.J. Irving: I already have some amazing concepts drawn out for Nova’s Quest for the Spellbound Elixir which is book two in the series. I can’t wait to get fully started on it as I want to make sure we make it’s release date of June 2021! I have so many different directions that I would like to take my stories. I have multiple books that I would like to create that are based in the magical worlds of Dacaan and Happenstance – I can’t wait to share everything with you all!

 About Nova’s Quest

When a comet lights up the night’s sky, an ordinary boy from a small town in Dacaan begins to see that everything in his world is not as it seems. A secret that he didn’t know about himself becomes exposed and he finds himself running from the clutches of his enemies as he embarks on an adventure with his best friend to a mysterious land of magic called Happenstance. It is not long before he realizes that he has a bigger place in the world than he could have ever imagined. It is up to him to fulfil his new quest and challenge everything that he thought was good around him. But, the path is not so easy to travel and there are challenges, lies and betrayal in its wake.

Nova’s Quest for the Enchanted Chalice, is a story of a world after magic has been banished and evil resides. A powerful regime that rules Dacaan uses social media, a virus and other invisible shackles to keep its citizens in their districts as ignorant hostages. But, as Happenstance begins to vanish and magic is lost forever, it is up to its inhabitants to fight back and they know that Nova is their only hope to save their world of magic and Dacaan.

More About Author M.J. Irving!

M.J. Irving has always followed the advice that if you believe in something, it can come true. M.J. has spent life following this philosophy which has brought her to this point; where she can share the magical worlds in her head with you.

MJ is a Canadian of Jamaican, English and Irish descent currently living in London, England with her significant other. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of British Columbia and has led a career in research, marketing, sales and strategy management at one of the world’s leading media companies in the events industry.

She has travelled to over 50 countries and many of her experiences have helped in shaping her writing. When MJ is not writing, she enjoys countryside walks, playing board games and eating chocolate. She has a fascination with the unknowns of the world and the universe and her mind is quite often in the clouds.

Social Media: Instagram , Twitter, and Goodreads

Book: Nova’s Quest for the Enchanted Chalice

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Interview with Writer Olga Gibbs, Author of the Celestial Creatures Series

My next interview is with Olga Gibbs, a fantasy author who also has a background in mental health for young people. Given the intensely stressful time for everyone with the Covid 19 cases increasing so dramatically, I figured she’d be a great person to interview next!

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

Olga Gibbs: I am an author and a writing mentor, studying for Masters in Creative Writing, with a background in adolescent psychology and mental health, after years of working with young people in therapeutic and supportive settings.

Alexis: Awesome! I imagine that writing and psychology would compliment each other, especially when it comes to character development.

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Olga Gibbs: I was born and spent my formative years in Russia (USSR back then), so the reading that have influenced my taste in literature and my subsequent writing is predominantly by Russian authors. For example, I love “Crime and Punishment” of Dostoyevsky and as result it had influenced my reading taste, and my writing. I’m always intrigued by morally grey characters and moral dilemmas, like the one which is a theme in the above book: “Is it okay to kill a bad person?” 

I want to be surprised when I’m reading a book. I want to like a baddie. I want to question my view of the world when fictional characters ask questions.

But I like adventure stories too. I like high-concept, plot-driven stories. In particular, I love adventure stories of Dumas. “Count de Monte Cristo”, “Three musketeers”, I think he is the first and true high-concept writer and would’ve made a killing should he lived in our times.

What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?

Olga Gibbs: Hate: A female character portrayed as a weak one, in need of saving, usually by a male.

Love: A good plot-twist at which I can gasp in shock and surprise.

The Celestial Creatures Series by Olga Gibbs

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? 

Olga Gibbs: Ariel, the main character in the “Celestial Creatures” series. She was written because of the girls I worked with. She was written for them. 

The market of children’s fiction is sterile. It’s gate-guarded by parents, teachers, librarians and truly broken characters with uncomfortable topics rarely find their way into the market. The children like the ones I work with are not represented in books. Their stories are too uncomfortable, too cruel, and therefore often hidden.
So I wanted to give those girls a voice. One day I thought: “These girls have seen nothing good from humanity; nothing but abuse, cruelty and suffering”, and then I began to wonder what would these girls do to humanity, to everyone who hurt them, if they had the power? If they were, say gods, placed above the ones who hurt them, who didn’t care for them or broke them, what would they do then? What would power like that do to a person, but most importantly, what would it do to a girl like Ariel? Would she follow the mainstream religious preaching on forgiveness or would she take revenge?
I crafted Ariel honestly: with her PTSD manifestations, with her failed childhood attachments, with her teenage overreactions and maximalist views. I gave her schizophrenia, and according to a few readers’ reviews, I’ve tackled that difficult diagnosis honestly and realistically too.
You see, even here I chased a multi-layered story with grey and confusing characters. The “Celestial Creatures” is not just a fantasy, it’s so much more than that. It’s a commentary on the childhood abuse, on social class divide, on injustice, survival in cruel world and metamorphosis. I have written it in a fantasy genre because if I would’ve written it as a contemporary piece, it would’ve been too real, and the children, and adults, abuse survivors wouldn’t have wanted to re-live their past traumas. I gave some, special, readers the character they can relate to, but the story they can escape through.

Alexis: You’ve clearly thought very deeply about your characters. I do find children’s literature very sterile, and I worry that children facing real-life problems won’t see themselves in books. I love the idea of YA books tackling issues like mental illnesses and child abuse.

100 Days of Gratitude by Olga Gibbs

I noticed from your bio that you have a background in mental health. Has that informed your writing?

Olga Gibbs: Absolutely. Understanding human behaviours and responses to certain situations helped me realistically craft my characters, although sometimes I find myself battling with stereotypes that readers place on my characters, because of their initial manifestations or appearances in the story. But that was expected. As I said above, I love confusing characters with ambiguous goals, so I write my characters with many layers, many motives, with hidden desires. I love playing with characters and with readers. Life is not black and white. Only when we come closer and spend some time assessing new people we know who is a friend or foe, and I don’t feel that stories should be any different. As I said before, I love to be surprised and I’m writing for readers who want to be surprised too, gasping at unexpected twists and turns.

Are there any books or types of reading or writing you'd recommend to anyone struggling with their mental health during the pandemic?

Olga Gibbs: We are all different, and our responses to stress are different too. Some prefer escapism, whilst others seek to exercise total control over a situation. My main advice: know yourself and listen to yourself and your mind. Give yourself and your mind a break. If you feel overwhelmed, take a step back and unwind, treat yourself to something that makes you happy, and above all, shift your focus from negativity to positivity.
In terms of reading: I wouldn’t recommend anything challenging, that pushes your self-discovery and self-acceptance too far, as without help, or in the difficult environment that as we are in currently, it might push us into depression.

In time of pandemic, I suggest to take it slowly and softly. Positivity, positivity and again positivity! Look for it, create it. 

One thing I would suggest that anyone can do and that doesn’t take much time or psychological training is gratitude journaling. It’s a diary, but instead of writing everything that happened to you in a day, you write only positives, and if you can’t find any positives, you learn to give thanks: looking at the day, at your life, at small and everyday things in your life, you give thanks. This technique has a great benefit and it amends our mind and outlook on life. It challenges us to look for positives, making lists of good things in our life. It activates “good” neurons in our brain, rewiring them, establishing new, good, life-long connections.  A gratitude journal is an easy, yet very effective tool. 

And if it’s okay, I’ll mention the gratitude journal that I developed: “100 days of gratitude”. I developed it to create a culture of appreciation in one’s life. The “100 days of gratitude” is filled with daily prompts and the way the book is structured: it progresses gently from noticing little good things in our lives to promoting and encouraging our acceptance of self, as we step into therapeutic letter writing in the final days (the link to the journal below).

What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Olga Gibbs: I paint, mainly abstracts, as I had an art training. I love cooking and knitting.
Art allows me to express myself, whilst cooking and knitting help me unwind.

Olga Gibbs, author of the Celestial Creatures Series

More about Olga Gibbs

Books: “Celestial Creatures” series, 100 days of Gratitude, and Anxiety Journal: Record, Analyze, Manage

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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Interview with Rory Michaelson, Author of Lesser Known Monsters

It’s been a wild week here in the United States, but it looks like the horrible orange monster that infected our country is on his way out of the White House. So it feels appropriate that my next interview is with Rory Michaelson, author of the queer dark fantasy, Lesser Known Monsters!

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

Rory Michaelson: Oh, I have no idea. I honestly think that you will probably know everything you need or want to know about me by reading Lesser Known Monsters. I’m a little strange, but fun. I don’t take anything too seriously, unless it needs to be – and even then, my humour tends toward the gallows. I value truth, adventure, and love. My anxieties tend to leak out into my characters, each one with a few small morsels of inner fear to help make their poor little hearts beat!

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Rory Michaelson: I took a bit of a journey, for many years I read almost exclusively high fantasy. Brandon Sanderson definitely dominated my bookcase, then later Robin Hobb, VE Schwab, and Leigh Bardugo. Really the most my reading has expanded was when I started to write. Once I unlocked the knowledge that not only could I write stories like the ones that I wanted to read – but other people were doing it too – I was hooked. Given the time I gobble up books from indie and traditionally published authors alike, and every one of them teaches me something.

Alexis: Interesting! I do find that I get drawn to different kinds of books now that I’m a writer. I get curious about other genres, or I start wanting to do research on different subjects for the next book.

 What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?

Rory Michaelson: I hate tropes that are dangerous or damaging to at risk groups. Other than that, I think most tropes are fun if used effectively or subverted. That said, I don’t like the centuries old immortal falling in love with the teenager. Maybe that’s why I write new adult (ha).

Alexis: Oh, I hate that one, too! As if any teenager wouldn’t be horribly dull if you are past the age of 25. Maybe I’m biased about this because I’m a teacher, but I think adult writers who write teenagers often have no idea what they’re really like. They forget how truly young they are.

 Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)

Rory Michaelson: Marcus. I love Marcus, he is my enfant terrible. My absolute disaster boy. When you have a character who is a little unpredictable, it makes dialogue fun and can also really help move the story along or lead it on a fun detour. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone...

Beautiful cover of Lesser Known Monsters, by Rory Michaelson

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?

Rory Michaelson: I am constantly busy! My day job has only gotten busier, I’ve been finishing off Lesser Known Monsters and drafting a new book. Marketing and preparation has really taken a wild amount of time, and we had only recently moved house before everything started off – so I’ve had lots on my plate to distract me!

 What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Rory Michaelson: I enjoy TV, Movies, and I do a lot of cleaning. I wish I had time for more hobbies, but writing is my top priority when I get any free time! I am kind of handy with upcycling furniture, but I haven’t had time for that in a while. Before the pandemic, we travelled a lot on exciting holidays abroad- which I definitely miss.

Alexis: I miss travelling so much, too.

 Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).

Rory Michaelson: When I was growing up, a family friend always used to warn us about Jenny Greenteeth. He told us that children shouldn’t go near the river because Jenny Greenteeth would pull us in and drown us. I thought it was a thing he made up, but when I looked it up, it’s a legitimate English folklore of a green-skinned river hag that drowns children...

Alexis: Wow, that’s a pretty terrifying legend! It’s not unlike the La Llorona stories we have in South Texas.

 What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?

Rory Michaelson: Movies are quite a commitment! I wish I had time to watch more. I grew up on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I think that kind of variety between horror, comedy, action, romance, and adventure has stuck with me. I like a bit of variety in things. Recently I’ve been a huge fan of The Expanse, that’s an amazing show. I enjoy animation too – love She-Ra and Steven Universe.

Alexis: I still love Buffy the Vampire Slayer! It was such an amazing show, especially for its time. I like She-Ra as well, and my daughter loves it.

What’s your favorite animal?

Rory Michaelson: I like animals in general, but I don’t get to be around them much because we’re out too much to have pets. I grew up with lots of dogs, so they are always special to me, but taking into account non house pet animals, I’m a little bit obsessed with red pandas.

Alexis: Red pandas are very cute!

Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game ever influenced you as a writer?

Rory Michaelson: I love video games. I tried getting into animal crossing, and it worked for a while, but anything with ‘daily tasks’ tends to make me feel a bit claustrophobic. I’m currently replaying the old Final Fantasy remasters on Switch. Video games have definitely influenced my writing, to me like books, movies, and tv shows they’re all ultimately forms of storytelling – and consuming helps refill and expand your creative well.

Do you like playing board games or role playing games like D&D? If so, which games do you like best?

Rory Michaelson: I’ve always wanted to try, but I’ve never had chance. I’m a bit antisocial, and things like that tend to require other humans. I’m not sure how successful it would be – I’m a bit rebellious so I might get annoyed or impatient rather than hooked.

Do you have pet(s)? If so, share a picture of your pet!

Rory Michaelson: I wish! We’re always working so we haven’t got any pets. I would like a cat, but my fiancé says we can’t have one because I’m already too much like a cat and he can’t live with two.

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Rory Michaelson: Listen to other people’s advice with caution. Take your time, trust your instincts, and enjoy yourself. Write for yourself, and don’t worry about making mistakes – that’s probably how you will end up learning your own process best.

 How do you choose what books you want to read?

Rory Michaelson: I want to read ALL THE BOOKS.

Seriously though, I’m a nightmare. I buy a bunch of books depending on if the sound of them excites me. I am too scared to read my pretty hardbacks so normally end up reading them as e-books. I tend to always have an epic book as my audiobook on the go (because value), and then I usually read whichever book in my kindle library tickles my fancy when it’s time to choose!

I love the title of your book "Lesser Known Monsters," in part because there are so many incredible and interesting dark creatures in mythology or folklore, and yet so many books are just about vampires. What inspired the title for your book, and did you research or read about any unusual monsters when you were writing it? 

Rory Michaelson: The title came to me when I was thinking about ‘lesser spotted’ varieties of creatures and considered the same for monsters. The thought then followed exactly the same path as your question. I wrote something that later became one of the small excerpts in the book (after some editing) about how humans had created fabled monsters, sparkly vampires and handsome werewolves – but these weren’t anything like real the real monsters. The monsters of myth. I read lots of myths and folklore whilst I was writing. I really liked the idea of certain folklore being connected, and them in fact being the same monster travelling around over the years and being spotted I different locations. A few of them inspired my little intermissions in Lesser Known Monsters, and others I wrote short stories about which will be released later this year (currently and early order bonus through my website for buying Lesser Known Monsters!)

Rory Michaelson, Author of Lesser Known Monsters

More About Rory Michaelson

Book: Lesser Known Monsters

Website: https://www.rorymichaelson.com/

Social Media: Twitter

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Interview with J. Bock, Author of Caroline

It’s been a tense week, so let’s all relax and have some fun reading new authors! And if you’re interested in science fiction or thrillers, check out my interview with Jeremy Bock, author of the sci-fi crime thriller Caroline.

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

J. Bock: I’m a native of West Virginia but I’m currently living in Bangkok, Thailand with my Thai wife and daughter. My real job is that I’m a technologist, primarily working in web development with a specialization in making web sites and applications accessible to those with disabilities. I’ve been writing as long as I can remember but professionally, I’ve mostly written technical documentation. Far too much to list. I have also co-authored a couple of academic papers. Caroline is my debut novel, and the first piece of fiction I’ve published.

Alexis: Wow, you actually have a fascinating day job (at least , it seems fascinating to non-techies like me)! As a middle school teacher, web accessibility can be an important issue for me, since we often have disabled students in our classes. I also know a blind person who’s an incredible mathematician, and he told me once about all the difficulties they have in making advanced math textbooks, such as high level calculus, accessible for blind students who read braille.

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

J. Bock: There are many, but novels that immediately come to mind are Slaughterhouse 5 and Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. Choke and Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Recent influential novels for me are Armada by Ernest Cline, Artemis by Andy Weir, and Wired by Douglas E. Richards. My novel, Caroline, and the sequel that’s currently in progress is written from a first-person perspective with a goal to explore plausible future technologies with a story and simple, accessible language. What I want most for my readers is for them to have fun reading. And second, I want them to think a little, but only if they want to. And I think Andy Weir and Ernest Cline are at the top of their games in writing novels that achieve those two objectives very well.

The best series I’ve read recently, though, is hands down the Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu. That’s not just an inspiration for me but an aspiration.

Alexis: I’ve been meaning to read the Three-Body Problem, since I’ve heard so much about it. I also love Slaughterhouse Five, which is probably a big influence on one of the stories I’m working on now. Vonnegut—I think I’ll forever be haunted by Mother Night.

What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?

J. Bock: I’m a science fiction author and I think you can throw in space operas into the same genre. The overuse of proper nouns, paired with hyperbolic literary description of fictional settings exhausts me. When I read, I don’t want to have to memorize the world or universal map in your stories. Nor do I want to memorize the names of many different technologies or space ships. I’m also tired of end-of-civilization scenarios where all our societal systems break down and the technologically advanced culture must become agrarian to survive. Neither of these are fun for me.

Alexis: Agreed! I just find it so unlikely that civilization would break down so much. I think if something like that happens, the majority of the people were probably agrarian to start with, and the technologies were mostly used as playthings for the elite (see ancient Rome).

The very intense cover of J. Bock’s sci-fi thriller, Caroline.

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?

J. Bock: I just try to keep as busy as I can with work and writing helps probably the most with stress. I also exercise as much as I can, mostly weightlifting. Keeping good nutrition is important, but so is letting it slip. The inability to travel is the hardest. Homesickness is absolutely setting in. I don’t have any solutions for anyone. Don’t drink too much. Take care of those who need to be taken care of. Escape how you can.

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?

J. Bock: Lately, I’ve been diving into Narcos. Both the original and Mexico. I’ve got a pretty important subplot in my next novel involving the Mexican drug cartels. Consider it research, but Narcos is amazingly put together.

Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game ever influenced you as a writer?

J. Bock: I do. I exclusively play my Nintendo Switch. And lately, it’s been NBA2K21 and Mario 3D All-Stars. But I also sunk a ton of time this year into Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Breath of the Wild. If anything, these games distract me from writing. Though RPGs can guide you through a story with a sense of emersion and progression, and even though the stories in the RPGs I’ve played haven’t inspired me, the experiences I get from playing them have.

My favorite game now and of all time will always be Final Fantasy IX.

I’ll probably buy a second-generation PS5.

Alexis: I loved Breath of the Wild. But yes, video games can be both an inspiration and a distraction. Still, especially since the pandemic started and I’ve felt stressed and frazzled, sometimes they’re a valuable escape.

How do you choose what books you want to read?

J. Bock: I read whatever’s most popular in the genre to see what’s selling. But lately, I’ve been seeking out other independent authors in the sci-fi/thriller genre via Twitter or Instagram. There are so many talented people out there in the arts that haven’t cracked their way into the system that are really good at what they do.

Alexis: Yes, I think there’s a value to reading popular books sometimes, but I’m sometimes amazed at how really incredible books can be neglected or ignored by agents or publishers.

I noticed that you are interested in AI, which is a subject that fascinates me as well. I think it's one of the sort-of neglected and ignored potential crises of our time. Yet, I think that AI could also benefit mankind if (a big if) it were created with enough forethought and consideration. What are some of your thoughts? Would a super-intelligent AI be a terrible danger to humanity? How close do you think we really are to the singularity?

J. Bock: First off, I am a technologist but my specialization isn’t in artificial intelligence. However, I have read a fair amount of research done by people that are a lot smarter than I am. I think life-changing AI is already here in the form of social media and advertising algorithms that feed our information spheres. While this already is an enormous concern of mine as our online discourse is becoming more and more corrupt and divisive, I’m more concerned with how AI will be used (or misused) in large scale control systems and the cybersecurity around those control systems. That concern is exactly what I explore in the main plotline of Caroline.

The future of AI is going to be good and bad but most importantly: inevitable. And I don’t think it’s going to be possible to apply enough care and consideration to stop the bad. Advances in AI are going to come from everywhere all over the world by both good and bad actors, and that’s something we’re going to have to adapt to.

As for the singularity, I think you are referring to artificial general intelligence (AGI) or an AI that is autonomous from us with its own motivation; something that resembles a human but is far more advanced than we can comprehend. I won’t say that that’s an impossibility but it’s something that feels, to me, pretty far off. However, what doesn’t feel far off is an AI that looks like AGI on the outside, but is a lot dumber with more access and influence over systems than it should have.

Alexis: Interesting thoughts. I agree that the advertising algorithms and social media feedback loops have already become a huge and frightening problem. So many people are so angry and misinformed, and that will make some of them dangerous.

Writer J. Bock, Author of the Sci-Fi Thriller Caroline

Learn More About J. Bock!

 Book: Caroline is available on Amazon and Apple Books, and as a Web Series

Social Media: Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads

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Interview with Horror Writer and Poet A.P. Duvall

I’ve been reaching out to other writers much more lately, and I’m hoping to start doing some more author interviews! So check out my latest interview, with poet and horror writer A.P. Duvall, the author of Ichor!

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you? 

 A.P. Duvall: I’m a debut author who has recently self-published. I grew up and spent most of my life in Florida, I’ve been married for nearly four years and we are servants to a dog and two cats. I’m a movie fanatic, I’ll read just about anything, and my favorite music genres are the blues, folk, and rock and roll. 

 What book or books have most influenced you as a writer? 

 A.P. Duvall: As a writer, I’m mostly influenced by horror writers, so I bow at the altar of Stephen King. IT, Misery, The Tommyknockers are a few of my favorites. My novel, Ichor, was also influenced by the John Dies at the End series by Jason Pargin, and Vonnegut’s treatment of characters in stories like Slaughterhouse V and Timequake were real eye-openers for me.  

Alexis: I’m also a fan of Kurt Vonnegut, and I agree that Stephen King is definitely the horror master!

What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why? 

 A. P. Duvall: It’s hard for me to become invested in monsters that just tick the box of the conventions. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, zombies, etc, there needs to be some sort of original twist on them, if you’re just ripping off Bram Stroker or George Romero, I don’t really find it all that interesting. But I do love an original concept, a new threat, a unique motive, a fear that’s been unexplored, horror novels can really be about the darkest subject matter and be absolutely enthralling.  

Alexis: It’s interesting how so many monsters get used over and over, ad nauseum. I do wish that people would branch out more—there’s so much rich monster stories and folklore out there!

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why) 

 A.P. Duvall: Each character has a little bit of me in them, so it’s hard to pick and choose favorites because it’s like choosing the favorite part of your psyche. Having said that, the character that was the biggest hurdle for me to overcome was a character named Hugh Gleason. He’s talked about so much before the audience gets to be in his point of view, and I knew he had such a rich story to tell, and honestly, it scared me. Once I dove in, he actually came surprisingly easy. He was so melancholic, so weary, so bruised and battered by the circumstance that he’s in, that my heart went out to him, even while I was completely responsible for his misfortunes.  

A.P Duvall’s adorable kitties!

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?  

A.P. Duvall: I love films from directors like Kubrick, Scorsese, Fincher, Kurosawa, Ridley Scott, I’ve been slowly making my way through ‘best-of’ lists, watch more foreign films and trying to be a more well-rounded film nerd.

When I need to binge a TV show I’ll go for Arrested Development, Law and Order: SVU, or anything with Gordon Ramsey, that’s not including all the prestige shows from HBO and the like.

Alexis: Arrested Development is a great show, and I also enjoyed watching Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares!

What’s your favorite animal? 

A.P. Duvall: I’m always torn with this question. The octopus is so alien, intelligent, lives underwater but has a beak, they can camouflage, shoot ink and they just look terrifying, but also kind of cute, like if you could have an octopus for a friend, I think that’d be pretty cool. On the other hand, I also love crows and ravens. They’re also extremely intelligent, can use and even make tools, they engage in play, bartering, and again, can look scary at first. Something about really smart non-primate animals are really interesting to me.   

Alexis: There are flocks of crows in my town right now (I think they’re migrating), and every time I see them I sort of wish I could convince one of them to be my backyard crow friend. They’re great birds to watch, because they always seem to be having conversations with each other. I do think it' would be incredible to talk to a octopus, or learn to understand how such a different creature thinks.

Ichor, by A.P. Duvall, with a beautiful cover design by Duvall’s wife

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing? 

 A.P. Duvall: Just write what you know and to know yourself. If trying to figure out a character’s motives feels like pushing a boulder up a mountain, maybe you need to bring your characters closer to yourself. I’m not saying everything has to be autobiographical, but writing is a form of self-expression, that means you’re expressing your self, your truth, your ideas – just write what means something to you and you should be fine.  

Do you like Greek/Roman/Norse/Asian/African mythology or folklore? What’s your favorite myth?  

A.P. Duvall: I incorporated a bit of Greek mythology in my novel, even the title Ichor, comes from Greek mythology , it was what they called the blood of the Gods, golden in color and toxic to mortals, and when I came across it in my research big chunks of the narrative fell into place. I’m trying to learn more about Norse, and African mythologies, all cultures have incredibly interesting and revealing stories that go back thousands of years and are very indicative of our shared history and humanity.            

If you write sci-fi, what technology, innovations or scientific discoveries have inspired your work? 

 A.P. Duvall: Theories of multi-verses and time travel are incredible to me. I’ve been trying to learn more about AI and how we may be incorporating it into our lives and even ourselves in the future is incredibly interesting. It’ll be a whole new world soon if we can make it that far. We have these issues with privacy now, what will it be like when our bodies and computers are one and the same? What will humanity mean when we can create thinking machines that are capable of making choices and have autonomy. These aren’t new ideas, but they are endlessly fascinating. 

What feels different to you about writing poetry versus working on a novel? Do you feel that these are very different kinds of writing, or do they feel more connected to you? 

 A.P. Duvall: The main difference is speed. I took a long time on my novel, but poetry comes very quickly, but I do feel that they are connected in a lot of ways. Fiction writing should have moments of poetic beauty and poetry should tell a story. The first poems we read are probably Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, or nursery rhymes, and they all tell stories that stay with us for a long time, and when you read a great book it’s the beautiful and simple phrases that stand out above just the plot or characterizations.  

Alexis: I like the idea of poetry telling a story, because so many of the best poems do tell a story, even if it’s just capturing a single moment in time.

A. P. Duvall, Poet and Horror Writer, Author of Ichor

More about A.P Duvall 

My debut novel, Ichor is available exclusively on Amazon on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited or in paperback. I recommend the paperback to really appreciate the beautiful cover my wife designed, but I’m biased.  

My website is notesfromthehole.com, where I post poetry, drawings, and will soon upload some short stories soon. I can be found on Twitter @ap_duvall.

A.P. Duvall’s fluffy doggie!

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Interview with Sherill Joseph, Author of Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse

Congrats to author Sherrill Joseph on the release of the next exciting book in her Botanic Hill Detectives mystery series, Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse. Here’s her interview, and she also has a Giveaway for one of her paperbacks!

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

For me, life has been all about kids. I’m a mom, grandmother, and a retired teacher turned kids’ mystery book author. I think kids are the best people on the planet and too often don’t get enough credit for their blossoming intelligence. I write to entertain kids but also to show them, through my mature, polite role-model detective characters, how to approach challenges with courage and teamwork. (My detectives were based on my fifth-grade students and twelve-year-old twin cousins). In my books, I strive to present positive characters of varying ethnicities, abilities, and disabilities to help grow anti-racist kids who can feel comfortable wherever they find themselves in the world.

Also, like my detective character Rani Kumar, I have lexical-gustatory synesthesia. That’s where we taste or smell something when we hear a word or name. For example, Rani says her name makes her taste raw green beans. My name Sherrill makes me taste cherry jelly. My last name Joseph makes me taste a Mounds candy bar (coconut and dark chocolate). Not all tastes are pleasant, however. We were both born with this mental ability (not a disability) and can’t control the tastes we get. We also can’t turn it off, so you might say that we experience the world in a different way from most people. I know that it has enhanced my ability to write descriptively.

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Nancy Drew (The Secret of Red Gate Farm; The Password to Larkspur Lane were faves) and Phyllis A. Whitney mysteries (The Mystery of the Green Cat; The Secret of the Samurai Sword) enthralled me as a child. I still read those for fun and inspiration. As an English major in college, I came to love the classics and still do, especially the Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (“The Hound of the Baskervilles”) and the mysteries of Wilkie Collins (The Moonstone; The Woman in White). In this century, I am awed and inspired by the writing style of Hazel Gaynor (The Cottingley Secret), in particular, her use of metaphor and descriptive language. For children’s authors, I enjoy Steven K. Smith (The Virginia Mysteries) and Nancy Springer (The Enola Holmes Mysteries).

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Nancy Drew (The Secret of Red Gate Farm; The Password to Larkspur Lane were faves) and Phyllis A. Whitney mysteries (The Mystery of the Green Cat; The Secret of the Samurai Sword) enthralled me as a child. I still read those for fun and inspiration. As an English major in college, I came to love the classics and still do, especially the Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (“The Hound of the Baskervilles”) and the mysteries of Wilkie Collins (The Moonstone; The Woman in White). In this century, I am awed and inspired by the writing style of Hazel Gaynor (The Cottingley Secret), in particular, her use of metaphor and descriptive language. For children’s authors, I enjoy Steven K. Smith (The Virginia Mysteries) and Nancy Springer (The Enola Holmes Mysteries).

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?

As a writer, my daily routine hasn’t changed that much since the pandemic began. I spend most of each day at my desk pounding away on the computer. This keeps me out of harm’s way. My work and routine also keep me grounded. I would recommend to others to find something create, positive, and other-focused to take your mind off the current world situation and your potential fears. And when my dog and I go out to walk, I always wear a mask and socially distance. The precautions we take protect others, too.

Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).

Here in San Diego, California, my hometown, there are still some sidewalks downtown with inlaid pop-bottle-glass tiles. Occasionally, if you look down at just the right time, you can see someone or something moving below! Even some lights flashing. Legend has it that aliens from outer space are down there conducting experiments on humans.

What’s your favorite animal?

Ever since I was a child, I have loved lambs. I had a collection of lamb figurines in glass and plastic. I had rubber lambs, stuffed lambs, books about lambs, and pictures of lambs. Maybe lambs are the inspiration for my currently owning a dog who looks like one!

Do you have pet(s)? If so, share a picture of your pet!

I have an adorable poodle-bichon rescue named Jimmy Lambchop. (There’s that lamb again!)

It shows him with his glorious, fluffy winter coat, which is my favorite look on him. He’s also my cowriter, watching me at my computer and cheering me on while he half dozes on the bed behind me. He’s my little precious boy who takes me for two walks every day. I prefer him to most people! He provides me with unconditional love. That’s hard to find.

Jimmy Lambchop , the adorable little doggie of author Sherill Joseph!

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Just start writing. Don’t let anyone dissuade you. Write first for yourself, getting inspiration from people, places, books, movies, music, artworks, and topics that interest you. Find ways to bring those into your writing to make it enjoyable and authentic. Set aside time daily to write. Carry something so you can make a quick note if an idea hits you. If literary agents turn you down, self publish. Share your work with the world on your own terms.

How do you choose what books you want to read?

They choose me. I gravitate toward mysteries, but I find that whatever book I’m reading has something special to offer me at just the right moment.

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Just start writing. Don’t let anyone dissuade you. Write first for yourself, getting inspiration from people, places, books, movies, music, artworks, and topics that interest you. Find ways to bring those into your writing to make it enjoyable and authentic. Set aside time daily to write. Carry something so you can make a quick note if an idea hits you. If literary agents turn you down, self publish. Share your work with the world on your own terms.

How do you choose what books you want to read?

They choose me. I gravitate toward mysteries, but I find that whatever book I’m reading has something special to offer me at just the right moment.

More about Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse

In 1945, Isabela de Cordoba’s great-grandfather, the famous silent movie actor Lorenzo de Cordoba, mysteriously hid a legendary, multimillion-dollar emerald somewhere on the family’s sprawling Eucalyptus Street estate. Seventy years later, the gem remains concealed. Nicknamed the “Green Curse,” the emerald is blamed for the Southern California familia’s numerous, untimely deaths..

On her twenty-first birthday, Isabela receives a secret letter with a cryptic poem. These documents from the long-deceased Lorenzo invite her to hunt for the gemstone. But first, she must decipher the poem’s eight stanzas for clues. To assist, Isabela hires her thirteen-year-old neighbors, the four Botanic Hill Detectives—twins Lanny and Lexi Wyatt, and their best friends, Moki Kalani and Rani Kumar. Eerie footsteps inside the mansion, unexplained occurrences in the adjacent cemetery, and the mysterious tenant in the backyard casita challenge them. But they ingeniously make progress on the poem’s meaning with startling discoveries. Sliding wall panels, a secret room, and hidden passages reveal much. The detectives aren’t the only ones looking for the emerald. The perilous race for the de Cordoba treasure is on!

More About Sherill Joseph

Sherrill Joseph will be forever inspired by her beautiful students in the San Diego public schools where she taught for thirty-five years before retiring and becoming a published author. She has peopled and themed the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries with children and adult characters of various abilities, races, cultures, and interests. Sherrill strongly believes that children need to find not only themselves in books but others from different races and social situations if all are to become tolerant, anti-racist world citizens. In addition, the author created her detectives—patterned after her own fifth-grade students and twelve-year-old twin cousins—to be mature, smart, polite role models that will appeal to parents, teachers, but especially to kids who seek to realize their greatest potential with courage and self- respect.

Sherrill is a lexical-gustatory synesthete and native San Diegan where she lives in a 1928 Spanish- style house in a historic neighborhood with her poodle-bichon mix, Jimmy Lambchop. Other loves include her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. She can’t leave out dark chocolate, popcorn, old movies, purple, and daisies. Having never lived in a two-story house, she is naturally fascinated by staircases. Sherrill is a member of SCBWI and the Authors Guild and promises many more adventures with the squad to come!

Books: Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets and Eucalyptus Street: Green Curse

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and BookBub

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Interview with Fantasy and Science Fiction Author Z. T. Soyoye

My next interview is with Fantasy and Science Fiction Author Z. T. Soyoye!

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

Z.T. Soyoye: My Pen Name is Z.T. Soyoye. Telling stories has always been a passion of mine, and being able to publish a book has been one of my greatest achievements. My career started picking up in 2016 when I got my first big break. Since then, I’ve been improving my writing techniques and developing a unique writing style to appeal to readers. 

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Z.T. Soyoye: I think the Percy Jackson series was a big influence. I grew up with it and read it for many years. But I think my influence is just stories in general. Whether in the form of books, anime, movies etc. Any medium that can tell an amazing story.

Alexis: I agree that it’s amazing how so many TV shows, video games, and other mediums have amazing writing and great stories now.

What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?

Z.T. Soyoye: I think my least favourite Trope is forcing diversity onto a story when it doesn’t add anything to it. I don’t hate it but I prefer to see it well done e.g. with Miles Morales as a black Spiderman. They integrated it into the story so well and it felt amazing to see someone I could relate to. But when it’s just unnecessarily forced into the story to fit a quota and is done poorly… I roll my eyes.

Alexis: I also loved Miles Morales as Spiderman.

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)

Z.T. Soyoye: I think my favourite character is the best friend of the main character. His name is Anthony. He is a psychologically fragile person who is trying their best to become a better person. I really love his character development from a seemingly shallow character to a person with a lot of pain and regret and now trying his best to grow into a person he can be proud of.

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)? 

Z.T. Soyoye: I’ve been trying my best to keep myself busy. I started with finally making my author website (I’ll link it below) and now I’ve been working on book 2 in my series. Recently I’ve actually been trying my hand at Live streaming! I’ll drop the link below. So yeah, trying your best to keep busy and getting to all those projects you always wished you had time for pre-pandemic. 

Alexis: I tried live-streaming once as well, and I enjoyed it quite a bit! I do find that projects that can keep you engaged are really helpful.

What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Z.T. Soyoye: I play quite a lot of volleyball which I absolutely love. I’ve been gaming from a young age and still do till this day. I’m also into electronics and technology, I stream myself working on a bunch of fun projects like a Motion controlled fan. 

Alexis: Very Cool! Volleyball sounds like tons of fun, and I also love gaming.

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream? 

Z.T. Soyoye: I love so many shows way too much to list but I think I’ll say my favourite “TV shows” that I’ve watched are animes called Haikyuu, Steins Gate and Code Geass. Recently, I think my favourite movie in memory is Spiderman into the spider-verse and Knives Out. I went into them with no expectations and was blown away with their amazing story telling and characters.

One of my favourite TV series is DareDevil. It was an amazing character study that made viewers feel connected to each of them. Daredevil also had amazing cinematography, as well as interesting psychological warfare. It dives deep into what happens when your ideals are tested to the limit.

 I love stories like these. Shows that exude passion. They clearly gave each character a lot of depth and I feel I took something meaningful away from each of them.

Alexis: I also loved Into the Spiderverse and Knives Out! I used to watch old school anime like Rurouni Kenshin and Lotus War, but I haven’t watched many recent animes apart from Aggretsuko.

Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game ever influenced you as a writer?

Z.T. Soyoye: Yeah, I play quite a lot of video games. Right now, mainly Fortnite and Call of Duty. I would say they have influenced me. When I see an amazing story in video games or see interesting concept/powers, I always take note. I also play a lot of games that cause my heart to race. Whenever I’m trying to write a scene with similar feelings and emotions, I remember moments in my life that I felt something similar or that feeling that video games give me. This allows me to describe vividly and give my readers an amazing reading experience.

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Z.T. Soyoye: Write what you love. I know you might have heard that before but it’s true. Don’t write what you think is popular. Just write a story you’d be excited to read. When I had the idea for my book, I kept daydreaming about it constantly and the idea would not let me rest until I started writing. Even if writing doesn’t turn into your career, all you can do is try. If it doesn’t work out, take it as a learning experience. But don’t take away your chance to find success as well as a potentially amazing story from the world.

Alexis: That’s great advice!

What’s one subject you wish you knew more about? What kinds of things would you like to learn someday?

Z.T. Soyoye: Most things to be honest. I love learning new things. I constantly research new things that I add in my books so I can get it as accurately as possible. It’s always fun learning a cool new fact or connecting to a new subject. Right now though, I’d say Marketing. Marketing is such a weird subject that I don’t think anyone has really mastered. Sure, it’s easy to reach people by paying for an ad but how can you entice them to do what you want. It’s something I’ve been looking into and I’m trying different strategies. 

Find Out More About Z. T. Soyoye!

Book: The Unwanted

Website: https://ztsoyoye.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomiZT_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomizt_/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ztsoyoye

Come chat to me live at: https://dlive.tv/DragonDAce

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Interview with Fantasy Author Stephanie M. Allen

My next interview is with Fantasy Author Stephanie Allen!

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

Stephanie Allen: I’m a fantasy girl! Almost every book I pick up to read has some element of fantasy to it, whether it falls under the fantasy genre, paranormal genre, or something else. I absolutely love animals. I used to ride horses competitively. I competed in Hunter/Jumpers, which was so much fun. My horse and I did barrel race one time but he was so pokey slow that we came in last!

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Stephanie Allen: “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer was one of the first authors that made me realize I loved the YA genre. I was always a fan of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien but within the last five years, my favorite author has become Sarah J. Maas. I’m a HUGE fan of “A Court of Mist and Fury” the second book in the ACOTAR series. 

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)

Stephanie Allen: Jordan is definitely my favorite character. I love his kindness and patience. I love his entire story arc! Of course, right now readers only have a small part of it but he truly is one of the best characters in the story. He understands the meaning of forgiveness and sacrifice. While he isn’t perfect, he strives to be the best man possible.

What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Stephanie Allen: I really love to sing. I auditioned for The Voice twice (no, I didn’t get on TV). Music is an integral part of my life and I usually have it on in the background.

Alexis: Awesome! I’m a musician, too. I play violin, viola, ukulele, and a little bit of piano. I enjoy singing, even when I’m not that great at it! It must have been exciting even auditioning for The Voice.

Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).

Stephanie Allen: When I lived in Marion, KY, we all knew the story of Cave-In-Rock. It sits across the Ohio River on the border of Illinois. Back in the 1800s, it was a pirate’s cave. The legends say that pirates would lure travelers to the top of the cliff above the cave and essentially murder them by forcing them into the river below. Then they stored all their treasure within the cave. I was fascinated by the cave while I lived in that area. It inspired my YA series called “Harmony”.

Alexis: Wow! I had no idea there were pirates in Kansas.

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream? 

Stephanie Allen: I love to watch Japanese anime. “Sword Art Online”, “Blue Exorcist”, and “My Hero Acadamia” are a few of my favorites. I also love CW shows. “Vampire Diaries”, “The Originals”, “Supernatural”, “Arrow”, “The Flash”, “Reign”, I love them all! About once a year, I watch all ten seasons of “FRIENDS” because they always make me laugh. My all-time favorite TV show, though, is “Avatar: The Last Airbender”.  

Alexis: Interesting! I’ve just started watching Avatar with my daughter. It’s a great show.

What’s your favorite animal?

Stephanie Allen: Any big cat. I have a cheetah in “Dueling Fates” but I also love lions, jaguars, leopards, any of those gorgeous felines!

Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game ever influenced you as a writer? 

Stephanie Allen: Yes! I play games on my phone, like Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars. When I was younger, I loved to play through Final Fantasy games. I also love the old school Mario games on NES and Super Nintendo! None of them have really influenced me as a writer, although my husband loves playing Assassin’s Creed and I find those fascinating.

How do you choose what books you want to read?

Stephanie Allen: My go-to genre is always fantasy or YA. Whenever I visit my local Barnes & Noble, I always gravitate to those areas first. I do like to read romance novels as well but for the most part, I’m in a fantasy world of some sort.

Do you like Greek/Roman/Norse/Asian/African mythology or folklore? What’s your favorite myth? 

Stephanie Allen: Absolutely! I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology. I don’t really have a favorite. I recently read through the Goddess series by P.C. Cast and I love all of them! I can’t decide between “Goddess of Spring” and “Goddess of the Rose” though. I love both of those so much.

What’s one subject you wish you knew more about? What kinds of things would you like to learn someday?

Stephanie Allen: I love ancient history. My brother has a college degree in history and I’m always asking him questions about various ancient cultures. I’m of Irish descent, specifically the Celtic druids, so I love learning about their dark and sometimes gruesome history. I’m also fascinated by ancient Egypt! I would love to visit the pyramids some day.

More About Stephanie Allen!

Stephanie M. Allen graduated from California Baptist University in 2009 with a B.A. in English and a desire to share her imaginative stories with the world. She loves to write fantasy, particularly centered around young adults. Aside from writing, Stephanie loves to read, ride horses, and sing. She currently lives in Wyoming with her husband and two children.

Books: Dueling Fates, Harmony, and Sealed Shadows

Social Media: Twitter , Facebook, and Instagram

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Interview with Science Fiction and Fantasy Author Joseph Carrabis

My next interview is with Science Fiction and Fantasy Author Joseph Carrabis, who’s been a good friend of mine on Twitter and a fellow member of the Fantasy and Science Fiction Reader’s Lounge on Facebook.

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

Joseph Carrabis: COVID hasn’t touched me or mine, yet, except in the ways it’s touched everyone - social distancing, quarantining, and such. However, since June I’ve had two surgeries and lost a loved one.

I was born blind and have had minimal eyesight my entire life. About two years ago a test indicated my eyes were weakening. We did everything possible and kept surgery as a last resort because, as my doctor said, “Once we cut we can’t go back. We have to save it for last.”

The nature of my challenge was such that we would operate on one eye at a time, see if that worked, then do the other eye. We did my left, weaker eye first and the operation was a complete success. For the first time in my life I could “see” through my left eye as people with normal eyesight can see.

And it enabled me to see one of my children grow weaker and weaker and finally pass over within a three day period. 

I would gladly go blind if I could hold my child for another heartbeat, one pulse of the universe, a single tick of the clock.

But such wasn’t one of the options offered me.

I recently had my right eye worked on. So far so good.

And I cherish what I see now. People don’t understand their worlds can change in an instant. Take nothing for granted, live each moment fully, completely, intentionally. Be aware of what you do. Appreciate yourself and those around you. Enjoy every breath, let everyone know they are loved, speak no harsh words to anyone, be at peace with yourself and let your peace teach others.

Long ago one of my teachers told me “Always look for the good.” 

That phrase has so much meaning to me now.

Alexis: “Always look for the good”—those are good words to live by. I think when times are difficult it’s so important to hold on to the people we love. I’m so grateful that neither of my children has had a serious health problem, and that no one in my family has died from COVID. It’ easy to get bogged down by the hassles and the stresses, but we need to focus on what really matters.

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Joseph Carrabis: Those I’ve read.

I wanted to respond “The kinds with words in them” and then came up with “Well written,” but the best answer is “Those I’ve read” because I’m influenced by well written and poorly written books, and probably more the poorly written ones because the mistakes are obvious. Well written books can be subtle. You know they’re good and enjoy them, figuring out why they’re good and enjoyable might take some effort. Then there are the books you recognize are well crafted but the story’s don’t interest you. Margaret Atwood’s books are the prime example of this to me. I love her storycrafting, her storytelling bores me to tears. I read her work to learn my craft. I read Bradbury to enjoy what I’m learning. 

Then there are certain authors I read to learn specific craft elements and whose work I enjoy. Katherine Mansfield is a trove of setting and character. Poe is a graduate course in timing and rhythm in language. Budrys owns imagery. Few match Butler’s ability to show emotion through character subtleties. Silverberg, at the height of his powers, had an amazing voice. Few writers can draw a reader in like Delany. Hammett is a study in plot. King is a master of character.

And I haven’t touched on poetry. Dickey, Hughes, Eiseley, Brown, ...

Essayists. Kenko, James, Eiseley again, ...

I haven’t mentioned much from non-English authors. Whatever your daily language, I encourage you (who are authors) to study writings in your non-native languages. A completely different philosophy, metaphorical system, my god I can lose myself for years reading non-Western works.

Alexis: I love so man of the writers you’ve mentioned! I do think that reading non-English authors is vitally important. Personally, I’m also drawn to ancient writers. I think there’s something so magical about reading the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Illiad, or Sappho’s poetry, and feeling like you’re hearing a voice from out of time.

What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?

Joseph Carrabis: First, more and more readers tell me my genre is “Joseph.” In the Joseph genre, I will not tolerate weak writing. As soon as I tire, I stop writing and do something else. I don’t rush to get something done, I let it wait. Also in the Joseph genre, I love intricate, tightly woven plots. 

Second and regarding other people’s work, linear storylines bore me except in the work of authors such as Hammett, Faulkner, Hemingway and several of the Golden Age SF writers. Linear storylines are fine in some modern things, but if I can figure out a story’s ending before I finish the first 2-3 sentences, the story’s not working for me. I remember being 9-10 years old and reading Agatha Christie’s The Clocks. My mother loved Christie and I read the books after she finished them. I got about forty pages in, went to my mother and told her how the story ended, who did it, et cetera. I’d read 2-3 other Christie novels and figured out her storytelling style, how she placed clues, et cetera, and how she worked out her novels. I lost interest in Christie right after that (although The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a stylistic marvel still). I’ll guess my ability to deduce a story’s outcome (plot) is what’s caused me to prefer character driven stories, and unfortunately most genre stories are plot driven (Rita Mae Brown offers a great test for this and it hasn’t failed me yet).

I attended a con a while back (in the days when you actually went out and spent time with people not wearing masks) and offered that genre v literature test while on a panel. An author in the audience got loudly defensive. I was confused. I didn’t say there was anything wrong with genre, only that it tends to be plot driven, not character driven. But pick up any of this author’s books (the ones I’ve seen anyway), read the first paragraph, and you know if the emphasis is on plot or character, hence genre v literature, and please do remember that “literature” is also a genre, simply one that emphasizes character over plot.

In the end, it all comes down to poor writing for me. How many different ways can one write a “Man versus Nature” story? Well, it’s uncountable. “Man versus Nature” is the core. Change it up one and you get “Woman versus Nature.” Change it up one again and you have “Man versus Tidal Wave.” Make it feminist fantasy with “Woman versus Mountain Elemental.”

What I have no tolerance for is anything poorly written.

Alexis: That’s an interesting distinction between genre and literature. I often find the lines between the two very fine and rather arbitrary. Under your test, I imagine that a great deal of well written science fiction by writers like Connie Willis or Octavia Butler, would be re-classified as literature. I’m honestly not sure if I want that or not.

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)

Joseph Carrabis: Which of your children is your favorite? (Hopefully) we love them all equally although we may love different things in them. I recently completed Don Quitamo Sails, a story requested by Harvey Duckman Presents editor C.G. Hallum. I wrote the first two pages of Don Quitamo Sails over two years ago but didn’t know where the story went from there. C.G. Hallum asked for a pirate story and Boom! there was the story. When I realized what the story was about I wept for joy. C.G. also asked for another story set in a world I created, The Woods. During the conversation, she mentioned making “little knitted dragons” for someone as gifts. I heard “Little Knitty Dragon” and Boom! “A Tale of The Woods: The Little Knitty Dragon” is born (which brought tears to her eyes when she read it).

There’s not character(s) I hate. Even the most evil, rotten bastards - and I’ve had readers ask me how I come up with such malevolent characters - are given one if not more reasons to make them human. Such is a requirement, me thinks, of writing any character; flaws. A “good” character needs one if not more “bad” traits, sometimes called “weaknesses.” So do “bad” characters, except a weakness in a “bad” character is a redeemable trait.

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?

Joseph Carrabis: Ha. I’m writing. Listening to music. Playing music, too. Walking with Susan (wife/partner/Princess) and our dog. Reading.

Wait a second...that’s what I do anyway.

I tell people I’m boring and dull and this is evidence of it. My life isn’t complex. I’ve also learned to be adaptable. Not being able to do something means I have time to do something else.

Alexis: That’s a good way of thinking about things! I’ve been listening to more music lately, and reading more books as well.

What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Joseph Carrabis: Music. Cooking. Reading. 

Interesting. If you didn’t put that qualifier on it, I maybe could come up with some answers. Oh! I know! I love to fly kites. I have about a hundred different kinds for all sorts of weather conditions and types of flying. Completely relaxing to me, and I don’t do it enough. I also enjoy a good cigar with a good single-malt Scotch. Usually once a week on the backporch, a kind of ceremony, a “Hurrah! I made it through another one! Congratulations to me!” I wrote a blog post about it, Enjoying Scotch and Cigars with @FireRenaissance, @FromGreenhills, and @GGGenge.

Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).

Joseph Carrabis: Oy! I’ve lived many places. What legend or mystery would be best? Have your readers heard of the Inuit SnowWalker? Or how the Northern Lights are the souls of unborn children? Sometimes the myths of where I’ve lived show up in my work. Two examples would be Them Doore Girls and The Boy Who Loved Horses. The former’s about a ocean elemental and the latter is about a gifted child.

One legend that I keep coming back to as story fodder involves an 1800s factory and a boy who was killed in the machinery. He haunts the mill and some workers claim to see him to this day even though the mill itself has been gentrified into office space.

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream? 

Joseph Carrabis: Well-written ones. Currently we’re watching old episodes of New Tricks and Hustle, two British mysteries. We’re also restarting The Doctor Blake Mysteries, a mystery set in the post WWII Australia. We’re impatiently waiting for the next Murdoch Mysteries season, a Canadian import. Sometimes we’ll do a Cadfael night, a Brit period piece from the time of the Crusades. 

Sometimes the production values get in the way of the stories, especially with some of the older shows, and so long as the storytelling is there, we’ll watch. I watch mostly to learn storycrafting technique; learn how to introduce characters, situations, how to use setting to enhance a story, things like that.

We recently rewatched the original StarMan. I took notes on how seamlessly they introduced setting, character, initialized plot, provided crisis elements, et cetera, in the first eighteen minutes of the movie and kept it all moving forward so the viewer didn’t stop watching. Amazing.

If your readers find a movie or book they enjoy, go back and reread or rewatch it and take notes on what works and why. A movie or book they don’t enjoy? Ditto. Learn what doesn’t work and why. Then apply both to your own writing

What’s your favorite animal?

Joseph Carrabis: Favorite. Hmm...that is a tough one. Do I talk about my Totems? My Guardians? My Guides? My Grandmother and Grandfather spirits? The animals appearing on my personal shield? I suppose the safest answer is “The one I’m talking with at the moment.”

Every aboriginal culture I’ve studied has told me I carry Spider and Wolf (medicines), and most of these cultures associate Spider with StoryTelling and Wolf with Teaching. So I teach via stories?

Yeah, I’m good with that.

Hope it’s true.

Do you like playing board games or role playing games like D&D? If so, which games do you like best?

Joseph Carrabis: My all time favorite was Risk, although I haven’t played it in years. I played Trivial Pursuit with my in-laws at family gatherings but they decided to handicap me due to my extensive reading and memory; I was allowed to know only one word of the question. 

I love chess but lost interest early on as I’m not competitive. I learned to play because a friend played. My uncle, who taught me, told me to play my first game with someone and lose, but pay attention to how they play. Figure out how they play, their weaknesses and strengths, and you’ll win thereafter. I played with that friend, lost, and asked to play again. His mother asked why I wanted to play again, hadn’t her son shown he was a better player? I explained about losing to learn and they couldn’t accept that. Then let’s play again? Okay, fine. And I won six games in a row, at which point his mother wouldn’t let him play any more with me. About two months later he wanted to play again, beat me the first game, and I beat him the second. “You learned to beat me. Specifically me. Not how to play chess better.” During those two months I’d read half a dozen books on chess. My mentor in chess was a fellow student, John Baumgart. My god what a gifted player he was. And lonely as hell. I felt so sorry for him. I hope he found happiness in life.

I play cards fairly often and relax playing various solitaires. I prefer card games because the mathematics is usually fixed by the situation, hence they’re better training for the things I like to do.

Do you have pet(s)? If so, share a picture of your pet!

Joseph Carrabis: Ghost, our cat, passed about a month ago as I write this. Congestive heart failure. He weakened and passed in three days. We still mourn, less each day, and prefer to remember our joy with him than our sorrow at not being with him. We’ll join him when we pass, as we believe all things are waiting, not lost.

Boo is our pup.

This picture is from December 2012, shortly after we got them. Both are rescues.

Alexis: They are so cute! I’m so sorry about your cat’s heart failure. It’s so hard when a pet dies.

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Joseph Carrabis: Write, write, and write. When you’re done with that, write some more.

Also read, read, read. And when you’re done with that, read some more.

Here’s a post about it, What do you mean, exactly, when you tell me to Read and Write to be an author?

How do you choose what books you want to read?

Joseph Carrabis: As noted earlier, the first requirement is that the book be well-written. I do an hour a day on the stairs at the gym and read the entire time. Those books tend to be instructional/educational. My nightstand has books recommended to me and/or given to me. My headboard has books I want to study for various reasons, usually technique or research. The stand by my chair has books I read for enjoyment (and often technique gets in there, too).

Authors sometimes ask me to read their books. I ask for the first few chapters/10-15 pages, and can tell (often in the first sentence and usually in the first paragraph) if the author has enough chops to keep me reading, at which point I’ll buy their book (love supporting my brothers and sisters in pen). Four authors who blew me away with their book openings/writings are Steven Searls, Ricky Ginsburg, Joanell Serra, and Terry Melia. Four completely different styles of writing, four completely different genres, four amazing authors worth watching. And reading.

Do you like Greek/Roman/Norse/Asian/African mythology or folklore? What’s your favorite myth? 

Joseph Carrabis: I spent much of my life as a cultural anthropologist, so yes, I love indigenous truths. Many of my stories make use of various cultural milieus.

But my favorite? Probably the earlier ones. The earlier the better. They tend to be more accurate to what actually happened, less edited to suit some political or social agenda.

If you write scifi, what technology or innovations or scientific discoveries have inspired your work?

Joseph Carrabis: I don’t write about technology or such per se, I write about how people are affected by technology. Most often I come up with a story idea and then go looking for the science - current or projected - to support it.

The closest I can come up with re science presaging a story would be a work-in-progress, The Absolute Limit of Sound. The story came to me pretty much fully formed while I was reading a Science magazine paper on sonoluminescence.

What’s one subject you wish you knew more about? What kinds of things would you like to learn someday?

Joseph Carrabis: The one subject I wish I knew more about? Me.

What kinds of things would I like to learn someday? First, stuff I don’t know I don’t know. That’ll keep me busy. Then the stuff I know I don’t know. Finally, the stuff I “know,” because I really don’t and am just fooling myself.

Alexis: Yes, it’s always hard to really see and understand ourselves, isn’t it? To get an honest picture of what we’re really like.

Find Out More About Joseph Carrabis!

Books: The Augmented Man, Empty Sky, Tales Told ‘Round Celestial Campfires

Website: https://josephcarrabis.com/

Social Media: Twitter, FaceBook, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Instagram